Abstract: Data representing video content is distributed over a passive optical network (PON) on virtual channels that are assigned to television (TV) channels as subscribers request the TV channels and de-assigned from TV channels when subscribers are no longer viewing them. Associating and de-associating TV channels with virtual channels can be performed with very low latency by using a near-physical layer protocol, such as the Physical Layer Operation Administration and Maintenance (PLOAM) protocol.

Abstract: A method and a streaming server for timely delivering of frames/packets to a client. The method includes fetching of stream data from an operating cog in a calendar wheel and by use of the fetched stream data the frame/packet indicated in the operating cog is transmitted from its location in a video storage to the client. The stream data includes information on stream, movie and frame. Optionally also information on packet is provided.

Abstract: Television users may record abstracts of programs that they desire and program providers may access the recorded program abstracts from time to time so as to provide the program content that matches the requested program. In one embodiment, the user may select a TV program (or movie) that is not currently available and then at a time subsequent thereto that program is made available to the user, either privately, or over the public network. In another embodiment, users of the system may record program requests. Program providers may then access these requests from time to time and provide the requested program, even if the program had not been available at the time the request was initially posted.

Abstract: An improved addressing scheme is disclosed for use in access networks. According to a specific embodiment, upstream and/or downstream channels may be grouped together based upon logical associations rather than physical associations. Further, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, various techniques are described for routing selected channel MAP messages to appropriate channels and/or nodes within the access network.

Abstract: A video, audio and graphics system uses multiple transport processors to receive in-band and out-of-band MPEG Transport streams, to perform PID and section filtering as well as DVB and DES decryption and to de-multiplex them. The system processes the PES into digital audio, MPEG video and message data. The system is capable of decoding multiple MPEG SLICEs concurrently. Graphics windows are blended in parallel, and blended with video using alpha blending. During graphics processing, a single-port SRAM is used equivalently as a dual-port SRAM. The video may include both analog video, e.g., NTSC/PAL/SECAM/S-video, and digital video, e.g., MPEG-2 video in SDTV or HDTV format. The system has a reduced memory mode in which video images are reduced in half in horizontal direction only during decoding. The system is capable of receiving and processing digital audio signals such as MPEG Layer 1 and Layer 2 audio and Dolby AC-3 audio, as well as PCM audio signals. The system includes a memory controller.

Abstract: The invention consists of a system and method for transferring video images from video sources to video receivers using a video server as an intermediary. The video server creates a list of all the requests from the video receivers for a video image from a video source. The video server requests the video image from the video source and then sends the video image to each video receiver on the list. The video source is only required to send one image for any number of requests from video receivers and the video sources and video receivers have no direct connection to each other. The load of handling many video sources and many video receivers can be distributed amongst multiple video servers.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for in the realm of digital video broadcast technology or other such technology. One implementation, described herein, relates to broadcasting web content to client devices in a DVB (digital video broadcast) environment using rotational sequences of data modules (e.g., DSMCC carousels). One implementation, described herein, relates to emulating an interactive browsing experience of web content over a broadcast channel. One implementation, described herein, relates to the client device “smartly” caching select portions of the web content being broadcast. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: A method for enabling use of contents by a user of at least one set top box adapted to receive broadcast TV signals, includes: establishing an association between at least one identifier of the user in a communications network, and at least one identifier of the at least one user's set top box; notifying the user via the communications network of the availability of the contents, wherein the notifying includes exploiting the at least one identifier of the user in the communications network; upon receiving a confirmation by the user, delivering the contents to the user's set top box, wherein the delivering includes identifying the at least one user's set top box exploiting the at least one identifier thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to which source of multimedia information a user can and may access through a number of devices like gateways, servers, media controllers and presentation devices like AV systems, remote commanders, cell phones, media players e.g. an IPod and alike. The access is considered to be multilayer access principle through a chain of media devices from the source, via gateways and destination devices up to a personal handheld portable device in front of the user. The access control method to be used in a multiuser and multi domain environment.

