Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) application is configured to render a program listing, a currently indicated program, and additional data. The EPG application is further configured to automatically determine, based on user-submitted EPG navigation commands, whether or not the user is likely interested in the currently indicated program. If it is determined that the user is likely interested in the currently indicated program, then the additional data that is displayed along with the program listing is detailed data associated with the currently indicated program. In contrast, if it is determined that the user is likely not interested in the currently indicated program, then instead of detailed data associated with the currently indicated program, the additional data that is displayed along with the program listing is content that is targeted to the user.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: A method for distributing geographical restriction data in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed. The method includes accepting at an IPTV server, a request from an IPTV client for the geographical restriction data related to geographically restricted video data, determining at the server, a plurality of geographic restriction zones for the geographically restricted video data and sending from the server to the client a message containing the restriction data related to at least one of the restriction zones.

Abstract: This invention discloses a communication system incorporating a video broadcast network and a mobile communication network in which a plurality of base stations constitutes at least one cell cluster, said communication system comprising: a central control node which allocates time slots for broadcast video data to a broadcast transmission tower based on a predetermined schedule algorithm and allocates time slots and/or frequency for communication to said base stations; a plurality of base stations each of which communicates with terminals within the time slots for communication allocated by the central control node and at a predetermined frequency or the frequency allocated by the central control node; and a broadcast transmission tower which transmits signals to said terminals within the time slots for broadcast video data allocated by the central control node.

Abstract: Herein described are at least a method and a system for providing an extended forecast of scheduled video programming information provided by a multimedia provider. The extended forecast processes electronic program data (EPG) provided by the multimedia provider, such that a long term program guide (LTPG) may be developed. The LTPG provides a forecast of programs to be broadcasted that extends beyond what the EPG may provide. The method generates the LTPG by utilizing algorithms that compare newly received EPG data against historically processed EPG data. The system comprises a controller, a processor used for extracting EPG data from a signal, a memory that stores software, and a remote sensor capable of receiving signals transmitted by a remote control. When executed by the controller, the software implements the algorithms that generate the LTPG.

Abstract: A system and method of audio/video streaming in which a server transmits over a network an audio/video stream to a client device. The client device is able to send command data to the server causing the server to provide a change in content of the audio/video stream from a first content to a second content. Buffers in the server and client device can be flushed or skipped-over at the time of sending the command data so as to improve response time and marker data can be sent from the server to the client device to indicate the start of the second content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing channel management in a broadcast receiver. The method includes estimating an intensity and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of broadcast signals received via a plurality of physical channels (PCT channels) in a channel memory mode, determining reception quality of the respective plurality of PCT channels, in consideration of both the estimated intensity and SNR of the broadcast signals, and assigning the plurality of PCT channels to a virtual channel (VCT channel) according to a predetermined rule with respect to a reception quality of the plurality of PCT channels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the measurement of the audience characteristics or demographics which is or can be exposed to displayed interactive content depicted on a screen. The audience can include persons who are engaged in interacting with the interactive content as well as persons who are observers of the interactive content and/or the active participants. The content can include one or more targeted advertisements contained in or associated with interactive content, and can be varied based on the audience characteristics or demographics. The audience characteristics or demographics can be used to accurately charge advertisers for the impressions created by the content displayed and can also or alternatively be used to determine and/or trigger what content is actually displayed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for displaying the viewing time and TV ratings based on a viewer grade, wherein information on the TV ratings and viewing time is indicated using lamps provided in the external case of the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes an information-analysis unit that analyzes the viewer grade based on user information inputted by a user of the display apparatus and TV ratings by extracting program information from signals broadcasted by a broadcasting station, a ratings-comparison unit that compares the viewer grade with the TV ratings, and a lamp-control unit that lights lamps according to the comparison result.

