Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: storing means for storing audio data and related information corresponding to the audio data; receiving means for acquiring electronic program guide information indicating programs scheduled to be broadcasted; and program selecting means for executing comparison processing for comparing predetermined related information corresponding to predetermined audio data among the audio data and the electronic program guide information and selecting, on the basis of a result of the comparison processing, a predetermined program from the broadcast-scheduled programs indicated by the electronic program guide information.

Abstract: System and method for displaying guide data on a remote control. In one embodiment, guide data may be received in a first format by the remote control. The guide data may be converted from the first format to a second format based in part on a predefined user preference. A portion of the guide data may be displayed in accordance with the second format on a display of the remote control such that guide data is displayed according to a first scale.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining audiovisual output preference. The method comprises providing first and second stimuli having respective sets of audio and visual characteristics. The method receives a user selection between the first and second stimuli, and includes the set of audio and visual characteristics corresponding to the selected stimuli in the audiovisual output preference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members are disclosed. An example method includes detecting light information in image data representative of an environment including a primary media device; determining whether a secondary media device is in the environment based on the detected light information; and calculating, via a logic circuit, an engagement level for a person with respect to the primary media device based on the secondary media device determination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method for receiving a request for TV programming schedule information via an interactive programming guide, obtaining the TV programming schedule information associated with a period of time, displaying one or more program icons having the TV programming schedule information associated with the interactive programming guide; adjusting at least one of a date toolbar for selecting one or more dates and a time toolbar for selecting one or more time periods of a day in response to receiving one or more commands; and displaying the one or more program icons having the TV programming schedule information associated with the interactive programming guide based at least on one of the selected one or more dates and the selected one or more time periods of the day.

Abstract: This broadcasting receiver includes a receiving portion capable of receiving a digital television broadcast signal, a transmitting portion capable of transmitting a network signal and a control portion establishing a network on coaxial wiring when a frequency band allocated for transmitting the digital television broadcast signal on the coaxial wiring includes a free frequency band having a bandwidth larger by a prescribed bandwidth than a bandwidth of the network signal.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media distribution device having a support structure adapted for removably receiving a server module, a plurality of encoders, and an Internet Protocol (IP) router module; and a bus adapted for placing the server module, the plurality of video encoders, and the IP router module in communication with each other, where the server module is adapted to receive media content, where the plurality of video encoders is adapted to generate a plurality of encoded media contents from the media content and the video encoders generate the encoded media contents in temporal proximity to each other, where the IP router module is adapted to distribute the plurality of encoded media contents over an IP network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A video test pattern generator and method include a control sequencer configured to control one or more address counters to generate a video test pattern. A first memory is configured to store pixel values for transitions between portions of the video test pattern and configured to store a repeated pixel value. A second memory is configured to store pattern information to determine placement of the pixel values for the transitions and the repeated pixel values. A repeat counter is configured to control a number of the repeated pixel values produced before a next transition.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for multimedia data handling to a web or cloud-computing service are disclosed. A set-top box can generate a pre-encoded stream of digitized data after receiving a raw incoming multimedia signal or after receiving a pre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted incoming multimedia signal from a service provider-specific signal receiver. The set-top box can also generate streams of encoded multimedia data from the pre-encoded stream of digitized data and segmentize the streams of encoded multimedia data into individually-viewable segments for uploading to the web or cloud-computing service, wherein a size of each segment varies based on a current connection bandwidth availability and/or a workload on the set-top box. By automatically segmentizing the streams of encoded multimedia data into individually-viewable segments for the web or cloud-computing service, a user can start viewing the currently-uploading multimedia data faster than a conventional single stream upload.

