Abstract: Methods, and system, and entertainment device are provided for identifying a user. A method includes detecting acceleration of a user manipulated component, comparing the detected acceleration with user acceleration that is associated with a user of the electronic device, identifying the user of the electronic device based on the comparison of the detected acceleration and the user acceleration, and operating the electronic device based on the identified user of the electronic device.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying a wireless camera includes a mobile cart, a camera and camera support frame, a display/monitor and a display/monitor positioner, an enclosed power supply such as a battery, a removable camera support frame for mounting the camera, a battery box and the display/monitor on the cart and a light for illuminating an area at least partially within the field of view of the camera.

Abstract: An image analysis system and method are provided. The system can include a base for receiving an optical surface, at least one light source positioned above and at an oblique angle with respect to the optical surface, a camera positioned above the optical surface and adapted to provide an image data indicative of an image of the optical surface, and a computerized system adapted to receive the image data from the camera. The computerized system can analyze the image data to identify and quantify surface defects. Classification identifiers can be assigned to each surface defect based on the physical characteristics of the surface defect. A transmission metric is calculated for the optical surface to allow objective judgment of the surface.

Abstract: A method may include identify an application launched in a device by a user or a program or a channel selected by the user for playing. The method may further include querying a database to determine whether the application, program, or channel is associated with preset volume settings, wherein the database includes information identifying preset volume settings for a plurality of applications, a plurality of programs, or a plurality of channels. The method may include setting, when the application, program, or channel is associated with preset volume settings, the volume according the preset volume settings during execution of the application or playing of the program or channel. The method may also include prompting the user to set volume settings associated with the application, program, or channel when the application is not associated with the preset volume settings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in games and entertainment systems are provided. The present system produces items for capture on one or more user devices that are triggered by live events. As an example, live events include, but are not limited to sporting events (e.g., football games, basketball games, rounds of golf, tennis matches), political debates, television shows, dramas, and other viewable events. The user of the user device is challenged to capture the correct item at the right moment. If the capture is successful, the user receives a reward.

Abstract: A method of populating a series of tiles of an interactive user interface with information is disclosed. The interactive user interface is in a form of a visual display of a representation of an object having a surface contour, and the method includes the step of populating the tiles such that information of greater priority is initially populated in tiles that are most prominently displayed on the object and information of lesser priority is initially populated in tiles that are less prominently displayed on the object. Apparatus and a computer readable storage medium for performing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include receiving a video stream of the sporting event and a measurement stream, asynchronous to the video stream, associated with objects in the sporting event. The method may further include displaying a synchronized presentation of the video stream and the measurement stream. The synchronization may be performed near the time of the displaying. Another method for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include receiving measurement information related to actions from one or more sporting events. The method may also include identifying plays from the actions using the measurement information and displaying a representation of the identified plays. A system for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include an integrated server and a synchronization mechanism. Another method for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include displaying a video of a play selected from a representation.

Abstract: An intelligent television can provide various interfaces for navigating processes associated with providing content. The user interfaces include unique visual representations and organizations that allow the user to utilize the intelligent television more easily and more effectively. Particularly, the user interfaces pertain to the display of media content, electronic programming guide information, television content, and other content. Further, the user interfaces provide unique process of transitioning between the content.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes: a reception portion configured to receive audio-visual content being transmitted; a trigger extraction portion configured to extract trigger information for controlling an application program for execution either by the receiving apparatus proper or by an external device connected thereto in conjunction with the audio-visual content, the application program being transmitted along with the audio-visual content; an apparatus proper control portion configured such that if a command indicated by the extracted trigger information is destined for the receiving apparatus proper, the apparatus proper control portion controls performance of the application program in accordance with the command; and an external device processing portion configured such that if the command indicated by the extracted trigger information is destined for the external device, the external device processing portion transfers the command to the external device.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for efficient transition between broadcast media reception and multicast/unicast media reception. Broadcast media quality is dynamically analyzed to determine when transition is appropriate. Broadcast services are mapped to multicast/unicast delivered services. Transition occurs smoothly by acquiring both broadcast and multicast/unicast media during transition and analyzing timing data to allow for media stream alignment and switchover.

