Abstract: A television device for receiving and storing an electronic programme guide, the electronic programme guide including a plurality of programme entries for respective television programmes, each programme entry having a title field including title data for the title of the respective programme and having a timing field including timing data for timing of the respective programme. Title fields of the electronic programme guide are searched to find titles matching the title of the start programme and candidate programmes are identified accordingly. The timings of the identified candidate programmes are compared with a timing profile representing expected consecutive programme occurrences. On the basis of correlation of the timing data with the timing profile, a consecutive programme in the programme series is identified.

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus generates a video material item marked copy by embedding a payload data word into the video material item. The video material item includes plural video frames. A code word generator generates a water mark code word from the payload data word and reads data representing the water mark code word into a shuffle data store. A shuffle processor generates pseudo randomly at least one address within an address space of the shuffle data store for each video frame and reads data representing part or parts of the water mark code word out from the data store at locations identified by the pseudo randomly generated address. A data embedding processor receives the video material item and embeds the data representing the part or parts of the water mark code word read out from the shuffle data store for each frame into a corresponding frame of the video material item.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a first imaging device operable to capture an image feedback image. A generator generates a feedback image from a captured image for output to a display. A facial recognition unit operates to determine the position of a face within the feedback image. An image corruptor operates to corrupt the feedback image with respect to the position of a face within the feedback image as determined by the facial recognition unit. An image capture initiator operates to initiate the capture of an output image subsequent to corruption of the feedback image.

Abstract: A water marking system generates a water marked image frame for conveying a payload data word by combining at least one image frame with a two-dimensional water mark pattern. The water mark pattern includes plural regions each associated with one of symbols of the payload data word. Each region includes a two dimensional water mark block selected from a predetermined set of possible water mark blocks to represent the value of the payload data symbol associated with that region. A detecting data processing apparatus detects the payload data from a received water marked image frame, which has been encoded by utilizing a block match prior probability calculator operable to correlate each region of the water marked image frame with each of the water mark blocks from the set of water marked blocks) to form for each region a set of probability surfaces.

Abstract: An information handling apparatus, in which metadata is generated in respect of a current information item by reference to an ensemble of information items having associated metadata, the metadata having corresponding indicator data representing a degree of trust associated with that metadata, comprises a detector for detecting one or more predetermined properties of the current information item, a detector for detecting 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, associating logic arranged to associate with the current information item metadata from one or more of the subset of information items such that the metadata associated with the current information item is allocated indicator data representing a low degree of trust in the association of that metadata and the current information item, and a detector for detecting user interaction with the apparatu

Abstract: An image processing method for image conversion by combining two or more source values based on a mixing parameter to generate an output pixel value. A metric is calculated for a selected pixel at a given image field based on the directly preceding image field and a spatially interpolated version of the given image field at the selected pixel position. The selected pixel is categorized based on the metric as providing an indeterminate, unreliable, or reliable basis for a determination of motion at that pixel. The mixing parameter for the selected pixel is adjusted based on the categorization of the pixel.

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 comprises the steps of: frequency synchronizing the local and reference clocks; the reference video data processor sending, via the network, to the local data processor 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 synchroni

Abstract: A method of organising data items in an n-dimensional space comprises, for each of a plurality of iterations, the step of generating a relative displacement of position for each data item within the n-dimensional space in accordance with a similarity value between each data item and respective other data items, the distance between each data item and respective other data items in the n-dimensional space, and the difference in position within the n-dimensional space between each data item and at least one reference point.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which output pixels of an output image are generated from one or more input images using motion vectors having a sub-pixel accuracy. A motion vector allocator allocates motion vectors in the pixels, and compares a current output pixel with test image areas pointed to by motion vectors in the pixels to detect a most suitable motion vector for the current output pixel. A pixel generator operates in a first mode if the output pixel is within a threshold displacement from an image region having substantially different motion characteristics to those of that output pixel, and in a second mode otherwise. The pixel generator includes a spatial filter generating an output pixel value at a required pixel position to a sub-pixel accuracy.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first motion detector, a second motion detector and a conversion selector. The first motion detector detects motion to a first level of spatial frequency sensitivity. The second motion detector detects motion to a second level of spatial frequency sensitivity greater than the first level of spatial frequency sensitivity to detect smaller amounts of motion than the first motion detector. The conversion selector selects contributions from at least one of a first conversion process and a second conversion process for a given point in an image dependant upon whether motion is detected by the first motion detector at the given point or not. The conversion selector operates independently of the second motion detector if a degree of motion within the image or a part thereof including the given point detected by the first motion detector does not exceed a threshold amount.