Abstract: A system and method for delivery of multimedia data includes a plurality of media devices coupled to each other via a network. Each of the media devices is configured to retrieve multimedia data and advertisement data from an external source such as a public and/or private network. The multimedia data may include a number of video clips and the advertisement data includes a number of advertisements. Each media device is also configured to associate an advertisement of the advertisement data to a video clip of the multimedia data based on one of a number of criteria and transmit the associated video clip and advertisement to a playback device for viewing thereon.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products for reporting application and device data retrieved from within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network environment are provided. IPTV system usage data is retrieved from at least one IPTV device and normalized into a predetermined data format. The IPTV system usage data is parsed according to predetermined criteria. The parsed IPTV system usage data is delivered to a dedicated data mart for storage, the IPTV system usage data that is stored within at least one dedicated data mart is accessed, and the IPTV system usage data that is stored at the at least one dedicated data mart is used to generate a report.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a receiver for an accelerated channel change is provided. The receiver receives a first version of a video stream for a first channel and causes display of video for the first version of the video stream for the channel. A second version of a video stream is received upon a channel change to a second channel, the second version including non-discardable pictures from the first version of the video stream. The receiver displays video for the second version of the video stream for the second channel. When a transition point is reached in the first version of the video stream for the second channel, a first version of a video stream for the second channel can be displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the storage of content on a network and the delivery of content to subscriber locations. According to one system and method, content is delivered to a set-top box from a content source in the process of transmitting the same content to another set-top box. The content source instructs a shared router to duplicate the content such that the content is transmitted to the requesting set-top boxes substantially simultaneously. According to another system and method, a server and cache provide dynamic caching of content such that requests for content are satisfied from the cache if possible. If the requested content is not found in the cache, the content is requested from alternate source and added to the cache. Weight values associated with the stored files are updated such that the more frequently requested files are maintained in the cache.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for annotating media streams. One embodiment of a method for facilitating creation of an annotated media stream by a user includes receiving the media stream from the user, mapping at least one item of supplemental content to at least a portion of the media stream to produce the annotated media stream, and storing the annotated media stream. In another embodiment, a method for distributing an annotated media stream provided by a user includes receiving the annotated media stream from the user, where the annotated media stream includes at least one item of supplemental content mapped to at least a portion of a media stream to produce the annotated media stream, storing the annotated media stream, receiving a request from a viewer to view the annotated media stream, and distributing the annotated media stream to the viewer.

Abstract: An in-train information distribution and display system and enables dynamic selection and display of contents having higher advertising effectiveness according to train information. A first program listing having time slots set therein and a plurality of advertising content data associated with each of the time slots of the first program listing, as candidates for program material, are prepared in a ground content-distribution server. An on-board central-distribution server determines the program material by selecting one of the plural advertising content data associated with each of the time slots of the first program listing, based on train information and passenger information obtained from a train-information central unit. A program listing having determined program materials constitutes a second program listing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an audiovisual user interface based on learned user preferences is described. In one implementation, the method involves collecting a set of user preferences for a user; providing a metadata stream associated with an audiovisual input; comparing elements within the metadata stream with the set of user preferences to form a comparison; and outputting a message to the user if the comparison indicates that the metadata stream matches one or more elements of the set of user preferences. The message may be output either acoustically or visually, and may relate to the audiovisual input, which may be audio, video, or both audio and video. The audiovisual input may be blocked based on a restricted message, and may be accessed upon a successful password query.

Abstract: A method for distributing geographical restriction data in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed. The method includes accepting at an IPTV server, a request from an IPTV client for the geographical restriction data related to geographically restricted video data, determining at the server, a plurality of geographic restriction zones for the geographically restricted video data and sending from the server to the client a message containing the restriction data related to at least one of the restriction zones.

Abstract: A profile includes an indication of one or more topics of interest. A mixing server is configured to create a custom media channel based on the profile. A playback application is configured to provide the custom media channel upon a request from a user, wherein the custom media channel includes more than one item of multimedia content.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an access device for generating an Internet Protocol (IP) broadband video service bill, the method includes: returning, by an access device, authorization information indicating whether the user is allowed to watch or preview based on watching or previewing right of the user when a user demands a program, recording the joining time point of the user, and sending received multicast stream to a port of the user; recording, by the access device, leaving time point of the user when the user stops watching or previewing the program demanded; sending, by the access device, original bill of the user to a video service support system; wherein the original bill includes the program demanded by the user, joining time point and leaving time point; processing, by the video service support system, the original bill to get much statistic data such as a real-time bill and audience rating.

Abstract: A broadcasting receiver and a method of determining an operation mode of broadcasting receiver are disclosed. A host device transmits the resource information including A-mode resource information. And a POD receives the resource information and determining an operation mode based on the received resource information and operation mode setting information. The broadcasting receiver can protect content data received from all the transfer protocols including the wired/wireless network and the IP protocol, using the conditional access provided from the conventional cable card. The broadcasting receiver determines whether the host supports the A-mode and determines a method for receiving broadcast data, such that the operation mode of the broadcasting receiver can be properly established according to the determined result.