Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing display data. The display data specify one or more presentations (e.g., digital signage information) for displaying to a user on an end-user device (e.g., a digital signage device). One or more processors receive one or more criteria (e.g., “user preferences”) and the display data. The one or more processors select some or all of the received display data. This selection may be dependent upon the one or more criteria. The one or more processors then provide, for display by the end-user device, the selected display data. This provision may be dependent upon the one or more criteria.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for streaming content is disclosed. A streamer (155) detects a cue for a break in a segment of the program content, wherein the cue includes an identification of an advertising provider associated with the break. The streamer sends, to an advertisement server (115), a request for content associated with the advertising provider, and receives, from the advertisement server, an advertisement associated with the advertising provider. Further, the streamer transcodes the advertisement based on configuration information of an additional device (165) to generate formatted content viewable on the additional device. Moreover, the streamer streams the formatted content to the additional device via the local connection.

Abstract: A dongle for converting remote control instructions from a first wireless medium to a second wireless medium includes a base unit having a base unit housing. A receiver disposed within the base unit housing is operable to receive a remote control instruction via the first wireless medium. A communication module including a communication module housing includes a transmitter operable to transmit the remote control instruction via the second wireless medium. The communication module is coupled to and pivotable with respect to the base unit.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling trick plays during a variable bit rate (VBR) playback of a media file transmitted to a user media device as a constant bit rate (CBR) flow includes determining a plurality of access points within the media file. The media file is configured to be played back from each of the plurality of access points. A minimum buffer value is calculated for each of the plurality of access points. The minimum buffer value identifies a minimum amount of the media file to transmit to the user media device before beginning playback of the media file from each of the plurality of access points to substantially ensure that the media file is configured to be played back from each of the plurality of access points continuously and uninterruptedly at a variable bit rate.

Abstract: A video coding system includes a prediction module configured to perform multi-reference picture sub-pixel motion estimation. Reference pictures are selected for the sub-pixel motion estimation based on full-pixel motion estimation. A cost function is used to select the reference pictures from one or more groups of reference pictures for a block in a macroblock. The cost is based on full-pixel motion estimation errors and a predicted motion vector for the block. The selected reference pictures are used for sub-pixel motion estimation to get the final motion vector for each block.

Abstract: A method and system for embedding and recovering a spatial fingerprint in a sequence of video frames. The sequence includes marked frames that include marked groups having markable positions. The embedding method selects a frame offset and marking period for the marked frames, and determines a marking strength for modifying each marked group. A portion of the spatial fingerprint is embedded in each marked group of a first subgroup of the marked groups, and an ordering of the portion embedded in the first subgroup is embedded in each marked group of a second subgroup of the marked groups. The recovering method analyzes a quality ratio of the DCT transform energy and the residual for each markable position in the frame to determine whether the frame is a marked frame. The recovering method recovers the spatial fingerprint when the marked groups maintain the quality ratio in a number of successive marked frames.

Abstract: A system (10), method (90) and apparatus (14) are provided for provisioning a multicast stream, such as an IP multicast stream, in a network. The system includes a first tier (12), such as a national backbone, with a first Multicast Address Discovery (MCAD) directory (34), and at least one second tier having a headend, such as a regional headend (14), with a second MCAD directory (36, 38). The system (10) includes a tiered MCAD directory network that allows the assignment of multicast addresses to multicast streams received from an upper tier MCAD directory. The tiered MCAD directory structure allows for requesting and storing stream descriptors and delivering stream descriptors on-demand to MCAD-enabled devices throughout the system. The system (10) also allows for stream provisioning maintenance and validation at lower tier headends via MCAD-enabled device queries or re-queries of upper tier MCAD directories.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a device for use with a stream of video content and a video display. The device includes a receiver, a circular buffer, an output portion, a controller and a second buffer. The receiver receives the stream of video content. The circular buffer stores up to a predetermined first length of the stream of video content as buffered video content. The output portion outputs a first video signal, based on the buffered video content, to the video display. The controller controls the output portion to output the first video signal as one of the buffered video content playing in real time, a paused portion of the buffered video content, and a previously played portion of the buffered video content. The second buffer stores a portion of the buffered video content as stored video content. The output portion outputs a second video signal, based on the stored video content, to the video display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for decoding a video bitstream comprises the steps of: (a) receiving a video bitstream; (b) deriving processed video data from the bitstream; (c) partitioning the processed video data into blocks, wherein each of the blocks is equal to or smaller than a picture; (d) deriving an SAO type from the video bitstream for each of the blocks, wherein the SAO type is associated with a specific nonbiased coding scheme; (e) determining an SAO sub-class associated with the SAO type for each of the pixels in each of the blocks; (f) deriving intensity offset from the video bitstream for the sub-class associated with the SAO type; and (g) applying SAO compensation to each of the pixels in a processed video block, wherein the SAO compensation is based on the intensity offset of step (f).

Abstract: A system is provided for creating level parameter updating codewords for transform coefficients used for relating transform units (TUs) that divide up coding units (CUs) in a High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) system. The system provides binarization of the codewords and removes unnecessary operations to reduce system complexity and increase compression performance. The system generates transform coefficients that relate the TUs and begins by providing a parameter variable (cRiceParam) set to an initial value of zero. The parameter variable is then converted into a binary codeword based on the current value of the parameter variable and the value of a symbol and then updated with a new current value after each symbol has been converted. Updating can be provided with reference to table values or the values can be provided from combination logic.

