Abstract: A system and method is provided for automatically retrieving information for a portable information system. The portable information system comprises an audio/video sensor that is capable of obtaining audio/video signals and a wireless communication device that is capable of communicating with a remotely located server to obtain information that is accessible by the server. The wireless communication device executes an automatic search procedure to cause the server to search for information that matches a search parameter that a user inputs to the portable information system. The server searches for the requested information in a plurality of databases that are located in a plurality of networks. An “image retrieval by example” search procedure and a “Web information extraction” search procedure are utilized.

Abstract: A control panel for a device which includes a graphical user interface (GUI) which displays several control icons that represent various control functions for the device. The control icons on the GUI have tactile detectability which is provided by either vibrotactile display, electrotactile display, or a combination of the two. A method of providing such a control panel is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A control panel for an electrical/electronic device allows a user to use the control panel without looking at the control panel. The control panel is formed by a graphic user interface (GUI) having a display for displaying various control icons for controlling the device. The display is touch sensitive so that a user is able to select the control function by pressing on the appropriate control icon. The display further has touch detectability for enabling a user to distinguish between the icons by touch. The touch detectability may be in the form of the surface of the display having raised portion in the vicinity of the control icons. While the positioning of the raised portions may be fixed, to allow for changing layouts of the control icons, the display may be flexible and an array of actuators may underlie the display whereby the actuators are selectively activated to press against the underside of the display thereby raising the upper surface of the display in the vicinities of the control icons.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed comprising a videomark controller and videomark computer software for creating videomarks for a video program. When a user desires to mark an event in a video program the user sends a videomark creation command to the videomark controller. The videomark controller creates a videomark that corresponds to the time of receipt of the videomark creation command and enters a user annotation that references the content of the video program. The videomark controller is capable of creating a file that contains a plurality of videomarks for the video program. The videomarks may be displayed in a videomark menu or in a videomark timeline in which a videomark display icon represents each videomark. Each videomark may be selected to access its respective portion of the video program.

Abstract: A method for providing personalized news to a consumer is provided that includes receiving news from a plurality of external sources. A subset of the received news is identified based on a consumer profile for the consumer. The identified news is stored. The stored news is prioritized. At least a portion of the prioritized news is provided to the consumer.

Abstract: A method for providing complementary information 226 for a video program is provided that includes receiving complementary information 226 for a video program. A query is received from a consumer. The query is related to a specified portion of the complementary information 226. A query response is provided to the consumer based on the specified portion of the complementary information 226.

Abstract: In a television receiver having Picture-In-Picture (PIP), a controller analyzes the content of an auxiliary video signal forming a PIP image, and automatically adjusts the shape and transparency of the PIP image in accordance with the content of the auxiliary video signal.

Abstract: In a television receiver having Picture-In-Picture (PIP), a controller analyzes the content of a video signal forming a main picture, and automatically adjusts the size and position of a PIP image to correspond to regions of the main picture exhibiting the least amount of motion, texture, and/or a repeating texture. The controller also prevents the PIP image from being positioned over text or faces or other important objects in the main picture.

Abstract: A content maintenance system uses a time-dependent precipitation function for iteratively augmenting or removing content over time, after an initial demonstration of user interest. A plurality of parallel precipitation processes can be launched simultaneously in response to different facets of a user expression of interest. Precipitation is dependent on highlighting or extracting segment descriptors from content of interest to the user. Then segments are filtered, rated, annotated and/or prioritized from that content. The remaining segments are matched against stored search structures. When the segments match, they are precipitated out for storage and can generate new search structures.

Abstract: A control panel for an electrical/electronic device allows a user to use the control panel without looking at the control panel. The control panel is formed by a graphic user interface (GUI) having a display for displaying various control icons for controlling the device. The display is touch sensitive so that a user is able to select the control function by pressing on the appropriate control icon. The display further has touch detectability for enabling a user to distinguish between the icons by touch. The touch detectability may be in the form of the surface of the display having raised portion in the vicinity of the control icons. While the positioning of the raised portions may be fixed, to allow for changing layouts of the control icons, the display may be flexible and an array of actuators may underlie the display whereby the actuators are selectively activated to press against the underside of the display thereby raising the upper surface of the display in the vicinities of the control icons.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed comprising a videomark controller and videomark computer software for creating videomarks for a video program. When a user desires to mark an event in a video program the user sends a videomark creation command to the videomark controller. The videomark controller creates a videomark that corresponds to the time of receipt of the videomark creation command and enters a user annotation that references the content of the video program. The videomark controller is capable of creating a file that contains a plurality of videomarks for the video program. The videomarks may be displayed in a videomark menu or in a videomark timeline in which a videomark display icon represents each videomark. Each videomark may be selected to access its respective portion of the video program.

