Abstract: An application on a second-screen device can receive an advertisement stream and an interactive component. The application can display at least a partial display of the advertisement stream and the interactive component in a video display area on the second-screen device. The displayed advertisement stream can be associated with an advertisement stream being displayed by a primary display with the two advertisement streams being associated with the same content and substantially synchronized.

Abstract: A method and system for providing video content on a data network connected device having a display and a device display controller including a player. The method comprises the steps of a data network connected device, accesses a reference file including a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more content sources. Play control commands are provided to the player based on the play control parameter values. Content data is acquired by the player from one or more content sources via the data network using the linking data, and the content acquired from each source played on the display in accordance with the player control commands. The reference file may be a pre-existing reference file or a reference file created in response to a request to play the video content data. A reference file compiler is provided for generating the reference file.

Abstract: A content processing device is provided. Media content is selectively provided to the content processing device. A profile is used to determine the media content. A software application is included on the content processing device and is configured to receive a message from a remote computer, receive user inputs in response to the message, and update the profile based on the user inputs.

Abstract: A number of approaches for transcoding media is described, which allow various users to control one or more aspects of transcoding (e.g. bit rate, resolution) when delivering media content to a client device from a network edge server or other location. The client device is provided with an interface that allows the user to increase or decrease the resolution, bit rate or other settings of the media content. Upon receiving a request from the user, the system transcodes the media content in accordance with the request and dynamically delivers the transcoded media content to the user's device. The system also enables content publishers and network operators to impose restrictions (e.g. minimum and maximum values for various settings) on user control.

Abstract: Provided herein is a functionality extending kit of a display apparatus, the kit including a receiver which enables content to be viewed using an inserted card; a tuner configured to tune to a channel; an extending connector including a standard pin area connected to a signal line of a standard card and an additional pin area connected to a predetermined signal line; and a controller configured to control the tuner to tune to a channel that may transmit firmware update data associated with the card when the display apparatus connected to the extending connector is at a picture off state; wherein the functionality extending kit receives standby power from the display apparatus through a power pin provided in the additional pin area.

Abstract: A network device obtains a first number of stars associated with a fan rating of a first asset by a first user, and obtains a total first number of fan reviews of the first asset. The network device obtains a first release year associated with the first asset, and determines a first sorting value based on a function of the first number of stars, the total first number of reviews, and the first release year. The network device sorts the first asset among other assets using the determined first sorting value.

Abstract: A video communication system having: an encoder coding input video data and outputting a video stream; and a packet processing part grouping into packets the output video stream from said encoder and outputting the same to a communication path; wherein said packet processing part generates an original data cluster consolidating a packet for each group of a prescribed number of MB processes and redundant data for correcting data errors of said original data cluster; and controls the insertion quantity of redundant data so that the combined number of bits of said original data cluster and said redundant data works out to be equal to or less than the target number of bits.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring video games are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to identify a video game include generating a memory signature based on a pattern of memory locations of a game medium accessed by a device to play the video game. Such example methods also include determining an identity of the video game based on the memory signature.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for displaying video. In some embodiments, novel tools and techniques might be provided for sensing the presence and/or position of a user in a room, and/or for customizing displayed content (including video call content, media content, and/or the like) based on the sensed presence and/or position of the user. In particular, in some aspects, a user device (which might include, without limitation, a video calling device, an image capture device, a gaming console, etc.) might determine a position of a user relative to a display device in communication with the user device. The user device and/or a control server (in communication with the user device over a network) might adjust an apparent view of video or image(s) displayed on the display device, based at least in part on the determined position of the user relative to the display device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing digital video recorder services with a portable wireless device (PWD). The PWD includes at least a transceiver, a processing unit and a memory unit. The transceiver receives a video content signal transmitted from a broadcaster of mobile broadcast digital TV, and an electronic program guide (EPG). The processing unit is in communication with the transceiver and the memory unit and the processing unit: stores the TV programming information on the memory unit; displays, responsive to a first user input, the TV programming information; records on the memory unit, responsive to a second user input, a selected video content signal received by the transceiver; and plays back the selected video content signal, responsive to a third user input, from the memory unit.

Abstract: A user recovers and records multiple programs communicated simultaneously using a communications channel, e.g., QAM communications channel. The simultaneous communication may be by communicating, e.g., an MPEG-2 transport stream including data corresponding to multiple programs through a corresponding to QAM communications channel. Thus a user device, e.g., a set top box, is able to receive and record programs corresponding to multiple simultaneously broadcast programs using a single tuner. This allows a device to receive and record or display more programs at any given time, than the number of QAM tuners and/or receivers in the user device. Novel user interface features which facilitate a user's ability to identify and record multiple programs corresponding to a QAM channel are also described. Methods and apparatus for determining program to communication channel mappings based on user program recordation information are also described.