Abstract: Provided is a digital broadcast system that receives digital broadcast services on a passive optical network (PON). The data separator separates a signal input thereinto from the outside into an Ethernet frame for data service and an Ethernet frame for digital broadcast service. The Ethernet switch transmits the Ethernet frame for data service to an optical network terminal (ONT) provided in the user's home according to header information of the Ethernet frame for data service. The channel request processor receives the user's channel selection request information and user identification (ID) information from the ONT. The digital broadcast processor transmits the Ethernet frame for digital broadcast service, corresponding to the digital broadcast channel selected by the user, to the user's ONT, by using a part of bandwidth assigned for an existing line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of managing a reception state of data in a digital broadcasting system has monitoring functions of a cable network, a broadcasting channel and received data realized for a set-top box as a digital broadcasting receiver of the digital broadcasting system, and a notification message depending on generated reception error of the data is transmitted to a head end, thereby efficiently managing data transmission of the cable network, the broadcasting channel and each server of the head end.

Abstract: Multimedia presentations are multicast using an announcement channel that includes presentation description information along with multiple channels for multiple streams of multimedia data to accommodate clients of different multimedia resources. Clients can use the announcement channel to select channel(s) appropriate for their multimedia resources. The channels are created in a predetermined manner (e.g., preselected logical addresses, preselected ports of an IP address, etc.) so that clients can immediately join a channel without (or concurrently with) joining the announcement channel to reduce startup latency. An acceleration channel may be created that provides blocks of data containing a preselected number of previous units, which may be transmitted at at a bit rate that is “faster than real-time”. This feature allows clients with suitable resources to more quickly buffer sufficient data to begin presenting the multimedia data to users.

Abstract: A network camera system is configured such that an adapter device is connected with a digital camera, and the adapter device is connected with a network to which a client is also connected. A video signal representing a real-time image and a digital image signal representing a high-resolution still image are transmitted from the camera to the adapter. The adapter has a function of a file server and allows the client to download image data corresponding to the high-resolution still image. The adapter device further has a function of a streaming server and transmits streaming data representing the real-time image. The client can transmits an operation command to the adapter through the network, and the adapter transfer the command to the camera to perform the operation required by the client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for disabling and enabling the receiver circuitry of a cable modem connected to a cable network headend are described. The cable network headend transmits a message to the cable modem to disable the receiver circuitry when a cable network headend determines that the cable modem is idle. The cable modem listens for messages on the cable network during activation windows between periodic intervals. Messages arriving during these activation windows can enable the receiver circuitry of the cable modem as well as synchronize the clocks of the cable network headend and the cable modem. The cable modem can also self enable its receiver circuitry and inform the cable network headend of its enabled state.

Abstract: An audio/video data recording/reproducing device is provided that allows all video and audio signals, which can be displayed by a display of the audio/video data recording/reproducing device proper, to be output to an exterior through a digital interface. Such audio/video signals are in the forms of, for example, files as recorded including a moving picture file, a still picture file, and a file resulting from synthesization of a moving picture file with a still picture file. When the digital interface of the recording/reproducing device is connected to a digital TV, a synthesized signal from a synthesizing part 117, after being encoded into an MPEG-TS in an encoder 103, is output from a 1394 interface part 121. When the digital interface is connected to another editor or recording device, a recording signal from a reproducing part 116 is output as it is from the 1394 interface part 121.

Abstract: A transrate manager on a host computer determines if there is a limitation in network bandwidth and controls the bit-rate of streaming media content accordingly. The bit-rate is controlled by excluding types of video frames from the streaming media content and then reintroducing excluded types of video frames back into the streaming video content once the network has recovered.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for accessing services in a television system. In one embodiment, a DHCT presents a subscriber an EPG presentation containing a plurality of selectable bi-directional services that are purchasable for a period of time and rendered to a buying subscriber on an individualized basis as offered by the cable television system. The subscriber navigates an EPG menu presentation with an input device such as a remote control device and selects a purchasable service by choosing the visual representation that corresponds to the desired service. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selected command into an executable program call that queries service availability and, if the service is available, initiates the selected bi-directional audiovisual service on a personalized session.

