Abstract: A shield for reducing impedance of a shielding of a SCART connector at high frequencies, the shield including a metallic sheet having a first end and a second end where each of the first and second ends extends along and adjacent to a surface of a SCART connector socket. A shielding assembly and a method for shielding a SCART connector are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides multi-device distributed digital video recording systems and methods. The present invention enables digital recording devices on a cable plant to share resources. A plurality of networked digital video recorders are provided. A requesting digital video recorder (DVR) on the network may be capable of broadcasting a request to a plurality of DVRs seeking resources of a dormant DVR. At least one dormant DVR on the network may be capable of providing a response to the requesting DVR indicating its availability of resources. The requesting DVR may then select a granting DVR from the dormant DVRs with available resources (i.e., those DVRs that responded to the request). A session may then be established between the requesting DVR and the granting DVR. Once the session is established, the resources of the granting DVR may be made available for use by the requesting DVR.

Abstract: More efficient global motion compensation is provided by merging the warping processes performed in various global motion compensation (GMC) functions into a single warping process for use in GMC encoding and decoding operations. In an encoder in accordance with the invention, a global motion estimation processor is provided for performing global motion estimation (GME) on a picture. A mode decision processor is provided for selecting macroblocks (MBs) of the picture for GMC coding. A warping processor is provided for performing a single warping process for each pixel in the selected MBs for use in a plurality of GMC operations other than GME. A global motion compensation processor is provided for performing the GMC operations. Variable length encoding and texture coding is provided for encoding the picture to produce a GMC encoded bit stream.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for detecting modification to a video content receiver within a content distribution system is described. In one step, a message is generated by a content provider. The message is sent to the content receiver by way of a network. The message includes an intentionally-inserted error that a normally-operating content receiver would detect. The message is check for either authenticity or authorization. The message is received by the content receiver from the network. At a point physically remote to the content receiver, it is detected that the content receiver failed to detect the intentionally-inserted error in the message.

Abstract: A method using a wireless telephone (102) for placing a call is provided. The method includes receiving (202) a media stream over a first channel (110). The method also includes rendering (204) the media stream on the wireless telephone. Moreover, the method opens (206) a second channel (116) for a voice call while receiving the media stream over the first channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multi-panel rate control of real-time video digital encoders such as an MPEG or H series including the steps of bit allocation, rate control and adaptive quantization. Bit allocation assigns a target number of bits per group of pictures, and per picture of each type. Rate control adjusts the quantization parameter at the MB level to achieve that target number of bits per picture. Adaptive quantization further modulates the parameter per MB using local activity measure. Bit allocation and rate control can be implemented through a central control unit, or a central digital signal processor (DSP) while adaptive quantization can be implemented at the local panel.

Abstract: A copyright protection method and apparatus employ a first protection scheme within a single authorized domain, in which all interfaces are protected with digital rights management system, and employ a second protection scheme for use in inter-domain file transfers. The method and apparatus employ a third protection scheme for external outputs not protected by a digital rights management system.

Abstract: A centralized interactive TV recording and reproduction system linking several “Quality of Service” (QoS) reproduction and control units (such as television and audio reproduction receivers), as well as high bandwidth non-QoS legacy devices such as PCs, via a Home Area Network (HAN) to a centralized media server, has novel traffic control to prevent non-QoS devices from establishing and maintaining high-bandwidth network connections during the real-time transmission of media (video and/or audio) information from the media server to the QoS devices. In the preferred embodiment, the media server also contains a gateway device for connecting the HAN to a Wide Area Network, Metropolitan Area Network, and/or the Internet, and the media server also receives video and audio signals from sources such as cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcast, etc. The media server also contains a network router.

Abstract: A method (50) and apparatus (40) for reducing noise in a video signal calculates (53) a discrimination value of a filter based on a magnitude difference between a current frame and a prior frame of a sequence of frames and modifies (54) the current frame using the modified discrimination value. The output of the filter is calculated as follows: g(i, j, k)=f(i, j, k)±? wherein: f (i, j, k) is the current frame input to the filter; g(i, j, k) is the current frame output from the filter; and ? is the discrimination value of the filter, which is calculated as follows: ? = { ?? ? + ? , ? ? = max ? { ? , ? 0 } , ? < ? 1 0 , ? ? ? 1 in which: ? and ? are constants less than one; ? is a magnitude difference between the current frame and the prior frame; and ?0 and ?1 are constants that satisfy ?0??1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching a source of an audiovisual program configured for distribution among a plurality of user terminals is described. In one example, a first real-time digital bitstream and a second real-time digital bitstream are received. The source is mapped to the first real-time digital bitstream. A request is received from a remote controller. The request is operative to switch the source of the audiovisual program. The source of the audiovisual program is switched to the second real-time digital bitstream in response to the request. Time stamp data in the second real-time digital bitstream is adjusted to provide a continuous time base for the audiovisual program.

