Abstract: It is provided a method for synchronizing content playback at the presentation level wherein, a first content is presented on a first device and a second content that is the same as or correlated with the first content is presented on a second device. The method comprises steps of receiving status messages from the first device and the second device, wherein the status messages comprise information about playback positions of the first content and the second content currently being playbacked at the presentation level of the first device and the second device; and in response to differences between playback positions of the first content and the second content comprised in the status messages being above a threshold value, performing adjustment to maintain difference of playback positions of the first content and the second content at the presentation level of the first device and the second device below the threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for video encoders and decoders using compressive sensing. The encoding method encodes an image block in a picture by generating a measurement vector for the image block, encoding the measurement vector, and reconstructing the image block by minimizing a signal sparsity of the image block responsive to the encoded measurement vector, the measurement vector including transform coefficients relating to the image block. A corresponding decoding method decodes an image block for a picture by receiving a measurement vector for the image block, decoding the measurement vector, and reconstructing the image block by minimizing a signal sparsity of the image block responsive to the decoded measurement vector, wherein the measurement vector includes transform coefficients relating to the image block.

Abstract: Blur is one of the most important features related to image quality. Accurately estimating the blur level of an image is a great help to accurately evaluate its quality. A method for calculating blur of video images comprises calculating a horizontal blur value, and determining characteristic parameters of the video images, including at last progressive/interlaced and spatial resolution level. If the video images are progressive, also a vertical blur value is calculated, and combined with the horizontal blur value. The next step is normalizing the horizontal blur value, or the combined horizontal and vertical blur value, according to predefined min and max values, wherein the min and max values are adapted to the spatial resolution level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configures a power level for a device able to receive audio, video, and data signals. An input signal is received by a receiver capable of receiving broadcast data signals and digital home networking signals. The system determines if the receiver is operating in a first mode having a first power level or a second mode having a second power level based on a type of input signal received by the receiver. A control signal is generated for modifying at least one setting on a first circuit for configuring the first circuit to operate according to the first power level if the input signal is a first type of input signal. The control signal is provided to the first circuit and the first circuit is configured to operate according to the first power level based on the control signal.

Abstract: A source-independent content rating system and method are provided. The system includes an electronic program guide extractor for extracting program guide information relating to at least one of, programs and channels, from multiple content subscription services. A filter generates identifying information that identifies at least one of a content and a category of the content based on the received program guide information. A subscription manager receives user specified ratings and the identifying information, and manages user interface information displayed to a user. The user interface information includes at least one of the content and the category identified by the identifying information and further includes a user specified rating there for. The subscription manager migrates any user specified ratings provided with respect to a particular one of the multiple content subscription services to all other relevant ones of the multiple content subscription services.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a system and method for time optimized encoding. Time optimized encoding maximizes the usage of the multiple encode nodes or clusters by parallelizing time-intensive encoding with minimal or no sacrifice of encoding quality. Thereby, reducing the time required for accomplishing the time intensive encoding and increasing the efficient throughput of multiple encodes through the system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for FEC frame header detection are provided, suitable for use in a DVB-C2 receiver. A first method comprises demodulating with a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) demapper, followed by correlation and symmetry measures for detection of a robust FEC header. A second method comprises demodulating with a 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) demapper, followed by correlation and symmetry measures for detection of a high efficiency FEC leader. Another embodiment comprises using both the first and second methods to find the FEC header because the first symbol of the FEC frame header may be sent either in robust mode or in high efficiency mode. There is also provided a method and apparatus for generating an alternate decision statistic for determining detection of the FEC frame header.

Abstract: Robust Header Compression (ROHC) offers a way to compress packet header information for more efficient transmission of data. The compression is achieved through various confidence modes set up by the transmitter and the receiver. The Initialization and Refresh state (IR) is the first state of the compressor. This provides a complete, uncompressed context of the data that is being transmitted. In typically operation, the ROHC compressor will periodically transmit IR packets providing context information allowing the ROHC decompressor to decompress one or more packets following the IR packet. However, under certain conditions such as decompressor start-up, it is possible for the decompressor to miss an IR packet. Exemplary methods and apparatus are described in which a decompressor uses a later-received IR packet to decompress earlier packets for which the decompressor had not received context information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for signaling intra prediction for large blocks for video encoders and decoders. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding picture data for at least one large block in a picture by signaling intra prediction for the at least one large block. The intra prediction is signaled by selecting a basic coding unit size and assigning a single spatial intra partition type for the basic coding unit size. The single spatial intra partition type is selectable from among a plurality of spatial intra partition types. The at least one large block has a large block size greater than a block size of the basic coding unit. The intra prediction is hierarchical layer intra prediction and is performed for the at least one large block by at least one of splitting from the large block size to the basic coding unit size and merging from the basic coding unit size to the large block size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including receiving buffer maps of neighbor peers, measuring serving rates from the neighbor peers, measuring serving rates to the neighbor peers, requesting a unit of data from one of the neighbor peers responsive to information in the buffer maps of the neighbor peers at a rate responsive to the serving rate from the one of the neighbor peers, receiving incoming requests for units of data, sorting the incoming requests into a plurality of queues, selecting one of the incoming requests to serve responsive to the serving rates to the neighbor peers corresponding to the incoming request, updating the queues and selecting a new neighbor peer.