Abstract: A video data network device arranged to receive a video signal and an associated synchronisation signal and to launch video data packets representing the video signal onto a packet-based data network comprises means for detecting whether the video signal is synchronised with the synchronisation signal; and means for launching data onto the network indicating whether the video signal is synchronised with the synchronisation signal.

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus is described which is operable to generate protected compression encoded data representative of protected media signals. The apparatus comprises a data analyser which is operable to receive compression encoded data representative of the media signals and to select low perceptibility data bits in the compression encoded data which when altered would have a relatively low perceivable effect on the media signals recovered from compression decoding the compression encoded data after the selected bits had been altered. The bits are selected in accordance with predetermined criteria. The apparatus also comprises an information validation engine which is operable to form a normalised version of the compression encoded data by setting the selected data bits in the compression encoded data to a predetermined value and to generate a secure hash value of the normalised version of the compression encoded data.

Abstract: An audio processing apparatus for processing two sampled audio signals to detect a temporal position of one of the audio signals with respect to the other. The apparatus detects audio power characteristics of each signal in respect of successive continuous temporal portions of each of the two signals, the portions having identical lengths and each portion including at least two audio samples, and correlates the detected audio power characteristics in respect of the two audio signals to establish a most likely temporal offset between the two audio signals.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus adapted to be connected for use to a media drive apparatus for recording data on or reproduced data from a recording medium having a file system includes a real file system acquiring section that acquires the file system of the recording medium from the media drive apparatus and a virtual file system providing section that converts the file system acquired by the file system acquiring section into a virtual file system having a directory/file structure different from the directory/file structure on the recording medium and provides it to an application program.

Abstract: In a method of displaying an image from an image store to a display device, each pixel has a color represented by pixel values which define a position within color space. A plurality of regions are defined within the color space, and each pixel value used within the image is allocated to one of these regions within the color space. Then, one or more areas of the image are selected, and for each of the selected areas, one of the defined regions within the color space is selected. For each selected area of the image, pixels which have been allocated to the selected region within the color space are identified and added to the image store. Different areas of the image and regions of the color space are selected in succession until all pixels of the image have been added to the image store for display.

Abstract: A camera arrangement comprising a plurality of camera elements and a corresponding method of arranging camera elements is described. The camera arrangement improves the resolution of a stitched image by maintaining a uniform overlap between the fields of view of adjacent camera element. The uniform overlap is achieved. This is because the amount of unnecessary overlap required to achieve the required degree of overlap is reduced.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is operable to identify one of a plurality of code words present in a watermarked version of a material item. The marked version is formed by combining each of a plurality of parts of a code word with one of a plurality of units from which the material item is comprised. The apparatus comprises a recovery processor operable to recover at least one part of the code word from a corresponding unit of the marked material item, and a correlator. The correlator is operable to generate for the marked material unit, a dependent correlation value for the part of the code word recovered from the material unit and the corresponding part of at least one of the re-generated code words from the set. A detector is operable to determine whether at least one of the code words is present in the marked material item from the dependent correlation value for the part of the code word exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which output pixel values are generated with respect to pixels of an input image selected in accordance with an image feature direction in the input image. The apparatus includes a mechanism comparing blocks of pixels of the input image, the blocks being disposed with respect to a pixel position under test so that a correlation between the blocks would indicate an image feature direction applicable to that pixel position; and a mechanism detecting the image feature direction applicable to the pixel position under test as a direction corresponding to a block comparison for blocks having the highest correlation amongst blocks having block contents meeting one or more predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A system for providing requested data sets of broadcast data service transmitted as part of a broadcast signal, including a broadcast headend configured to receive a data request from a receiver, and configured to broadcast requested data sets to the receiver in response to the data request from the receiver, a processor configured to periodically extract all of the requested data sets of the broadcast data service from a broadcast carousel included in the broadcast signal, a memory configured to store all of the requested data sets of the broadcast data service, defining a plurality of digital-audio/video-data-sets including television clips, a first controller configured to allow selection from a list of the plurality of sets of the digital-audio/video-data-sets, and a second controller responsive to a user initiated selection signal to cause the memory to output a user selected one of the plurality of digital-audio/video-data sets selected from the list, wherein the processor converts the digital-audio/vid

Abstract: A network interface device connectable to a network, the device being arranged to receive digital audio data representing an audio signal and, substantially in real time, to launch data packets representing the digital audio data onto the network, the device comprising: an attribute detector arranged to generate attribute data representing an attribute of the audio signal; and a packetiser operable: to format the digital audio data into audio data packets to be launched onto the network; and to format the attribute data into attribute data packets, separate from the audio data packets, to be launched onto the network.