Abstract: A digital broadcast media recording apparatus has means for determining if a program which is scheduled to be broadcast has already been recorded, and, if it has been, for deciding if the program which is scheduled to be broadcast should be recorded based on a comparison of the attributes of the digital signal representing the scheduled program and corresponding attributes of the digital signal representing the recorded program. If it is determined that the scheduled program should be recorded, a control means gives an instruction which causes a recording unit to record the broadcast digital system representing the scheduled program when it is broadcast. Optionally, the digital signal representing the recorded program can be deleted once the digital signal representing the scheduled program is recorded. An identifier is used to determine whether the scheduled program is the same as a recorded program.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the phase of a local image synchronization signal generator of a local video data processor in communication with an asynchronous switched packet network to the phase of a reference image synchronization signal generator of a reference video data processor also coupled to the network, the local and reference processors having respective clocks, the reference and local image synchronization signal generators generating periodic image synchronization signals in synchronism with the reference and local clocks respectively including: frequency synchronizing the local and reference clocks; sending an image timing packet providing reference image synchronization data indicating the difference in timing, measured with respect to the reference processor's clock, between the time at which the image timing packet is launched onto the network and the time of production of a reference image synchronization signal; and controlling the timing of the production of the local image synchronization si

Abstract: An information handling apparatus in which textual metadata is generated in respect of a current information item in an ensemble of information items including: a mechanism that detects one or more predetermined properties of the current information item; a mechanism that detects a subset of information items from the ensemble of information items the subset being those which have the one or more predetermined properties most similar to those of the current information item; and a mechanism that selects one or more most frequently occurring words and/or phrases within textual metadata associated with the subset of information items, for use in textual metadata to be associated with the current information item.

Abstract: An image processing method includes partitioning an image under test to form a plurality of contiguous image segments having similar image properties, deriving feature data from a subset including one or more of the image segments, and comparing the feature data from the subset of image segments with feature data derived from respective image segments of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.

Abstract: A video camera arrangement comprises an image capture device; a face detector for detecting human faces in the captured video material and for generating face data identifying detected occurrences of faces in the captured video material; a data handling medium by which data representing the captured images is transmitted and/or stored; and a processor for generating data to be transmitted or stored by the data handling medium in dependence on the detection of faces in the captured images.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus generating output image pixels from groups of one or more input image pixels, the groups selected in accordance with an image feature direction in the input image. An interpolator interpolates intermediate pixels between the input image pixels, and a block comparator detects correlation between sets of test blocks of pixels in the input image, which sets are oriented with respect to a current pixel position so that the orientation of a set having the greatest correlation indicates a probable image feature direction applicable to the current pixel position. For at least some sets of test blocks having an orientation with respect to the current pixel position within a predetermined range around a vertical orientation, the test blocks include the input image pixels and intermediate pixels interpolated from the input image pixels. For other sets of test blocks, the test blocks include only the input image pixels.

Abstract: An image processing method includes detecting statistical distribution of permutations of pixel properties amongst contiguous groups of a predetermined number of pixels in at least a portion of an image under test, so as to derive feature data in respect of the image under test, and comparing the feature data derived in respect of the image under test with feature data derived from at least respective portions of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.

Abstract: A television receiver device including first and second tuners for receiving first and second multiplexes of channels, each multiplex including at least one channel carrying a succession of programs, actual event information providing information relating to channels in the respective multiplex and other event information providing information relating to channels of other multiplexes. A program is scheduled to be broadcast at the same time in different first and second formats respectively in the first and second multiplexes. The device further includes a user interface configured to allow selection of a channel of said first multiplex; a controller configured to tune said first tuner to said first multiplex and to select said channel of said first multiplex; wherein the controller is configured to be responsive to the channel selected by the user interface carrying said program to tune said second tuner to said second multiplex.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus configured to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus comprising a recording unit configured to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording unit configured to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor. The metadata may also include unique identification code for identifying the audio/video signals. The unique identification code may be a UMID or the like.

Abstract: An information handling method in which information items are mapped to respective nodes in an array of nodes by mutual similarity of the information items, such that similar information items map to nodes at similar positions in the array of nodes; a mapping relationship being defined between feature data relating to an information item and nodes in the array of nodes comprises the steps of: (a) for each of a group of information items: detecting feature data representing each of a set of properties of that information item; (b) for the ensemble of feature data corresponding to the group of information items: detecting more significant and less significant properties within the ensemble; discarding feature data relating to less significant properties, the remaining non-discarded feature data being associated so as to generate a reduced feature vector for each information item; (c) defining a mapping between the reduced feature vectors and nodes in the array of nodes.

