Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for delivering video content over a wide area network (WAN). Included is at least one server for transcoding or transrating the video content for delivery over the WAN.

Abstract: A content distribution system includes a distribution center, a processor, a switch, and first and second multiplexers. The distribution center receives and applies program content on program channels. The processor identifies subsets of the program channels in response to a respective score associated with the program channels. The switch couples the distribution center to the multiplexers. The switch applies program channels to respective inputs of the first and second multiplexers in response to the processor. A method for optimizing a multiplexed transport channel includes the steps of identifying a set of program channels designated for distribution via the multiplexed transport channel, arranging the set of program channels in subsets, the program channels within a subset grouped in accordance with a viewing score, multiplexing the program channels of the subsets to a respective transport channel and applying the respective transport channels to a distribution medium for delivery to the destination.

Abstract: An information monitoring and updating method and system for a transport stream is provided. First, a transport stream is received. The transport stream includes a program specific information (PSI) table, and the PSI table is divided into a plurality of sections. Next, by setting a first filtering parameter of a monitor-section filter, the header of each section of the PSI table is filtered out and is then checked whether to be a latest version or not. When all the section headers of the PSI table are of the latest version, each section of the PSI table is filtered by setting a second filtering parameter of a table-section filter.

Abstract: A method of creating an audio/video stream comprises multiplexing a video component, an audio component, a content reference identifier, and a semantic data packet containing information on the relationship between the video component and the content reference identifier. Apparatus for receiving the audio/video stream, and apparatus for transmitting the audio/video stream are disclosed.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving apparatus includes a generating unit generating a first encryption key specific to the broadcast receiving apparatus including identification information; a recording unit recording a broadcast stream that is included in a certain channel of broadcast signals and that includes an individual information stream and a content stream requiring a second encryption key for decryption, the individual information stream periodically including first individual information items and second individual information items; a searching unit searching for the earliest first individual information item and the earliest second individual information item from the individual information stream included in the broadcast stream; and an overwriting unit overwriting the found second individual information item at a position that is earlier than the position of the found second individual information item and that is later than the position of the found first individual information item in the individual inform

Abstract: A brightness converting unit obtains brightness of each of the pixels. The low-resolution brightness image generating unit divides an image based on the input image signal into a plurality of domains, and obtains an average brightness of each of the domains, on the basis of the brightness obtained by the brightness converting unit. A high-resolution brightness image generating unit obtains brightness of each of the pixels included in the image based on the input image signal by weighting the average brightness obtained for each of the domains by a distance from a central portion of the domain. On the basis of the obtained brightness, the corrected gain lookup table determines a corrected gain, and the correcting unit corrects the input image signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transmitting Near Video on Demand (NVoD) using Catch and Rest (CAR) and sub-channels which includes: dividing an L-sized content into N segments using the CAR broadcasting scheme, allocating the segments to K channels including a replicate channel, and broadcasting the segments; dividing a first segment S1R (SiR represents an i-th segment of a regular channel) into Nsb sub-segments again at given bandwidth using the harmonic broadcasting scheme, and dividing an i-th sub-segment Sisb into i segments again; broadcasting the sub-segments {Si.1sb, . . . , Si.isb} in n sub-channels; and adding the segments {S2R, . . . , SNR} to a sub-layer and broadcasting the segments, the first segment broadcast in the first channel being divided and allocated to a few sub-channels, the succeeding segments broadcast in the other channels being just shifted and broadcast.

Abstract: A host is configured to communicate with a video data recording device. The host includes a host controller configured to receive a video data recording device diagnostic information request originated external to the host. The host controller further configured to collect the video data recording device diagnostic information from the video data recording device in response to the external request.

