Abstract: A computer program product for notifying a viewer of content relevant to the viewer's interests is provided. A computer identifies an identity of a viewer of a display device, wherein the display device is displaying a first video feed. A computer determines a plurality of preferences of the viewer. A computer retrieves a profile of the viewer, wherein the profile includes the plurality of preferences of the viewer. In response to a determination that a content of a second video feed that is available for viewing on the display device matches at least one of the plurality of preferences of the viewer, a computer generates a notification of the second video feed. In response to receiving an acceptance of the notification, a computer sends a command to the display device to display the second video feed.

Abstract: Disclosed is that datacast information from at least one or more broadcast station is searched for information that a user wants to view and searched information is presented to the user in a manner desired by the user.

Abstract: Distributed CMTS device for a HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods by multiple individual cables, in which at least some and often all of the QAM modulators that provide data for the individual cables are remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A CCAP set of IP/on-demand data is transmitted to the nodes using an optical fiber, often using digital protocols such as Ethernet protocols. Optionally a basic set of legacy CATV QAM data, transmitted using RF waveforms transposed to optical frequencies, may also be transmitted to the nodes using either the same or different optical fiber. The nodes extract the data specific to each neighborhood, and inject this data into unused cable QAM channels along with any optional legacy CATV QAM waveforms as desired, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for this system is also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method to extend the upstream data capacity of an HFC CATV system by extending a “shadow” optical fiber network deeper into the various CATV cable neighborhoods, with coax fiber terminals (CFT) spaced roughly according to the distribution of CATV active devices such as RF amplifiers. The CFT can intercept local upstream data from various neighborhood sub-regions and transform this upstream data into upstream optical data, thus relieving upstream data congestion in the 5-42 MHz CATV frequency region. The system can produce an order of magnitude improvement in upstream capability, while maintaining high compatibility with legacy HFC equipment. The CFT may exist in multiple embodiments ranging from low-cost “dumb” CFT to sophisticated CFT that can additionally provide GigE to the home (GTTH) service. Methods to maintain good compatibility with legacy CMTS devices, and methods to utilize DOCSIS MAP data for more efficient data transmission are also discussed.

Abstract: Video quality management (VQM) may be provided. First, transmitter metrics corresponding to a video stream may be determined by a transmitting endpoint. The determined transmitter metrics may then be transmitted from the transmitting end point and received by a receiver. The receiver may then determine receiver metrics for a video stream received at the receiver. A quality score may then be determined by the receiver. The quality score may be based on the received transmitter metrics and the determined receiver metrics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rating videos based on parental feedback are presented. In an aspect, a method is provided that includes providing supervisory users respectively having a supervisory role over other users access to watch histories of respective ones of the other users and receiving feedback from the supervisory users regarding appropriateness of a video for the other users, respectively. The method further includes determining an age rating for the media item based on an average age of the other users that the feedback indicates the video is appropriate for, and recommending the video to a user for watching based on the user having an age that satisfies the age rating.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are provided. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal in 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 Internet access information corresponding to the mobile service data by using the acquired program table, and a controller for controlling the Internet access information of the detected descriptor and the mobile service data to be displayed.

Abstract: A display device includes a display portion, an input portion that receives an instruction to select a program in a program list such that the display portion displays the program with a distinguishable expression, and a controller that links a first program having a program duration shorter than a predetermined threshold with at least one second program arranged relative to the first program along a time axis of the program list as a linked program, and that controls the display portion to display the linked program with the distinguishable expression.

Abstract: A receiver includes a plurality of input paths for receiving and processing a plurality of input RF signals. The input paths isolate one or more portions of corresponding ones of the received input RF signals, and combine the isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received input RF signals onto one or more output signals. A bandwidth of the isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received input RF signals and a bandwidth of the output signals are variable. The isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received plurality of input RF signals are extracted and utilized to generate the output signals. The portions of the corresponding ones of the received plurality of input RF signals may be mapped into one or more channel slots in the time domain. The channel slots may be assigned in the frequency domain to one or more frequency bins.

