Abstract: A method of processing data in a transmitter includes separating ensembles including mobile service data; building a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame including the mobile service data, dividing the built RS frame into RS frame portions; encoding signaling data including fast information channel (FIC) data including cross layer information for mobile service acquisition and transport parameter channel (TPC) data including FIC version information for identifying an update of the FIC data, wherein the TPC data is RS-encoded at a first code rate, and the FIC data is block-interleaved after being RS-encoded at a second code rate; forming a data group including data of an RS frame portion and the signaling data; and transmitting a broadcast signal including the formed data group.

Abstract: A method for processing an input signal is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input signal. The method also includes applying a first transfer function to the input signal to produce a first signal, wherein the first transfer function exhibits a high pass characteristic. The method further includes applying a second transfer function to the input signal to produce a second signal, the second transfer function exhibiting a low pass characteristic.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to manage a library of pointers to altered media content, and enable a network element of an interactive media network to access additional media content responsive to detecting a selection of the watermark at the network element. The altered media content is created by embedding a watermark in media content presentable at the network element. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting system and a method of processing data are disclosed. Herein, additional encoding is performed on mobile service data, which are then transmitted, thereby providing robustness in the processed mobile service data, so that the mobile service data can respond more strongly against fast and frequent channel changes. The method of processing data in a transmitting system includes receiving mobile service data, encapsulating the received mobile service data to a transport stream (TS) packet, and outputting the encapsulated mobile service data as a mobile service data packet, and multiplexing a main service data packet including main service data and the encapsulated mobile service data packet, thereby transmitting the multiplexed data packets to at least one transmitter located in a remote site.

Abstract: A method of generating a stream comprising synchronized interactive content is described. The method comprises the steps of: transmitting a first stream from a studio to a terminal or a terminal system of a first user and to a buffer; transmitting in response to the first stream a second stream to a mixer connected to the buffer, the second stream comprising content generated in reaction to the content of the first stream; providing the mixer with a temporal relation between the packets in the first and second stream; generating a first output stream comprising a substantially synchronized content by mixing packets in second stream with packets of the buffered first stream on the basis of the temporal relation.

Abstract: A video quality monitoring method includes a distribution server measuring first video quality index values according to a full-reference method by comparing a video, distributed from the distribution server to a client through a network, with a degraded video, generated by causing multiple scenarios of quality degradation due to the network in the video in a pseudo manner, creating characteristic data of first quality degradation values, obtained by causing the quality degradation to vary with the scenarios at regular intervals, and the first video quality index values corresponding to the respective scenarios, and transmitting the characteristic data to the client; and the client measuring a second quality degradation value in the video distributed through the network, and calculating a second video quality index value, equivalent to a value according to the full-reference method, of the distributed video from the measured second quality degradation value and the characteristic data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, can dynamically monitor the performance of media content rendering and adjust the rate as needed. This can involve obtaining media data, where a first type of dynamic data has a lower priority than a second type; identifying a target frame rate; monitoring a first amount of time used to process the first type of data and a second amount of time used to process the second type of data, including combining multiple first time measurements into the first amount of time and combining multiple second time measurements into the second amount of time; comparing a combination of the first amount of time and the second amount of time to the target frame rate; and modifying an allocation for processing the first type of dynamic data, if the combination fails to satisfy the target frame rate.

Abstract: A digital tuner equipped with a recording media reproduction device outputs digital content to an externally connected monitor device. The digital content includes digital content obtained by receiving a digital broadcast signal via a tuner and digital content previously recorded in a HD device and read therefrom. Whenever a user operates a remote controller to performs a common operation via a key to select and switch digital content to be output to the monitor device, digital content provided by a digital broadcast signal or that recorded in the HD device is sequentially selected. The selected digital content is obtained by the tuner or the HD device and provided to a decoder. The decoder receives and decodes the digital content and outputs it to the monitor device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for embedding and associating triggers within a promotion or other similar content element with the event being promoted are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as a digital set-top box is used to interface between the user and an external network (such as an HFC cable network) and facilitate the user selecting and scheduling viewing or recording of a subsequent event (e.g., broadcast movie) via the promotion itself. The trigger(s) within the promotion allow the user to contemporaneously select the promoted event for viewing, recording, etc. without any further action. The trigger(s) then initiates tuning of the user's receiver to the scheduled event at the appropriate date and time. This approach obviates additional actions by the user (such as programming their DVR), and also permits the user to commit to viewing the event when their interest level is highest; i.e., contemporaneous with the promotion.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives a digital broadcast signal, which consists of layers each obtained by dividing a transmission bandwidth into a plurality of segments and combining some of the segments, and outputs images and/or sound from one of the layers constituting the received digital signal. This apparatus is characterized by comprising broadcasting format retention means (channel to broadcasting format correspondence table database) for retaining the broadcasting format, for each layer, of each broadcast station and switching means (layer switching means) for switching the output layer based on the broadcasting format, for each layer, of each broadcast station retained in the broadcasting retention means. Thus, this apparatus can output images and sound without interruption.

