Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time collaboration using multiple content streams.

Abstract: Systems and methods for content collaboration using context information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for display. Program instructions of a client application are accessed. The client application is an application of a client device that is located within a viewable region of a display device. Display output of a first display system application is generated by executing the accessed program instructions. A first absolute position of the client device is determined. A display area for the display output of the display system application is determined. A first pixel region of the display device is determined. The first display region corresponds to the determined display area and the first absolute position of the client device. The display output of the display system application is displayed by using the determined first pixel region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for display. Program instructions of a client application are accessed. The client application is an application of a client device that is located within a viewable region of a display device. Display output of a first display system application is generated by executing the accessed program instructions. A first absolute position of the client device is determined. A display area for the display output of the display system application is determined. A first pixel region of the display device is determined. The first display region corresponds to the determined display area and the first absolute position of the client device. The display output of the display system application is displayed by using the determined first pixel region.

Abstract: A method of collaborative transcoding includes discovering capabilities of devices within a network; exchanging information about content stored within the network; anticipating a request for a content item in a target format; identifying a location of the content item by referencing the information about content stored within the network; and, if the content item is not in the target format, selecting a the device within the network to transcode the content into the target format.

Abstract: A centralized Digital Video Recording (DVR) and reproduction system links several reproduction and control units (such as television receivers, etc.) and a centralized server via a home area network. This allows programming to be distributed throughout the premises, and novelly allows live-pause recording and playback to be effected from more than one reproduction and control unit in a seamless manner. For example, during a live-pause episode, a viewer can pause a program from one control and reproduction unit, and resume viewing the program from the same pause point at another control and reproduction unit on the premises. The present invention also allows a viewer to view multiple programs from the server on the same monitor using a multiple picture-in-picture display.

Abstract: A system [100] includes an audio reception device [105] to receive audio from a person speaking and convert the audio to a text format. An intelligent agent [110] receives the text format and detects at least one key term in the text format based on predetermined criteria. A logic engine [115] compares the at least one key term with a listener knowledge base [125] corresponding to a listener to determine context information corresponding to the at least one key term. A search device [135] searches for multimedia content corresponding to the context information. A communication device [150] communicates display content comprising at least one of: the multimedia content, and a link to the multimedia content to an electronic display device [155] adapted to display the display content.

Abstract: A method of collaborative transcoding includes discovering capabilities of devices within a network; exchanging information about content stored within the network; anticipating a request for a content item in a target format; identifying a location of the content item by referencing the information about content stored within the network; and, if the content item is not in the target format, selecting a the device within the network to transcode the content into the target format.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for optimizing delivery of a content item from a content distribution network to a display device, where the content distribution network includes transcoding resources to convert the content item from a first format to a second format. A computing device receives a request to deliver the content item to the display device. The system selects, from the transcoding resources, an optimized transcoding resource based on an evaluation of metadata that describes the content item, a preferred technique for transcoding the content item, a state of the content distribution network, a predicted behavior for the user, and metadata that describes the display device. The system reserves the selected transcoding resource, and delivers the content item to the display device on a media stream that utilizes the selected transcoding resource.

Abstract: A set top terminal includes a tuner for receiving SDV programs over a content delivery system, an SDV module for coordinating SDV sessions in cooperation with an SDV manager associated with the content delivery system, and a DVR module for coordinating storage and playback of SDV programs received over the content delivery system. The SDV module is configured to transmit a message over the content delivery system substantially in advance of a time at which an upcoming SDV program is scheduled to be recorded by the DVR module. The message specifies when the upcoming SDV program has been scheduled for recording. A processor operationally associated with the tuner, the SDV module and the DVR module.

Abstract: A set top box is provided that includes a receiver for receiving programming content over a broadband access network and an electronic program guide (EPG) unit for outputting to a display scheduling information associated with programs deliverable over the broadband access network. The EPG is further configured to present on the display a plurality of user-selectable program cells for selecting a program identified by each of the respective cells. The program cells have dimensions that are substantially equal to one another. A processor is operationally associated with the receiver and the EPG unit. A user interface device is provided for selecting among the user-selectable program cells.

