Abstract: To apportion desired video processing between a video source device and a video sink device, at one of the devices, and based upon an indication of video processing algorithms of which the other device is capable and an indication of video processing algorithms of which the one device is capable, a set of video processing algorithms for achieving desired video processing is identified. The identified set of video processing algorithms is classified into a first subset of algorithms for performance by the other device and a second subset of algorithms for performance by the one device. At least one command for causing the other device to effect the first subset of video processing algorithms is sent. The one device may be configured to effect the second subset of algorithms.

Abstract: Display features of an interactive user interface for a TV environment allow a user to interact with objects and/or information within a display space.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server, a retry request from a media device. The retry request requests a data packet associated with video content and includes an overhead bandwidth factor corresponding to a ratio between an overhead bandwidth to be used to send the data packet in response to the retry request and a nominal bandwidth used to send video content to the media device. The method further includes, in response to the retry request, sending the data packet to the media device based on the overhead bandwidth factor.

Abstract: To provide a reception and playback device capable of playing back a program in viewer's desired display mode. The reception and playback device receives, with respect to a program that is currently played back in a first display mode, a switching instruction to switch from the first display mode to a second display mode, receives switching permission information indicating whether switching of a playback target stream of the program is permissible from a first stream to a second stream respectively corresponding to the first display mode and the second display mode, when receiving the switching instruction, judges whether switching of the display mode is permissible from the first display mode to the second display mode based on the switching permission information, when judging affirmatively, switches from the first stream to the second stream to perform playback using the second stream, and when judging negatively, performs playback using the first stream.

Abstract: A method includes storing metadata associated with content from at least one content source, determining that the content is being presented, receiving data representing a biometric attribute associated with a content consumer, determining that the content consumer is consuming the content, and updating the metadata associated with the content in response to determining that the content consumer is consuming the content.

Abstract: A method may be provided for displaying an image display apparatus. Channels may be changed on the image display apparatus based on a user channel change command. A channel change state may be determined, and a determination may be made when a total number of channels satisfies a prescribed criterion. Information regarding recommended content may be displayed when the determined number of channel changes satisfies the prescribed criterion.

Abstract: An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method includes receiving an input signal, extracting images from the input signal, generating thumbnail images by converting formats of the extracted images, and transmitting at least one of the thumbnail images to a connected external device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members are disclosed. An example method includes analyzing image data corresponding to an environment in which an audience is exposed to media presented by a first media presentation device to determine whether the environment includes a glow emanating from a second media presentation device; and when the environment includes the glow, calculating an engagement for a person in the environment with respect to the first media presentation device based on a presence of the glow.

Abstract: A display apparatus and a server which implements an interactive system are disclosed. The server includes a communicator which receives text information corresponding to a user voice collected at the display apparatus from the display apparatus, and a controller which extracts an utterance component from the text information and controls so that a query to search contents is generated using the extracted utterance component and transmitted to an external server which categorizes metadata of the content under each item and stores the same, in which the controller generates the query by adding a preset item to a criteria to search a content, when a number of criteria to categorize the content under an item corresponding to the extracted utterance component is less than a preset number.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining what channel a user is viewing through a TV receiver are described. At the TV receiver, a plurality of TV signals is received. A channel selection is received. The TV receiver tunes to the selected channel from among the plurality of TV signals. A watermark is inserted into a component of the tuned TV signal to form a modified TV signal, and the modified TV signal is output from the TV receiver. The watermark encodes meta-information associated with the tuned TV signal. In some implementations, the modified TV signal is received by a computer system. The watermark from the modified TV signal is processed to decode the meta-information, and the meta-information is provided to an application running on the computer system.

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: The present invention concerns a transmitting device adapted to send content in bursts in a channel, the channel comprising a plurality of bursts, wherein a burst comprises at least one time slot. The transmitting device comprises first communicating means for receiving content from a first network, second communicating means for sending the content to a second network, the content being successively sent over at least one time slot of the bursts of the channel, time slot means for assigning a channel, and at least one unfilled time slot in the bursts of the channel to at least one second transmitting device located on the second network and signaling means for indicating the channel and the unfilled time slots to the at least one second transmitting device.

Abstract: A system including but not limited to a computer program comprising instructions that when executed by a server computer, determines a plurality of geographic restriction zones and instructions to determine a plurality of different duration time delays for each of a plurality of geographic restriction zones.

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: 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: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods to decrease a size of a memory in a low-latency video communication system are described. A control unit is configured to monitor a condition associated with at the communication link. The control unit is configured to receive the video content over a link based on monitoring. A memory comprising a full-frame buffer is coupled to the control unit. The full-frame buffer is configured as a history buffer to store a full frame of the video in a coding format that matches the coding format of the video content received over the link. A display unit is coupled to the history buffer. A portion of the full-frame buffer is configured as a network streaming buffer.

Abstract: A method, performed at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the one or more processors, includes receiving respective first set-top box (STB) information from a first plurality of STBs. The first STB information received from a respective STB in the first plurality of STBs includes tuning information for the respective STB in the first plurality of STBs, and power status information for a respective display device coupled to the respective STB in the first plurality of STBs. The method also includes filtering the power status information, and determining a viewership metric for the first plurality of STBs based on the tuning information and the filtered power status information in the first STB information.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for providing media content enhancement. A system for providing enhancement of media content displayed by a presentation unit of the system comprises the presentation unit configured to receive and display the media content, and a content enhancement module stored in a memory of the presentation unit. The presentation unit also includes a processor configured to control the content enhancement module to enhance the media content. A method for use by the content enhancement module comprises reading a context data received by the presentation unit, the context data describing a media content provided for display by the presentation unit, processing the context data to identify the media content, requesting an enhancement data corresponding to the media content, and executing instructions received in the enhancement data to enhance the media content displayed by the presentation unit.

Abstract: There is provided a method device and system for streaming media content to a media presentation appliance. There may be provided an appliance specific media stream generator adapted to derive an appliance specific stream from a multicast media stream. The generator may convert a multicast media stream addressed to a set of media presentation appliances into either (1) one or more unicast media streams, wherein each unicast media stream is addressed to a separate media presentation appliance; or (2) a multicast media stream addressed to a subset of the set of media presentation appliances. In both cases, the media content within the derived media stream may be substantially identical to the media content of the original multicast media stream. The generator may also introduce content (e.g. advertising) into the derived media stream(s).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an access device for implementing an IP broadband video service, the method is executed by an access device, includes: receiving a request for demanding a program from the user terminal; checking a right of a user corresponding to the user terminal; if the user has right to demand the program and is the first member joining the program group, sending the request to the multicast router and then sending the user terminal a multicast stream of the program received from the multicast router; if the user has right to demand the program and is not the first member joining the group, sending the multicast stream to the user terminal; the method further comprises: generating a record comprising program information and time information that indicates program join and leave activities and sending the record to a video service support system.