Abstract: A master device interactively distributes a television signal to a remote device for remote display with low latency between a user input and a television signal change.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a reverse channel to enable interactive communication between a DBS subscriber and DBS service provider. The addition of an interactive return channel overcomes the problems associated with existing audience measurement systems as well as the problems associated with existing DBS signal security techniques.

Abstract: A transmission spectrum historically associated with analog broadcast signals is leveraged for digital transmission to provide broadcast channels and user-requested channels to a specific geographic region. In addition to broadcast data such as television programming, digital newspapers, and movie channels, back-channels are used to provide interactive and bi-directional communications necessary for on-demand content, internet access, video games, telephone services, and the like. The back-channels may be transmitted via wireless, telephone modem, DSL, or other means. The broadcast license associated with the present invention may be a commercial broadcast license, a public service license, a low power license, or the like. To increase the available channels and associated services, the original analog signal may be replaced by digital transmission signals.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for utilizing a single connection for efficient delivery of power and multimedia information are provided. In this regard, power supplied and/or received over a network link may be controlled based on multimedia content communicated over the network link. The multimedia content may be converted to and/or from Ethernet frames for communication over the network link utilizing audio video bridging. The multimedia content may be raw video or may be formatted according to, for example, HDMI or DisplayPort specifications. The power supplied may be controlled by selecting one of a plurality of power classes. The selection of power class may be based on resolution of the multimedia content, whether the multimedia comprises audio and/or video, and/or based on latency targets.

Abstract: A recording medium is applicable to information service system for receiving and transmitting information when a terminal device on the user's side accesses an administrative server, which is a server device, using a communication line such as the Internet. This recording medium (10a) comprises a lead-in region (16a), a data recording region (14a) positioned on an outer region than the lead-in region, and a lead-out region (12a) positioned on an outer region than the data-recording region. In at least any one of these regions (12a), (14a), and (16a), multiple pieces of identification information are recorded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing applications across a server and one or more nodes in a network. When a node is turned on or booted, a node application is requested from the server and loaded on the node. The node application provides a user interface through which other feature applications are selected and run on the node. The node application loads/unloads selected applications and manages node resources for those applications. Each application is developed with a process portion that runs on the server and a user interface portion that is loaded on the node. The node application also provides support to the user interface portion of each application such that the applications may construct user interfaces using the available standards provided by the node application.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcasting system is provided. The IPTV broadcasting system includes: An Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcasting system for reducing a display delay when a channel is changed, including: a stream transmitting apparatus receiving a broadcast channel stream, generating an acceleration stream from the broadcast channel stream, and transmitting the broadcast channel stream and the acceleration stream; and a set-top box receiving the broadcast channel stream and the acceleration stream from the stream transmitting apparatus, and reproducing a decoding stream, according to a type of a received frame in the broadcast channel stream and the acceleration stream. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a display delay when a channel is changed.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and virtual servers for providing virtual service are provided. A user of a virtual service is authenticated. An input is received that identifies another user in which to operatively connect for virtual service. Permission is requested to operatively connect to the other user. The user is operatively connected to the other user, in response to receiving an acceptance to operatively connect from the other user. Acquired information is transmitted and received between the user and the other user, while broadcast content is being received by the user and the other user. The acquired information and the broadcast content may be displayed together on a television.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote control and/or monitoring of a multimedia system includes processing that begins when a hand held device transmits a remote control/monitoring request to a server. The processing continues once a communication path is established between the hand held device and the server by having the server determine remote control and monitoring privileges of the hand held device. If the hand held device has at least a minimum level of remote control and monitoring privileges, the processing continues as the server processes the remote control/monitoring request with respect to at least one client to produce operational monitoring data. The processing continues as the server provides the operational monitoring data to the hand held device via the communication path.

