Abstract: There is a provided a method for providing contents referencing information (CRI) for personal data broadcasting service, including the steps of: searching a program identifier (PID) having a CRI section, and searching a container having a specific identifier; extracting container data from the searched container; searching a CRI structure which indicates a contents referencing information identifier (CRID) list from the extracted container data; searching and extracting CRID data based on a CRID data container which represents an identifier of the container having the CRID data in the CRID list of the searched CRI structure; and searching and extracting result data for the extracted CRID from a result locator.

Abstract: Content is downloaded to a mobile handheld device (MHD) and buffered on the MHD prior to, and during, viewing. Normal wireless bandwidth varies with atmospheric conditions, distance, obstructions in the path, etc. and hence the speed at which a content-buffer (CB) on the MHD is replenished changes. Because this can result in very low quality viewing experience for the user, the capability for alternate content scheduling provided a micro-splicer is used to enable stored alternate-content or advertisement insertion during periods of low viewing quality, when the CB does not hold sufficient content during the viewing period. This alternate content insertion allows the CB to be refilled before the user resumes content viewing.

Abstract: Advertisements may be inserted into a streaming video at an intermediary system by receiving a data stream including a video content selection having scenes configured to accommodate insertion of advertising objects, identifying an advertising descriptor based on characteristics of a scene within the data stream, selecting an advertising object based on the identified advertising descriptor, modifying the video content selection by inserting the advertising object in the data stream such that the advertising object is integrated into a scene of the video content selection, where an image scene of the video content selection is modified to integrate and enable visual display of content from within the scene of the video content selection and the advertising object concurrently, and transmitting the content selection to a recipient.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and systems for synchronizing broadcast and network content, such as web content. It also describes related technology for facilitating linking from broadcast content to related information and e-commerce on a network. One method detailed in this disclosure synchronizes broadcast content with dynamic network content at a network address. This method embeds an identifier in a broadcast, extracts the identifier embedded in broadcast content, and uses the identifier to identify corresponding network content. The method then posts the corresponding network content on a network device located at the network address (e.g., a web page at the URL of the broadcaster). The network device (e.g., web server) is responsive to requests sent to the network address to provide the network content over a network. Using this method, the broadcast content is synchronized with the corresponding network content.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for displaying a broadcasting program guide information. This application is for displaying the broadcasting program guide information by enlarging an area of a screen corresponding to a predetermined identifier or a blank area on the screen, and thereby outputting the program guide information.

Abstract: A remote control unit for a video receiver may be utilized to display information about enhanced content available in conjunction with a video broadcast. The information displayed on the remote control unit display may provide information about available enhanced content, advertising, or even the status of connected devices, such as telephones, computer systems, digital video disk players, and video cassette recorders. By transmitting the data from the video receiver to the remote control unit, the information is available to the user without interrupting the display on the user's video receiver.

Abstract: A method and system for the creation of interactive programming using captions. A caption and program information extractor monitors a broadcast media signal having captions and program information encoded in the broadcast media signal. The captions and program information are extracted and stored in a content database. A moderator accesses the content database to retrieve captions and for a program specified by the program information. The moderator uses the services of a moderator server to generate interactive programming from the captions and the moderator's own comments. The interactive programming is transmitted to a plurality of viewers who interact with the interactive programming by entering viewer comments. The viewer comments are received by the moderator along with additional captions and new interactive programming is generated using the viewer comments, additional captions, and additional moderator commentary.

Abstract: Firmware is installed in a cable modem, enabling detection of the presence or absence of a cable trap in the feed of a customer location. Such a cable modem includes a trap-detection module and a trap-detection object. The trap-detection module is configured to determine whether a video signal is present at a cable-television frequency. The trap-detection object is configured to store data as to whether the video signal is present. For example, a first piece of data is stored if the video signal is present, indicating absence of a properly functioning cable trap between a cable head-end and the cable modem. A second piece of data is stored if the video signal is absent, indicating presence of a properly functioning cable trap between the cable head-end and the cable modem.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for inserting personalized information into digital content. A request for digital video content is received by a computing device. The request includes authentication data associated with a user of a client device. Personalized data to be inserted into the requested video content is generated by the computing device. The personalized data and the requested video content are combined by the computing device. The combining includes replacing one or more frames of the requested video content with the personalized data to generate personalized video content.

Abstract: A method of recommending local and remote content, comprising: receiving, at a television apparatus, a first set of content items and linking information linking each of the content items of the first set to a respective subset of the first set; providing a second set of further content items, the content items of the second set being locally available at the television apparatus; and determining for each content item in a unified set including the first and second sets further linking information linking the content item to a further subset from the unified set; wherein for a certain content item of the first set, the further subset is determined by adding content items of the second set to the respective subset of the certain content item, the content items added being determined by comparing meta data associated with the certain content item with meta data respectively associated with all content items of the second set.