Abstract: In multiple screen environments, an advertising server and a media server can interact with the multiple screens to ensure that advertisements are acknowledged by a viewer. In one example, a main or first screen is obscured to some extent until a viewer acknowledges the advertisement on one or more secondary devices. The extent of obscuring the main screen can be varied as well as the frequency of displaying the advertisement. This allows the user's viewing behavior to be modified based on the method of advertisement placement.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE). In one aspect, a method involves (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay DVE stored in the stunt switcher, and to a first start-time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to a second start-time, wherein the second start-time is later than the first start-time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the second start-time; (iv) determining a target time to run the bug-overlay DVE; and (v) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that a bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media clip sharing system receiving, from an end-user of a media distribution service that distributes a media program, a request to share a clip of the media program to a social network and, in response to the request to share the clip of the media program to the social network, identifying a sponsor of the media program in the media distribution service and sharing the clip of the media program and data representative of the identified sponsor to the social network. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception block configured to receive broadcast content broadcast via a broadcasting network; an acquisition block configured to acquire inserted content that is inserted in the broadcast content during the reception thereof; an output block configured to output at least one of the broadcast content and the inserted content; a switch block configured to switch between the broadcast content and the inserted content outputted from the output block; and a buffer configured to sequentially store data of the received broadcast content when the broadcast content is switched to the inserted content; wherein, if the inserted content is switched to the broadcast content, the output block outputs the broadcast content from the buffer while the inserted content is outputted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method processes video in a system including a host computer processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of transcoder instances. The method receives, by a transcoder instance in the plurality of transcoder instances, first Internet Protocol (IP) packets from a host router coupled to the host CPU. The transcoder instance decapsulates the first IP packets to determine video from a payload of each of the first IP packets and generates a transport stream of video from the video from the payload. The transport stream is in a format in which the transcoder instance can perform a transcoding operation. The transport stream of video is processed by performing the transcoding operation on the transport stream of video. The transcoder instance then encapsulates the processed video from the transport stream of video in second IP packets and sends the second IP packets to a destination.

Abstract: An enhanced stream associated with a primary stream can be selected. The enhanced stream can be time-synchronized to the primary stream. The enhanced stream can be associated with a secondary viewpoint linked to a primary viewpoint of the primary stream. The primary stream can be a broadcast signal of a digital television broadcast. The enhanced stream can be simultaneously presented on a secondary device and the primary stream on a primary device. The primary device can be a computing device and the secondary device can be a computing device.

Abstract: A video channel change system may include one or more processors and a memory. The one or more processors may receive first packets including first video frames associated with a first video channel and second packets including second video frames associated with a second video channel. The one or more processors may decode the first packets and display the first video frames while buffering, in a buffer, the second packets. The one or more processors may determine that a packet of the second packets includes a random access point without decoding the packet, discard the second packets from the buffer that were received prior to the packet, buffer additional second packets received subsequent to the packet, and decode the second packets stored in the buffer and display the second video frames included therein, in response to a request to change from the first video channel to the second video channel.

Abstract: An information providing system, reception apparatus, and methods thereof are provided for providing content data. The method for providing content includes generating the content data. A digital television pre-broadcast signal, including the content data, is generated. At least one portion of the digital television pre-broadcast signal is extracted. The at least one portion of the digital television pre-broadcast signal is packaged into one or more Internet Protocol (IP) data packets. A digital television broadcast signal, including the remainder of the digital television pre-broadcast signal, is generated. The one or more IP data packets is provided via a communication network. The digital television broadcast signal is provided on a predetermined radio frequency (RF) channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for combining a broadcasting channel may include a channel detector to detect a vacant Radio Frequency (RF) broadcasting channel used by a photoelectric converter that converts a first broadcast program as an optical signal to a first RF signal, a broadcast receiving interface to receive at least one second broadcast program, a broadcast modulator to generate a second RF signal by modulating the second broadcast program using the vacant RF broadcasting channel, and a channel combiner to combine a broadcasting channel used for the first RF signal and the vacant RF broadcasting channel.

Abstract: A video quality comparison tool provides for direct visual perceptual comparison of video sequences. Two inputs are presented at the same position and size, with no-look user choice of which to see and easy back-and-forth comparison while the videos are playing, single-stepping, or paused.