Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to collect network and device information. A request for local information is responded to. The request is sent by a remote node in an ad hoc home mesh network. A first node listed in a local route table is queried for node information of the first node. Querying is expanded to a second node in the ad hoc home mesh network using the node information. The second node is a neighbor of the first node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining smooth video transition between distinct applications includes a processor, a secondary memory and a system memory. In providing a smooth transition between applications, the apparatus and method provides synchronization of the video and graphics components while transitioning from a first application to a second application. If there is no video component in either application, no action is needed to provide a smooth transition between applications, and when only the first application includes a video component, the video component need only be turned off for smooth transition between the applications to occur. When both the first application and the second application include video components, smooth transition between the applications is dependent upon the display window size of the first application in comparison to the second application. A process is triggered according to the size of the display windows of the first and second applications.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting content distribution in an electronic network includes a peer-to-peer network of electronic devices. The electronic devices are initially preloaded in a distributed manner with various content segments from corresponding content items. When a system user selects a particular content item on a corresponding electronic device, a download manager of the electronic device may automatically generate content segment requests to other appropriate electronic devices in the peer-to-peer network. The download manager may then download and automatically reassemble the content segments to produce the selected content item for utilization by the system user.

Abstract: A decoder for decoding a plurality of digital video data is described. In an embodiment, the decoder comprises a DV video decoder for decoding digital video data which is formatted according to the DV standard. The DV video decoder has a Very-Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processor and a variable length decoding unit. The VLIW processor includes a preparser unit for recovering a decoding order of the digital video data so that the variable length decoding unit can process the digital video data. The variable length decoding unit decodes a variable length coding format of the digital video data which has been preparsed by the VLIW processor. Furthermore, the VLIW processor includes a decompression unit for decompressing the digital video data which has been decoded by the variable length decoding unit. In an embodiment, the VLIW processor and the variable length decoding unit are formed on the same semiconductor device.

Abstract: A bezel for a TV display has two or more bezel elements, one being more diffusive of light from a source juxtaposed with the bezel assembly than the other element. One element can laterally border the other element or one element can be directly behind the other. More than two bezel elements may be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive interpolation filtering for image compression is disclosed. The method includes determining an activity measure associated with a set of pixels neighboring a pixel undergoing intraframe prediction or a distance measure between at least one pixel in the set of pixels and the pixel undergoing intraframe prediction, and selecting a filter for filtering at least a portion of the set of pixels in accordance with the at least one of the activity measure or the distance measure.

Abstract: One and only instance of a video service model component (for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) model description) is executed in a home network gateway, with multiple instantiations of a view/controller module associated with the model module being generated, one for each display device seeking to simultaneously display the video service. In this way the functionality of a single video service model is shared in the network without requiring the underlying model module itself to be replicated.

Abstract: A system and method for providing targeted advertising messages to a user, in particular users viewing Internal TV or broadcast programs. Advertising data files from one or more advertising entities are stored in a centralized location, such as a server or similar platform. Data relating to the user is acquired from the user's device settings and/or identification, so that a targeted advertising message may be selected from one of the stored advertising data files. The content data is transmitted to the user, the data having a cue for insertion of the selected targeted advertising message prior to or after the content file has been transferred.

Abstract: A method of processing a boot sequence for a processor forming a part of a module apparatus involves interrogating a host television device to determine if the host television device requires use of an application execution engine residing on the module apparatus; receiving a reply to the interrogation; and responsive to the reply, establishing a mode of operation wherein the application execution engine is used to execute application code for the host television device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A personal video recorder (PVR) enables delivery of audio-visual content and associated metadata to storage devices. The PVR is configured to access a plurality of services using a plurality of storage modules. Each storage module is dedicated to a single designated content provider. One or more of the storage modules are removably coupled to the PVR. A disconnected storage module can be reconnected to another PVR different from the PVR from which the storage module was disconnected. Where authorization is required to access content stored on the storage module, authentication is performed each time the removable storage module is reconnected to a PVR.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, the invention relates to an electronic device that features a display unit, a storage unit and a processor. The storage unit is adapted to store a plurality of widgets. Coupled to the storage unit, the processor is adapted to control downloading of the plurality of widgets upon gaining access as a member to a viewing room, and thereafter, to control operations of the plurality of widgets in providing interactive communications with other members of the viewing room as content is being played back on the display unit.

Abstract: A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. Masking tools position graphical representations on the display to define a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are subsequently applied to the image. The several masking tools may be combined to form a single masking tool.

Abstract: A request to transfer a consumer electronics (CE) executable application from a consumer electronics device to a TV device is received at the TV device. The CE executable application is received from the consumer electronics device. Application state information associated with the executable CE application is received from the consumer electronics device. The executable CE application and the application state information are stored to a memory. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A DRM disk such as a Blu-ray stores content in a high resolution version for playing by a disk player. The disk also stores the same content in a lower resolution version for playing by a secondary device such as a Playstation Portable (PSP). The disk can be engaged with the disk player and the lower resolution format transferred to the secondary player through a mechanism such as a removable medium (e.g., a Sony Memory Stick®) or a USB connection or other means in accordance with DRM restrictions on the disk.

Abstract: In certain implementations consistent with the present invention, a method of detecting text in a television video display table involves saving a frame of video to a memory device; determining that the frame of video contains a table having cells containing text; storing a working copy of the frame of video to a memory; isolating text in the table by: removing any table boundaries from the image; removing any cell boundaries from the image; determining if the image has three dimensional or shadow attributes and removing any three dimensional or shadow attributes identified; thereby producing text isolated against a contrasting color background; and processing the isolated text using an optical character recognition (OCR) engine to extract the text as data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: The present invention generates a color template design to format a presentation. According to one aspect, a plurality of template designs are provided on a visual display. A selection of one of the plurality of template designs is received from a user. A plurality of source images that are separate from the plurality of template designs are provided on the visual display. A selection of a color from one of the plurality of source images is received from the user. Colors of the selected template design are automatically adjusted to match the selected the color from the source image. The selected template design may include framing, mat, background, and foreground portions, at least one of which is adjusted. After automatically adjusting the colors, the selected template design may be displayed and/or stored for use as a template.

Abstract: A user interface assembly includes a thin display and a control element such as a rotary encoder, rotary switch, or toggle switch. The control element is manipulable by a person to generate an electronic input signal to a processor, with the thin display presenting a feedback indication received from the processor. The thin display is associated with no other control element, such that the control element and thin display establish a modular unit.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to perform network-based traffic recognition and packet classification. A port identifier in a transport layer header of a packet having a packet type associated with a priority level is extracted. The packet is transmitted from or to an application according to a network protocol in a multi-hop mesh network having a local node and a remote node. The packet is classified into the packet type using one of a pre-defined port list, a dynamic port table, and an application header of the application.

Abstract: System and method for changing a current input terminal of a user device. In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes receiving an input terminal change request, requesting that a current input terminal be changed from a first input terminal to a second input terminal. The method may further include determining if an external device is connected to the second input terminal. In one embodiment of the invention, the second input terminal includes a connection detection switch. The method may also include switching to the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates an external device connection and skipping the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates no external device connected according to one embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.