Abstract: Picture having a band of 6 MHz is distributed to the set-top box (STB) 14 via the compression encoder 11, the distribution server 12, and the network 13. The low-pass filter 151 in the picture quality monitoring apparatus 15 removes high-frequency components of an inputted digital signal and inputs luminance signal, the band of which is limited to 4 MHz, into the PSNR calculator 153. The Y/C separator 152 separates a luminance signal from NTSC analog composite signal, which are sent out from the set-top box 14. The separated luminance signal has a band of 4 MHz. The PSNR calculator 153 calculates PSNR between the luminance signal from the low-pass filter 151 and the luminance signal from the Y/C separator 152.

Abstract: A remote controller for controlling a display device includes a first image sensor, a processing unit and an activation mechanism. The first image sensor is for sensing an object and forming a digital image. The processing unit is coupled to the first image sensor for calculating image variations of the object on the digital image, correspondingly controlling the display device according to the image variations and deactivating the first image sensor after the remote controller is idle for a predetermined period of time. The activation mechanism is coupled to the first image sensor for re-activating the deactivated first image sensor.

Abstract: A method and system includes a scheduling system generating a pre-break window and a post-break window and an automation system in communication with the scheduling system receiving a content signal and generating a deviation signal when an expected trigger for an insert material is not within the pre-break window or post-break window. The scheduling system reschedules the insert material in response to the deviation signal.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for modifying settings of a television program recommender displays the rating (recommended or not recommended) for a selected television program, and also displays icons for selection by the user to indicate whether the user agrees or disagrees with the recommendation. The television program recommender then updates its settings based on the user's icon selection. In addition, if the user indicates that he/she disagrees with the recommendation, the television program recommender determines and displays the number of times that the user needs to indicate his/her desires with respect to the selected television program in order for the recommendation to agree with the user's desires.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product, and data processing system for managing advertisements in an Internet Protocol (IP) streaming environment by defining a viewership threshold, monitoring the Internet Protocol streaming environment, and responsive to reaching the viewership threshold, programming alternate advertisements.

Abstract: A method for film reconstruction includes identifying motion tear artifacts within a plurality of video fields of a stream of video fields. The motion tear artifacts identified by analyzing the video fields using fuzzy logic. The method also includes comparing the analysis of one video field to the analysis of an immediately preceding video field to determine whether there is a relatively high level of motion tear artifacts within the video field or a relatively low level of motion tear artifacts within the video field. The method further includes identifying a pattern of temporal periodicity for the comparisons. The method also includes determining the cadence of the stream of video fields based on the pattern of temporal periodicity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for example, in the provision of service listings, channel listings, and/or the like. The location of a device may, for example, be determined, and one or more service parameters corresponding, for instance, to the location may, for example, be employed in receiving service listings data, channel listings data, and/or the like.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a correction interval setting unit for setting a correction interval; a correction interval dividing unit for dividing the correction interval into a black side interval and a white side interval; histogram calculating units for calculating a total number of luminance histograms of the black side interval and the white side interval, respectively; gain setting units for setting gains of a ? curve for raising the luminance and a ? curve for lowering the luminance, respectively; gamma curve generating units for generating a gamma curve for raising the luminance and a gamma curve for lowering the luminance, respectively; a gamma curve combining unit for combining the gamma curve for raising the luminance and the gamma curve for lowering the luminance; and a luminance conversion unit for performing the luminance conversion process using the combined gamma curve.

Abstract: A method of effectively operating a Content-On-Demand (COD) system is disclosed. Requests for content are received from COD clients. If the requested content exists in a COD server and the content is content for one-to-one transmission, a session is set up between the COD server and one of the COD clients by providing access information for one-to-one transmission. Thereafter, the requested content is transmitted to the corresponding COD client in a one-to-one transmission manner, and then the session is terminated when the transmission is completed. If the requested content is content for one-to-N transmission, sessions are set up between the COD server and the respective COD clients by providing access information for one-to-N transmission. Thereafter, the requested content is transmitted to the corresponding COD clients in a one-to-N transmission manner when a one-to-N transmission requirement is met, and then the sessions are terminated when the transmission is completed.

