Abstract: A computer system provides access to a corpus of social media content; extracts from the corpus of social media content one or more ratings of an item of media content; identifies the author of each of the one or more ratings; analyzes the content of each of the one or more ratings of an item of media content and assigns a value to each of the one or more ratings; analyzes the corpus of social media content and assigns an impact coefficient to the author of each of the one or more ratings; aggregates the values of the one or more ratings, weighted by the assigned impact coefficients of the author of each of the one or more ratings, and determines therefrom an aggregated value; and based on the aggregated value, assigns an emotional impact value to the item of media content.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create and distribute a multimedia presentation. At a source, audio-video content and an interactive application are broadcast. At a distributor, the audio-video content and the interactive application are received, and at least one resource of the application is replaced with a replacement resource. The audio-video content and the modified interactive application with the replacement resource are distributed. At a receiver, the audio-video content and the modified interactive application are received, the audio-video content is displayed, and in response to an external signal the interactive application is executed utilizing the replacement resource.

Abstract: A simple display of items from a list, which changes in synchrony with the corresponding video display, and permits simple navigation under user control. The display includes three control objects positioned below a video frame window on a display screen. A middle displayed object is located in a focus position and corresponds to the video segment currently being played in the video window. When play of the segment is complete, the object located to the right of the focus position moves and displaces the middle displayed object, most recently displayed within the focus position, to indicate a forward progression within the viewed video sequence.

Abstract: A first check code is computed by applying an algorithm to a proper subset of a first body of data. A second check code is computed by applying the algorithm to an equivalent proper subset of a second equivalent body of data. The two check codes are compared. The extent of the proper subset of the first body of data is determined by a semantic analysis of the first body of data. Multiple versions of an application, when the semantic changes between the applications are inconsequential, may then be certified by ignoring the non-significant modifications and ensuring the integrity of the remainder of the content.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium, and a system are provided for generating control information for controlling computer system operation during execution of the computer system. At least one attribute change of a computer system to occur during execution of the computer system is identified. The attribute change is associated with an event taking place during computer system execution. An index point is created identifying the attribute point as triggering the attribute change, and the index point is associated with the attribute change in the computer system. The index point is stored in a format configured to be used by the computer system to initiate the attribute change upon the index point being reached during the execution of the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a computer, data, or media system in response to state changes in the computer system. At least one state table having a first dimension and a second dimension is created. At least one programming element is listed along the first dimension and a plurality of states of the computer system are listed along the second dimension. At each intersection of the first dimension and the second dimension is a cell in which an operand is specified for the programming element at each state. For each state change of the computer system, each programming element listed along the first dimension is executed according to the operand listed for a current state.

Abstract: A system for error recovery when printing documents has multiple printer description language formats. In particular, a document to be printed on a printer is received. The document is then examined to select one of a plurality of parsers suitable to parse the printer description language of the document. In response to examining the document to determine its format, the document is processed by selecting at least one of a first printer description language and a second printer description language for parsing the document. The remainder of the document is examined for synchronization data while the document is parsed.

Abstract: Block boundary artifact reduction in decompressed digital images is accomplished by filtering the intensity of pixels in the vicinity of the block boundary. The filter utilizes filter coefficients selected from tables on the basis of the distribution of a scalar quantity describing the pixels neighboring the pixel to which the intensity adjustment is to be applied. The intensities of pixels at the boundary and one pixel removed from the boundary are adjusted. If interpolation pixels in each of neighboring blocks are of relatively constant intensity, the intensities of additional pixels, more remote from the boundary, are adjusted. Filter coefficients can be selected from different arrays for pixels on the boundary or removed from the boundary or if the pixel intensity adjustment is based on the intensities of pixels in a horizontal row or vertical column of interpolation pixels.

Abstract: An image system with an imaging device obtains and presents at least one image. An eye gaze system associated with the imaging device determines a non-closed loop portion of the at least one image that an eye of a viewer observes. The image system associates the at least one image with the non-closed loop portion of the at least one image. An image processor analyzes the image based at least in part on the image itself together with data representative of the gaze information to determine the content of the image, where the gaze information is a non-closed loop portion of the image that an eye of a viewer observes. The image system associates the content with the image.

Abstract: A speaker system having intelligence for communication with the amplifier. The speaker system contains a communications module that transmits information across the connection between the speaker system and the amplifier with regard to the speaker characteristics. The communications module may be powered by a rectifier that derives power from a high frequency carrier signal passed to it by a high-pass filter. The method of operating the speaker generates a carrier signal and powers the communications module using the carrier signal. The communications module transmits information to the amplifier so long as the carrier signal is present and shuts down when the carrier signal is no longer present. An optional step includes allowing communication to the speaker system from the amplifier.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding video subframes (e.g., lower-resolution video) with a DVC video coder are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments allow a DVC video coder to efficiently code a subframe. The disclosed encoder embodiments redistribute blocks of data from a subframe to correspond with the staggered locations used for video segment creation. This separates video segments at the DVC coder output into two group—those largely or completely composed of subframe data, and those containing discardable data. The present invention allows a DVC coder to be used efficiently for several different video resolutions, or in a low-resolution system.

