Abstract: The current invention describes a virtual machine designed to run on a variety of platforms of varied capabilities, and in particular describes support in the coding and development environment for assessing and managing the variation in capability and performance among the platforms.

Abstract: A first check code is computed by applying an algorithm to a proper subset of a first body of data. A second check code is computed by applying the algorithm to an equivalent proper subset of a second equivalent body of data. The two check codes are compared. The extent of the proper subset of the first body of data is determined by a semantic analysis of the first body of data. Multiple versions of an application, when the semantic changes between the applications are inconsequential, may then be certified by ignoring the non-significant modifications and ensuring the integrity of the remainder of the content.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create an application. An application is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a master application template by creating an application representation and creating associated metadata that define at least one allowable modification that may be made to the application representation. The master application template may be certified. A child application template is derived from the master application template by deleting at least one allowable modification of the master application template, or by deleting, adding, or modifying at least one constraint to at least one allowable modification of the master application template, where the effect of the deletion, addition, or modification is to reduce the scope of the allowable modification to the child application template source code. The child application template is used to create an application.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create an application. Application source code or an executable application is converted into an in-memory representation. The in-memory representation is stored in a database. Attributes of the database representation are selected for modification, and constraints are assigned to the modifications. Modifications and constraints are stored in the database to create an application template. A copy of the application template is made in the database, and modifications are performed on the copy in the database. The modified copy of the application template is retrieved from the database and used to create an executable application.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create an application. A multi-platform application intended for two or more target platforms is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a multi-platform master application template by creating an application representation and creating associated metadata that define at least one allowable modification that may be made to the application representation. For each target platform, an application is created from the multi-platform master application template suitable for the target platform, and the application and multi-platform master application template are submitted to a certification body for certification on the target platform. The certification process affirms that the application, with any modification to the application specified by the multi-platform master application template metadata, meets all requirements for certification.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create and distribute applications. An audience qualifier and a set of categories corresponding to the audience qualifier are selected. A master application template is selected. The master application template may be pre-certified. For each of the selected categories, an application instance is created from the master application template, where the modifications to the master application template for each category are determined at least in part by the characteristics of the category. Metadata describing the audience qualifier and category are associated with each application instance. The application instances and associated metadata are stored. The application instances may be certified. A request for an application is received specifying an audience qualifier and a category. An application instance matching the specified audience qualifier and category is selected from the stored application instances. The selected application instance is supplied in response to the request.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create and distribute applications. An audience qualifier and a set of categories corresponding to the audience qualifier are selected. A master application template is selected. The master application template may be pre-certified. For each of the selected categories, an application instance is created from the master application template, where the modifications to the master application template for each category are determined at least in part by the characteristics of the category. Metadata describing the audience qualifier and category are associated with each application instance. The application instances may be certified. The application instances are distributed in accordance with the metadata.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create an application. An application is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a master application template by creating an application representation and creating associated metadata that define at least one allowable modification that may be made to the application representation. An application is created from the master application template, and the application and master application template are submitted to a certification body for certification. The certification process affirms that the application, with any modification to the application specified by the master application template metadata, meets all requirements for certification. The certified master application template is used to create a certified application.

Abstract: A computer system is used to create an application. An executable application is converted into an in-memory object representation. The in-memory object representation may be annotated with human-readable labels. The in-memory object representation and human readable labels may be stored in a storage device. At least one attribute of the in-memory object representation is selected for modification. At least one modification is performed on the in-memory object representation of the application. The modified representation is used to create an executable application.

Abstract: A computer system is used to distribute an application using a data resource. An application using a data resource is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a certified master application template. The certified master application template is used to create a certified application and certified data resource. The certified application and certified data resource are distributed. During the distribution of the application, the certified master application template is modified and a new certified data resource is created. The new certified data resource is distributed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer product for allowing flexible definition of appearance and behavior states for an interactive application. A state table includes a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension configured to identify at least one programming element and the second dimension configured to identify a plurality of states of the computer system. When a state table creation operating mode is activated and alteration of at least one programming element is identified, an operand is automatically stored in a cell at each intersection of the first dimension and the second dimension. Alterations that are identified include movement of a graphical object, changes of size, color, associated text, or other graphical feature of a graphical object.

Abstract: A method and system for providing supplementary content to the user of a stored-media-content device is presented whereby the supplementary content is filtered at least in part based on the inventory of media content accessible to the device. The system includes a program operable on a media player to generate a request for supplementary content responsive to a selection by a user of one or more of available media content stored on or accessible to the media player. A filter module is operable on the supplementary content generated responsive to the request to create a filtered subset of the supplementary content. The filter module is further operable to create the filtered subset in consideration of the available media content stored on or accessible to the media player. The subset of supplementary content is then presented to the user at the media player.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product for replacing a portion of a digital signal by applying a first difference correction that, after range limiting, converts the samples in the replacement portion to extremum values; then applying a second difference correction based on the difference between the extremum values and the desired replacement values. The first and second sets of correction values are thus independent of the original values in the first digital signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods and graphical user interfaces for creating interactive television applications are provided. A template author creates a template application and assigns placeholder objects do display elements. An episodic creator creates an episodic application by making changes to display elements associated with a presented placeholder object.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product for replacing a portion of a digital signal by applying a first difference correction that, after range limiting, converts the samples in the replacement portion to extremum values; then applying a second difference correction based on the difference between the extremum values and the desired replacement values. The first and second sets of correction values are thus independent of the original values in the first digital signal.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium, and a system are provided for generating control information for controlling computer system operation during execution of the computer system. At least one attribute change of a computer system to occur during execution of the computer system is identified. The attribute change is associated with an event taking place during computer system execution. An index point is created identifying the attribute point as triggering the attribute change, and the index point is associated with the attribute change in the computer system. The index point is stored in a format configured to be used by the computer system to initiate the attribute change upon the index point being reached during the execution of the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a computer, data, or media system in response to state changes in the computer system. At least one state table having a first dimension and a second dimension is created. At least one programming element is listed along the first dimension and a plurality of states of the computer system are listed along the second dimension. At each intersection of the first dimension and the second dimension is a cell in which an operand is specified for the programming element at each state. For each state change of the computer system, each programming element listed along the first dimension is executed according to the operand listed for a current state.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-program products for encoding an image so that a portion of the image can be extracted without requiring modification of any of the encoded data. A valid MPEG I-frame sequence is generated from the portion of the image, then fed directly to an MPEG decoder for decompression and display.

Abstract: Systems, methods and graphical user interfaces for creating interactive television applications are provided. A template author creates a template application and assigns placeholder objects do display elements. An episodic creator creates an episodic application by making changes to display elements associated with a presented placeholder object.

Abstract: A simple display of items from a list, which changes in synchrony with the corresponding video display, and permits simple navigation under user control. The display includes three control objects positioned below a video frame window on a display screen. A middle displayed object is located in a focus position and corresponds to the video segment currently being played in the video window. When play of the segment is complete, the object located to the right of the focus position moves and displaces the middle displayed object, most recently displayed within the focus position, to indicate a forward progression within the viewed video sequence.