Abstract: An EPG retrieval system includes a data server, a client, and a dictionary database. The data server stores program information of an EPG. The client includes an access unit for accessing the data server, and an input unit for inputting a retrieval keyword for performing retrieval on the program information. The dictionary database stores retrieval keywords and keywords relevant to the retrieval keywords. The client inputs an arbitrary keyword, and extracts keywords relevant to the input keyword. The extracted keywords and the input keyword are used to perform retrieval on the program information.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering personal media over cable television have been disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing digital content, the digital content including digital photographs, digital video, and music. The digital content is queued for review. A photo show is generated from the digital content. The photo show is transmitted to a cable system for transmission on a video on demand system.

Abstract: In an audiovisual system in which a source device and a television are connected via an AV amplifier, even when the AV amplifier is placed in a “Power Supply Standby State”, video/audio signals outputted from the source device can be viewed/listened to on the television without changing the wiring connections between the devices. An AV amplifier (100) is provided with a data storing means (106) used for indicating a signal reproduction ability to a source device (200). During a “Power Supply Standby State” of the AV amplifier (100), the content of data that is saved in the data storing means (106) and indicates an audio signal reproduction ability is rewritten into data that indicates not the reproduction ability of the AV amplifier (100), but the signal reproduction ability of a television (300), thereby producing a state that is equivalent to a state in which the source device (200) and the television (300) are directly connected.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing data streams of the same program on a shared medium. A user device receives a first data stream of a program and effects display of the program based on the first data stream to a display device. The user device halts display of the program and provides an advertisement to a viewer. A second data stream of the program being provided over the same medium to a second viewer that was initiated after the first data stream is provided to the user device. The user device buffers the second data stream, and after the advertisement is finished, provides the program to the viewer based on the second data stream.

Abstract: In video/audio information such as a movie in a mobile terminal connected to a terminal of a seat terminal for a mobile terminal, the video is converted into video data and transmitted to a seat terminal of a front seat via a transmission path. The video data are decoded by a video decoder of the seat terminal of the front seat and displayed on a video display section. Furthermore, audio is listened to by a user via a headphone of the user's own seat.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving terminal, which implements a service executing method, includes a receiver operable to receive an application, a recording medium, and a service executer operable to execute a service that uses one or more resources in a service execution environment intended for the service. The terminal also includes an associater operable to associate the service execution environment with resource set information indicating the one or more resources used by the service, when the application requests the service executer to execute the service, and a storager operable to store, into the recording medium, a plurality of service execution environments together with the associated resource set information that are associated by the associater. The terminal further includes a resource manager operable to provide, to a selected service, one or more resources indicated in the resource set information in the associated service execution environment, in the recording medium, stored by the storager.

Abstract: Content placeholder markers may be provided. A request to insert a placeholder marker may be received during output of a content asset to a device. If memory storage is available to record the content asset, the asset may be recorded. Otherwise, the placeholder marker may be stored and/or used to resume playback of the content asset from another source.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present invention is designed to automatically determine the language of the content distributed when connecting to the Web server so as to agree with the language configured at the initial setup. The present invention has following elements. An initial setup module maintains initial setup information that indicates at least a menu language. A setup information association process module which determines a language request signal to request a language the same as the menu language indicated in the initial setup information. And a network control module which accesses the World Wide Web while transmitting the language request signal to determine a browser language.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods to navigate, browse, search and/or playback digital media assets (e.g., media items) hosted on a media server are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention pertains to a user interface arrangement, such as a hierarchical menu system, that facilitates navigation, browsing and playing of media items remotely stored on a media server. The user interface arrangement enables user scrolling or browsing with respect to a list or set of information pertaining to media items, where the list or set can be expanded to include information for additional media items that are subsequently acquired. The user interface arrangement can also present and permit navigation of categorized media items. The user interface arrangement can be presented on a display device associated with a client device. In one embodiment, the display device can be a television and the client device can be an electronic apparatus that can couple to the media server via a network.

Abstract: An interactive information distribution system for providing secure distribution of video-on-demand content. The interactive information distribution system includes at least one programming source for storing at least one partially encrypted video program, and a distribution center including a remote server. The remote server stores the at least one partially encrypted video program received from the at least one programming source. The remote server also processes the partially encrypted video program corresponding to a subscriber requested video program to produce a fully encrypted video program. A subscriber-side distribution network, coupled to the distribution center, causes transmission of the fully encrypted video program to the requesting subscriber.