Abstract: Method and systems for enabling low-latency streaming of segments over at least one network to a client are described wherein said client is configured to request and receive segments from at least one server on the basis of a manifest file. Said method comprises: collecting quality of service information experienced by said client in at least a part of said network and storing said quality of service information in a quality database in said network; sending at least part of said quality of service information to said content processing device; determining on the basis of said at least part of said quality of service information one or more configuration parameters for a buffer, preferably a play-out buffer; and/or, for a segment request function in said content processing device; and, configuring said buffer and/or, said segment request function in accordance with said configuration parameters.

Abstract: Method and systems for enabling low-latency streaming of segments over at least one network to a client are described wherein said client is configured to request and receive segments from at least one server on the basis of a manifest file. Said method comprises: collecting quality of service information experienced by said client in at least a part of said network and storing said quality of service information in a quality database in said network; sending at least part of said quality of service information to said content processing device; determining on the basis of said at least part of said quality of service information one or more configuration parameters for a buffer, preferably a play-out buffer; and/or, for a segment request function in said content processing device; and, configuring said buffer and/or, said segment request function in accordance with said configuration parameters.

Abstract: Content information is multicast via a data network to a plurality of receivers, using data packets in a transport stream. The content information is encapsulated according to a container format standard that allows an optional field in a packet header. Each data packet forms a payload of a datagram in a connectionless communication protocol. The optional field in each data packet is used to carry an identifier for identifying the data packet in a pre-determined sequence of the data packets. The use of the optional field enables packet loss detection at the receiver.

Abstract: Content information is multicast via a data network to a plurality of receivers, using data packets in a transport stream. The content information is encapsulated according to a container format standard that allows an optional field in a packet header. Each data packet forms a payload of a datagram in a connectionless communication protocol. The optional field in each data packet is used to carry an identifier for identifying the data packet in a pre-determined sequence of the data packets. The use of the optional field enables packet loss detection at the receiver.

Abstract: A system is described for distributing TV signals to an end-terminal. The system comprises at least one central broadcast station, a channel manager and one or more end-terminals connected to the channel manager. The broadcast station is adapted to transmit at least one TV channel signal, comprising an audio signal and a video signal and one or more service signals to the channel manager. Further, the channel manager is adapted to receive the TV channel signal, to extract the audio, video and service signals from the TV channel signal, to transform the signals into packetized elementary streams and to transmit a packetized data transport stream to the channel manager. The transport stream comprises a TV channel stream, comprising elementary audio and video streams, and a services channel stream, comprising one or more elementary service streams and the one or more end-terminals are adapted to select between the TV channel stream and the services channel stream.

Abstract: It is disclosed that in a multicast network environment individual information (10) can be transmitted via a barker channel (12) between a server (2) and an individual end-user device. In the case of digital television services the present invention enables, inter alia, individual information (10) that is addressed to a specific customer to appear on the television screen. This is accomplished by transmitting the individual information (10) via the barker channel (12) from a server (2) to the set-top box (5) via which the television is connected to the access infrastructure. It is also disclosed that an identification number (11) can be added to the individual information (10). In relation to digital television services, the present invention makes use of the insight that set-top boxes already are provided with a unique code.

Abstract: It is disclosed that in a content distribution system a speech-to-text convertor can be used for the conversion of at least a part of a particular data stream to text data. The text data can be used for triggering a set-top box to select the particular data stream to which the text data is associated. The text data can be provided to a trigger receiver that determines whether the text data matches with an entry of a trigger table. In the case of a match the set-top box is instructed to select the particular data stream.

Abstract: The present invention is related to online access to content services. More specifically, a method and system for controlled access to content services (2) where a terminal user (1) can be allowed (b2) or refused (b1) access to a content service (2) and the use thereof are disclosed. The invention provides a solution to enable controlled online access from a terminal user (1) to a content service (2) wherein no time-consuming registration steps, which are also annoying to the customer, or time-consuming billing steps have to be performed, only one terminal (5) is needed by the user (1) and only one connection needs to be active at the time. The invention is particularly useful for mobile terminal users, like i-mode site customers, to get comfortable access to chargeable Internet services using a payment gateway accessible through the packet-switched GPRS network and a voice response system accessible through the circuit-switched GSM network.