Abstract: A centralized interactive TV recording and reproduction system linking several “Quality of Service” (QoS) reproduction and control units (such as television and audio reproduction receivers), as well as high bandwidth non-QoS legacy devices such as PCs, via a Home Area Network (HAN) to a centralized media server, has novel traffic control to prevent non-QoS devices from establishing and maintaining high-bandwidth network connections during the real-time transmission of media (video and/or audio) information from the media server to the QoS devices. In the preferred embodiment, the media server also contains a gateway device for connecting the HAN to a Wide Area Network, Metropolitan Area Network, and/or the Internet, and the media server also receives video and audio signals from sources such as cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcast, etc. The media server also contains a network router.

Abstract: A device is operable to determine location of a packet-switched device, and the location is used to provide location-based services for the packet-switched device. The device includes an interface receiving a message. The message includes a tag inserted by an access point between the packet-switched device and the device. A database stores a plurality of tags and a location for each tag. The device parses the received message to identify the tag, and performs a lookup on the database using the tag to determine a corresponding location for the tag. This location is an estimation of a location of the packet-switched device, and the location is operable to be used to provide a location-based service for the packet-switched device.

Abstract: A set top terminal includes a processor and a runtime execution engine adapted to run on the processor. The runtime execution engine has at least one interface to expose one or more functions of the runtime execution engine. The set top terminal also includes a software application adapted to run on the runtime execution engine. An application interface shim is also provided to chain calls between the software application and the runtime execution engine and to redirect select functions calls over a communications network to a remote device. The select function calls enable at least one feature not otherwise available to the software application.

Abstract: A system for recording media content on different recording devices includes a metadata insertion device configured to annotate advertisement content with metadata, where the advertisement content references a media content, and where the metadata is configured to enable recording of the media content on the different recording devices. The system also includes a program finder server configured to determine the next broadcast of the media content available to the different recording devices and a recording server configured to access information pertaining to the different recording devices and configured to schedule a recording of the media content on one or more of the recording devices based upon data and protocols required by the one or more recording devices.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are provided for offering or providing added value content associated with feature content to feature content end users. The system includes a receiver that has a processor or controller for reading end user or feature content, such as a film or programming event. The feature content is broadcast or downloaded as an encoded video stream from a suitable source, such as a video server. Metadata associated with the feature content includes information about available added value content that is associated with the feature content. The method includes providing, based on reading the associated metadata, the ability for the end user to obtain added value content associated with the feature content that has been selected and/or obtained by the end user. The added value content can be obtained by the end user and packaged with the feature content and recorded on a suitable recording medium.

Abstract: A system [100] includes an audio reception device [105] to receive audio from a person speaking and convert the audio to a text format. An intelligent agent [110] receives the text format and detects at least one key term in the text format based on predetermined criteria. A logic engine [115] compares the at least one key term with a listener knowledge base [125] corresponding to a listener to determine context information corresponding to the at least one key term. A search device [135] searches for multimedia content corresponding to the context information. A communication device [150] communicates display content comprising at least one of: the multimedia content, and a link to the multimedia content to an electronic display device [155] adapted to display the display content.

Abstract: A system and a method for alerting a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) viewer as to content that meets a predefined criteria of the viewer embedded within a real-time internet web feed and allowing the viewer to elect to view and/or record detected content that meets such criteria while viewing other content.

Abstract: A device and method for providing display information blended or combined with multimedia content to an end user display device. The method includes receiving multimedia content, determining display points or other triggering events in the multimedia content, executing one or more display applications to access or generate display information, and blending or combining the display information, e.g., in a user-configurable format, with the multimedia content for transfer to an end user display device. The device includes a processor for receiving and processing multimedia content, a display application manager for accessing or generating display information, and a blender for blending or combining the display information with the multimedia content for transfer to an end user display device. The device identifies display points or other locations in the multimedia content suitable for blending the display information therewith.

Abstract: A content-carrying device, such as, for example, a sheet of photographic paper having a photographic image content printed on it, has a key device secured to it that is programmed with information that associates the content-carrying device with content that is related to the content printed on the content-carrying device. A recipient of the content-carrying device may use a key reader to read the information programmed into the key device to access this other related content, which may be stored in electronic form on a storage device at a location designated by the key information.