Abstract: A device and method of encrypting a sequence. The method (300) encrypts data (Di) over a sequence of encryption periods (Ti) by generating (315) a sequence of forward encryption keys (GKfi) each associated with a respective encryption period (Ti). Each forward encryption key is generated recursively by applying a forward one way function (FFi?1) to the forward encryption key (GKFi?1) associated with the preceding encryption period (Ti?1). Next the method (300) generates (320) a sequence of reverse encryption keys (GKRi), each associated with a respective encryption period (Ti), each reverse encryption key being generated recursively by applying a reverse one way function (FRi?1) to the reverse encryption key (GKRi+1) associated with the subsequent encryption period (Ti+1). Encrypting (325) the data (Di) for each encryption period (Ti) with a respective forward encryption key (GKFi) and a respective reverse encryption key (GKFi) is then performed.

Abstract: A method of splicing video content from a secondary encoded video stream into a primary encoded video stream, the method including the steps of identifying a splice out-time tout and a splice in-time tin, at least T time after tout, in the primary stream; causing the fullness of primary encoder's virtual buffer to be less than XB, where X is greater than 0 and less than 1, at the first decode times after tout and tin; encoding the secondary stream such that an initial coded picture is transmitted in no more than B/(XR) time, and encoding the second stream such that, at a final coded picture's decode time, the fullness of the secondary encoder's virtual buffer is less than XB; and replacing video content of the primary stream from tout through tout+T, with the video data of the second stream.

Abstract: The HPRR method uses “token bucket” rate classifiers to mark each individual packet as conforming or not conforming to a traffic specification for the flow. Flows are considered to be in a single service class. One such class is distinguished as a default “best effort” service class. Each service class is assigned a weight corresponding to its fraction of bandwidth granted to the class when all classes are active. The HPRR method allows a packet from a flow to be forwarded in one of two ways, either as part of its class's allocated bandwidth or as part of the “best effort” bandwidth. By always providing two paths for a flow to send its packets, a flow is always given its “fair share” of two different classes: its primary or configured class and the best effort class.

Abstract: A video conferencing terminal includes an encoder that receives a baseband audio signal and a baseband video signal and creates compressed audio packets and compressed audio-video packets. A network interface driver receives the compressed audio packets and the compressed audio-video packets, IP encapsulates the compressed audio packets and the compressed audio-video packets, transmits the IP packets onto an IGMP network. The network interface driver also requests audio packets and audio-video packets from the network and recovers compressed audio packets and compressed audio-video packets from the IP packets received from the network. A decoder receives compressed audio packets and compressed audio-video packets from the network interface driver and generates a baseband video signal and multiple baseband audio signals.

Abstract: A software interface (26) is provided to enable television settop middleware (14) and operating system (OS) software (16) to control and interact with core settop system software (20) in a subscriber television terminal to facilitate the provision of desirable digital television services, including service acquisition (e.g., acquisition of a pay-per-view movie), system information management, settop configuration and control, return path for polling, download capability, and non-volatile memory management.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing defect data indicative of defects in a product is described. In one example, each of the defects is assigned one of a plurality of severity levels and one of a plurality of impact levels. The defects are classified into categories based on combinations of severity level and impact level. A graphic representative of a topographical relation among numbers of defects in the categories is generated. The graphic is displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI).

Abstract: An improved subset-difference method is provided. The improved method uses the value of a current content key to help generate the requisite difference keys. The requisite difference keys are then used to encrypt the next content key which will be delivered only to users who are supposed to remain in the group. Users who have the current content key are then able to generate the requisite difference keys which they can then use to decrypt the next content key. Using the decrypted next content key, the users are then able to continue to receive contents. Since previously revoked users do not have the current content key, they are unable to determine the next content key and thus are prevented from receiving future contents.

Abstract: A method for an uninitialized client to obtain credentials from a server which are then used to provide authenticated exchange for network configuration parameter assignment. The obtained credentials can be applied to an authentication option when a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) is being used for address assignment.

Abstract: A (50) method and apparatus (110) for determining a scanning format of a frame of a video signal determines (52) if any interfield motion exists within the frame; and indicates (53) that the frame is interlaced scanned if interfield motion is detected and indicates (54) that the frame is progressive scanned if interfield motion is not detected. The determination is based on spatial correlation within and around one or more edges of one or more objects in the frame. This can be accomplished by identifying zig-zag or zipper effects near one or more edges of one or more objects in the frame, identifying motion between fields or identifying motion near one or more edges of one or more objects.