Abstract: An MPEG object is an object-oriented data structure that may be used in the creation of interactive MPEG video stream. The MPEG object data structure includes an MPEG object interface defining data received by the MPEG object and data output by the MPEG object. The MPEG object data structure further includes either one or more MPEG video elements or an association to one or more MPEG video elements. The MPEG video elements are preferably defined as MPEG slices that include a plurality of encoded macroblocks. Additionally, the data structure may provide a method for receiving input through the MPEG object interface and in response to input from the client device outputting an MPEG video element. In certain configurations, the MPEG object contains a method that maintains state data for the MPEG object. The state data may be used to select between a plurality of MPEG elements to output.

Abstract: A method of combining an interactive user interface for generating a blended output that includes the interactive user interface and one or more supplemental images. At a client device remote from a server, a video stream that contains an interactive user interface is received from the server using a first data communications channel configured to communicate video content, and a command that relates to an interactive user interface is transmitted to the server. In response to the transmitting, an updated user interface is received from the server using the first data communications channel, and one or more supplemental images for supplementing the interactive user interface are received using a second data communications channel different from the first data communications channel. The updated user interface and the one or more supplemental images are blended to generate a blended output, which is transmitted toward the display device for display thereon.

Abstract: A system method and computer program product for creating a composited video frame sequence for an application. A current scene state for the application is compared to a previous scene state wherein each scene state includes a plurality of objects. A video construction engine determines if properties of one or more objects have changed based upon a comparison of the scene states. If properties of one or more objects have changed based upon the comparison, the delta between the object's states is determined and this information is used by a fragment encoding module if the fragment has not been encoded before. The information is used to define, for example, the motion vectors for use by the fragment encoding module in construction of the fragments to be used by the stitching module to build the composited video frame sequence.

Abstract: A system method and computer program product for creating a composited video frame sequence for an application. A current scene graph state for the application is compared to a previous scene graph state wherein each scene graph state includes a plurality of hierarchical nodes that represent one or more objects at each node. A video construction engine determines if one or more objects have moved based upon a comparison of the scene graph states. If one or more objects have moved based upon the scene graph comparison, motion information about the objects is determined and the motion information is forwarded to a stitcher module. The motion information is used to define motion vectors for use by the stitcher module in construction of the composited video frame sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing and controlling playback latency in an unmanaged, buffered data network. A delay cost function is determined, the function representing the effect of playback latency on end user experience. An encoder transmits audiovisual data through the network to a client device. Network latency is measured, and the delay cost function is evaluated to establish an encoding bitrate for the encoder. The encoding of the audiovisual data is altered in response to dynamic network conditions, thereby controlling end-to-end playback latency of the system, which is represented by the playout length of data buffered between the encoder and the client device.

Abstract: Switched digital television programming for video-on-demand and other interactive television services are combined utilizing a class-based, multi-dimensional decision logic to simultaneously optimize video quality and audio uniformity while minimizing latency during user interactions with the system over managed networks such as cable and satellite television networks. A group of user sessions are assigned to a single modulator. The user sessions include data in a plurality of classes, each class having a respective priority. In response to a determination that an aggregate bandwidth of the group of user sessions for a first frame time exceeds a specified budget, bandwidth is allocated for the group of user sessions during the first frame time in accordance with the class priorities. The group of user sessions is multiplexed onto a channel corresponding to the modulator in accordance with the allocated bandwidth and transmitted over a managed network.

Abstract: System and methods are provided to cache encoded graphical objects that may be subsequently combined with other encoded video data to form a data stream decodable by a client device according to a format specification. Paint instructions relating to a graphical object are sent from a layout engine to a rendering library. A shim intercepts these instructions and determines whether the graphical object already has been rendered and encoded. If so, a cached copy of the object is transmitted to the client device. If not, the shim transparently passes the instructions to the rendering library, and the object is rendered, encoded, and cached. Hash values are used for efficiency. Methods are disclosed to detect and cache animations, and to cut and splice cached objects into encoded video data.

Abstract: Switched digital television programming for video-on-demand and other interactive television services are combined utilizing class-based, multi-dimensional decision logic to simultaneously optimize video quality and audio uniformity while minimizing latency during user interactions with the system over an unmanaged network. For example, a method of adapting content-stream bandwidth includes generating a content stream for transmission over an unmanaged network with varying capacity; sending the content stream, via the unmanaged network, toward a client device; monitoring the capacity of the unmanaged network; determining whether an aggregate bandwidth of an upcoming portion of the content stream fits the capacity, wherein the upcoming portion of the content stream corresponds to a respective frame time and includes video content and user-interface data; and, in response to a determination that the aggregate bandwidth does not fit the capacity, reducing a size of the upcoming portion of the content stream.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing video content, associated with a source image, for display on a television. The source image, such as a web page, and its associated (e.g., linked) video content are retrieved and separately encoded. The encoded source image and the encoded video content are composited together to form a sequence of encoded video frames, where a frame type of the video content is used to determine a type of a composited frame. For example, if all displayed frames of the video content are MPEG I-frames, then the composited frame also may be an I-frame. However, if any displayed frame of video content is an MPEG P-frame or B-frame, then the composited frame may be a P-frame.