Abstract: An HTTP based video streaming apparatus and method of a mobile communication system is disclosed. A memory, such as a storing disk, stores content files received from a server of a transmitting party, a random access searching unit searches the random access point in the memory and transmits a content file request message to the transmitting server if the random access point does not exist in the memory, and a display unit displays the files from the random access point. Therefore, HTTP streaming service from a random point required by a user can be provided when the streaming has begun, and the random access function can be supported by even if the part required by the user has not yet been transmitted to receiving party.

Abstract: A terminal displays a broadcast program from a first provider, and displays one or more identifiers from additional broadcast providers. Upon selection of one of the identifiers of the additional providers, additional information of broadcasts from the additional provider is also displayed thereby enabling a user to decide whether to continue to display the broadcast program from the first provider or to display a broadcast program from the additional provider.

Abstract: A tuner part 101 for receiving broadcast waves of a channel specified, a key operation part 111 including plural channel selection buttons B corresponding to channels, and a control part 116 for performing control so as to be able to visually distinguish a channel selection button B corresponding to a channel capable of being received by the tuner part 101 from other channel selection buttons B among the plurality of channel selection buttons B are provided, so that notification of a receivable channel can be provided surely.

Abstract: A video server provides video content to a client via a network. At the instruction of the video server, a player at the client contacts an ad server and downloads one or more creatives and a controller file to the client. The controller file indicates how the creative manifests itself in play. The player displays the video content in a display area at the client. The controller file causes the creative to appear as an animated overlay over the video content. User interface elements indicate the point in the video when the creative appears, and allow the user to minimize and replay the creative. The player can also display other creatives, such as a static creative that is associated with the animated creative. A user can select the creative to view additional information about a product advertised by the creative.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for invoking third-party call control via a cable-television host device. A video signal is received into a cable-television host device, the video signal comprising an identifier associated with a first telephony endpoint. A command is received into the cable-television host device, the command requesting establishment of a communication session between the first telephony endpoint and a second telephony endpoint. A message is transmitted via a packet-switched network from the cable-television host device to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the identifier, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to invoke third-party call control to attempt to establish the communication session between the first telephony endpoint and the second telephony endpoint.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for facilitating advertisement placement over video content are provided. Images within a video are partitioned into image regions. Upon partitioning images into image regions, an intrusiveness score is determined for each image region. Based on the intrusiveness scores, optimal placement of an advertisement within the video is determined.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium operable to move a video delay from a network video queue to a decoder video queue by discarding at least one video frame in a network video queue, thus moving video frames deeper in the queue forward in time. As such, rapid channel changing is provided without continuous unicasting, or temporarily transmitting at faster than the nominal rate, thereby alleviating strain on the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing DVD content through a home network are provided. The method includes transmitting item information indicating DVD content in response to a request for a content list, and receiving a request for the DVD content in units of a sector from a client having acquired the item information, and extracting and transmitting data of the requested sector to the client. Various functions provided by the DVD video can be utilized similar to reproducing DVD content through a local DVD player while reproducing DVD content stored in a remote server through devices of a home network. Therefore, it is possible to reduce concerns of the DVD copyrighter about illegal copying of the content since encoded data is transmitted as it is, without being decoded.

Abstract: In a method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IP addresses indicating online access devices and IP addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.

Abstract: Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, allows for storage and playback of interactive user elements in a television stream. In one approach to this technology, a content data stream, including a television program and a user experience element, is received. This content data stream is transformed, and the transformed data stream is examined, to identify which packets are associated with the user experience element. Those packets are then passed to a handler appropriate for the user experience element.