Abstract: A communication system (10) comprises a plurality of clients (12) including a first client (18) and a second client (20). Within the communication system (10), continuity of one or more of a plurality of broadcast events (14) is provided between the plurality of clients (12). The first client (18) monitors a broadcast event (34). Thereafter, the second client (20) launches monitoring of the broadcast event (34) in response to an occurrence associated with the broadcast event (34).

Abstract: An enhanced form of edited interactive audio and video content delivered through a subscriber based network system and accessed by several unique multimedia interface devices. These unique multimedia interface devices can also create and edit both user generated audio and video content into this enhanced form of edited interactive audio and video content. The present invention will incorporate both voice and manual activation as an embedded technology into all multi-media and user generated audio/video content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for providing music related information by searching audio DNA information related to music output through, for example, a TV. The method including: receiving an audio DNA and broadcasting information of broadcasted music; identifying, using the music search server, the broadcasted music by determining whether the received broadcasting information matches music information and broadcast time of one of a plurality of broadcasting programs or advertisements, and comparing, when the determining fails to match the broadcasted music, the received audio DNA with audio DNA of the music pieces to identify the broadcasted music; searching detailed information on music identified by the audio DNA searcher; and transmitting the detailed information search result.

Abstract: An approach is described that includes determining that a remote device has moved outside of a pre-defined area associated with a digital video recorder (DVR), and transmitting program data from the DVR to the remote device while the remote device remains outside of the pre-defined area. Another approach includes a digital video recorder (DVR) having a memory and a processor. The DVR operates to: receive an incoming transmission signal; transmit a selected program to a primary display device; determine that a remote device has moved outside of a pre-defined area; and transmit program data corresponding to the selected program to the remote device while the remote device remains outside of the pre-defined area.

Abstract: A program guide system is provided that supports a program guide application and multiple non-guide applications. The program guide system has a program guide application interface that allows the non-guide applications to use both device resources and program guide resources. The application interface maintains a list of registered applications and directs control requests from various applications to the current primary application. The application interface also has a user interface input director that directs keystrokes and other user input commands to the appropriate application. If a keystroke for the program guide application is detected while a non-guide application is running, the program guide application is invoked.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing method that includes receiving a broadcasting signal in which mobile service data are multiplexed with main service data, extracting transmission-parameter-channel signaling information and fast-information-channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data, parsing first program table information describing virtual channel information of an ensemble and a service provided by the ensemble using the FIC signaling information, the ensemble corresponding to a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, obtaining information from the first program table information, the information representing that second program table information including a descriptor describing event information of the mobile service data is received, parsing the second program table information, storing the event information and displaying service guide information including the event information.

Abstract: A broadcast transmitter and a method of processing broadcast data in the broadcast transmitter are disclosed. The method includes the steps of performing RS encoding and CRC encoding on mobile service data to build RS frames belonging to an ensemble, wherein each of the RS frames are mapped into data groups, wherein each of the data groups comprises known data sequences and a portion of FIC data including information for rapid mobile service acquisition, wherein the information for rapid mobile service acquisition includes transport stream identification information for identifying a mobile broadcast carrying a mobile service that includes the mobile service data and C/N indication information for indicating whether the FIC data are applicable to a current transmission frame or a next transmission frame, multiplexing data in the data groups and main service data, and transmitting a transmission frame including the multiplexed data.

Abstract: Social media content items and references to events that occur therein are aligned with the time-based media events they describe. These mappings may be used as the basis for sending messages to populations of authors of content items, where the populations are determined based on whether the author has written a content item that refers to a specific TV show or advertisement. TV streams are monitored to detect when and where a specific advertisement for a particular advertiser is shown. Concurrently, social media streams are monitored for content items that refer to or are about specific TV shows and advertisements. Responsive to a specific advertisement being detected as being shown during a specific TV show, a message associated with the advertisement is sent to the authors of the content items associated with that TV show or advertisement. The messages can be transmitted while the advertisement is being shown.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an augmented broadcasting service and an apparatus for receiving the augmented broadcasting service in a hybrid broadcasting environment. The apparatus for providing the augmented broadcasting service includes: a real-time data provider configured to provide real-time data through a first transmission network; an augmented content provider configured to provide augmented content through a second transmission network, wherein the augmented content is to be synchronized with the real-time data; and a multiplexer configured to multiplex the real-time data, the augmented content metadata and timing information for synchronization between the real-time data and the augmented content metadata, and output resulting data.