Abstract: Systems and techniques for sharing the capabilities of consumer electronic devices. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a task involving audio/video content from a user, identifying which device in an interconnected system of devices is operable to initiate the performance of the task, and assigning responsibility for the performance of the task to the identified device. The interconnected system includes two or more devices at remote locations.

Abstract: Systems and methods of presenting channel content in a distributed network having a client device and a server device, the method comprising the acts of evaluating tagged content, e.g., from the server device and creating a personalized channel at the client device. The personalized channel comprises content from two or more predetermined channels, i.e., channels received from the server device. Last, the system and method displays the content on the personalized channel. Also, systems and methods may be employed to display a personalized programming guide, using profile information to select a preferred subset of information to display such that the user is better able to discern desirable content.

Abstract: A method for displaying interactive advertisements on a television having a controller connected thereto and configured for receiving input from a viewer of the television is disclosed. The controller has a receiver operable to receive advertisements and a processor operable to modify the advertisements. The method generally comprises requesting action by the viewer of the television, modifying an advertisement based on the action of the viewer, and displaying the modified advertisement on the television.

Abstract: To permit non-TV CE devices to participate in a closed Internet Protocol television (IPTV) program, a non-TV CE device obtains a TV identification upon program registration which it subsequently uses to access content from the IPTV program.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a receiving unit for receiving broadcast data and supplementary information data associated with the broadcast data, a controller for retrieving and synchronizing the supplementary information data with the broadcast data for output, and an output unit for outputting the synchronized supplementary information data and the broadcast data in real time.

Abstract: A method for providing a user of a target device with placeshifted content. The method includes detecting, utilizing the target device, a matrix code associated with an audio/visual program. Data encoded in the matrix code includes program identifying information and elapsed time information with respect to the program. The method further includes generating, utilizing the target device, a request for the program based at least in part on the encoded data. The method also includes transmitting, utilizing the target device, the program request across a network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying at least two modes comprising an interactive application mode and a television program mode on a display device. In one aspect the apparatus comprises: a television program signal receiver; an interactive application signal receiver; means for switching between said television program mode and said interactive application mode being active in said display device; means to receive remote control signals from a remote control device having a mute key for generating a mute signal; means to enable a mute-to-interactive application feature; and wherein when said mute-to-interactive application feature is enabled and said television program mode is active in said display device, upon receipt of said mute signal, said mode switching means is activated causing said interactive application mode to be active in said display device.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide targeted advertising in a subscription television setting, wherein the households that receive the targeted advertisement may retain anonymity. This may be achieved by marrying an anonymization protocol and infrastructure with a mechanism for STB selection and reporting. This anonymizes the set of households that are selected to play an ad, by ensuring that when an STB meets defined criteria and sends a ‘criteria met’ message (during the selection process) or ‘ad shown’ message (during a validation or counting process) to a head end, an STB or household identifier is not revealed, thus anonymizing the household information from the head end. In addition, this allows the head end to control the ad campaign process by advertising only to those households that meet specified criteria, and to count the number of actual instances in which an ad was displayed.

Abstract: An image processing method and its associated image processing circuit for processing an image based on a sequential couleur avec memoire (SECAM) system are provided. The image includes a first pixel, a second pixel and a third pixel, which are successively arranged in a same vertical line and are respectively corresponding to a first image signal and a second image signal and a third image signal. The image processing method includes steps of calculating a chroma signal via a vertical filtering process according to the first image signal, the second image signal and the third image signal; calculating a chroma angular frequency via a frequency modulation process according to the chroma signal; and generating a chromaticity according to the chroma angular frequency.

Abstract: In a system, tabulated information on broadcasting programs is supplied through a network. When a user selects information on a desired program from the tabulated information of programs, supplemental information attached to the individual program information is converted into an remote control signal to remote-control a user's receiver to receive the desired program.

Abstract: A broadcast signal processing apparatus and channel tuning method are provided. The method comprises a host including Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) middleware for communication with an application program provided from a broadcasting station, and a memory for storing programs and data.

Abstract: A control system includes a control apparatus and a controlled apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is remotely controlled by a remote controller. The controlled apparatus transmits a control panel to the control apparatus. The control panel includes icons used to control the controlled apparatus. The controlled apparatus includes (a) a communication unit which receives, from the control apparatus, remote control information including information about operation keys included in the remote controller, the remote control information being received before the controlled apparatus transmits the control panel to the control apparatus, and (b) a modifying unit which modifies a position of the icons included in the control panel according to the remote control information. The communication unit transmits the control panel to the control apparatus after the modifying unit modifies the position of the icons included in the control panel according to the remote control information.

Abstract: A method and display device are discussed. In an embodiment, there is a method for displaying images using a display device including at least one tuner, a display screen, and a controller for controlling the at least one tuner and the display screen, the method comprising: tuning, by the at least one tuner, to a plurality of different broadcast channels; receiving a user's input indicating if the broadcast channels to be displayed are favorite channels or all available channels; and displaying, by the display screen, a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows according to the received user's input, each of the sub-windows displaying images from a different one of the plurality of broadcast channels according to the tuning by the at least one tuner, the displaying step including selectively displaying either the favorite channels or the all available channels in the sub-windows according to the received user's input.

Abstract: A display device and method for displaying images are discussed. According to an embodiment, the display device includes at least one first tuner configured to tune to a plurality of different broadcast channels; a display screen configured to display a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows, each of the plurality of sub-windows configured to display images from a different one of the plurality of broadcast channels; an input unit configured to receive a user's input for editing a channel list including the plurality of broadcast channels; and a controller configured to control the at least one first tuner, the input unit and the display screen.

Abstract: A digital television and a channel editing method are provided wherein various channel information is edited efficiently. In the channel edit method of the digital TV, the channel information stored according to a user's request is displayed on a multi-window. If the user selects a channel based on the multi-window, the channel selected by the user is tuned by a tuner and displayed as a moving picture. The user can edit the corresponding channel referring to the multi-window. In another embodiment, the user can edit the set favorite channel(s) separately. The broadcast status of all channels can be recognized almost instantaneously by viewing the multi-window displaying all the broadcast programs of multiple channels.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for providing a cross table analysis display in a digital broadcast environment, are discussed. The method includes providing at least two metadata tables of a broadcast stream, performing a cross table analysis on the metadata tables to determine consistency between the metadata tables, and displaying the result of the cross table analysis of the metadata tables using a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method and display device for displaying images are discussed. According to an embodiment, there is a method for displaying images using a display device, the display device including a memory, a display screen, and a controller for controlling the memory and the display screen, the method comprising: storing, in the memory, channel information pertaining to a predetermined number of broadcast channels; and displaying, on the display screen, a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows, each of the plurality of sub-windows configured to display images from a different one of the broadcast channels, wherein a number of the sub-windows displayed on the display screen is variable according to the channel information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing access to information of potential interest to a user. Closed-caption information is analyzed to find related information on the Internet. User interactions with a TV which receives programming including closed-caption information are monitored to determine user interests. The related closed-caption information is analyzed to determine key information therein. The key information is used for searching for information in available resources such as the Internet, and the search results are used to make recommendations to the user about information of potential interest to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for managing bandwidth of an upstream communications channel in a communications system.

Abstract: A method for displaying interactive advertisements on a television having a controller connected thereto and configured for receiving input from a viewer of the television is disclosed. The controller has a receiver operable to receive advertisements and a processor operable to modify the advertisements. The method generally comprises requesting action by the viewer of the television, modifying an advertisement based on the action of the viewer, and displaying the modified advertisement on the television.