Abstract: Customizable multimedia content is transmitted in a form where some content is described by content descriptors. The content descriptors are used in the receiving device to synthesize a final version of the content. Content descriptors may include information relating to content length, expecting user mood, expected user location, content type, expected time of day of receipt, expected display device, and/or language in which the content is described. Local information may be used to inform the synthesis process. Local information may include user preferences generated from a user profile, context information detected automatically, or user preferences entered manually by a user. Alternatively, some synthesis instructions may be part of the content descriptors. Synthesizing creates a presentation of the content which may include a synthesized person, a cartoon character, an animal, a talking object, text, and/or audio.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying to a user alternative content of a transmitted television program based on data stored in the user's profile as well as viewing context parameters, such as available viewing time or audience composition. Sources of alternative content to be presented include transmitted alternative program segments as well as media and Internet data input.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for retrieving information about television programs. This includes a website being connected to that includes information about a television program being watched. The information from the website is downloaded and then processed. Further, the information is then either displayed along with the television program being watched or stored for later playback.

Abstract: Content of multiple digital bit streams with essentially the same renderable content, and situated at mutually remote locations, are played back in unison. First, time is synchronized among the processors that participate in a synchronized viewing session by playing back respective streams. Second, the playbacks are content-wise aligned, by rewinding or fast forwarding, to effect overall a precisely synchronized presentation. The content-wise alignment is achieved by means of a status message between processors that contains information characteristic of the sender's bit stream. If any participant, performs a control function (e.g. rewind, fast forward, stop), all other participants follow synchronously. The processor that initiates the session is deemed the initiator, a role that is thereafter assumed by the participant that has last performed a control function.

Abstract: An adaptive memory system remembers facts, e.g. names the user has asked for, and the depth of information a user has requested on a certain topic. The adaptive memory builds a data structure of the user's knowledge base and behavior. The system applies this knowledge when retrieving segments of interests, augmenting video programs, recommending new programs. Also the system can use this knowledge and select items for a personal TV channel.

Abstract: Image templates define characteristics of video content desired to be recorded, including color characteristics and spatial distribution of regions to be compared in determining a level of similarity and white regions of expected variability which are ignored in the comparison. Each image template is compared to fields for an associated channel, either continuously or during a predefined period. Fields received on the associated channel which have at least a threshold level of similarity are saved, together with associated audio.

Abstract: Management of digital storage space during the playback of moving images in a broadcasted program or any other coherent moving image presentation involves marking already-viewed frames for deletion. The marking occurs before completion of the playback of the presentation so that memory space is made immediately available for additional recording of other broadcasted presentations or for other purposes before completion of the playback of the video. A latency time period between playback and authorization for deletion gives the viewer flexibility to replay parts of the presentation before deletion. The latency time period is optionally adaptable, and may be adjusted in accordance with automatic monitoring of whether the viewer is viewing the playback and in accordance with predefined parameters derived from the stored presentation. A count may be maintained of the number of times a frame is played back to refrain from marking until a particular count is reached.

Abstract: In a television receiver having Picture-In-Picture (PIP), a controller analyzes the content of an auxiliary video signal forming a PIP image, and automatically adjusts the shape and transparency of the PIP image in accordance with the content of the auxiliary video signal.

Abstract: In a television receiver having Picture-In-Picture (PIP), a controller analyzes the content of a video signal forming a main picture, and automatically adjusts the size and position of a PIP image to correspond to regions of the main picture exhibiting the least amount of motion, texture, and/or a repeating texture. The controller also prevents the PIP image from being positioned over text or faces or other important objects in the main picture.