Abstract: A method of filtering a packet data stream as transmitted in a digital audiovisual transmission system characterized in that transport packet data is filtered at a first stage by a digital filter (42) according to the characteristics of the transport packet header, selected filtered data being then passed directly to a memory element (44) within the receiver/decoder. In a second aspect, the method comprises filtering a packet data stream characterized in that transport packet data is filtered at a first stage by a first digital filter (42) according to the characteristics of the transport packet header, selected filtered data from the payload corresponding to a continuous flux of data then being passed to a second digital filter (45) for a second stage of filtering.
Abstract: The present invention provides a method of broadcasting a message having a text portion to be communicated to a user, the method including broadcasting the message in the form of an entitlement management message for reception by the user.
Abstract: A server apparatus is capable of distributing recorded content in a household and/or business dwelling using the existing coaxial cable infrastructure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the server apparatus includes a front-end processor operative to receive signals from a broadcast source and process the received signals to generate digital data. A memory is operative to record the digital data. A controller is operative to enable retrieval of the digital data from the memory. An encoder is operative to encode the retrieved digital data with error correction data to generate encoded digital signals. A digital-to-analog converter is operative to convert the encoded digital signals to analog signals. A modulator is operative to modulate the analog signals to generate processed analog signals, which are provided to a client device via a coaxial cable connecting the server apparatus and the client device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 9, 2004
Publication date:
July 27, 2006
Applicant:
THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Inventors:
Michael Pugel, Douglas Lankford, John Curtis III, Keith Wehmeyer, Mike Derrenberger, Terry Lockridge, Andrew Bowyer
Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive television process applicable to a system where one or more transmitting stations transmit programmes to receivers. This process provides for: a) reception in one of the receivers, of a startup application and of a normal application; b) testing for the presence in a memory of the receiver of at least one file of additional data; c) in the absence of this file or of these files in this memory, starting up of the normal application; d) if the files of additional data are present, starting up of an improved application using the files of additional data.
Abstract: The invention relates to a device for memorizing a list of items intended to memorize any item that was last presented to it. It comprises a first memory and means responsible, when the first memory is full and when a new item has to be memorized, for randomly selecting an item memorized in the first memory to remove this selected item and to memorize the new item presented. It also relates to a method for memorizing an item in such a device.
Abstract: A broadcast router includes plural input cards through, first and second router matrix card and plural output cards. Programmable devices residing on the cards requiring configuration issue a request for configuration to a main controller which resides, with a shared configuration information repository on a configuration control card. After a period of time which allows additional programmable devices to request configuration elapses, the main controller polls the programmable devices residing on the cards to determine which of the programmable devices had requested configuration and, using the configuration information maintained in the shared configuration information repository, configures each programmable device which had requested configuration.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 13, 2003
Publication date:
July 13, 2006
Applicant:
THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Inventors:
Carl Christensen, Charles Johnson, Lynn Arbuckle
Abstract: There is provided a method for managing the downloading and display of a video program using a mobile device in an networking environment that includes a first radio access network and a second radio access network that has a faster transfer rate than the first network. A layer of video program that has been encoded into multiple layers is downloaded via the first or second network. The downloaded video program is displayed at a playback rate that corresponds to a display quality. Excess portion of the downloaded video program that result when a rate at which the video program is displayed are buffered. The number of layers being downloaded and the playback rate at which the video program is displayed are increased to increase the display quality, when the buffered excess portions exceeds a threshold level.
Abstract: The invention concerns a method for authenticating a software downloaded in a terminal, comprising the following steps: authenticating by certificate said downloaded software by means of a software integrated in said terminal; authenticating by certificate, during execution of said downloaded software, said integrated software by means of an authenticating software module associated with said downloaded software.
Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing encoded digital audio data, wherein the digital audio data is encoded using one of a plurality of encoding formats. The present invention prevents encoded digital audio data that has been copied onto a particular type of data storage medium having a unique identifier, such as a compactflash memory card, from another one of the particular type of data storage medium from being playable in an audio playback device according to the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, an encoded audio data file is encrypted using a unique identifier associated with the data storage device and a second key, an associated decoder file is encrypted using a first key, and the encrypted data and decoder files are stored onto the data storage device. During playback, a digital signal processor decrypt the audio data file in response to the second key and decrypts the decoder file in response to the first key.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 2000
Date of Patent:
July 11, 2006
Assignee:
Thomson Licensing S.A.
Inventors:
Sin Hui Cheah, Robert James Dick, Sr., Tibor G. Csicsatka
Abstract: Spatial concealment of errors in an intra picture comprised of a stream of macroblocks is achieved by predicting the missing data in a macroblock based on an intra prediction mode specified in neighboring block. In practice, when macroblocks within a stream are coded by a block based coding technique, such as coding technique specified in the H.264 ISO/ITU standard, a macroblock can be predicted for coding purpose based on neighboring intra prediction modes specified by the coding technique.
Abstract: A method of displaying a window on a screen is described, in which the window has a background through which underlying objects are visible. Also described are methods of managing windows when drawing takes place in a window which lies under such a window.
Abstract: A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video signal data for an image block with two reference picture indices to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize implicit weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes an implicit reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding each reference picture index; and encoder includes an implicit reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to each reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving the reference picture indices with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining an implicit weighting factor responsive to the relative positioning of the image block and the reference pictures indicated by each reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference pictures, and multiplying the motion compensated reference pi
Abstract: A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video signal data for an image block with two reference picture indices to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize implicit weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes an implicit reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to each reference picture index; an encoder includes an implicit reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to each reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving the reference picture indices with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining an implicit weighting factor responsive to the relative positioning of the image block and the reference pictures indicated by each reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference pictures, and multiplying the motion compensated reference
Abstract: A fully redundant linearly expandable router is comprised of first, second, third and fourth router components. Each router component includes first and second routing engines. First, second and third discrete links couple the first routing engine to the first routing engines, respectively. Fourth and fifth discrete links couple the first routing engine to the first routing engines, respectively. A sixth discrete link couples the routing engine to the routing engine. Seventh, eighth and ninth discrete links couple the second routing engine to the second routing engines, respectively. Tenth and eleventh discrete links couple the second routing engine to the second routing engines, respectively. A twelfth discrete link couples the routing engine to the router engine.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 13, 2003
Publication date:
June 8, 2006
Applicant:
Thomson Licensing S.A.
Inventors:
Carl Christensen, David Bytheway, Mitchell Hayden
Abstract: The present invention relates to a conditional decision device and method for the execution of services received, having predetermined life spans. This device receives and identifies information relating to computer programs required for the execution of these services. It checks the local availability of these programs and allows the services to be executed if the associated programs are available locally. Furthermore, it is capable of triggering a downloading of the programs when the latter are not available locally, and allowing or preventing such a download, at least according to information associated with the services. The invention also relates to a device and a method for compiling associated messages. Application to ATVEF and MHP standards.