Abstract: A computer program product for notifying a viewer of content relevant to the viewer's interests is provided. A computer identifies an identity of a viewer of a display device, wherein the display device is displaying a first video feed. A computer determines a plurality of preferences of the viewer. A computer retrieves a profile of the viewer, wherein the profile includes the plurality of preferences of the viewer. In response to a determination that a content of a second video feed that is available for viewing on the display device matches at least one of the plurality of preferences of the viewer, a computer generates a notification of the second video feed. In response to receiving an acceptance of the notification, a computer sends a command to the display device to display the second video feed.

Abstract: A system and a method for using the system for targeted commerce in network broadcasting are provided. The system includes an interface device configured to receive a multimedia stream from a network, wherein the multimedia stream includes a close captioning string and wherein the interface device is further configured to process the multimedia stream by providing advertisements in the multimedia stream according to a correlation between the close captioning string and a plurality of vendor keywords; and a viewing device configured to receive the processed multimedia stream and display to a viewer.

Abstract: A network TV includes a network interface, a user interface, and a controller. The network interface establishes a connection with at least one content provider server through a network. The user interface receives an input signal selecting an icon for display. The controller controls output of the selected icon for display along with an image corresponding to the selected icon. The selected icon corresponds to the content provider and is displayed with one or more other icons that correspond to additional content providers, and the image is based on information received through the network interface from the content provider. Further, a method is disclosed for displaying a real-time broadcast screen and icons for receiving contents at the same time, and easily switching between the real-time broadcast screen and a content providing screen in response to user input.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for configuring media devices utilizing audio codes and/or signatures are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include determining a characteristic of audio data received by a device, the characteristic including at least one of a code detected in the audio data or a signature generated from the audio data. Disclosed example methods also include determining whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of a first command or a second command. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to the first command, executing the first command to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device, and in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to the second command, executing the second command to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked.

Abstract: Targeted content is delivered to and received by at least one user device based on user information stored locally at the user device. Program content and targeted content are received. The targeted content received is associated with user information stored locally on the user device, while the program content is broadcast to multiple users. A determination by a scanning process is made at what position or at what time in the program content to include the targeted content. The program content and the targeted content are rendered, with the targeted content included at the determined position or time in the program content, for presentation to the user.

Abstract: A method includes processing media content. The media content includes audio data corresponding to a first audio playback rate and video data corresponding to a first video playback rate. Processing the media content includes identifying a speech portion of the audio data. The speech portion includes a consonant portion. The method further includes producing modified media content. The modified media content is produced based on modifying the video data and modifying the audio data. Modifying the audio data includes applying a non-linear transformation to the speech portion identified in the audio data. The method further includes storing the modified media content.

Abstract: A method for arranging virtual channels and linear channels for a content processing system includes establishing a linear channel number assignment for linear channel, generating a virtual channel assignment and arranging the virtual channel assignments with a predetermined relationship to the linear channel number assignment.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up media-broadcast system involves: a computing device determining first bitrate-data associated with a first compressed media-stream; the computing device determining second bitrate-data associated with a second compressed media-stream; the computing device making a determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.

Abstract: A communication device that receives, from a different communication device, video data being encoded in a scalable manner, decodes received video data, and reproduces and outputs the video data, that comprises: a subjective-quality information acquiring unit acquiring subjective quality information where a combination of values of multiple items related to a coding setting of video data is related to an evaluation result of a subjective quality with regard to video data; a determining unit determining levels of priority of the items in accordance with one of a purpose of video data received from the different device and a user's setting operation; a generating unit generating coding setting information for determining a coding setting of video data received from the different device in accordance with the subjective quality information and the levels of priority of the items; and a notifying unit notifying the coding setting information to the difference device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of processing data. The method of processing data 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; obtaining 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 the ensemble corresponding to a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, obtaining information indicating that second program table information, which describes an additional service provided by the ensemble, is included in the ensemble and parsing the second program table information according to the obtained information; and providing the additional service by using the second program table information.

Abstract: A system for accessing content corresponding to a matrix barcode, such as a video and/or audio content. The system may include a mobile computing device in communication with a content receiver. The mobile computing device may be configured to capture the matrix barcode, for example, via using an optical component and/or barcode scanner to record and/or scan the matrix barcode. The mobile computing device may also include a network interface component configured to transmit the matrix barcode to the content receiver. The content receiver may then receive the matrix barcode from the mobile computing device. The content receiver may include a processor to determine and/or access the content corresponding to the matrix barcode. The content receiver may then transmit the content to a display device.