Abstract: An electronic programming guide (EPG) browsing system and method for its operation are disclosed. A viewer navigates this EPG using traditional up, down, left, right commands. But unlike the prior art, which responds to these commands by moving a selection area across a display of program titles, this EPG responds by scrolling the display while leaving the program selection area fixed. This can improve viewer interaction and the display of information for an EPG display, as paging can be avoided and the display scrolling motions correspond with the user's control manipulations. In a preferred embodiment, the program selection area is expanded such that additional details are displayed for a program when it enters the program selection area.

Abstract: A printing interface is provided for a computer system that includes an application program for creating original multi-page electronic documents and a printing device for reproducing those documents. The printing interface has facilities for receiving a copy of the original electronic document and a user interface enabling the computer user to apply formatting changes to a selected page or groups of pages of the copy free from changing the original electronic document and to print the copy with those formatting changes. Provisions are made for automatic disposal of the copy and resetting the formatting options to the default settings when a second document is sent to the printing interface. In an alternative embodiment, the electronic document is printed to an intermediate metafile format in the printing interface and can be stored or printed.

Abstract: The system and method stores event data, including timing data associated with each event referenced against a reference time, in an index table within the memory of an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) such as a set-top-box. The event data is typically transmitted in advance of a broadcast signal received by the IRD and stored within IRD memory in anticipation of the broadcast program. The reference time is generated by any one of a variety of different means, such as by time date table, time plus offset table, or within a data (e.g. MPEG) stream. Time relative to the reference time, where the reference time can be periodically reset to accommodate interruptions or changes in the original broadcast programming to which the events are synchronized, are compared to the event times stored in memory. If a match occurs, the event triggers at that appropriate relative time.

Abstract: An efficient method of computing gamma correction tables of the present invention includes the following steps: determining a gamma correction equation between luminance values produced between two representations; determining at least one polynomial approximation to the gamma correction equation, the at least one polynomial approximation having coefficient values cI; for each coefficient value cI, grouping together all of the coefficient values over a range of &ggr; and then fitting a polynomial equation to each grouping to get a respective coefficient polynomial equation; computing coefficients for a given value of &ggr; using the coefficient polynomial equations; computing gamma conversion transformations using the computed coefficients and a simplified mathematical formula; and storing the computed gamma conversion transformations in a gamma correction table.

Abstract: Methods, software and devices are provided for designing scalable image FIR filters with integer coefficients. A template FIR filter is designed for the desired scaling operation. Then an ideal filter is designed from the template filter, and a suitable sample image is filtered, to produce a reference image. A scalable skeleton filter is designed, having integer coefficients and approximating the template FIR filter. A finite domain of integers is defined around each integer coefficient. This determines a finite universe of possible combinations of coefficients, and thus also respective available test filters. The available test filters are first screened for meeting an integer normalization requirement. Those that do not meet it within a tolerance are rejected. Then the screened test filters are ranked according to performance in terms of filter parameters. The sample image is filtered by each of the best ranked test filters, to produce test images.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes an array of optical detectors and an optical filter placed adjacent the array. The optical detectors output detection signals that are used to form control signals. The filter includes spatial sections of individually adjustable optical density. The optical densities are controlled by the individual control signals. The camera outputs the combined control signals and detection signals, thus effectively providing an output with a larger dynamic range than would be provided by the detection signals of the detectors alone. An objective lens and a housing form a stand alone unit. The detectors can have different responses to different wavelengths to achieve color specific effects. Methods are further provided for controlling the filter. The detection signals are scanned to ensure that a predefined filtering condition is met. If not, control signals are iteratively generated and applied to the filter until the condition has been met.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding vide subframes (e.g., lower-resolution video) with a DVC video coder are disclosed. Although a subframe can be encoded or decoded by wholesale insertion of the subframe into a subregion of a DVC frame, the DVC coding method is largely inefficient in coding a subregion. Because each video segment comprises several staggered blocks of data from widespread locations in the DVC frame, subregion pixels become inextricably coded in a fixed-length video segment with blank pixels, defeating attempts at compression.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding video subframes (e.g., lower-resolution video) with a DVC video coder are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments allow a DVC video coder to efficiently code a subframe. The disclosed encoder embodiments redistribute blocks of data from a subframe to correspond with the staggered locations used for video segment creation. This separates video segments at the DVC coder output into two groups—those largely or completely composed of subframe data, and those containing discardable data. The present invention allows a DVC coder to be used efficiently for several different video resolutions, or in a low-resolution system.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium, and a data system are provided for indicating when a superseded data file in a series of data files has been replaced with a changed data file. An index file is created and inserted in the series of data files. The index file includes a change indicator signifying that the changed data file has replaced the superseded data file. The index file is repeatedly transmitted with the series of data files.