Abstract: A method for managing contents of Video On Demand (VOD) services, where a Middle Ware (MW) controls the stored contents on a VOD server according to the VOD service information correlated with a channel is provided. The corresponding device and system are also provided. Therefore, the specific service forms are separated from the stored contents, and the MW controls the contents in a centralized manner according to the service information; the VOD server does not need to store the contents of each service separately, but adds and deletes the stored contents according to the unified control from the MW, thus avoiding repeated storage of the same data for different services.

Abstract: A computer implemented method determines interest in video portions. A media stream including frames, and a composite rating counter including interest levels are retrieved. Each interest level corresponds to a frame. When viewed at normal playback rate, interest levels associated with the frame are increased by a normal amount. Interest levels associated with the frame are increased or decreased by an augmented amount based on a relative window size compared to the default window size, an order of z-index among all open windows, and a user selection of the frame indicating an interest level. The composite rating counter is updated based on a current count of the interest levels. The updated composite interest level is then stored for future retrieval by a subsequent user.

Abstract: A method and system for using tagging in programming such as television programming, movie DVDs and streaming video, and establishing personalized tag alerts for objectionable programming. The invention includes the user inputting a desired class of objectionable programming, and then the user inputting a desired action for that class of objectionable programming. Content codes are mapped to the user inputs. The invention reads the tags of the programming, and then the required user action is performed based on the user inputs for that tag, which may entail skipping a scene, playing a scene, outputting alerts, or altering a scene. The user may also pre-review tagging on the frames and scenes and adjust the warnings or other actions.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely recording television programs using a remote redundant recording system in case of local DVR system failure. The system and method enables a subscriber station to transmit a plurality of recorded timers to a television provider's head end where the timers are associated with television programs the subscriber desires to have remotely recording in case of a local DVR failure. This system and method also enables the data processor at the television provider's head end to monitor the digital recording device while the programs selected are being broadcast, and in the event of a power outage, record the program selected on the data storage space.

Abstract: An optical system enables images of a wide range of natural subjects to be well reproduced with their colors, and provides an image pickup system including, at least, an image pickup optical system, an electronic image pickup device having three or more different spectral characteristics to obtain a color image, and a controller for implementing signal processing or image processing on the basis of an output from the electronic image pickup device. The optical element that takes part in the determination of a focal length in said image pickup system includes an optical element making use of a refraction phenomenon alone.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: A color reproduction system has a color image input section, and a color correcting section for correcting colors of a subject image obtained by photographing a subject by the color image input section. The color correcting section corrects colors by changing over a plurality of color correction parameters according to a subject image signal from the color image input section.

Abstract: This invention provides a data-recording/reproduction apparatus that creates hierarchical-structured video data for partial contents data based on telops, and that is capable of easily and accurately reproducing a summary searching for an arbitrary scene in contents data desired by the user. The data-recording/reproduction apparatus 100 detects change locations in extracted telop data, and when at least two or more change locations are detected from one or two or more telop data, it detects the number of changes and point of change at each detected change location. Also, the data-recording/reproduction apparatus 100 sets hierarchical levels for each change location based on the detected change locations and number of changes, and together with generating index data the indicates a plurality of scenes in the contents data based on the set hierarchical levels and detected points of change of for each change location, it reproduces contents data based on the generated index data.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, a recording unit, a wireless communication unit and a control unit. The recording unit records digital image captured by the image capture unit on a recording medium. The wireless communication unit transmits the digital image recorded on the recording medium to an external recording apparatus. The control unit determines, using additional information corresponding to the digital image recorded on the recording medium, whether or not the digital image recorded on the recording medium is already transmitted to the external recording apparatus. The additional information is received from the external recording apparatus. The control unit controls the wireless communication unit to transmit the digital image recorded on the recording medium to the external recording apparatus if the control unit determines that the digital image recorded on the recording medium is not already transmitted to the external recording apparatus.

Abstract: A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes.

Abstract: A method for authoring a Video CD in an information handling system includes creating chapter breaks as a function of video footage imported from a source. A static menu is created as a function of the chapter breaks. The video footage is transcoded. Lastly, the transcoded video footage and the static menu are burned onto a Video CD storage medium, wherein the static menu is configured to enable random access of the transcoded video footage according to the chapter breaks during a video playback.