Abstract: A communication error message is displayed on a TV when an error is noted on a control data link between the TV and an Internet adapter module connected thereto.

Abstract: A second coaxial-connector may be added to a TV receiver that directly samples digital or analog format TV signals, which may be received via a first coaxial-connector. The second coaxial-connector may enable backwards compatibility with one of plurality of available consumer audiovisual devices, wherein Audio/Video (A/V) analog and/or digital modulation format feeds from the consumer audiovisual device may be inputted directly into the TV receiver via the second coaxial-connector. The A/V feed from the consumer audiovisual devices may be demodulated via a common demodulator for similarly modulated TV signals in the TV receiver. Filtering and/or amplification of the local A/V feed may be performed via dedicate components; however, analog-to-digital conversion of the local A/V feed may either be performed via the dedicated converter or via a common-path converter. The local A/V feed may also be demodulated directly, via a dedicated demodulator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing applications across a server and one or more nodes in a network. When a node is turned on or booted, a node application is requested from the server and loaded on the node. The node application provides a user interface through which other feature applications are selected and run on the node. The node application loads/unloads selected applications and manages node resources for those applications. Each application is developed with a process portion that runs on the server and a user interface portion that is loaded on the node. The node application also provides support to the user interface portion of each application such that the applications may construct user interfaces using the available standards provided by the node application.

Abstract: A video server for distributing a digitized video content includes a unit for determining whether or not a video content requested from a terminal is stored in the video server, a unit for issuing a transmission request to another server for transmitting the video thereto in accordance with the HTTP protocol when the video content requested from the terminal is not stored in the video server, and a unit for receiving the video content transmitted from the other video server in accordance with the HTTP protocol, and transmitting the video content to the terminal in accordance with IP multicast or HTTP protocol.

Abstract: System and method for specifying a signal analysis function. First user input is received, e.g., to a graphical user interface (GUI), indicating a parameter for a first operation implementing at least a portion of the function. The first operation is programmatically included in a sweep loop. Second user input is received specifying a sweep configuration for a sweep on the parameter. The signal includes signal data, e.g., signal plot data or tabular data. The sweep configuration includes: a range of values for the indicated parameter, a number of iterations for the sweep, an interpolation type, step size for the sweep on the indicated parameter, specific values in the range of values for the parameter, source for at least some of the sweep configuration, and/or resultant data. The sweep is performed on the parameter per the sweep configuration, generating resultant data which is stored, and optionally displayed, e.g., in the GUI.

Abstract: One or more upstream line cards each include a digital or analog multiplexer front end circuit for a Cable Modem Termination System. Each upstream line card has only upstream receivers and allows a CMTS to share one or more receiver chips to receive and recover data from a larger number of input cables coupled to the front end multiplexer. A control circuit for the multiplexer uses MAP data and burst assignment data and upstream mini-slot counts for each of the input cables to determine when a burst is about to arrive on a cable and cause appropriate switching by the multiplexer or crossbar switch. In some embodiments, there is only one RF channel circuit coupled to the output of the multiplexer, so the multiplexer is controlled to couple the input cable upon which the burst is expected to the single RF channel.

Abstract: A digital television translator includes a digital television receiver for receiving a first digital television signal at a first frequency and generating a digital transport stream from the first digital television signal. The digital transport stream can include original Program and System Information (PSIP) data having RX channel data that is indicative of the first frequency, the first major channel number, and/or the first minor channel number. The digital television translator also includes a PSIP update module for updating the original PSIP data in the digital transport stream by replacing the RX channel data with TX channel data. The TX data is indicative of a second frequency, a second major channel number, and/or a second minor channel number.