Abstract: 3D mesh models are represented by three types of data: connectivity data, geometry data and property data. The surface of a 3D object is a triangle mesh. 3D meshes contain huge amounts of data that need to be compressed efficiently. Additionally to the common world coordinate system for the complete model and local coordinate system for a single triangle, an individual component coordinate system for each connected component is used. The component coordinate system is used to normalize the orientation of the respective component for quantization and de-quantization. This improves the accuracy of encoded 3D mesh models after quantization/de-quantization, particularly if a 3D mesh model comprises one or more distinct components.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a display venue are disclosed. One method involves receiving information generated by an audience in response to a request associated with content provided to the audience at a display venue, and determining at least one condition at the display venue based on the information.

Abstract: Modern broadcast services have a need for improving channel selection in an MDU network. A method is disclosed including the steps of receiving a request for a program, comparing the requested program to a stored list of available programs, and providing an alternative if the requested program is unavailable. An apparatus is disclosed including a user interface receiving a request for a program from a user, a controller comparing the requested program to a stored list of available programs, and a network interface receiving data relating to programs available from a source when available programs from the source change and transmitting the requested program if the controller determines that the requested program is available.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a change to apply to video; dividing video into blocks; creating propagation map which captures only specific changes to blocks that would be changed by the application of the change; evaluating the change based on a luminance criterion as being a perceptible change or an imperceptible change; for propagation maps of an imperceptible change, storing the propagation map to a list, wherein the propagation map is the principle data structure to be applied to the video. The propagation map can be created by using motion vector changes associated with the change.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a receiver terminal and method at the receiver for requesting a missing symbol from a repair service, the method comprising the steps of receiving from a first server a list of at least one repair server and at least one transmission mode used by the at least one repair server, receiving from a second server a file comprising a plurality of symbols, checking the correct reception of the symbols, and if a missing has been identified, selecting a repair server and a transmissions mode and requesting the repair server to transmit missing symbols using the transmission mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including receiving data from a plurality of cluster heads and forwarding the data to peers. Also described are a method and apparatus including calculating a sub-stream rate, splitting data into a plurality of data sub-streams and pushing the plurality of data sub-streams into corresponding transmission queues. Further described are a method and apparatus including splitting source data into a plurality of equal rate data sub-streams, storing the equal rate data sub-streams into a sub-server content buffer, splitting buffered data into a plurality of data sub-streams, calculating a plurality of sub-stream rates and pushing the data sub-streams into corresponding transmission queues.

Abstract: The method comprises the following steps: reading of an original PID and TSC bits in the PID and TSC fields of a packet header of an MPEG2 stream at least partially scrambled, writing of a temporary PID in a PID field in place of the original PID, function of the original PID value and TSC bits according to a correspondence table of an original PID and TSC bits with the temporary PIDs, writing of the value zero in the TSC field in place of the original value, scrambling of the stream with modified fields. Applications for the satellite transmission of partially scrambled MPEG2 digital signals.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the potential eyestrain felt by audiences while watching a 3D presentation, e.g., a stereoscopic motion picture, are provided. The eyestrain measurement system and method of the present disclosure is based on the measurement of disparity (or depth) and disparity transition of stereoscopic images of the 3D presentation. The system and method of the present disclosure provide for acquiring a first image and a second image from a first segment, estimating disparity of at least one point in the first image with at least one corresponding point in the second image, estimating disparity transition of a sequence of first and second images, and determining potential eyestrain felt while viewing the 3D presentation based on the disparity and the disparity transition of the sequence of the first and second images.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for display color fidelity optimization using performance prediction are provided. A method of the present invention can include obtaining data regarding available display parameters of the display device, obtaining feedback information regarding respective current values of the display parameters of the display device, performing simulations to determine how changes in the display parameters affect a display of the video content on the display, determining a prediction of a performance of the display device based upon the current values of the display parameters, determining an effect of ambient light on at least one of the determined prediction and the display parameters, and optimizing the display parameters in accordance with at least one of the determined prediction and the determined effect of ambient light. In an alternate embodiment, the method can further include recovering one or more original current values of the display parameters subsequent to a change.

Abstract: A cartridge preferably for use with a game console. The cartridge comprises a ROM, a non-volatile memory, a processor and an encryption unit. An application running on the console may read data from the ROM, read data from the non-volatile memory, and write data in the non-volatile memory. Data to be written in the non-volatile memory is encrypted by the encryption unit, but data to be read is returned in encrypted form for decryption by a decryption function of the game application. Data may also be received encrypted to be decrypted and returned. The encryption or decryption unit may also receive data from the non-volatile memory and send it to the interface. The invention improves on the prior art copy protection as a hacker must reverse engineer the game application in order to copy it, if the encryption unit is unknown. The invention also provides an optical medium equipped with a RFID circuit.