Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the detection and management of a filler region during trickplay of a content stream. A filler region at the edge of a targeted advertisement segment may be detected based on the presence of one or more consecutive I-frames. When a filler region is detected during a trickplay operation, a corrective method may be applied during trickplay of the filler region. The corrective method may include a modification of a frame skip count (FSC) and/or frame repeat count (FRC) during trickplay of the filler region, or may include skipping over the processing and output of filler frames during trickplay of the filler region. In embodiments, an index file may be modified to include an indication of a designation of one or more frames as either a filler frame or non-filler frame.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media described herein may facilitate the automatic identification of a need for additional authentication based on a received private message or PID, the urgency of a received private message, thus determining whether an immediate alert is output to a user, and/or a determination whether a protected message is to be archived for later retrieval via authentication. A device may be configured (e.g., by user input) to control selective decoding and display of messages (e.g., private messages), registration and configuration of blacklists, and/or defining criteria for determining urgency of a received message. Device configurations may be dynamically changed or updated according to user preferences and user treatment of received messages.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the detection and management of a filler region during trickplay of a content stream. A filler region at the edge of a targeted advertisement segment may be detected based on the presence of one or more consecutive I-frames. When a filler region is detected during a trickplay operation, a corrective method may be applied during trickplay of the filler region. The corrective method may include a modification of a frame skip count (FSC) and/or frame repeat count (FRC) during trickplay of the filler region, or may include skipping over the processing and output of filler frames during trickplay of the filler region. In embodiments, an index file may be modified to include an indication of a designation of one or more frames as either a filler frame or non-filler frame.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media described herein may facilitate the automatic identification of a need for additional authentication based on a received private message or PID, the urgency of a received private message, thus determining whether an immediate alert is output to a user, and/or a determination whether a protected message is to be archived for later retrieval via authentication. A device may be configured (e.g., by user input) to control selective decoding and display of messages (e.g., private messages), registration and configuration of blacklists, and/or defining criteria for determining urgency of a received message. Device configurations may be dynamically changed or updated according to user preferences and user treatment of received messages.

Abstract: A method and computing device for determining the location of a point of interest in a media stream. The method receives an order of duplication for a media stream and a sequence of caption data strings associated with the media stream. The method computes a hash value for a selected string in the sequence. The hash value representing the selected string, and a number of strings in the sequence that immediately precede the selected string, where the order of duplication determines the number of strings. The method receives a media stream time for the selected string based on the hash value, and determines a time at a point of interest in the media stream relative to the media stream time for the selected string.

Abstract: A method of selectively decoding an input stream is provided. In the method, an encoded input stream for display as a plurality of frames in a display window is received. In addition, a location of an overlay on the plurality of frames is determined and the encoded input stream is selective decoded to selectively generate the plurality of frames based upon the location of the overlay on the plurality of frames.

Abstract: A method and computing device for determining the location of a point of interest in a media stream. The method receives an order of duplication for a media stream and a sequence of caption data strings associated with the media stream. The method computes a hash value for a selected string in the sequence. The hash value representing the selected string, and a number of strings in the sequence that immediately precede the selected string, where the order of duplication determines the number of strings. The method receives a media stream time for the selected string based on the hash value, and determines a time at a point of interest in the media stream relative to the media stream time for the selected string.

Abstract: A method and computing device for determining the location of a point of interest in a media stream. The method receives an order of duplication for a media stream and a sequence of caption data strings associated with the media stream. The method computes a hash value for a selected string in the sequence. The hash value representing the selected string, and a number of strings in the sequence that immediately precede the selected string, where the order of duplication determines the number of strings. The method receives a media stream time for the selected string based on the hash value, and determines a time at a point of interest in the media stream relative to the media stream time for the selected string.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (800) for dynamically selecting a graphics display window within an image. A spatial gradient measurement is performed (805) on the image. Convoluted pixel values are calculated (810) for the image. A plurality of image characteristics for a plurality of window position options is determined (815) using the calculated convoluted pixel values. The plurality of window position options have a geometry that is able to accommodate a geometry of a graphics display. Graphics are placed (820) in one of the plurality of window position options based on the plurality of image characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus associates voice metadata with a content item such as a recorded program using a content guide. In one embodiment, a process presents the content guide to a viewer. The viewer makes a first request to select a content item listed in the content guide, and this first request is received by the processor. In response to the first request, the processor presents content information for the selected content item. The content information may include one or more voice metadata options for the selected content item. The method and apparatus may be implemented in a digital video recorder (DVR). A DVR content searching method is also disclosed. In one embodiment, search parameters are received at the DVR, and the DVR searches through an index of voice metadata associated with one or more content items stored at the DVR.

