Abstract: Method and apparatus for use with televisions having an internal Java engine are included among the embodiments. In exemplary systems, a PCMCIA port allows the Java engine to load and execute Java applets selected by the viewer. Provision is made for system-aware applets to run concurrently with platform-independent applets on different Java display planes that are merged for display. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a television system having an internal microphone for implementing a voice-messaging system. Using the microphone, the television system detects a message spoken by a user of the television system, and records the message to a memory. Some embodiments of the invention may also record metadata about the message. Embodiments of the invention alert an intended recipient of the message using the audio output or video output of the television system, and subsequently reproduce the message using the audio output of the television system. Other embodiments of the invention are described in the specification and the claims.

Abstract: A plural-source-capable, broadcast-reception, audio/video system and methodology which freely enable the simultaneous display, on a single television receiver screen, of different categories of these broadcast-information components which may be being broadcast at the same time from two different broadcast sources.

Abstract: The current invention describes a remote display technology which, responsive to button activations from a wireless remote control to a television display device, routes signals to a host computer to activate the application button responsive to the specific remote control button pressed with the application appearing on the television display.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use with televisions having an internal Java engine are included among the embodiments. In exemplary systems, a PCMCIA port allows the Java engine to load and execute Java applets selected by the viewer. Provision is made for system-aware applets to run concurrently with platform-independent applets on different Java display planes that are merged for display. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved television remote control system and method with alphanumeric keyboard input. The alphanumeric keyboard input might be used in interactive televisions to control applications and functions. The remote control includes alphanumeric and controls keyboards, an encoder to encode the alphanumeric and control keyboards with alphanumeric and control codes, respectively, and a transmitter to transmit the alphanumeric and control codes to the television.

Abstract: Java Applets are packaged in a JAR file, including accompanying classes and resources as well as one addition file—a descriptor file. This last file can be read from the JAR file, and scanned to extract an icon to represent the applet on a menu, the applet's name in market applicable languages, applet size and position, and the applets main class name. No further processing need be done to present this applet to the user for selection. The entire applet need not be loaded into memory until the user requests it by using a remote control to select one of the applets represented on the display by a labeled icon. Once the user has selected the application, the applet can be sized and launched without further scanning.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved interactive television having an alert manager. The alert manager alerts a viewer of events. For example, the alert manager alerts the viewer that email has arrived in his inbox or that a text message has been sent to his computer. The alert manager manages event alerts in an easy and non-intrusive manner to enhance the viewer's experience.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for synchronizing multiple media streams to conveniently produce multimedia presentations using a television system. Some embodiments of the invention may provide a slideshow application, a karaoke application, or a storybook application.

Abstract: A method for displaying messages on a television screen comprising the steps of (a) displaying a video signal on the screen; (b) receiving at the screen an incoming notification message including a dialog and an icon associated therewith; (c) displaying the icon on the video screen in combination with the video signal, and (d) only displaying the dialog responsive to a user-initiated action.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a television system having an internal microphone for implementing a voice-messaging system. Using the microphone, the television system detects a message spoken by a user of the television system, and records the message to a memory. Some embodiments of the invention may also record metadata about the message. Embodiments of the invention alert an intended recipient of the message using the audio output or video output of the television system, and subsequently reproduce the message using the audio output of the television system. Other embodiments of the invention are described in the specification and the claims.

Abstract: The selection of informational material.

Abstract: A plural-source-capable, broadcast-reception, audio/video system and methodology which freely enable the simultaneous display, on a single television receiver screen, of different categories of these broadcast-information components which may be being broadcast at the same time from two different broadcast sources.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating state information for a target consumer electronic device in a home network to multiple controller devices, where the controller devices are each implementing a controller software element that conforms to a different protocol than the other. The target consumer electronic device is represented within the home network by a target software element. A first controller software element conforming to a data driven interaction (DDI) protocol accesses the target software element. A second controller software element conforming to a protocol different from the DDI protocol concurrently accesses the target software element. The first controller software element and the second controller software element cause a change in state of the consumer electronic device. The target software element notifies the first controller software element and the second controller software element of the state information for the target consumer electronic device.

Abstract: A first device includes a processor, a first memory, and a memory manager. A second device includes a second memory and a first application program, and a third device includes a third memory and a second application program. The first application program is loaded into the first memory to be executed by the processor. Application program variables related to the first application are stored in the first memory. The second application program to be executed by the processor is loaded into the memory in at least a partially overlapping manner of the first application program. The creation of second application program variables related to the second application program in the first memory is in a region not occupied by the first application program. Alternatively, the first and second application programs may be in the same device and/or memory.

Abstract: A real-time video production technique using recursive techniques adds an output framestore, a feedback storage unit and a synchronized controller to a pipelined video processing system. Partial composites are stored in the feedback storage unit while complete composites are stored in the output framestore. The output framestore provides a preview video during the video processing. For automatic assembly where the feedback storage unit has a length of many frames the complete composites are stored also in the feedback storage unit and a multiplexer is used to select the complete composites either from the output framestore for each new complete composite or from the feedback storage unit otherwise.

Abstract: A crosspoint matrix with integrated matte generators includes double buffered internal storage registers which may be serially loaded with mode and selection data to enable the crosspoint matrix to operate in a crosspoint mode wherein a selected input bus is directed to selected output bus. Further, the crosspoint matrix may be operated in a matte generator mode wherein the stored data is supplied to the output bus as a matte signal. The matte signal may be selectively toggled through a series of values to enable operation with both D1 and D2 signals. The data is latched in response to a vertical pulse which enables data values to be written in non-real time as a background task while the actual switch of data is accomplished only upon receipt of a vertical pulse.

Abstract: A switcher with depth processing includes a depth processor module. External depth data, or internally generated depth data, are input to the depth processor to generate a priority signal for combining key video signals as layers between a background and a foreground video signal. Further a composite depth signal is generated for the combined key video signals for subsequent processing so that additional key video layers may be intersected and intertwined with the key video layers in the combined video signals.

Abstract: A method of pattern generation for a screen using a wipe solid generator and a recursive memory includes generating from operator inputs a wipe solid. An extent of the generated wipe solid is measured to produce maximum and minimum values. These maximum and minimum values are extended to encompass a desired border size and softness. A lever-arm scaling function is selected based upon whether a change in operator input causes a reversal in pattern and/or causes the pattern to "breathe." The selected lever-arm scaling function uses prior values from the recursive memory to generate new values that are stored in the recursive memory. From the stored values clip levels are determined such that completion of lever-arm movement to a limit position coincides with completion of the pattern without distortion of the size of the pattern.

Abstract: An inverse hyperbolic comb filter decodes an encoded signal by subtracting a vertically filtered and horizontally filtered version of the encoded signal from a delayed version of the encoded signal whereupon the resulting output is further horizontally filtered to provide a first decoded output. A twice delayed version of the input signal then has the first output signal subtracted therefrom to provide a second output. Optional further vertical filtering may be employed to vertically filter the output of the first subtractor before the final horizontal filtering is performed. The filter may also be employed in encoding signals wherein the components to be encoded are first filtered prior to combining. The inverse hyperbolic comb filter is applicable to any system employing combining of two-dimensional signals via quadrature modulation and may also be employed in three-dimensional systems.