Abstract: A video transmitter identifies regions in pictures in a compressed three-dimensional (3D) video comprising a base view video and an enhancement view video. The identified regions are not referenced by other pictures in the compressed 3D video. The identified regions are watermarked. Pictures such as a high layer picture in the base view video and the enhancement view video are identified for watermarking. The identified regions in the base view and/or enhancement view videos are watermarked and multiplexed into a transport stream for transmission. An intended video receiver extracts the base view video, the enhancement view video and corresponding watermark data from the received transport stream. The corresponding extracted watermark data are synchronized with the extracted base view video and the extracted enhancement view video, respectively, for watermark insertion. The resulting base view and enhancement view videos are decoded into a left view video and a right view video, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for switching between a live video decoding and a recorded playback in a digital video and recording system. A received video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out video decoder buffer without first looping the video data stream through a playback buffer. The video data stream is transmitted from the video decoder buffer to a video decoder. If a “pause” command is received, the video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out playback buffer, while continuing to transmit the video data stream to the video decoder buffer. Transmission of the video data stream to the video decoder buffer is halted when the video decoder buffer fills up. The last byte of the video data stream that was transmitted to the video decoder buffer is marked. If a “play” command is received, the video data stored in the video decoder buffer is transmitted to the video decoder.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for transmission of related data components across independent streams. In one embodiment, among others, a transmitting device may separate transmission data into related data components and transmit each related data component in an associated transport stream. Each related data component includes a synchronization tag associated with synchronization of the related data component within the transmission data. In another embodiment, a receiving device may receive related data components transmitted in separate transport streams and decode the related data components based at least in part upon a synchronization tag included in each related data component.

Abstract: A method and/or system are described in which a server communicatively coupled with a set-top-box (STB) may predict a location of a pointer on a web browser running on the STB. The server may render the pointer based on the predicted pointer location. The server may send the rendered pointer to the STB, wherein the STB may composite a web page on the web browser based on the rendered pointer. The server may be synchronized with the STB based on event information received by the server from the STB such as, for example, keystroke events, click event, or other like event. The prediction of the pointer location may be based on actual pointer location information provided by the STB. A predetermined number of pointer locations may be predicted based on an actual pointer location and/or on a latency of a connection between the server and the STB.

Abstract: A 2D and/or 3D video processing device comprising a camera and a display captures images of a viewer as the viewer observes displayed 2D and/or 3D video content in a viewport. Face and/or eye tracking of viewer images is utilized to generate a different viewport. Current and different viewports may comprise 2D and/or 3D video content from a single source or from different sources. The sources of 2D and/or 3D content may be scrolled, zoomed and/or navigated through for generating the different viewport. Content for the different viewport may be processed. Images of a viewer's positions, angles and/or movements of face, facial expression, eyes and/or physical gestures are captured by the camera and interpreted by face and/or eye tracking. The different viewport may be generated for navigating through 3D content and/or for rotating a 3D object. The 2D and/or 3D video processing device communicates via wire, wireless and/or optical interfaces.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for improving performance of video decoders during rewind and fast forward operation. Video decoder performance is improved by avoiding repetitive decoding of prediction pictures. When a decoded prediction picture is stored in a frame buffer, techniques are presented for decoding multiple pictures in the rewind order which are dependent thereon, displaying the picture directly from the frame buffer, and setting one type of prediction picture as another type of prediction picture.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request is sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. In one such method, the STB sends to the server an unsupported content request associated with a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser executing on the STB. The STB receives a data stream from the server in response to the unsupported content request. The data stream was generated at the server by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The STB composites the received data stream with another portion of the web page, that is supported by the web browser, to produce the web page.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media that may be used to encode and multiplex video are provided. One method includes receiving uncompressed three-dimensional (3D) video including a left view video and a right view video. The method further includes encoding the left view video and the right view video into a base view video and an enhancement view video. One or more pictures in the base view video that are not used to predict corresponding pictures in the enhancement view video are dropped based on available memory resources. The method further includes generating residual view video by subtracting base view pictures from corresponding enhancement view pictures, and multiplexing the base view video and the generated residual view video into a single transport stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating efficient operation of trick modes in a personal video recording (PVR) system. Stream-navigation data from a data stream is captured and pre-processed to generate a frame-correlated NAV table comprising one entry for each frame within the data stream, during recording of the data stream. The stream-navigation data comprises start code data, content rating data, and conditional access data that is embedded in the data stream. During playback of the data stream in a user-selected trick mode, the frame-correlated NAV table is used to generate command packets that are sent to a data decoder along with selected frames of the data stream. The selected frames are decoded based on information in the command packets and certain selected frames may be displayed as part of the trick mode.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for indicating the identity of a device for receiving and retransmitting programming information. The device, which may be a set-top box or suitable communication network receiver, may be configured to receive a broadcast signal from an antenna, which may be a satellite, a cable, an electronic communication network or any other suitable source. The programming information may be any type of audio or video data, or any other suitable type of data. The broadcast signal may have multiple channels that include the programming information. Each of the channels may include a distinct watermark. The device may splice between the channels to generate a signature that the device may embed in an output data stream that may be used to display or perform the programming information.

