Abstract: Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.

Abstract: Methods for managing digital video content include registering, in a registry identified with a user account, mobile device platform information and telephone number information for at least one wireless mobile device indicated by information received from a client device. A network server maintains a library of digital video content identified with the user account at a network server, available for serving the digital video content to the client computer. The server provides the digital content, the mobile device platform information and the telephone number information to a mobile content server, to enable streaming video delivery of the digital video content to the at least one mobile device without requiring the user account identifier to be provided from the at least one mobile device. An apparatus for performing the method comprises a processor coupled to a memory, the memory holding instructions for performing steps of the method as summarized above.

Abstract: Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.

Abstract: A media (e.g., Blu-Ray) first content package includes a link to an application for sending second content to a remote device, especially a mobile telephone. The application is included in the first content. The second content is not included in the first content. The application presents a list of second content choices, selectable by a user. The application receives a destination address for the second content from user input and sends the destination address to a second content server. The second content server contacts the remote device having the indicated destination address, and confirms that receipt of second content will be accepted. Upon receiving confirmation, the second content server transmits the second content to the remote device. The technology may be used to provide content to mobile devices, such as mobile phones, in association with distributed media such as Blu-Ray discs configured for being played by a media player.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical disc player with a standard digital port, such as a USB port, coupled to an external storage, such as a thumb drive, coupled to a standard digital port such as a USB port. The external storage may also be used to provide content, commands or applications that enable the player to present certain additional content, or to perform certain additional or enhanced functions.

Abstract: Blotches may be identified and processed to reduce or eliminate the blotch. The blotch may be in just one of several separations and multiple separations may be used, for example, to identify the blotch. An implementation (i) compares a first component image of an image with a first component image of a reference image, (ii) compares a second component image of the image with a second component image of the reference image, and (iii) determines based on these comparisons whether the first component image of the image includes a blotch. Multiple image separations also, or alternatively, may be used, for example, to modify the blotch, as well as to evaluate whether a modification is beneficial.

Abstract: An initial content is encoded a first time to obtain a first encoded content. One or more parameters obtained from the first encoding are used to generate an encoding coefficient. The initial content is encoded a second time to obtain a second encoded content. The second encoding is performed using encoding coefficients, at least one of which is derived from the parameter associated with the first encoding. The two encodings can be implemented using a single encoder or two separate encoders.

Abstract: An initial content is encoded a first time to obtain a first encoded content. One or more parameters obtained from the first encoding are used to generate an encoding coefficient. The initial content is encoded a second time to obtain a second encoded content. The second encoding is performed using encoding coefficients, at least one of which is derived from the parameter associated with the first encoding. The two encodings can be implemented using a single encoder or two separate encoders.

Abstract: Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.

Abstract: A digital media distribution device that includes an encoder, a decoder coupled to the encoder, and a transcoder coupled to the decoder. The encoder is configured to encode input data that is received by the digital media distribution device into a first data format. The decoder is configured to decode output data to be output by the digital media distribution device. The transcoder is configured to convert the encoded input data from the first data format into a second data format. The digital media distribution device is configured to be coupled to a computer network.

Abstract: Media management for multi-user groups includes methods for determining a numeric score for recorded content being one of a popularity score or a relevance score, and for displaying a content library as an array of images each sized in accordance with its popularity score. The methods may also include social group features whereby a user may compare her content library with other libraries in her social group, and view relative popularity of content titles in the other libraries. The system includes numerous other features for content exploration, acquisition and management. An apparatus for performing the method comprises a processor coupled to a memory, the memory holding instructions for performing steps of the method as summarized above. Various aspects of the system may be implemented as a server or a client.

Abstract: An apparatus generating audio cues for content indicative of the position of audio objects within the content comprising: an audio processor receiving raw audio tracks for said content and information indicative of the positions of at least some of said audio tracks within frames of said content, said audio processor generating corresponding audio parameters; an authoring tool receiving said audio parameters and generating encoding coefficients, said audio parameters including audio cue of the position of audio objects corresponding to said tracks in at least one spatial dimension; and a first audio/video encoder receiving an input and encoding said input into an audio visual content having visual objects and audio objects, said audio objects being disposed at location corresponding to said one spatial position, said encoder using said encoding coefficients for said encoding.

Abstract: A video application that is configured to prompt the display of images on a screen for viewing by a user. The screen includes a display layer that includes a display image having a representation of a sub-stream image. The user can select the representation of a sub-stream image to display a video stream.

Abstract: An optical disc used for storing content includes a theft control area selected to render the disc unreadable. The disc must be exposed to radiation of a specific wavelength before it can be read by a regular device. The theft control area may include an area that contains data that instructs the device not to read the disc. This area includes a coating that changes its optical characteristics when exposed to the radiation. The material could be radiochromic or thermochromic. Alternatively, the theft control area includes an RFID device that includes an element that is radiation sensitive. In this embodiment, when the disc is irradiated, the element changes its electrical characteristics.

Abstract: Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.

Abstract: Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content.

Abstract: A system and method for computerized competition useful for rewarding a player. The system and method may be utilized in arcade games, personal computer games, dedicated video games, networked games, and simulators. The method may include selecting a target reward level or threshold such as by selecting a score from a list of past scores, and dynamically adjusting the reward level according to the ability of the players of the system. The method may further include adjusting the playback of a previous competition sequence according to the adjusted reward level. In one embodiment, a previous vehicle race sequence is stored and played back as a ghost or phantom vehicle simultaneously with a present vehicle of a player.

Abstract: An apparatus generating audio cues for content indicative of the position of audio objects within the content comprising: an audio processor receiving raw audio tracks for said content and information indicative of the positions of at least some of said audio tracks within frames of said content, said audio processor generating corresponding audio parameters; an authoring tool receiving said audio parameters and generating encoding coefficients, said audio parameters including audio cue of the position of audio objects corresponding to said tracks in at least one spatial dimension; and a first audio/video encoder receiving an input and encoding said input into an audio visual content having visual objects and audio objects, said audio objects being disposed at location corresponding to said one spatial position, said encoder using said encoding coefficients for said encoding.

Abstract: A digital media distribution device that includes an encoder, a decoder coupled to the encoder, and a transcoder coupled to the decoder. The encoder is configured to encode input data that is received by the digital media distribution device into a first data format. The decoder is configured to decode output data to be output by the digital media distribution device. The transcoder is configured to convert the encoded input data from the first data format into a second data format. The digital media distribution device is configured to be coupled to a computer network.

Abstract: A method or apparatus for delivering audio programming such as music to listeners may include identifying, capturing and applying a listener's audio perception characteristics (sometimes referred to as the listener's Personal Waveform Profile) to transform audio content so that the listener perceives the content similarly to how the content would be perceived by a different listener. An audio testing tool may be implemented as software application to identify and capture respective listeners' Personal Waveform Profiles. A signal processor may operate an algorithm processing source audio content using the respective listeners' Personal Waveform Profiles to provide audio output based on a difference between different profiles.