Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

Abstract: An organic thin film transistor comprising: a substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed over the substrate with a channel region therebetween; a layer of organic semiconductor disposed in the channel region; a gate electrode; and a gate dielectric disposed between the layer of organic semiconductor and the gate electrode, wherein the gate dielectric comprises a cross-linked polymer and a fluorine containing polymer.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing a plurality of servers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of servers in a video-on-demand or other multi-server system are divided into one or more load-balancing groups. Each server preferably maintains state information concerning other servers in its load-balancing group including information concerning content maintained and served by each server in the group. Changes in a server's content status or other state information are preferably proactively delivered to other servers in the group. When a content request is received by any server in a load-balancing group, it evaluates the request in accordance with a specified algorithm to determine whether it should deliver the requested content itself or redirect the request to another server in its group. In a preferred embodiment, this determination is a function of information in the server's state table.

Abstract: A hardware engine that streams media asset data from a media buffer to a network under instructions provided by a host PC is disclosed. The PC preferably stores control blocks that provide packet header formatting instructions in a media buffer along with the media asset data to be streamed. In a preferred embodiment, the hardware engine comprises programmable logic devices so that the engine can be upgraded. The present invention further comprises methods for designing the hardware engine, methods for upgrading the hardware engine, and methods for streaming digital media asset data.

Abstract: An organic thin film transistor, and a method of making the same, comprising a source and drain electrode and organic semi-conductive material disposed therebetween in a channel region, in which the source and drain electrodes have disposed on them a thin self-assembled layer of a material comprising a dopant moiety for chemically doping the organic semi-conductive material by accepting electrons, the dopant moiety having a redox potential of at least 0.3 eV relative to a saturated calomel electrode in acetonitrile.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic thin film transistor, comprising: providing a substrate comprising source and drain electrodes defining a channel region; subjecting at least the channel region to a cleaning treatment step; and depositing organic semiconductive material from solution into the channel region by inkjet printing.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing a plurality of servers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of servers in a video-on-demand or other multi-server system are divided into one or more load-balancing groups. Each server preferably maintains state information concerning other servers in its load-balancing group including information concerning content maintained and served by each server in the group. Changes in a server's content status or other state information are preferably proactively delivered to other servers in the group. When a content request is received by any server in a load-balancing group, it evaluates the request in accordance with a specified algorithm to determine whether it should deliver the requested content itself or redirect the request to another server in its group. In a preferred embodiment, this determination is a function of information in the server's state table.

Abstract: A method of forming an organic thin film transistor comprising source and drain electrodes with a channel region therebetween, a gate electrode, a dielectric layer disposed between the source and drain electrodes and the gate electrode, and an organic semiconductor disposed in at least the channel region between the source and drain electrodes, said method comprising: seeding a surface in the channel region with crystallization sites prior to deposition of the organic semiconductor; and depositing the organic semiconductor onto the seeded surface whereby the organic semiconductor crystallizes at the crystallization sites forming crystalline domains in the channel region.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for eliminating many of the transactional performance limitations in current digital media server systems by augmenting those existing systems with an adaptable cache. In a preferred embodiment, the adaptable cache is a compact storage device that can persist data and deliver it at an accelerated rate, as well as act as an intelligent controller and director of that data. Incorporating such an adaptable cache between existing storage devices and an external network interface of a media server, or at the network interface itself, significantly overcomes the transactional limitations of the storage devices, increasing performance and throughput for the overall digital media system. The adaptable cache of the present system and method may preferably be integrated directly into the storage and delivery pipelines, utilizing the native communications busses and protocols of those subsystems.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing a plurality of servers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of servers in a video-on-demand or other multi-server system are divided into one or more load-balancing groups. Each server preferably maintains state information concerning other servers in its load-balancing group including information concerning content maintained and served by each server in the group. Changes in a server's content status or other state information are preferably proactively delivered to other servers in the group. When a content request is received by any server in a load-balancing group, it evaluates the request in accordance with a specified algorithm to determine whether it should deliver the requested content itself or redirect the request to another server in its group. In a preferred embodiment, this determination is a function of information in the server's state table.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media are provided for very fast failover of streaming media servers. Fast failover allows for better quality of service. If a first server that is streaming media to a customer fails, a second server can continue operations in its place. Single frame failover can be accomplished by simultaneously streaming a digital asset by a first server and a second server. The second server flags each frame of the asset for discard, and meanwhile monitors the first server to ensure the first server is operational. Upon detecting a failure in the first server, the second server stops flagging frames for discard.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of forming an optical device including the steps of (i) providing a substrate carrying a first electrode capable of injecting or accepting charge carriers of a first type; (ii) depositing a polyfluorene over the first electrode; and (iii) forming over the polyfluorene a second electrode capable of injecting or accepting charge carriers of a second type, wherein the polyfluorene is heated before and after forming the second electrode. The disclosure has particular application in the preparation of organic light emitting devices.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate comprising a first electrode capable of injecting or accepting charge carriers of a first type; forming over the first electrode a first layer that is at least partially insoluble in a solvent by depositing a first semiconducting material that is free of cross-linkable vinyl or ethynyl groups and is, at the time of deposition, soluble in the solvent; forming a second layer in contact with the first layer and comprising a second semiconducting material by depositing a second semiconducting material from a solution in the solvent; and forming over the second layer a second electrode capable of injecting or accepting charge carriers of a second type wherein the first layer is rendered at least partially insoluble by one or more of heat, vacuum and ambient drying treatment following deposition of the first semiconducting material.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for upgrading both hardware and software components of a digital media server without disrupting media delivery services. In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method employ an object-oriented model that allows system servers to remain fully operational while software upgrades at both the operating system and application levels are installed. Additionally, the system and method use redundant or partitionable programmable logic devices to perform firmware upgrades without disrupting media delivery services.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for upgrading both hardware and software components of a digital media server without disrupting media delivery services. In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method employ an object-oriented model that allows system servers to remain fully operational while software upgrades at both the operating system and application levels are installed. Additionally, the system and method use redundant or partitionable programmable logic devices to perform firmware upgrades without disrupting media delivery services.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for upgrading both hardware and software components of a digital media server without disrupting media delivery services. In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method employ an object-oriented model that allows system servers to remain fully operational while software upgrades at both the operating system and application levels are installed. Additionally, the system and method use redundant or partitionable programmable logic devices to perform firmware upgrades without disrupting media delivery services.