Abstract: A method and related system of generating a frame of video is disclosed. In the method, a request is received. For instance, the request may initiate a video game. A motion search between an object in a subsequent frame of video and the object in a current frame of video is performed. A pre-determined motion vector for the object is selected. The object in the subsequent frame of video may correspond to a set of pre-encoded macro-blocks and the performing the motion search may include searching a corresponding set of macro-blocks associated with the current frame of video. The pre-encoded macro-blocks may be pre-encoded prior to the request. The motion vector may be pre-determined prior to the request.

Abstract: A method and related system of generating a frame of video is disclosed. In the method, a current frame of video is transmitted. A command corresponding to an action associated with a shifting of an image in the frame of video is received. A subsequent frame of video is transmitted in accordance with the received command, including transmitting at least two slices of video information corresponding to the shifting. Each slice may include an intra-coded macro-block having additional image information at an edge of the frame of video and at least two predictive macro-blocks, and at least one of the predictive macro-blocks includes a motion vector corresponding to the shifting of the image in the frame of video.

Abstract: A system for creating composite encoded video from two or more encoded video sources in the encoded domain. In response to user input, a markup language-based graphical layout is retrieved. The graphical layout includes frame locations within a composite frame for at least a first encoded source and a second encoded source. The system either retrieves or receives the first and second encoded sources. The sources include block-based transform encoded data. The system also includes a stitcher module for stitching together the first encoded source and the second encoded source according to the frame locations of the graphical layout to form an encoded frame. The system outputs an encoded video stream that is transmitted to a client device associated with the user. In response to further user input, the system updates the state of an object model and replaces all or a portion of one or more frames of the encoded video stream. The system may be used with MPEG encoded video.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that permit an individual to share digital video between video devices using a cable television system. A first video device streams digital video to a cable headend, which transcodes it and stitches it with other video content, such as a menuing system. The headend then transmits the digital video to a second video device, such as a set top box, for display. The data stream may be controlled using a standard set top box remote control, and the system may be used without purchasing additional hardware or software, or configuring a wireless local area network.

Abstract: A system method and computer program product for creating a composited video frame sequence for an application. A current scene state for the application is compared to a previous scene state wherein each scene state includes a plurality of objects. A video construction engine determines if properties of one or more objects have changed based upon a comparison of the scene states. If properties of one or more objects have changed based upon the comparison, the delta between the object's states is determined and this information is used by a fragment encoding module if the fragment has not been encoded before. The information is used to define, for example, the motion vectors for use by the fragment encoding module in construction of the fragments to be used by the stitching module to build the composited video frame sequence.

Abstract: A method and related system of generating a frame of video is disclosed. In the method, a request is received and a frame of video is generated using a plurality of pre-encoded macro-blocks. Generating the frame of video includes assigning the plurality of pre-encoded macro-blocks to respective positions in a grid. The frame of video may be compatible with an MPEG compression standard. The plurality of pre-encoded macro-blocks are pre-encoded prior to the request.

Abstract: System and methods are provided to cache encoded graphical objects that may be subsequently combined with other encoded video data to form a data stream decodable by a client device according to a format specification. Paint instructions relating to a graphical object are sent from a layout engine to a rendering library. A shim intercepts these instructions and determines whether the graphical object already has been rendered and encoded. If so, a cached copy of the object is transmitted to the client device. If not, the shim transparently passes the instructions to the rendering library, and the object is rendered, encoded, and cached. Hash values are used for efficiency. Methods are disclosed to detect and cache animations, and to cut and splice cached objects into encoded video data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to user interfaces and systems and methods for generating a real-time “lean-back” user interface for use with a television or other display device and for reuse of encoded elements for forming a video frame of the user interface. An interactive session is established between a client device associated with a user's television and the platform for creating the user interface over a communication network, such as a cable television network. The user interface is automatically generated by the platform and is animated even without interactions by the user with an input device. The user interface includes a plurality of interactive animated assets. The animated assets are capable of changing over time (e.g. different images, full-motion video) and are also capable of being animated so as to change screen position, rotate, move etc. over time. A hash is maintained of cached encoded assets and cached elements that may be reused within a user session and between user sessions.

Abstract: Metadata are provided to video generators using a syndication protocol, so that the video generators may produce interactive video content for television subscribers. Metadata relating to source media content are transformed in a computer process from a storage format into a syndication format. Relevant metadata to transform are chosen to reflect the type of interactivity desired by a television service provider and the demands of the video generation process. The transformed metadata are published according to a syndication protocol, so that another computer process that participates in the protocol may generate the interactive video content using the metadata, the source media content, and subscriber commands.

Abstract: A method for regulating bandwidth usage in an output data stream transmitted on an analog channel from a cable head end. The output data stream comprises a plurality of input information content signals. For each input information content signal, a series of images are captured, compressed and formed into an input digital data stream. The bandwidth of each input digital data stream is regulated by associating the stream with a current bit allocation total. During each frame time: a bit allocation increment is added to the current bit allocation total for each input digital data stream. When a data packet to be transmitted for an input digital data stream is received by the multiplexer, the data packet is stored.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating in the encoded domain one or more video frames from a compressed still video image wherein image content in the created video frames is translated in location by panning or scrolling or a combination thereof on a non-block basis (i.e. pixel-level). A new block formed from portions of two other blocks is created by processing the original two blocks with identity matrices based upon the shift amount. By performing the creation process in the encoded domain processing power requirements are reduced and image quality is increased.