Abstract: A technology is provided that suppresses a noise that an image forming apparatus makes in the course of an operation thereof from interfering with a user who is watching television. When a printer 203 receives a print command, the printer 203 performs a print job as per a normal mode if a commercial is being displayed on a digital TV 201. If what is being displayed on the digital TV 201 is not the commercial, the printer 203 suspends the print job until the commercial begins to be displayed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application are provided. In particular, a method includes the steps of receiving user equipment identification information and receiving a user request from a user device indicating instructions for the user equipment. The user request is cross-referenced with an action request in a user equipment format selected from a plurality of formats to be compatible with the user equipment. The action request is transmitted for receipt by the user equipment for enabling execution of the indicated instructions.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating formation of content streams formed of content for distribution to content consumers. A request detector detects indications of demand for content. Selection of what content to be included in a content stream is based, in part, upon the demand for the content indicated by the request detector. Once selection of the content is made, the content streams are generated by retrieving the selected content. And, the content streams, once formed, are made available for distribution to the content consumers.

Abstract: Channel lineup information in a television system is efficiently managed with an internal electronic program guide manager (IEM). The IEM creates and maintains an internal electronic program guide (EPG) information database for a user program preference determination engine (PDE), which is resident in a STB, DTV or PVR. The internal EPG data are for use by software agents of the PDE only. The external EPG is used for a graphical user interface display. First, external channel lineup information is received from an external program guide; from that, internal channel lineup information is generated that contains less information than the external channel lineup information, yet sufficient information to render the internal channel lineup information useful in the internal database management system; and the internal channel lineup information is updated upon receiving notification of a change to the external channel lineup information.

Abstract: A method of scheduling an event related to an advertisement includes transmitting media content to a set-top box. The media content includes an advertisement having a selectable reminder indicator related to the advertisement. The method further includes receiving an input selection related to the selectable reminder indicator and scheduling a reminder related to the advertisement for transmission to one or more selected devices based on the input selection.

Abstract: A system and method for making program recommendations to users of a network-based video recording system utilizes expressed preferences as inputs to collaborative filtering and Bayesian predictive algorithms to rate television programs using a graphical rating system. The predictive algorithms are adaptive, improving in accuracy as more programs are rated.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for inserting sync bytes into a video transport stream. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising determining a parsing procedure supported by a first set top box, appending a first transport packet to comply with the parsing procedure of the first set top box, and transmitting the first transport packet to the first set top box.

Abstract: The present invention may be regarded as personal video recorder and a method of displaying a targeted advertisement on a display in conjunction with displaying of a broadcast stream on the display. The method defines a viewer profile of a viewer of the display based on signals received by a controller indicating usage of a viewer control interface by the viewer, for example based on viewer reactions to a broadcast stream or to an advertisement. A targeted advertisement is selected from stored advertisements based on the viewer profile of the viewer of the display. The targeted advertisement is displayed on the display. The viewer profile is updated based on subsequent signals received by the controller indicating usage of the viewer control interface. The signals indicate viewer reactions, for example, a viewer reaction to a broadcast stream or a viewer reaction to an advertisement or a viewer purchase.

Abstract: A method of obtaining metadata associated with an element of television programming involves instructing an access device to generate and communicate a signal to a control device suitable for driving a display, wherein the signal contains metadata suitable for rendering on a display device in a visual representation; receiving the signal and storing a representation of the video frame; processing the video frame using OCR to extract enough information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; processing the video frame to extract sufficient information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; and retrieving metadata associated with the identified element of television programming content from a television programming content source of metadata. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television broadcast signal receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit, a control unit and a display control unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive a plurality of audio-video signals. The control unit is configured to receive operation inputs. The display control unit is configured to display images corresponding to the audio-video signals on a main screen and a subscreen in a display component at the same time. The display control unit is further configured to display an image corresponding to one of the audio-video signals, which has been displayed on the subscreen, on the main screen when the control unit receives an operation input to output audio corresponding to the one of the audio-video signals.