Abstract: A customized consumer advertisement module and process are provided for inserting a user selected object into a user selected category of program. The user stores model objects locally at the user site, or communicates the model objects to a remotely located broadcaster for storage at a broadcaster site. The user selects categories of programs in which the model objects, or portions thereof, will be inserted. The customized consumer advertisement module inserts the model objects, or portions thereof, into the selected categories of programs.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting signal processing method for processing a multimedia stream by a set-top box is disclosed. A USB request command set is pre-defined in a digital signal receiving unit to support the set-top box. The digital signal receiving unit transmits data with the set-top box and controls the signal quality of the data transmission according to the USB request commands transmitted by the set-top box while the digital signal receiving unit connected with the set-top box via USB.

Abstract: A video composition model that provides a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) to set device contexts, and determine capabilities of graphics hardware from a device driver. After the model determines a configuration, the model determines input video stream states applicable to frame rates, color-spaces and alpha indexing of input video streams, interactive graphics, and background images. The model prepares the input video frames and reference frames, as well as a frame format and input/output frame index information. The input video streams, interactive graphics and background images are processed individually and mixed to generate an output video stream.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for formulating a program guide screen is disclosed. In various steps, program description information and promotional data is received. The promotional data comprises one or more of the following: a video clip, a video clip with audio accompaniment, an audio clip, an animation, an animation with audio accompaniment, a still image with audio accompaniment, a still image, a plurality of still images, and a plurality of still images with audio accompaniment. A predetermined program is associated with the promotional data and program description information. The guide screen is formulated with the promotional data and program description information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage device (that stores the method) extract connectivity information from multiple telecommunication services, provided by a single multiple service provider. The method, system, and device merge the separate connectivity information from each service in a unified graph of telephone service users and digital service users (including common users of both services). The method, system, and device assigne trust values based on the connectivity information and shared data content between users. The method, system, and device may also issue a proxy certificate of authority (CA), by a trusted CA residing within the digital service, to provide digital service to a user of the telephone service in the unified graph, when the trusted CA is a nearest trusted CA in the unified graph.

Abstract: Providing a reward as an incentive for a person to become an audience member of at least one program being performed by reproduction equipment. A programming signal used for broadcasting the program with a programming signal source is encoded with discrete code signals, such that a preset number of the code signals occur within a given period of time, to produce an output signal which is broadcast. The broadcast output signal is received, and the code signals therein are detected. The number of the code signals detected while the person is an audience member of the at least one program is compared with predetermined reward issuance criteria. A reward is issued when the reward issuance criteria are met by the number of detected code signals.

Abstract: A master device interactively distributes a television signal to a remote device for remote display with low latency between a user input and a television signal change.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for transmitting a multimedia frame through a heterogeneous network in a broadcast system supporting a multimedia service based on an interne protocol are provided. The method includes generating header information including a frame identifier distinguishing a multimedia frame and information measuring a quality of a connection service between network layers and end-to-end network capabilities, and combining the header information and multimedia data to configure the multimedia frame.

Abstract: Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.

Abstract: A system for generating an optimized video including in-stream events for video content and advertising content selected at the time of playback is disclosed. The system includes a manifest generating module configured to retrieve video content from a content repository for listing in a content manifest in response to a received request from a mobile device, the content manifest including at least one advertisement insertion point. The system further includes an advertising event correlation module configured to retrieve one or more advertisements based on a correlation between advertisement properties and playback properties and an advertisement serving module configured to provide the retrieved one or more advertisement for insertion into the at least one advertisement event insertion point.

Abstract: A method of providing a digital TV application is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a transmission time and a loading time of the digital TV application and a limitation on a number and a size of the digital TV application are minimized, providing a personalized digital TV application based on a receiver information or a user information is possible.

Abstract: A second set of broadcasted programs is added to a first set of broadcasted programs. The second set of broadcasted programs includes broadcasted programs viewed by a viewer for a period of time at least equal to a first threshold. A third set of broadcasted programs is removed from the first set of broadcasted programs. The third set of broadcasted programs includes broadcasted programs not viewed by a viewer for a period of time at least equal to a second threshold. In one embodiment, a fourth set of broadcasted programs selected by the viewer is added to the first set of broadcasted programs. In one embodiment, the first threshold and the second threshold are updated upon the viewer indicating dissatisfaction. In one embodiment, the first threshold and the second threshold are updated upon the viewer returning to a schedule list more than a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing method includes receiving a broadcasting signal where mobile service data are multiplexed with main service data, extracting transmission-parameter-channel signaling information and fast-information-channel signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data, parsing first program table information describing virtual channel information of an ensemble and a service provided by the ensemble using the fast-information-channel signaling information, the ensemble corresponding to a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, obtaining permission information of broadcasting contents included in the mobile service data from the first program table information and controlling the contents included in the mobile service data in accordance with the permission information.

Abstract: A media server comprises a network interface and an access controller. The network interface includes a cable testing module that performs a physical measurement of a first length of a first cable attached to the network interface. The access controller selectively grants a media request made by a first media client via the first cable if a first distance based upon the first length is less than a threshold.

Abstract: A tunerless media presentation unit is described which dispenses with the use of traditional analog television tuners. In its place, the media presentation unit provides a pseudo-tuner which can selectively access streaming digital media information from a multicast and/or unicast network source, and/or a local source. In one implementation, the media presentation unit can simultaneously receive and process multiple streams of media information. This accommodates the use of multiple picture-in-pictures (PIPs), PIP-based channel browsing, PIP-in-guide presentations, and so forth. Various business models can be implemented which charge subscribers fees based on the number of streams they wish to simultaneously receive, and/or the total number of channels that they wish to access (not necessarily at the same time).

Abstract: This method of transmitting coded data, representing a digital video, from a server to a plurality of clients, at least one subset of the clients using congestion control algorithms, uses a plurality of signals for passing from a coded representation of the video at a given quality level to a coded representation at least one quality level different from the given level. The sending (E618) of at least one of the passage signals at least to the subset of clients depends on information representing the behavior of the congestion control algorithms used by the subset of clients.

Abstract: A system to search to search viewable content in the context of television entertainment is provided. In one example embodiment, the system comprises a communications module to receive a request associated with one or more directional keys on a control device, a search term detector to determine a search term associated with the request, a search module to locate a content item associated with the search term; and a presentation module to present the content item associated with the search term.

Abstract: Aspects of an audio/visual architecture are disclosed. In one aspect, a system is disclosed where the system has a media manager object, an audio/visual program, and a player/recorder object so that when the program is selected, the media manager dynamically loads the player/recorder object for either playing or recording the program. For example, with respect to the media manager object, it can manage a collection of related program entities and any corresponding player/recorder components. Also, the media manager can allocate share source ports and shared sink ports in order to dynamically create virtual circuit paths for selected program entries.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, an extractor for extracting transmission parameter channel signaling information and fast information channel signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, an acquirer for acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble by using the extracted fast information channel signaling information, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, a detector for detecting a descriptor defining a destination telephone number of a message service by using the acquired program table, and a controller for controlling such that the destination telephone number of the message service of the detected descriptor and the mobile service data are displayed.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. A receiving system of the digital broadcasting system includes a baseband processor, a table handler, a FLUTE handler, and a display module. The baseband processor receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data and main service data. Herein, the mobile service data may configure an RS frame. And, the RS frame may include mobile service data, file data, and a table having at least one channel configuration information on the mobile service data and estimated download time for the file data described therein. The table handler parses the table from the RS frame, thereby extracting and outputting at least one channel configuration information on the mobile service data and estimated download time information of the file data. The FLUTE handler parses the file data from the RS frame and storing the parsed data.