Abstract: Video content that is streamed to portable devices may be interrupted based on an emergency alert system (EAS) broadcast. In one implementation, first video content may be streamed over an Internet Protocol (IP) network to a portable device and an indication of a location of the portable device may be determined. Whether the location of the portable device is in a geographic region covered by an EAS broadcast may also be determined. When the portable device is determined to be in the geographic region covered by the EAS broadcast, a notification may be transmitted to the portable device, where the notification instructs the portable device to interrupt the first video content with video content corresponding to the EAS broadcast. The video content corresponding to the EAS broadcast may be streamed to the portable device.

Abstract: A method and system for digital closed caption transport are provided. In one example, the method involves receiving closed caption data and a program feed having video content, embedding the closed caption data into a standard video syntax, and encoding the video content into the standard video syntax as a background, wherein the closed caption data and the video content are encoded into a closed caption program feed.

Abstract: A computing system is programmed to detect if program content is presented on a channel. A program signature is determined based on set-top box tune data from set-top boxes in a market in which it is known the program content was presented. The program signature can be compared to program signatures from other local markets or from the same market to determine if the same program content was presented. In some embodiments, the program signature represents the number of set-top boxes simultaneously tuned to the channel on which the program content is presented.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus, systems and/or methods are described for providing user generated content relating to a subject, and collecting polling data relating to the subject, on multiple disparate communication devices. User generated content is received from one or more disparate communication devices and provided for presentation on at least one of the communication devices. Polling data is also received from at least one of the end-users of the communication devices viewing the user generated content, and tabulated to generate poll results displayable on the communication devices.

Abstract: A system having a memory and a processor is disclosed. The memory may be arranged as (i) a first pipeline to buffer a plurality of full resolution fields and (ii) a second pipeline to buffer a plurality of low resolution fields. The processor is generally configured to (i) receive a particular one or more of the full resolution fields and a particular one or more of the low resolution fields from the memory and (ii) generate a film mode signal based on the particular low resolution fields, the film mode signal indicating a current mode among a plurality of pull-down modes related to a current field being deinterlaced.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a universal television receiver that is capable of processing television channel signals, that are transmitted according to a variety of broadcast standards, to provide video and audio information for a desired television channel signal. The processing includes producing a coarse channel signal that includes a desired television channel signal and then applying resampling techniques to adjust a normalized bandwidth of the desired television channel signal to generally correspond to the normalized passband of a main filter that is used for each of the broadcast standards.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclose for processing an object in a video data stream. The method runs on a processor programmed to execute the method and includes but is not limited to receiving at a client device, the video data stream from a server; displaying the video data stream at the client device on a client device display; receiving input data at the client device for rendering on the client device display a first functional indicator indicating one of a plurality of functions and surrounding a first region of pixel locations representing a first image object in the video data stream; and performing a function indicated by the first functional indicator on meta data for the first image object in the first region of pixel locations.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus comprising means for receiving an event notice that includes time information. Upon receipt of the event notice, an event corresponding to the time information is generated. The event is immediately generated if the event notice includes a code that indicates immediate generation.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for displaying electronic program guide (EPG) information so that a broadcast program can be searched for even when the size of each display region of an EPG information screen, which displays program information, is small or reduced and a broadcast receiver therefor. The method includes detecting program information for each of a plurality of broadcast programs which are to be displayed from the electronic program guide information, adjusting or changing the program information to be suitable for a display region for each broadcast program in an electronic program guide information screen, and constructing and displaying the electronic program guide information screen so that the electronic program guide information reflects the adjusted or changed program information.

Abstract: The present invention provides for transferring user interface information from a host computing device to an electronic device that typically has limited resources. A request to display a user interface on an electronic device is received. Further, information about the electronic device is received for determining the capabilities of the electronic device. Based on the determination, a video codec is utilized for dynamically generating a video data stream that includes user interface information corresponding to at least a portion of the user interface. The video data stream is then transmitted to the electronic device for rendering the user interface on a display of the electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method for applying quality assurance methods in the determination of whether or not to present previously recorded digital content as available to a viewer at a customer site. The present invention checks the digital content and makes a quality assurance comparison in determining whether to add content to an electronic program guide for selection by a customer. The present invention presents acceptable recorded content as available, and withholds unacceptable content as a means of quality assurance.

Abstract: In delivering an entertainment program over a communications network, e.g., a cable TV network, interactive application data for realizing interactive features in the entertainment program are interjected into the program stream carrying the entertainment program on an as needed basis. Because the entire channel bandwidth is temporarily dedicated for transmission of the interactive application data, whose amount is relatively small compared with that of the video and audio data of the programming content, the interactive application data when transmitted appears as a short “burst,” causing a virtually unnoticeable interruption in the programming content delivery.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system and method for displaying on a user-display system a program comprising a programming content including a plurality of programming content segments and a non-programming content including at least one non-programming content segment. The method includes receiving in the user-display system a first programming content segment of the programming content transmitted from a first source across a computer network, identifying at least one non-programming content segment associated with the first programming content, the identified non-programming content segment received in the user-display system from a second source across the computer network, and displaying the identified non-programming content segment by the user-display system.

Abstract: An STB analysis system comprises an STB checker client and an STB analysis server. The STB checker client comprises an STB query interface to communicate with the STB analysis server to acquire information indicative of the operational status of an STB and to display the information graphically. A user requests data relating to a particular STB by entering the MAC address of an STB into a query field. The STB checker client interacts with an STB analysis server to acquire information relating to the subscriber associated with the STB MAC address, the services authorized for the STB, and data indicative of the status and performance of the STB. In addition, the STB analysis server interacts with the STB operating system to retrieve diagnostic data from the STB logs. The STB checker client further is adapted to permit remotely resetting the STB regardless of its current status.

Abstract: Information about media objects within media streams is inferred based on repeat instances of the media objects within the media streams. A system and methods enable the monitoring of one or more media streams and the identification of repeat instances of media objects (e.g., audio and/or video objects) within the media streams. The monitoring and object repeat identification is performed by one or more server computers on a network. Information about a media object can be inferred based on repeat instances of the media object and based on repeat instances of related media objects. The information is transferred from a server to a client in response to a user query entered at the client through an interactive user interface.

Abstract: An information storage medium includes video data and a markup document to play back the video data in an interactive mode. The markup document includes device-aspect-ratio information which is referred to for displaying of the markup document.

Abstract: A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device is provided. A set-top box requests an identification code from a server. The server identifies the set-top box, generates the code and transmits it to the set-top box. The set-top box displays the code and a user transmits the code back to the server via a telephony device. The server identifies the telephony device, and using the code, associates between the set-top box and the telephony device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording a signal received by a home entertainment system that includes multiple consumer electronics devices interconnected to a central electronics device in a hub and spoke configuration. The configuration allows all signals in the home entertainment system to be accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. By way of example, any signal can be routed to a recording system, where it can be recorded. The signal is coupled with information from an electronic programming guide that details specific programming. An automatic determination is made as to whether or not there exists enough free space on a recording medium to record a specific program. Upon recording the program on the recording medium, an index is updated on the recording medium from the electronic programming guide information and from the location of the program on the recording medium.