Abstract: A method for communicating a reference number related to the purchaser's account between a customer and a merchant over a network. When completing a purchase order, the purchaser data and a predefined subset (3) of the reference number are received via a first connection (1) over a network by a computer system (6) of the merchant at the remote location (10). The information received via the first connection (1) is stored in a storage means (5) at the remote location (10). Via a second connection (13) over a network supplementary reference number digits (4) are received by an order handling system (7) at the remote location (10). An identification code (8) can be used to associate the information received via the second connection with the information received via the first connection. Concatenating both information elements results in the complete reference number.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communication system (100) in which information (AV) from a server (101) is transmitted in one direction via a first communication path to a user terminal (102), such as a PC. In response to said information, the user can transmit selection information (I), such as control commands, in the form of data packets via a second communication path. According to the invention the data packets, for example ATM cells, are transmitted in the second communication path over a non-packet switching network (107), such as a telephony network. The invention further provides a device (108; 200) for receiving and routing data packets from a non-packet switching network (107), as well as a method for implementing telecommunication services in which use is made of a communication system (100; 100') of the above-mentioned kind.

Abstract: Acoustic information which is generated via telecommunications terminals such as ordinary telephone sets may reach a videotelephone located at the other end of a telecommunications connection in an insufficiently clear degree, if at all, while the videotelephone is conducting an investigation into the kind of telecommunications terminal which is located at one end of the telecommunications connection. By providing the telecommunications terminal with a detection circuit for the detection of a first signal of a previously established type, and providing it with an activating circuit coupled to the detection circuit for generating, in response to the detected first signal of the previously established type, an activating signal for the prevention of the premature transmission of second signals, the above-mentioned possibility is strongly reduced.

Abstract: Known systems based on stereoscopic video coding and video decoding code with inadequate efficiency because the left-hand picture and the right-hand picture are coded and decoded independently of one another by means of the encoders present in the system. As a result of providing one encoder with switching means to which a signal representing the left-hand picture and a signal representing the right-hand picture are fed, said encoder is able to base the prediction either on the left-hand picture or the right-hand picture, and this improves the prediction and, consequently, the efficiency of the coding.

Abstract: Known transcoders for compressed video signals comprise a decoder and a coder coupled thereto, between which a data signal is transmitted. Because compressed video signals comprise so-called difference pictures and normal pictures, both the decoder and the coder should have a feedback loop which is utilized in decoding and coding a difference picture and is not utilized in decoding and coding a normal picture. For example, for the purpose of prediction means (motion compensation and motion estimation) present in the feedback loop of the coder, much computation has to be carried out in the coder. The computation required is considerably reduced by concomitantly transmitting one or more information signals in addition to the data signal in a transcoder according to the invention, and complete decoding and complete coding no longer takes place.

Abstract: Known systems based on layered coding and decoding do not take account of the greater surface area of an HDTV picture, which is to be coded with high resolution, compared with the smaller surface area of a conventional picture, to be derived therefrom, which is to be coded with low resolution. An improvement in the efficiency of the coding and decoding is achieved by actually taking account of this with the system according to the invention and maintaining the coupling between the two layers in the encoder and the decoder if a picture element is situated in a corresponding section of the two pictures and interrupting the coupling if a picture element is situated outside the corresponding section of the two pictures.

Abstract: An encoder for coding a digital signal comprises an encoder input for receiving the digital signal; a first data processor, having an input which is coupled to the encoder input, for generating a first coded digital signal at a first output of the first data processor; a first reduction device coupled to the encoder input, for reducing the received digital signal; a second data processor, having an input which is coupled to the first reduction device, for generating a second coded digital signal at a first output of the second data processor; a first encoder memory having an input which is coupled to a second output of the first data processor, and having an output which is coupled to the input of the first data processor; a second encoder memory having an input which is coupled to a second output of the second data processor, and having an output which is coupled to the input of the second data processor; and a first encoder prediction device having a first side which is coupled to the second output of the s

Abstract: Known systems based on layered video coding and video decoding code with inadequate efficiency because a new high-resolution picture is predicted by means of switching means present in the system either on a basis of the preceding high-resolution picture or on the basis of an instantaneous low-resolution picture. According to the invention, designing the switching means for a adjustment of a ratio of the signal representing a preceding high-resolution picture and the signal representing the instantaneous low-resolution picture and for then adding both adjusted signals achieves a gain of 3 dB in the prediction with the correct ratio, thus resulting in an improvement in the coding efficiency.