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 method for chroma key masking is provided. The method includes adjusting a first parameter representing a size of a first ellipsoid in a color space, adjusting a second parameter representing a size of a second ellipsoid in the color space, and generating a mask value for a given pixel color based on the location of the given pixel color in the color space, relative to the first and second ellipsoids. The first ellipsoid is centered about a prescribed chroma key color and the second ellipsoid is also centered about the prescribed chroma key color. The second ellipsoid surrounds the first ellipsoid in the color space.

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: The present invention relates to improvements in the generation of an authoring file, readable by an authoring program of a DVD-Video or other interaction video media, that defines the playback structure of the content residing in a given disc's “authored content zone” and also defines the location of the assets that make up the disc's “presentation data.” The improvements allow generation of an authoring file that references assets that are within the authored content zone of the medium. This allows the authoring “project” from which the final DVD-Video disc image was created to be reopened in a compatible authoring program—and to be modified by such a program—without reference to any of the original source materials.

Abstract: A software driven method for appending data to a rewritable optical disc is provided. The method includes detecting a rewritable optical disc, and the rewritable optical disc contains a first written session with a file system and an associated volume descriptor. The method then detects a request to write a new session to the rewritable optical disc. Now, it is determined that the new session is to be written past a boundary limit, e.g., such as an OS boundary. A new file system for the new session is then generated, where the new file system having an updated volume descriptor. Data for the new session is written and the volume descriptor of the first written session is replaced with the updated volume descriptor.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for authoring a multimedia compact disc is provided. The method includes obtaining multimedia content from at least one source and enabling manipulation of the obtained multimedia content. The method further includes arranging the obtained multimedia content in a graphical hierarchical tree structure. The arranging of the multimedia content graphically defines the hierarchical arrangement relative to other multimedia content to be recorded to the multimedia compact disc.

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: The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use in searching and/or retrieving video data. Some embodiments provide method for use in searching video data, that extract a spatiotemporal representation of at least a portion of a query sequence of video data, produce a query slice image from the spatiotemporal representation of the at least the portion of the query sequence, extract a spatiotemporal representation of at least a portion of candidate video data, produce a candidate slice image from the spatiotemporal representation of the at least the portion of the candidate video data, and determine when the query slice image matches at least a portion of the candidate slice image. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for use with video data. The apparatus comprises a memory storing candidate video data and a query sequence, a slice generator and a two-dimensional image generator.

Abstract: A method for writing to multiple recording devices where at least two of the multiple recording devices are configured to respond dissimilarly to a command associated with the writing is provided. The method initiates with establishing a plurality of independent write threads configured to read data from a circular buffer composed of an initial amount of buffer elements. Then, each one of the plurality of independent write threads are associated with one of the multiple recording devices. Next, detection of when a write thread associated with a fastest one of the multiple recording devices is reading a last available buffer element occurs. In response to this detection the method includes adding at least one additional buffer element to the circular buffer. A computer readable medium and a system configured to write to multiple recording devices simultaneously are also provided.

Abstract: When recording data to optical media, data to be recorded is selected using a client application. An image mastering application programming interface is provided which is comprised of a collection of COM objects and integrated into the operating system. The plurality of COM objects includes a disc master, a file, a disc recorder, and a burn engine. The data selected for recording is sent through an application format interface to the file that is part of the image mastering application interface. The selected data in the file is recorded to optical media directly from Kernel Mode of the operating system.

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 invention relates generally to improvements in systems used in the development (“authoring”) of interactive visual media. More particularly, the invention relates to (a) the automatic or semi-automatic generation of a set of files representing “zoomed-in” sections of a master high-resolution image file, and (b) the automatic or semi-automatic generation of the logical data required to allow navigation of the generated files by an end-user of an interactive visual medium, including but not limited to such optical disc formats as DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Video CD, and Super Video CD, as well as media hosted by a server and delivered over a network.

Abstract: A method for recording data to optical media is provided. A selection of files to record from a source to a destination optical media is received, and an enumeration of the data files to record to the destination optical media is generated. The enumeration of data files includes the determining of whether any source file is in the enumeration of data files to record to the destination optical media more than one time. A destination file path node is mapped for each data file to be recorded to the destination optical media, and the selection of data files is recorded to the destination optical media. The recording includes only one occurrence of any source file in the enumeration of data files to record to the destination optical media.

Abstract: A method for the automatic detection and correction of red eye in a digital image is disclosed. The method includes defining a digital image in a hue-saturation-intensity (HSI) color space, and identifying a red eye region in a digital image. Using HSI criteria, identified regions are filtered to discard areas unlikely to be the result of red eye effect, and then a plurality of algorithms are used to apply a color correction to each pixel in the identified red eye region. The color correction manipulates each pixel of the red eye region remove the red eye effect. The method is automatic, and requires no input from a user to define the red eye region, to identify the true color of the red eye region, or to apply the color correction.

Abstract: An authoring file, readable by DVD-Video authoring program, defines the playback structure of the DVD-Video material residing in a given disc's “DVD-Video zone” (VIDEO_TS directory) and also defines the location of the assets that make up the disc—s DVD-Video “presentation data.” The efficiency with which a DVD-Video title stored on a rewritable disc (e.g. DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, or CD-RW) that has been revised in a compatible software applicaiton may be written back to that same disc is optimized. The minimum amount of file rewriting required to effect the desired revisions to the project, in particular avoiding the rewriting of large VOB files, is determined.

Abstract: A method for recording audio data to optical media is provided. The method includes obtaining a number of audio tracks on a source optical media and setting a source optical media device to a maximum read speed for the source optical media device. Also included is reading a first audio track on the source optical media and determining a digital audio extraction (DAX) speed for the first audio track. Further, a mid-point audio track on the source optical media is read and determining of the DAX speed for the mid-point audio track on the source optical media is processed. The method further includes calculating a record speed for the number of audio tracks on the source optical media to a destination optical media.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for remotely controlling content stored on a local computer connected to a network system such as the Internet. The invention allows content such as DVD Video content to be locked so that play can only be accomplished through verification of user identity and also allows augmentation and supplementation of the content provided by the video from a remote server. In addition, upon verification of user client credentials, the present invention allows the locally stored content to be supplemented with additional content delivered over the network system. Furthermore, the present invention allows content stored locally on a client device to be remotely controlled to play synchronously on a plurality of client devices.