Abstract: A method, device and system for securely managing debugging processes within a communication device, such as a set top box or other multimedia processing device. For example, a security processor (SP) within the communication device manages the lifetime (LT) of any access token issued for use in activating debugging privileges within the communication device. The security processor authenticates an issued access token and securely delivers appropriate debug authorization information to the device controller. The security processor uses its secure, internal timer to count down the lifetime and update the remaining lifetime of the issued access token during the processing of each command by the security processor. In addition to securely managing the issuance of the access token and it's remaining lifetime, the updating process reduces any impact on the normal communications within the device. The method overcomes the issue of the communication device not having a secure internal clock.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring audience reaction to media content includes obtaining images or other information of each individual of the audience as the individual views the content and analyzing the images or other information with software to generate emotional response source data for each individual. The emotional response source data identifies the emotion or emotions or change of emotions of the individual as interpreted by the software. The emotional response source data of the individuals is aggregated to identify a set of primary emotions of the audience, and thereafter, the emotional response source data is re-evaluated in view of the primary emotions to refine and more accurately classify the emotional responses of each individual of the audience.

Abstract: A method of correlating content-specific metadata to a point of interest in primary video content includes generating a series of content-specific temporal markers spaced throughout the play time of the primary video content and receiving input of the content-specific metadata intended for temporary display at the point of interest during playback of the primary video content. The content-specific metadata and point of interest are associated with at least one of the content-specific temporal markers. Additional methods of temporarily displaying metadata and apparatus for correlating content-specific metadata to a point of interest in primary video content are described.

Abstract: A method of modifying a digital data stream composed of a sequence of frames, where each frame represents an image and includes a data field specifying a presentation time stamp value for the frame. If there is a discontinuity in presentation time stamp value between a next frame and a first frame, a value representing a stream time stamp of interest is assigned to a variable for representing the value of the stream time stamp of interest at a point of discontinuity in presentation time stamp, and a value of the presentation time stamp is assigned to a variable for representing the first frame's clock time based on presentation time stamp, and the next frame is stored in a database using as an index the value representing a stream time stamp of interest.

Abstract: A method and system for interpolating video pixels is described, in which the value of a first fractional pixel is calculated based on the values of the first set of integer pixels, while the value of a second fractional pixel is calculated based on the values of the second set of integer pixels. The first set of integer pixels is not equal to the second set of integer pixels. For example, the first and second set may contain different integer pixels and may contain different numbers of integer pixels.

Abstract: An active link wireless cable mesh network and a method for transmitting data in a wireless cable mesh network are provided. A plurality of end devices are connected in a mesh configuration. A data message is transmitted to a first end device via one of a plurality of antennas radiating elements which form a phased array antenna. If the message is not successfully received, the antenna radiating elements is steered to another transceiver in the mesh network to complete the transmission.

Abstract: A set top box is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications network, a secure memory configured to store at least a first cryptography key to be used to encrypt and decrypt the programming content, and a digital storage medium for storing encrypted programming content. The set top box also includes a multimedia processor operationally associated with the receiver/tuner, the secure memory, and the digital storage medium. The multimedia processor is configured to: encrypt programming content using the first cryptography key stored in the secure memory and uniquely associated with the set top box; store the encrypted content on the digital storage medium; encrypt the first cryptography key using an asymmetric public encryption key to form an encrypted first cryptography key; and store the encrypted first cryptography key on the digital storage medium.

Abstract: In embodiments of a multi-user IPTV client device, an IPTV session is initialized with a content distributor that delivers video content to the client device. The client device enforces content viewing rights based on user privilege levels, and receives the video content for display of non-restricted video content based on a default user privilege level associated with the client device. An individual user having an individual user privilege level that is associated with the client device is then authorized, and the individual user privilege level replaces the default user privilege level, allowing playback of restricted video content. The client device continues to receive the video content uninterrupted when the default user privilege level is switched to the individual user privilege level at the client device.

Abstract: A caption formatting method and computing system that receives an input video stream that includes a sequence of input transport stream packets. The method locates user data in the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the user data includes input caption data compliant with an input caption data format. The method extracts EIA-608 captions and EIA-708 captions from the input caption data, and formats the EIA-608 captions as caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format. The method creates a sequence of output transport stream packets based on the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the sequence of output transport stream packets include the caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format and the input caption data. The method sends an output video stream from the computing device, where the output video stream includes the sequence of output transport stream packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus associates voice metadata with a content item such as a recorded program using a content guide. In one embodiment, a process presents the content guide to a viewer. The viewer makes a first request to select a content item listed in the content guide, and this first request is received by the processor. In response to the first request, the processor presents content information for the selected content item. The content information may include one or more voice metadata options for the selected content item. The method and apparatus may be implemented in a digital video recorder (DVR). A DVR content searching method is also disclosed. In one embodiment, search parameters are received at the DVR, and the DVR searches through an index of voice metadata associated with one or more content items stored at the DVR.