Abstract: Aspects for managing subsystem processes from a central site in a digital media distributor system are presented. The aspects include utilizing a plurality of threads as a task manager in a central site server of the digital media distributor, and autonomously controlling initiation and termination of one or more subsystem processes with the task manager. The aspects further include providing the task manager as a main program thread of an operating system of a central site server of the DMD system, and managing subsystem processes from start-up to shut down, including states of online, offline, process inoperable, deadlock inoperable, and spawn inoperable, with the task manager to dynamically manage the DMD system.

Abstract: A simplified TV viewer response system coupled to a telephone system enables a viewer/subscriber to respond to television displays by dialing a special code less than six digits. The code is routed to an enhanced services server. The server captures the dial string including the caller ID, checks the caller ID against a subscriber/viewer profile and maps the caller ID to the cable company providing service to the viewer/subscriber. The server delivers the response to the cable television company which processes the response according to the selected items or choices in the TV screen. Several special dialing codes of limited digits expedite viewer/subscriber selections. Each code includes a special character to route the dialing string to the server. The system provides sound recognition of viewer/subscriber selections.

Abstract: Aspects for efficient archiving and dearchiving for a digital media distributor are presented. The aspects include a tape library for storing archived storage items, an archive server coupled to and managing the tape library, and a central site server coupled to the archive server and including a stage manager component. The stage manager component performs an archive operation to the archive server in response to a store request by grouping storage items according to predefined group categories and performs a dearchive operation from the archive server in response to a retrieve request by sorting storage items according to storage order within the predefined group categories.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for object retransmission in an asynchronous environment without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor (DMD) system. The method and system include receiving objects in a receiver from a central site, generating a response document in the receiver, and sending the response document asynchronously to the central site. The received response documents are then utilized in the central site to determine which object to retransmit to the receiver. In another aspect of the present invention, the central site manages the inventory of objects in the receiver by instructing the receiver to delete objects not needed.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing for automatic selection of scenes and/or sounds recorded in a media using audio cues for replay in other contexts. Analyzing means analyze the media for audio levels within a set of frequency ranges. Audio clip level setting means set audio clip levels as audio cues for identifying a scene of interest in the media within the set of selected frequency ranges. Generating means generate a list of candidate scenes matching the audio cues in the selected frequency ranges for replay in the other contexts.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

Abstract: A multi-media search and indexing system for automatic selection of scenes or sounds recorded in media for replay in other context by analyzing the media for a set of frequency ranges of interest for replay. The media is analyzed to select desired frequency ranges of interest within the media, the selected frequency ranges being indicative of a scene or sound of interest. The granularity or length of the selected frequency ranges is selected for analysis. A number of analysis intervals are determined in the selected frequency ranges. The media is filtered for the selected frequency ranges and the audio level is measured for each interval. An audio clip level is established for each frequency range as indicative of a scene or sound of interest. The interval frequency range and audio level are recorded for subsequent replay.

Abstract: A presently disclosed radio broadcasting system for a virtual radio program broadcasting station uses a divided regional approach to broadcast digital and analog signals over a large geographic region divided into multiple overlapping but separate areas constituting small portions of the region. The small areas are served by separate transmission sources/towers supplied from a common source central to the station. The system supports reuse of allocated transmission parameters within non-neighboring small areas in the region. The station is "virtual" because its central source need not be in any of the small areas, and because it uses different transmission parameters in neighboring small areas in a manner that previously would be used by plural different stations. System transmissions include information signals sent in both analog and digital forms.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

Abstract: A method is provided for precisely and concurrently measuring dynamic engine oil consumption and fuel consumption within an internal combustion engine on a real-time basis. Nonradioactive organo- bromine or chlorine compounds are added to the oil in small amounts in their natural isotopic abundance or enriched. Upon complete combustion, the bromine or chlorine is converted into hydrogen bromide (HBr) or hydrogen chloride (HCl), respectively. A tunable diode laser spectrometer is used to determine the trace amounts of the resultant HBr or HCl in the exhaust gases, which continuously flows through a sample cell by the use of a sample line that allows the unimpeded transport of samples, reduces the pressure of the exhaust gas and maintains it at a suitable level for analysis, and prevents the condensation of water vapor in the exhaust gas so as to prevent the dissolution of the tracer compounds in the water condensate.

Abstract: An improved system for recovering waste heat from a combustion turbine in a combined cycle power plant of the type that includes at least one combustion turbine and at least one steam turbine includes a first heat recovery system for heating condensate in the steam turbine cycle with heat from the hot exhaust gases from the combustion-type turbine, and a second heat recovery system for heating the fuel that is used in the combustion turbine with heat from the exhaust gases. The second system permits recovery of heat energy that is not recovered by the first system, thereby improving plant efficiency.

Abstract: A method is provided for precisely and concurrently measuring dynamic engine oil consumption and fuel consumption within an internal combustion engine in an automotive environment on a real time basis. Nonradioactive tracer compounds, such as bromine or chlorine in the form of organic bromo- or chloro-compounds are added to the engine oil in small amounts. Upon complete combustion, the bromine or chlorine is converted into either hydrogen bromide or hydrogen chloride. A sample of the exhaust gases generated by the internal combustion engine and comprising the hydrogen bromide or hydrogen chloride is collected and maintained at a pressure where distinction between an absorption line of the tracer specie and the absorption lines of a related isotopic species is discernible. Monochromatic radiation is then transmitted through the gaseous sample at the frequency of an absorption line particular to the tracer specie.

Abstract: Spectroscopic measurements of stable isotopes are performed using a tunable lead salt diode laser. The design of the system is based upon the optimization of isotopic spectral lines from two different path lengths in an absorption cell using a single gaseous sample. A short path cell to measure the more abundant species and a long path cell to measure the less abundant species are used. A micrometer adjustment of a path length is used for equalizing spectral line intensities to obtain a measure of isotope enrichment or of absolute isotopic concentration.