Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for use in maintaining data quality upon conversion to a different data format. Some embodiments provide methods that receive media data in a first format, initiate a first conversion of the media data at the first format to a second converted format, identify parameters dictating the conversion to the second converted format, record the parameters, and distribute the recorded parameters to remote systems such that the parameters at least in part control the remote systems during a conversion of the media data to the second converted format.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture is provided for updating content stored on a portable storage medium. Upon input of a portable storage medium into a machine by a user, the content stored on the portable storage medium is read. After reading the content of the portable storage medium, a separate storage medium is accessed and content is received therefrom. The content from the separate storage medium is an update of the content of the portable storage medium. This content of the separate storage medium is then displayed.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture is provided for updating content stored on a portable storage medium. Some embodiments provide systems that include means for receiving a request from a content player from over a communication network requesting updated content for use with a portable storage medium being accessed by the content player, wherein the request comprises information from the content player, means for determining whether updated content associated with the portable storage medium is available, and means for initiating a communication over the communication network of updated content associated with the portable storage medium to the content player in response to determining that updated content is available.

Abstract: A method of playing multimedia content comprising reading, at a local machine, local multimedia content stored on a portable storage medium; and utilizing a control structure stored on the separate storage medium to alter the playback of the local multimedia content stored on the portable storage medium. A method of providing multimedia content comprising the steps of reading, at a local machine, local multimedia content stored on a portable storage medium; and downloading a control structure to control the display of the local multimedia content.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for identifying a plurality of events which are played back simultaneously on a plurality of networked client apparatuses. First, a plurality of events are stored in memory on a plurality of client apparatuses. The events each have a unique identifier associated therewith and which are stored in the memory. In operation, the client apparatuses are adapted to be coupled to a host computer via a network. The identifier of the event which is stored in the memory of the client apparatuses is then retrieved utilizing the network. Such identifier is subsequently compared with an identifier of a scheduled event. If the comparison renders a match, the playback of the event is begun on each of the client apparatuses.

Abstract: A media services interface for use in a readable medium playback device enables synchronization of disparate media playback, network directed playback of media, media playback control via displayed html/javascript file, logging of consumer identifier, media identifier, and playback device identifier in a cookie or log file. The media services comprises a command handler, a properties handler, an event generator, a cookie manager, a navigator state module, an identifier engine, an initialization module, and a bookmark manager. The command handler executes commands received from a connected network, a displayed html/javascript file, etc. The properties handler provides information relating to system states in response to queries including the status of any network connections. The event generator generates events in response to predetermined system occurrences.

Abstract: A system and method for combining video/audio content with programmatic content perform the following steps: generating authoring output comprising a definition for a variable, and further comprising a representation of the video/audio content; selecting a source file, the source file comprising the variable; searching the source file for the variable, and replacing the variable with the definition for the variable; generating programmatic content in response to the searching; and generating an image as a function of the programmatic content and the representation of the audio/video content.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for providing content-owner control in a device is optionally networked. A method for accessing media content has steps of initiating a first view providing access to at least a portion of a first content within the first view, initiating a second view providing access to a second content within the second view and preventing the second content from being accessed with the first content in the first view. Additionally, access to a third content with the first content is allowed in the first view. An apparatus includes a first view configured to provide access to a first content, a second view configured to provide access to a second content, and a graphical subsystem configured to prevent the second content from being access in the first view. In one variation, the first view is a media content view, and the second view is a web view.

Abstract: A method of reproducing an interactive recording medium in a reproducing apparatus, comprising the steps of: checking attribute information for auxiliary contents data of A/V data recorded on the interactive recording medium; and determining a presentation method for the auxiliary contents data based on the attribute information and presenting the auxiliary contents data accordingly.

Abstract: A method for providing enhanced content for play across multiple play platforms employs steps of delivering media content to a client device; delivering HTML content to a client device, the HTML content being accessible and usable by a plurality of client device platforms; activating a browser to access the HTML content, the browser being located on and compatible for use with the client device; activating firmware on the client device to access the media content; and incorporating the accessed HTML content with the accessed media content.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for use in maintaining data quality upon conversion to a different data format. Some embodiments provide methods that receive media data in a first format, initiate a first conversion of the media data at the first format to a second converted format, identify parameters dictating the conversion to the second converted format, record the parameters, and distribute the recorded parameters to remote systems such that the parameters at least in part control the remote systems during a conversion of the media data to the second converted format.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for creating a synchronizer object in order to playback an event simultaneously on a plurality of a client apparatuses. First, a request is received utilizing a network for viewing an event. Next, the request is queued in memory. In response to the request, an object is created which is adapted to playback the event on a client apparatus simultaneous with the playback of the event on the remaining client apparatuses upon the receipt of an activation signal. The object is sent to one of the client apparatuses utilizing the network for being stored therein.

Abstract: A media services interface for use in a readable medium playback device enables synchronization of disparate media playback, network directed playback of media, media playback control via displayed html/javascript file, logging of consumer identifier, media identifier, and playback device identifier in a cookie or log file. The media services comprises a command handler, a properties handler, an event generator, a cookie manager, a navigator state module, an identifier engine, an initialization module, and a bookmark manager. The command handler executes commands received from a connected network, a displayed html/javascript file, etc.

Abstract: The present embodiments perform active volume restores on actively running initial operating systems in an active partition. The methods identify available memory within a partition, duplicate at least a portion of an initial operating system image into the identified available memory providing a duplicate operating system, remap access from an initial operating system to the at least the duplicate operating system image, store a temporary operating system on to the partition, reboot into the temporary operating system, operate through the temporary operating system and store a restore operating system into the partition; and reboot into the restore operating system.

Abstract: Techniques of making a recording of or transmitting a sound field from either multiple monaural or directional sound signals that reproduce through multiple discrete loud speakers a sound field with spatial harmonics that substantially exactly match those of the original sound field. Monaural sound sources are positioned during mastering to use contributions of all speaker channels in order to preserve the spatial harmonics. If a particular arrangement of speakers is different than what is assumed during mastering, the speaker signals are rematrixed at the home, theater or other sound reproduction location so that the spatial harmonics of the sound field reproduced by the different speaker arrangement match those of the original sound field. An alternative includes recording or transmitting directional microphone signals, or their spatial harmonic components, and then matrixing these signals at the sound reproduction location in a manner that takes into account the specific speaker arrangement.