Abstract: A recording and reproduction allows recording and playback of video and audio signals. While viewing a recorded video and audio signal, it is sometimes desirable to switch to a real-time transmission. A time lag, however, can occur during this switching when a disk recording device is used. By providing a system with both a disk recording device and a high speed semiconductor recording device, it is possible to realize a smaller time lag and therefore smooth switching from a recorded signal to a real-time signal.

Abstract: Audio signals and video signals are recorded as follows. Three video PES packets, each being formed of one video frame, are combined to form a video editing unit. Then, the video editing unit and the associated audio editing unit are alternately disposed on a magnetic tape. The recorded PES packets are output as a TS as follows. A STC is initialized, and then, PSI packets of a PAT and a PMT are output. TS packets specially used for a PCR for storing the STC are then output at certain intervals. Subsequently, video PES packets are converted into TSs, and the output of the video TSs is started while synchronizing a time obtained by subtracting vbv_delay from the first I-picture DTS with the STC. Audio PES packets are converted into TSs, and the output of the audio TSs is started while synchronizing a time obtained by subtracting the start up delay from the first frame with the STC. Data streams are recorded in the following manner.

Abstract: A system for unifying heterogeneous multimedia tuners. The system produces a unified channel lineup and coordinates multiple diverse tuners to perform multimedia tasks associated with the unified lineup. In one implementation, tuner allocation policy allows behind-the-scenes tuner assignment and on-the-fly tuner swapping so that the user experience is seamless, access quality is continuously optimized, and tuners with the most bandwidth are kept available.

Abstract: A method of recording an encoded bit stream, said encoded bit stream representing a plurality of video objects comprising a sequence of cells together constituting a part of an MPEG2 Program Stream, on a disc like record carrier, such as an optical disc. The method comprises recording multiple series of contiguously arranged video objects constituting multiple video object sets on said disc with corresponding multiple management information comprising attribute information of the corresponding video object set. The management information constituting with a video object set a playable video title. The multiple video object sets are combined into a single combined video object set and the multiple management information is preceding said combined video object set.

Abstract: An improved thermal imaging camera system is adapted to be releasably mounted to a protective helmet typically worn by a firefighter or other emergency personnel at an incident site. The present system comprises a thermal imaging camera assembly having a single eyepiece display flexibly coupled thereto, a protective housing for the camera assembly and a specially adapted mounting bracket assembly for releasably stationing the camera assembly and its protective housing in a central position on the helmet. The camera assembly further includes and integrates a miniaturized infrared camera unit with associated battery power supply and control electronics for high resolution image production. The single eyepiece display is flexibly coupled to the camera assembly and its housing by means of an articulated arm that accommodates positioning of the display in front of either the left or right eye of the user-wearer with or without an air mask or other protective interface being worn over the face of the user-wearer.

Abstract: In the present system and method, synchronization information is inserted into specified positions of the content of a multimedia stream at the time when the contents are produced. Thus, the present invention enables a user to easily search the synchronization information on the specified positions through an annotation. As a result, a user can selectively control the playback of a video cartridge recorder through the annotation of a recorded MPEG stream.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing virtual deletion information, and recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor are provided. The recording medium includes a first region having a plurality of still pictures, and a second region having first virtual deletion information for the still pictures, and still picture group information for separating the still pictures in the first region into a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level, wherein the first virtual deletion information is within the still picture group information, and if the first virtual deletion information is set to a virtual delete state, the corresponding still picture is not to be reproduced. Accordingly, file extent information can be prevented from excessively increasing by maximally preventing a recording area from being scattered, when some of a data file are deleted by a user's request.

Abstract: The application relates to a method of and devices for encoding an information stream (20) into a variable bit rate (VBR) encoded information stream (24). The application discloses a method of estimating the relation between the variable bit rate, the recording time and the storage capacity of a record carrier. The deviation of the estimated recording time from the true recording time is kept within predefined limits and it is prevented that deviations from several successive recordings accumulate.

Abstract: A method of editing a video sequence comprising a series of clips, in which each clip is formed by video content captured between two points in time. Duration data associated with the duration of each clip is extracted from the sequence. The duration data is processed according to at least one predetermined template of editing rules to form editing instruction data, the template indicating a plurality of predetermined edited segment durations, and the editing instruction data being configured to form output edited segments from the clips The clip is then processed (edited) according to the editing instruction data to form an output edited sequence of output edited segments. Each of the output edited segments has a duration corresponding to one of the predetermined edited segment durations with at least a portion of the clip being discarded by the processing of the clip.