Abstract: Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists. Third parties may also be prompted to accept or reject the video communication requests.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for normalizing a plurality of state metric values stored in a plurality of accumulators. In one embodiment, normalization logic monitors the each of the state metric values. When all of the values are above a predetermined threshold, the normalization logic subtracts a normalization amount from each of the state metric values. In one embodiment, the normalization amount is incorporated into branch metric calculations at one or more branch metric units. In addition, in one embodiment, different normalization amounts are employed based on the state metric values.

Abstract: A method comprises generating a bitrate template comprising a histogram of bitrate as a function of time for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating actual bitrate requirements for every given point of time within the associated multimedia program, and, prior to transmitting one of the plurality of media programs to a multimedia node, identifying the previously-generated bitrate template for said multimedia program, and, during transmission of said multimedia program, changing a bandwidth allocation for the multimedia node in anticipation of an actual bitrate spike indicated in the bitrate template for said multimedia program.

Abstract: Graphical images representing television channels are provided to a display interface, which successively displays the graphical images within a focus area of a user interface in response to a single initiating action by a user. The display interface discontinues the successive display of video frames to show a particular video frame corresponding to a selected channel when a terminating action by the user has been detected.

Abstract: A method for converting a program stream to a transport stream is described comprising: reading program stream packets from a digital versatile disk (“DVD”) based on user selections and navigation metadata contained on the DVD; extracting audio and video content packetized within the program stream packets; reading system clock reference (“SCR”) timestamps from the program stream packets, the SCR timestamps indicating relative times at which the audio and video should be rendered; determining a point within consecutively read program stream packets at which the SCR timestamps are non-consecutive; converting the SCR timestamps to program clock reference (“PCR”) timestamps interpretable by a transport stream decoder; and generating a transport stream of transport stream packets containing the audio and video content and using the PCR timestamps to provide for decode timing at the transport stream decoder; and generating a resynchronization signal causing the transport stream decoder to resynchronize with the tr

Abstract: A sequence of cards representing filters is displayed along a first axis of a user interface with a single card being displayed in a focus area. The card in the focus area defines a selected object type filter, which is applied to another sequence of available options. The filtered sequence is then displayed along another (perpendicular) axis of the user interface, which only includes options corresponding to the selected option type filter.

Abstract: An interactive television system for providing personalized remote control is disclosed. Each user or remote control of the interactive television system may be associated with a different control-to-function map. The control-to-function maps may be personalized for each remote control or user.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: An individual can upload media objects to a server and specify a manner in which the media objects are to be played as a media program to an end user. The media program can be provided to the end user via a synthetic channel, which can be tuned to by the end user as if tuning to a conventional television broadcast channel. Information related to the synthetic channel such as media program listings, can be provided in an electronic program guide. If a client terminal of the end user is tuned to the synthetic channel, the media program(s) scheduled by the individual who uploaded the media objects are streamed to the client terminal for viewing by the end user.

Abstract: A method for efficiently transmitting several multimedia streams to one or more multimedia receivers is disclosed comprising: defining a minimum acceptable time for rendering a multimedia stream to a user when the user selects a particular stream; defining a packet size for packets containing data for each multimedia stream, the packet size defined based on one or more performance characteristics of mass storage devices on the one or more multimedia receivers; concurrently transmitting the packets for each multimedia stream to the one or more multimedia receivers; continually storing the multimedia streams on the mass storage devices; and playing back the multimedia content from the mass storage devices responsive to a user tuning to a particular multimedia stream when a delay greater than the minimum acceptable time would otherwise result waiting for a next packet containing data for the particular multimedia stream to arrive.

Abstract: A video frame is captured from a television broadcast on each of a plurality of channels. The captured video frames are provided to a display interface, which successively displays the captured video frames within a focus area of a user interface in response to an initiating action by a user. The display interface then discontinues the successive display of video frames to show a particular video frame corresponding to a selected channel in response to a terminating action by the user.

Abstract: An electronic program guide for the radio (radio EPG) depicts radio programs available via the Internet or analog transmission. The radio EPG displays the programming available for a plurality of radio stations and time slots. The radio EPG is interactive in that a user may select a radio program for immediate playback or future recording. Radio programs are continuously received and cached by the Internet-enabled television system such that a user may be able to select and listen to an earlier-broadcast radio program listed in the radio EPG. The EPG is broadcast using a wireless technology so that mobile devices such as cellular phones, webpads, personal desktop assistants (PDA's), personal stereos, car stereos, and laptop computers with wireless network connections can receive and display the EPG.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, during add-compare-select computations, the output of the adders is guaranteed to be a positive value because the only time normalization logic subtracts a normalization amount is when all accumulators are greater than the normalization amount. As such, the detection of overflow is greatly simplified. Overflow in the add-compare-select unit may be indicated simply by the value of the most significant bit (“MSB”) (i.e., the sign bit) of the result. If the MSB of the result of the adder is set then, in one embodiment, the output of the adder gets forced the maximum possible value given the number of bits. For example, this value will be forced to 7h7f if the value is represented by 7-bits. That is to say, if an overflow is detected, then the accumulator is saturated to the maximum value.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the capture of an image of an object, includes: a lens capable to capture a scene within a wide field of vision of the lens; an image collection array communicatively coupled to the lens and capable to store data of the scene within the wide field of vision; a memory communicatively coupled to the image collection array and capable to store digitized data of the scene within the wide field of vision; and a processing stage communicatively coupled to the memory and capable to select a plurality of subsets of the digitized data of the scene in order to generate an image of the captured scene.

Abstract: A complex multiplier is described for filtering a signal in the frequency domain. In one embodiment, additional, independent frequency coefficients are supplied by the complex multiplier so that gain and/or phase of the signal may be independently modified (i.e., gain may be modified without affecting phase and vice-versa).

Abstract: A method of managing local content data, includes: determining if a user is authorized to edit a particular content related to a particular region; editing a local content related to the particular region; processing the local content; and if the local content has been selected for publication, then permitting access to the local content. An apparatus for managing local content data, includes: a content tool configured to permit the edit of local content related to a particular region for an authorized user; and a processor configured to execute the content tool to permit edit of the local content.

Abstract: A method of providing video enhancement to an interactive content page, the method comprising: providing a graphical overlay with a plurality of transparent sections; providing a graphical underlay capable to show a plurality of underlay contents; displaying a first underlay content in a first one of the transparent sections; and displaying a second underlay content in a second one of the transparent sections in sequence after displaying the first underlay content. An apparatus for providing a video enhancement to an interactive television content page, includes a display engine capable to display a graphical overlay having an associated transparent section, where different underlay contents are displayed on a graphical underlay and through the associated transparent section in a sequential manner; and a processor communicatively coupled to the display engine and capable to execute the display engine.

Abstract: A sequence of cards representing filters is displayed along a first axis of a user interface with a single card being displayed in a focus area. The card in the focus area defines a selected filter, which is applied to another sequence of available options. The filtered sequence is then displayed along another (perpendicular) axis of the user interface.

Abstract: A multiple source proxy management system is disclosed. Most Internet browsers communicate only with the global Internet. However, new data services may be created that can provide information to an Internet browser in a compatible form. Since Internet browsers only know how to communicate with the Internet, a new system was developed to handle communication with other data services. The system includes a personal proxy server that handles requests from the Internet browser. The personal proxy server directs requests to a proper data server handler. The personal proxy server respects all existing Internet settings such as direct connections, proxy servers, and autoconfig proxy servers.