Abstract: A service gateway provides a proxy between a client protocol and a plurality of standard communication protocols. The service gateway provides asymmetrical routing, data compression and encryption to optimize client processing power and communication link bandwidth. The service gateway enables content translation between clients and service providers. The service gateway keeps track of client available memory and sequence numbers in messages to generate error codes when applicable. A store and forward message capability is provided along with abstract session identifiers. The service gateway supports user datagram protocol.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for providing content. The apparatus includes a content acquisition information storage unit to store content acquisition information that is identified by a content identifier for content acquired through a bidirectional communication network and necessary to acquire the content by communication with a server that provides the content, a controller to allocate reduction information to the content acquisition information, and to search for the content acquisition information corresponding to the inputted reduction information when reduction information of the content is input, and a communicator to acquire the content from the server using the content acquisition information. Accordingly, a user can acquire Internet content through a communication network by selecting reduction information allocated to the Internet content.

Abstract: Multimedia information communicated between a transmitter and a receiver may be transcoded by intercepting the multimedia information within a network communication system. The available transmission rate of the downlink channel may be estimated by, for example, calculating a ratio of the smoothed round trip time of packets communicated to the receiver and a smoothed congestion window associated with the downlink channel. If the transmission rate at which the multimedia information is encoded is greater than the available transmission rate, the multimedia information may be transcoded to conform the multimedia information to the available transmission rate. The transcoded multimedia information may then be transmitted to the receiver over the downlink channel using a transmission timer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data transmission method for transmitting: data consisting of at least one of character data, image data, and voice data; an event descriptor describing an event for triggering the processing of the data; a condition descriptor describing a condition (including no condition) for the processing of the data; and a data processing descriptor describing a specific processing method for the data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a broadcast receiving system capable of receiving programs with a secondary viewing terminal device(s) even when a primary viewing terminal device is not turned on, and detecting a secondary viewing terminal device(s) used in an unauthorized manner. When device authentication between the secondary viewing terminal device and the primary viewing terminal device is established through a communication line, viewing is allowed for the secondary viewing terminal device. When the device authentication is not established, viewing is controlled for the secondary viewing terminal device based on viewing restriction information generated by the center device based on the power status of the primary viewing terminal device.

Abstract: Media objects are transformed into active, connected objects via identifiers embedded into them or their containers. In the context of a user's playback experience, a decoding process extracts the identifier from a media object and possibly additional context information and forwards it to a server. The server, in turn, maps the identifier to an action, such as returning metadata, re-directing the request to one or more other servers, requesting information from another server to identify the media object, etc. The linking process applies to broadcast objects as well as objects transmitted over networks in streaming and compressed file formats. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well.

Abstract: A multi-port network interface circuit and related control method. The network interface circuit has a plurality of PHY circuits, each of the PHY circuit is used for transmitting signals to a plurality of corresponding network nodes via different ports. Each of the PHY circuits scrambles signals transmitted at different ports with different seeds, and the network interface circuit resets different PHY circuits at different times such that each of the PHY circuits starts to transmit signals at a different time.

Abstract: An improved addressing scheme is disclosed for use in access networks. According to a specific embodiment, upstream and/or downstream channels may be grouped together based upon logical associations rather than physical associations. Further, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, various techniques are described for routing selected channel MAP messages to appropriate channels and/or nodes within the access network.

Abstract: A system for delivering contents includes a center system which delivers the contents, a plurality of terminal systems which receive the contents from the center system and displays the contents, and communication lines connecting the center system to the plurality of terminal systems. The center system includes a delivery-schedule setting unit which sets a schedule of delivery, and a contents-delivery unit which delivers the contents to the terminal systems according to the schedule of delivery during a time period when a load on the terminal systems is lower than a predetermined level.

Abstract: System and method for partitioning data on a SCDMA cable network use methods of creating data streams to transmit to a head end. Further, the data streams transmitted to the head end are coded with fine granularity scalability features and contain divisions which are assigned codes based on predetermined criteria, so that in the event certain assigned codes are interrupted from service, all appliances along the network can be serviced without interruption.