Abstract: A video receiver receives a compound transport stream (TS) comprising 3D program video streams and spliced advertising streams. The received one or more 3D program video streams are extracted and decoded. Targeted advertising streams are extracted from the received advertising streams according to user criteria. Targeted advertising graphic objects of the extracted or replaced targeted advertising streams are spliced into the decoded 3D program video streams. The decoded 3D program video with the spliced targeted advertising graphic objects is presented in a 2D video. The extracted or replaced targeted advertising streams are processed to generate the targeted advertising graphic objects to be spliced based on focal point of view. The generated targeted advertising graphic objects are located according to associated scene graph information. The decoded 3D program video streams and the spliced targeted advertising graphic objects are converted into a 2D video for display.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that facilitate recording to a storage medium in a personal video recorder (PVR) system. In one embodiment, a transport stream is received. The transport stream is stored into a memory. An index table is generated that provides information for locating particular frames recorded in the memory.

Abstract: A 2D and/or 3D video processing device comprising a camera and a display captures images of a viewer as the viewer observes displayed 2D and/or 3D video content in a viewport. Face and/or eye tracking of viewer images is utilized to generate a different viewport. Current and different viewports may comprise 2D and/or 3D video content from a single source or from different sources. The sources of 2D and/or 3D content may be scrolled, zoomed and/or navigated through for generating the different viewport. Content for the different viewport may be processed. Images of a viewer's positions, angles and/or movements of face, facial expression, eyes and/or physical gestures are captured by the camera and interpreted by face and/or eye tracking. The different viewport may be generated for navigating through 3D content and/or for rotating a 3D object. The 2D and/or 3D video processing device communicates via wire, wireless and/or optical interfaces.

Abstract: A server may be used to handle at least some of processing of content retrieved via and/or derived from Internet access operations of a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs). Resource allocation and/or utilization, and/or tasks or applications performed in the server during the processing may be configured based on control data, which may be determined by the server and which may comprise capabilities of links between the server and each of the plurality of STBs, requirements of the tasks, characteristics of the content and/or the Internet access operations, user preferences and/or interactions, and/or content provider preferences. The server may dynamically reconfigure the tasks and/or resources based on monitoring of its operations and/or changes of the control data. Configuring tasks and/or resources may comprise time slicing access to resources that are commonly used during concurrent servicing of at least some of the plurality of STBs by the support server.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request is sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. In one such method, the STB sends to the server an unsupported content request associated with a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser executing on the STB. The STB receives a data stream from the server in response to the unsupported content request. The data stream was generated at the server by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The STB composites the received data stream with another portion of the web page, that is supported by the web browser, to produce the web page.

Abstract: Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request is sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. In one such method, the STB sends to the server an unsupported content request associated with a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser executing on the STB. The STB receives a data stream from the server in response to the unsupported content request. The data stream was generated at the server by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The STB composites the received data stream with another portion of the web page, that is supported by the web browser, to produce the web page.

Abstract: A video processing system receives left and right 3D video and/or graphics frames and generates noise reduced left 3D video, right 3D video and/or graphics frames based on parallax compensated left and right frames. Displacement of imagery and/or pixel structures is determined relative to opposite side left and/or right frames. Parallax vectors are determined for parallax compensated left 3D video, right 3D video and/or graphics frames. A search area for displacement may be bounded by parallax limitations. Left 3D frames may be blended with the parallax compensated right 3D frames. Right 3D frames may be blended with the parallax compensated left 3D frames. The left 3D video, right 3D video and/or graphics frames comprise images that are captured, representative of and/or are displayed at a same time instant or at different time instants. Motion estimation, motion adaptation and/or motion compensation techniques may be utilized with parallax techniques.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide time-based management for MPEG decoding are provided. In one example, a method for live decoding in a personal video recorder system includes the steps of receiving at least one data packet; determining at least one program clock reference (PCR) using the at least one data packet; and locking a timing mechanism to the at least one determined PCR.

Abstract: A server may be used to handle at least some of processing of content retrieved via and/or derived from Internet access operations of a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs). Resource allocation and/or utilization, and/or tasks or applications performed in the server during the processing may be configured based on control data, which may be determined by the server and which may comprise capabilities of links between the server and each of the plurality of STBs, requirements of the tasks, characteristics of the content and/or the Internet access operations, user preferences and/or interactions, and/or content provider preferences. The server may dynamically reconfigure the tasks and/or resources based on monitoring of its operations and/or changes of the control data. Configuring tasks and/or resources may comprise time slicing access to resources that are commonly used during concurrent servicing of at least some of the plurality of STBs by the support server.