Abstract: An interactive television system tailoring delivery of interactive content. The system includes a request processing engine accepting user interactions with an interactive television (ITV) application. A user profiling engine associates the user interactions with an individual profile or profile group. The profile group defines events that may be triggered upon receipt of certain user interactions. A trigger/event engine monitors, in real-time, whether the user interactions correspond to any of the defined events. If an event is to be triggered, an action engine transmits an ITV command associated with the event to an encoder. The encoder performs a real-time of encoding of the ITV command for providing viewers with a dynamic ITV experience. The ITV experience provided to the viewers may also be customized based on the profile information obtained for each individual viewer.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver includes a memory for obtaining and storing electronic program guide information about programs to be broadcast and progress information showing the progress of an program which is being broadcast in each channel, a display device such as a television screen, and a controller for allowing the display device to display the electronic program guide together with the progress information corresponding to the electronic program guide information by reading the progress information from the memory.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system and method for displaying on a user-display system a program comprising a programming content including a plurality of programming content segments and a non-programming content including at least one non-programming content segment. The method includes receiving in the user-display system a first programming content segment of the programming content transmitted from a first source across a computer network, identifying at least one non-programming content segment associated with the first programming content, the identified non-programming content segment received in the user-display system from a second source across the computer network, and displaying the identified non-programming content segment by the user-display system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing VOD data in a mobile station including a multimedia processor and an MSM for controlling the mobile station. The method comprises the steps of negotiating PPP option information by performing PPP negotiation for making communication with a server when the mobile station accesses to a WAP through the MSM; transmitting the PPP option information negotiated through the MSM to the multimedia processor; setting a VOD data route using the transmitted PPP option information as PPP information of the multimedia processor; processing VOD data, which are received in the MSM according to the VOD data route, up to an RLP layer of the VOD data, and then transmitting the VOD data to the multimedia processor; and processing the VOD data, which are transmitted to the multimedia processor, from a PPP layer which is a lowest layer in the multimedia processor.

Abstract: A VSB communication system comprises a VSB transmission system and a VSB reception system. The VSB transmission system multiplexes a coded MPEG data and a coded supplemental data having a null sequence inserted therein, with required multiplexing information included in a field synchronization signal or in a supplemental data according to a number of the supplemental data packets being transmitted. The VSB reception system detects the required multiplexing information from the field synchronization signal or the supplemental data and decodes the multiplexed data by using the null sequence and the detected multiplexing information, as well as demultiplexes the multiplexed data into the MPEG data and the supplemental data.

Abstract: A method of storing digital video content to facilitate trick play consistent with certain embodiments involves storing inter-coded frames of the content in a first file and storing intra-coded frames of the content in a second file. A set of forward indices are used to address the intra coded frames in a forward direction such that playback of the second file in the order of the forward indices simulates a fast-forward playback. A set of reverse indices are used to address the intra-coded frames in a reverse direction such that playback of the second file in the order of the reverse indices simulates a fast-reverse playback. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A multimedia streaming service system is provided that includes a VOD server to sequentially transmit a header (moov) and media data (mdat) of MP4 contents in a TCP packet and a client to transmit a streaming service request signal in HTTP to the VOD server. The client may accumulate the media data (mdat) received from the VOD server in a decoder buffer for a predetermined time, and reproduce the data on a real time basis. A guaranteed rate of QoS may be enhanced as compared to an RTP/UDP-based streaming method. A service delay time may be reduced as compared with a TCP-based downloading method, thereby implementing contents on a real time basis.

Abstract: Apparatus for video gaming includes a box having a slot with an interface that connects to a game card providing a platform to run a software video game. The game card outputs video game data through the interface at a data rate of approximately 200 Mbps or greater. A unit processes the video game data for output to a display device. A wireless transceiver is included to receive the software video game via a wireless local area network (WLAN) and to transmit game information to a remote player having access to the WLAN during interactive play of the software video game. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A technique is described for facilitating communication in access networks such as cable networks. One aspect of the present invention is directed to an improved line card configuration which may be used to provide upstream channel “high availability” protection whereby the cable modems of a failed upstream channel may be immediately and dynamically reassigned to an alternate upstream channel in order to minimize service disruption. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an improved line card configuration which is able to provide load balancing capabilities across multiple upstream channels associated with one or more line cards. According to a specific implementation, such load balancing capabilities may be used to reassign cable modems (which are physically connected to a fixed upstream port) to alternate upstream channels. Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to an improved line card configuration which is able to provide the feature of virtual cabling.

Abstract: In-theater interactive entertainment system. A game server generates video content in digital form and is displayed on a digital display in a theater. A telephony system is connected to the game server enabling a group of individual game participants in the theater to exchange data wirelessly with the game server so that the game participants can interact with video content on the display. It is preferred that at the display is a reflective screen illuminated by a digital projector.

Abstract: A device and a method of updating a function in a digital broadcasting signal receiver. The device includes a storage section storing data for executing various functions provided to a digital broadcasting receiving section; a program specific information/service information (PSI/SI) extraction section extracting PSI/SI from a received digital broadcasting signal; and a function realization section identifying a supported function from the digital broadcasting signal according to the PSI/SI and searching the data for executing the identified function from the storage section so that the identified function can be executed in the digital broadcasting receiving section.