Abstract: A remote control handset 10 is provided for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure. The remote control handset 10 has a button 40 on its upper surface 20, and a button 120 on its lower surface 80. The button 40 on its upper surface 20 is used to navigate deeper into the hierarchical menu structure, and the button 120 on its lower surface 80 is used to navigate in the other direction (i.e. higher) in the menu structure. The remote control handset 10 is thus configured to make navigation of a graphical interface having hierarchical menu structure more intuitive, logical, and efficient.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus which is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus including a recording unit which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording unit being arranged in operation to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus which is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus comprising a recording unit which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording unit being arranged in operation to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor.

Abstract: A television apparatus (20) including a display (22) and an audio transducer (24,28) for reproducing video and audio component parts of a television signal. A processor (40) is provided for separating from the television signal an audio descriptor component part for providing an audio description of a corresponding video component part of the television signal. A controller (46) selectively controls the television apparatus to operate in one of an audio descriptor mode in which an audio descriptor component part is reproduced by the audio transducer (24,28) at the same time as the display (22) reproduces the respective corresponding video component part and a standard mode in which the audio descriptor component part is not reproduced. A user operable interface (30,50,48) is provided for selectively selecting between the standard mode and the audio descriptor mode. The controller (46) is configured to drive the display (42) to provide a mode image (52) providing an indication of the selective mode.

Abstract: A method of image processing for converting interlaced images to progressive scan images comprises the steps of generating a motion dependent mixing value for determining the extent to which a preceding image field should be mixed with a current intra-field interpolated image field at a given pixel position, comparing the generated mixing value with a preceding historical mixing value, and if the comparison indicates an increase in motion, using the generated mixing value; otherwise, if the comparison indicates a decrease in motion, temporally filtering the generated mixing value prior to use.

Abstract: The bitstream includes digital codes representing an information signal. At least one digital code is selected. The code occupies a part of the bitstream which is to contain at least one watermark code which represents a watermark perceptible in the information signal. The selected digital code(s) are removed from the said part of the bitstream. The watermark code(s) are put in the said part of the bitstream in place of the selected code(s). The number of bits of the selected code(s) removed from the said part of the bitstream is greater than or equal to the number of bits of the said watermark code(s) put in the said part. The removed selected code(s) are appended to an end of the bitstream and/or placed in watermark user data fields created in the bitstream.

Abstract: An information retrieval system in which a set of distinct information items map to respective nodes in an array of nodes by mutual similarity of the information items, so that similar information items map to nodes at similar positions in the array of nodes; comprises a search arrangement for selecting a subset of the information items by applying a user-defined search query against the information items, the search arrangement being operable to detect a degree of relevance of each information item in the subset to the search query; and a graphical user interface for displaying a representation of those nodes corresponding to at least some of the subset of information items as a two-dimensional display array of display points within a node display area on a user display; the graphical user interface being operable to display the display points with respective display properties dependent on the detected degree of relevance of the corresponding information item.

Abstract: A method of image processing for conversion of an image in a sequence of images comprises the steps of associating pixels of an image with respective motion values indicative of a degree of inter-image motion for each pixel; adjusting the motion value of each pixel based upon the motion value of a secondary pixel found within a first region of a first predetermined size substantially centered upon each respective pixel, said secondary pixel being that whose associated motion value is indicative of the greatest motion of any pixel in the first region; adjusting the motion value of each pixel based upon the motion value of a secondary pixel that lies within a second region of a second predetermined size substantially centered upon each respective pixel, said secondary pixel being that whose associated motion value is indicative of the least motion of any pixel in the second region; categorizing each pixel as a static pixel or a motion pixel according to its respective associated motion value, and then selecting

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium. Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the phase of a local image synchronization signal generator of a local video data processor in communication with an asynchronous switched packet network to the phase of a reference image synchronization signal generator of a reference video data processor also coupled to the network, the local and reference processors having respective clocks, the reference and local image synchronization signal generators generating periodic image synchronization signals in synchronism with the reference and local clocks respectively including: frequency synchronizing the local and reference clocks; sending an image timing packet providing reference image synchronization data indicating the difference in timing, measured with respect to the reference processor's clock, between the time at which the image timing packet is launched onto the network and the time of production of a reference image synchronization signal; and controlling the timing of the production of the local image synchronization si