Abstract: A method of selectively decoding an input stream is provided. In the method, an encoded input stream for display as a plurality of frames in a display window is received. In addition, a location of an overlay on the plurality of frames is determined and the encoded input stream is selective decoded to selectively generate the plurality of frames based upon the location of the overlay on the plurality of frames.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying a user of an electronic device of the entrance of one or more contacts of the user within an area of interest is provided. The electronic device is present in a network of a plurality of electronic devices. The method includes, tracking the location of the one or more contacts based on the location of the one or more electronic devices connected to the network. The one or more electronic devices are associated with the one or more contacts. Further, the method includes sending a notification of the entrance of each of the one or more contacts in the area of interest to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and structure for transmitting and receiving an audio signal over a network (25). A dual mode telephone (1) is adapted to switch between a standard telephone mode and an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone mode. The standard telephone mode comprises a standard telephone (11) adapted to transmit and receive audio over a standard telephone network (37). The IP telephone mode comprises an IP telephone (15) adapted to convert an audio signal to an IP packet and transmit the IP packet over a communication link (14) to a network (25).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving an audio signal and/or a video signal with a two-way radio. The two-way radio comprises a transmitter system and a receiver system. The transmitter system is adapted to transmit a digitized video signal and a digitized audio signal. The receiver system is adapted to receive a second digitized video signal and a second digitized audio signal.

Abstract: An invention for providing information to a GPS device by selecting location-specific information stored on a memory medium incorporated in the GPS device, or received by the GPS device from location-specific information broadcast by GPS satellites. The stored or broadcast location-specific information includes a GPS-advice type and a GPS-advice range. The CPU of the GPS device compares a computed or user-input GPS device location with the GPS-advice range included in the stored or broad-cast location-specific information, and outputs the location-specific information to the GPS device if the GPS device location falls within the GPS-advice range included in the stored or broadcast location-specific information or advertising. The stored or broad-cast location-specific information may also be searched and output by user input of any location or GPS-advice type. The stored or transmitted information may be advertising.

Abstract: A communication method which allows users to send and received text messages between their respective set top boxes. The method which includes transmitting text messages from multiple source set top boxes to an exchange. The exchange, in turn, packetizes the text messages into data packets and forwards the data packets to a multiplexor. The multiplexor multiplexes the data packets along with audio and video data into an output transport stream. The output transport stream is then broadcast to multiple destination set top boxes. The destination set top boxes have demultiplexing capability, thereby allowing a user at the destination set top box to ultimately read, and respond, to the original transmitted text message. A system employing the same is further disclosed.

Abstract: An invention for providing information to a GPS device by selecting location-specific information stored on a memory medium incorporated in the GPS device, or received by the GPS device from location-specific information broadcast by GPS satellites. The stored or broadcast location-specific information includes a GPS-advice type and a GPS-advice range. The CPU of the GPS device compares a computed or user-input GPS device location with the GPS-advice range included in the stored or broad-cast location-specific information, and outputs the location-specific information to the GPS device if the GPS device location falls within the GPS-advice range included in the stored or broadcast location-specific information or advertising. The stored or broad-cast location-specific information may also be searched and output by user input of any location or GPS-advice type. The stored or transmitted information may be advertising.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving an audio signal and/or a video signal with a two-way radio. The two-way radio comprises a transmitter system and a receiver system. The transmitter system is adapted to transmit a digitized video signal and a digitized audio signal. The receiver system is adapted to receive a second digitized video signal and a second digitized audio signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and structure for transmitting and receiving an audio signal over a network (25). A dual mode telephone (1) is adapted to switch between a standard telephone mode and an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone mode. The standard telephone mode comprises a standard telephone (11) adapted to transmit and receive audio over a standard telephone network (37). The IP telephone mode comprises an IP telephone (15) adapted to convert an audio signal to an IP packet and transmit the IP packet over a communication link (14) to a network (25).

Abstract: An MPEG decoding system selectively decodes MPEG enhanced streams, based on a select identification of an enhancement region of a series of image frames. MPEG blocks within the enhancement region are decoded with the enhancement-layer, while blocks outside the enhancement region are decoded at the base-layer. Additionally, the user is provided the option of displaying the series of images in a window that is selectively sized to contain only the enhancement region, or the enhancement region surrounded by a base-layer region, or a custom sized window that may include all or some of the enhancement and base-layer regions.