Abstract: Improved techniques to facilitate generation, management and delivery of personalized media items for users are disclosed. Users are able to influence or control content within a media item being personalized. In one embodiment, personalized media items are podcasts. Users are able to influence or control the content in or with a podcast. In other words, a podcast can be created in accordance with a user's needs or specifications so that the content within a podcast is customized or personalized for the user.

Abstract: According to one example embodiment there is provided a computer program executable on a computing platform to at least in part analyze data at least in part obtained from one or more data sources of an Internet-protocol television (IPTV) network, wherein the data provided by the data sources includes set-top-box data, subscriber data, demographic data, content server data and network usage data. In another embodiment, the computer program at least in part correlates video provisioning information obtained from the data sources, individual subscriber channel viewing information, subscriber data and demographic data to provide informative views of data. The provisioning information may include information such as what programs or television (TV) commercials are shown on each channel during different time periods and the TV or video-on-demand program category information.

Abstract: A predetermined current frequency is selected for a cable modem or embedded media terminal adapter to evaluate for presence of a CMTS signal. A determination is made whether the current frequency carries signal energy as opposed to just noise. If no signal energy is detected,the current frequency is changed by ½ of a channel width to a new frequency, which becomes the current frequency,and the determination is re-performed. If the determination of the current frequency indicates that signal energy is present,but not CMTS energy,then a new frequency indicates that selected that differs from the current frequency by 1 MHz. If the determination at the current frequency indicates that CMTS signal energy is present, but QAM lock cannot be achieved, then a new frequency is selected by changing from the current frequency by a full channel width.

Abstract: A control program for a co-processor in a video-on-demand system directs the co-processor to perform the steps of: a) obtain a transmission control list, from an external source, which identifies a group of several video data packets and a respective subgroup of internet protocol headers for each video data packet in the group; b) partition into pieces, each video data packet and its respective subgroup of internet protocol headers as identified by the transmission control list; and, c) send the partitioned pieces, along with an additional header for each piece, to an output port during a series of spaced apart time intervals.

Abstract: A control program for a supervisor processor in a video-on-demand system directs the supervisor processor to perform the steps of: a) transfer a group of video data packets, from an externally stored complete video into a memory for the supervisor processor; b) build in the supervisor processor's memory, a respective subgroup of internet protocol headers for each video data packet in the group; and c) construct, in the memory of a co-processor, a transmission control list which indicates how each video data packet in the group, and its respective subgroup of internet protocol headers, can be accessed from the supervisor processor's memory by the co-processor.

Abstract: A moving image reproducing apparatus which receives moving image data transmitted through a network and reproduces the moving image data includes an analysis unit adapted to analyze first moving image data stored in a storage unit and additional information of the first moving image data, a determination unit adapted to determine a storage destination on the network which is configured to acquire second moving image data following the first moving image data on the basis of the analysis result on the additional information, an acquisition unit adapted to acquire the second moving image data from the storage destination of the second moving image data, and a reproducing unit adapted to reproduce the second moving image data acquired by the acquisition unit concurrently with finishing reproduction of the first moving image data.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for statistical multiplexing of a large number of data streams. A plurality of encoders are associated with each first stage multiplexer. Bandwidth allocation among all encoders is controlled by a second stage multiplexer. A bandwidth request message is communicated from each the encoders to the second stage multiplexer. The second stage multiplexer allocates available bandwidth based on the bandwidth request messages. The second stage multiplexer then communicates an allocated bandwidth message to each encoder. Each encoder encodes a data stream in accordance with its allocated bandwidth to provide an encoded data stream. A plurality of the encoded data streams are multiplexed at each first stage multiplexer to provide a multiplexed data stream at a constant data rate. The second stage multiplexer mutiplexes the multiplexed data streams from the first stage multiplexers to provide a multiplexed transport stream.