Abstract: An information processing system and method are adapted to swiftly record a program matched to preference information. A user apparatus registers generated preference information, together with information representative of destinations for its preference information, to a server through a network. The server, when registered with the preference information, notifies another user apparatus as a destination of the preference information. The video recording/reproducing unit of the another user apparatus accesses the server through the network and designates preference information desired for scheduling of recording. The server sends the designated preference information to the video recording/reproducing unit through the network. The video recording/reproducing unit receives the preference information and carries out scheduling for recording on the basis of the preference information. The invention is applicable to a hard-disk video recorder.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a television electronic programming guide that allows users to combine multiple search criteria within a single search. The electronic program guide receives a television program search criteria set containing a plurality of search criteria and provides a search result set containing television programs that meet the television program search criteria set. The search criteria in the television program search criteria set may be combined in various ways to form a complex search. For one embodiment the search criteria are combined in a Boolean AND combination. One embodiment of the present invention provides a television electronic programming guide that allows users to dynamically add or remove search criteria from a programming guide search without initiating a new programming guide search. The electronic program guide receives a revision to the television program search criteria set, and revises the search result based upon the revision.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway including a controller adapted to transmit media content to a group of set top boxes that are associated with a premises and that each have a presentation device connected thereto where the presentation devices are in proximity to each other, receive a plurality of streams of the media content from a media server where the streams are of the same media content, and apply a delay compensation to delivery of the plurality of streams to one or more set top boxes of the group of set top boxes to synchronize presentation of the media content at each of the presentation devices, where the delay compensation is based on a transmission delay and a receipt delay, where the transmission delay is between each of the group of set top boxes and the gateway, and where the receipt delay is between the gateway and the media server. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for providing video-on-demand services are provided. The method of providing video-on-demand (VOD) services comprises transmitting service information to a set-top box via an out-of-band channel, receiving location and identification information of the set top box via the out-of-band channel, receiving a VOD service request from the set-top box via the out-of-band channel, and providing the set-top box with the requested content via an in-band channel with reference to the location and identification information of the set-top box.

Abstract: Techniques for content arrangement with a custom television (TV) channel in a custom TV system for providing a viewer with custom channels of content based on viewer preferences is described. Various examples of channel content ordering criteria upon which arrangement of content selections within a custom TV channel is based are also described. The custom TV system is suitable for execution on a digital video recorder.

Abstract: A method for real time video transmission over networks with varying bandwidth is described. Image quality is maintained even under degrading network performance conditions through the use of image scaling in conjunction with block based motion compensated video coding (MPEG2/4, H.264, et. Al.). The ability to quickly switch resolutions without decreasing reference frame correlation is shown enabling a fast switch to reduce the required bandwidth for stable image quality.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting system and a method for processing data in the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a digital television (DTV) located in one independent space among a plurality of independent spaces physically separated from one another is disclosed. The DTV includes an access point (AP) card. The method includes receiving guest information recorded in a storage area of a compact wireless device and a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key value of the AP card, receiving the WEP key value corresponding to the AP card of the DTV from a management server, comparing the WEP key value received from the compact wireless device with the WEP key value received from the management server, switching an operation mode of the DTV from a power-off mode to a wake mode, if the WEP key values are identical to each other, and controlling at least one guest information received from the compact wireless device to be displayed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a scheme for the display of targeted and personalized advertisements in a packet-based media-delivery system, such as an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. An Internet keyword-based advertisement-bidding model is used to place the most-appropriate IPTV advertisements for viewers depending on their interests as determined through the users' Internet activities, while maximizing advertising revenue for the IPTV service provider. One method for scheduling an advertisement for rendering in one or more time slots in packet-based media programming comprises: (a) obtaining at least one keyword from one or more Internet sessions corresponding to at least one user; (b) receiving a plurality of bid amounts corresponding to a plurality of available advertisements for the one or more time slots; and (c) scheduling, based on the at least one keyword and at least one of the bid amounts, the advertisement to be rendered to the at least one user in the one or more time slots.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus includes a non-equidistant section determination circuit, a sample data register, and an interpolation computation circuit. The non-equidistant section determination circuit detects a non-equidistant section having different intervals between plural sample points set for the dynamic range of a video signal to be inputted. The sample data register holds the signal level (correction level) of a video signal after correction for each sample point. The interpolation computation circuit obtains the signal level of the video signal after correction by executing cubic interpolation computation with reference to the correction level. Here, a first section is defined as a section located on a lower signal level side and having intervals of X (X>0) between sample points, and a second section is defined as a section located on a higher level side and having intervals of Y (Y>0, X?Y) between sample points.

Abstract: A captioning system is provided for providing captions for audio and/or video presentations. The captioning system can be used to provide text captions or audio descriptions of a video presentation. A user device is provided for the captioning system having a receiver operable to receive the captions together with synchronization information and a caption output circuit which is operable to output the captions at the appropriate timings defined by the synchronization information. The user device is preferably a portable hand-held device such as a mobile telephone, PDA or the like.

Abstract: A configuration apparatus includes a user interface allowing a user to initiate configuration of at least a target configurable device selected from a plurality of configurable devices. A command module is coupled to the user interface for dynamically generating a sequence of commands required to configure the target configurable device. The sequence of commands includes commands for entering a hidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device. A communication module is coupled to the command module for transmitting the sequence of commands to the target configurable device.

Abstract: Primary presentation stream is received and presented to user. Alternate presentation stream received according to channel prediction stands ready for presentation if user selects channel processed as alternate stream. Prediction is made according to pre-indication of channel selection or time-selected usage history.