Abstract: A method of broadcasting a succession of contents through a computer network from a broadcasting source (S) to a plurality of receiver terminals able to receive from the source. The method includes, for each content, sending data units conveying the content from the source through the computer network, and supplying the receiver terminals with an indication enabling them to identify each transition between two successive contents, thus enabling the receiver terminals to determine the time of a transition between successive contents more precisely. The data units to be broadcast are marked by modifying the marking of the data units of the successive contents separated by a single transition. The receiver terminals (T) are supplied with marking information enabling them to distinguish between data units belonging to different contents (Cn, Cn+1) with the aid of their marking.

Abstract: This method of processing multimedia content description data sets to deliver a plurality of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) from a single input data set (10), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: allocating priority coefficients (16) to at least some of the description data in the input data set (10); associating priority coefficient thresholds (18) with a predetermined number of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n); and distributing the data to the output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) as a function of the priority coefficients (16) allocated to the elements of the input data set and as a function of the thresholds (18) associated with each of the output data sets.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protocol for broadcasting to a terminal (T) audio-visual materials (PG) from an audio-visual server, comprising a signalling source (SS) and an audio-visual source (SAV). The protocol consists, via an IP network, in acquiring (A) a descriptive file of the source (SS), in acquiring (B) from the source (SS) based on the file SDP, a broadcast signalling channel (SC), and in receiving (C) on said terminal from the signalling channel (SC) at least a digital data flow supporting the audio-visual materials (PG). The invention is useful for broadcasting audio-visual materials on INTERNET.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating a query request to be transmitted to at least one receiving entity in a communication network. The method includes: receiving a developed and previously formulated query request; selecting a synthetic form adapted to the developed query request from a set of pre-established synthetic forms; and constructing a synthetic query request from the selected synthetic form, wherein the synthetic query request is to be transmitted to the receiving entity.

Abstract: According to the invention, in the method of receiving broadcast television signals: a main component (C1) is received (E6) in a multimedia receiver terminal (T); a secondary component (C2) is acquired (E5) in the multimedia receiver terminal (T) via a remote computer network (R), main time stamps (TSFCS1) referenced to a predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted beforehand into the main component (C1), and secondary time stamps (TSFCS2) referenced to said predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted into the secondary component (C2) prior to reproduction, the time stamps marking content reproduction advance; and the received main component (C1) and the acquired secondary component (C2) are reproduced (E6) on the multimedia receiver terminal (T) in compliance with the chronology of the secondary time stamps and the main time stamps, to reproduce for the user a coherent audiovisual content made up both of the main component (C1) and of the secondary component (C2).

Abstract: This method of processing multimedia content description data sets to deliver a plurality of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) from a single input data set (10), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: allocating priority coefficients (16) to at least some of the description data in the input data set (10); associating priority coefficient thresholds (18) with a predetermined number of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n); and distributing the data to the output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) as a function of the priority coefficients (16) allocated to the elements of the input data set and as a function of the thresholds (18) associated with each of the output data sets.

Abstract: According to the invention, said communications network including at least one network recorder able to record audiovisual content broadcast on a plurality of broadcast channels, said audiovisual content being recorded at the request of a user having a communications terminal able to communicate with at least one network recorder, said method comprises the following steps: the network recorder identifying itself, indicating at least: a means of access to said recorder, a list of broadcast channels, the user selecting a network recorder able to record at least one required audiovisual content and connecting thereto using said access means in order to request the recording of said at least one audiovisual content, said request including an identification of the audiovisual content to be recorded, and the network recorder sending a response to the user's recording request containing, if the request is accepted, an identification of the accepted recording request for each content to be recorded.

Abstract: According to the invention, in the method of receiving broadcast television signals: a main component (C1) is received (E6) in a multimedia receiver terminal (T); a secondary component (C2) is acquired (E5) in the multimedia receiver terminal (T) via a remote computer network (R), main time stamps (TSFCS1) referenced to a predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted beforehand into the main component (C1), and secondary time stamps (TSFCS2) referenced to said predetermined reference time (TSFCS10) being inserted into the secondary component (C2) prior to reproduction, the time stamps marking content reproduction advance; and the received main component (C1) and the acquired secondary component (C2) are reproduced (E6) on the multimedia receiver terminal (T) in compliance with the chronology of the secondary time stamps and the main time stamps, to reproduce for the user a coherent audiovisual content made up both of the main component (C1) and of the secondary component (C2).

Abstract: A method of broadcasting a succession of contents through a computer network from a broadcasting source (S) to a plurality of receiver terminals able to receive from the source. The method includes, for each content, sending data units conveying the content from the source through the computer network, and supplying the receiver terminals with an indication enabling them to identify each transition between two successive contents, thus enabling the receiver terminals to determine the time of a transition between successive contents more precisely. The data units to be broadcast are marked by modifying the marking of the data units of the successive contents separated by a single transition. The receiver terminals (T) are supplied with marking information enabling them to distinguish between data units belonging to different contents (Cn, Cn+1) with the aid of their marking.

Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a method of acquiring description data for broadcast audiovisual content, the method comprising: a step (28) in which a receiver terminal (12) transmits at least one information request to at least one server (16) of audiovisual content descriptions; and a step (30) of the receiver terminal (12) receiving description data supplied as a function of elements of the request. It further comprises a prior step (20, 22, 24) of acquiring and storing in the receiver terminal (12) at least one initial information request comprising the address of at least one audiovisual content description server (16) and a step (26) of generating the request on the basis of the previously-acquired initial request. The invention also provides a system, a broadcast server, a receiver terminal, and a description server for implementing the method.

Abstract: A technique for measuring the receive bit rate available to a client terminal adapted to be connected to a data server via a communications network. The client terminal is connected to a bit rate measuring application host server, a bit rate measuring application is downloaded from the bit rate measuring application host server to the client terminal. The bit rate measuring application is run by connecting the client terminal to a test server, downloading a test file from the test server to the client terminal, and measuring a downloading bit rate for the test file.

Abstract: The method of recording audiovisual contents broadcast according to a schedule includes: a step of selecting from an access terminal an audiovisual content to be recorded, the content being associated with a broadcast date and time, and a step of the access terminal receiving a record file of the selected audiovisual content, said file containing information identifying the audiovisual content and the scheduled date and time for broadcasting it. The record file further includes the address of an update server for generating a request to update the record file sent by the terminal to the update server.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a content by a terminal, comprising splitting (20b) the content into a first and a second part, storing (21) the first part in the terminal (1), saving (23) the second part in a memory located on a medium (2) outside the terminal (1), connecting (24a) the medium (2) to the terminal (1), and reconstituting (25a) the content by combining the two parts.

Abstract: A method of reception by a terminal (T) of contents broadcast over a computer network via two or more broadcast channels (CD0, CD1), and a terminal for implementing the method. A signaling channel (CS0) is associated with the first broadcast channel (CD0) and the terminal (T) acquires said signaling channel (CS0) and switches from the first broadcast channel (CD0) to the second broadcast channel (CD1) via said signaling channel (CS0).

Abstract: The method of recording audiovisual contents broadcast according to a schedule includes: a step of selecting from an access terminal an audiovisual content to be recorded associated with a broadcast date and time, and a step of the access terminal receiving a record file of the selected audiovisual content, said file containing information identifying the audiovisual content and the scheduled date and time for broadcasting it. It further comprises: a preliminary step of the access terminal selecting a set of contents having a common topic, said set being offered by an audiovisual content presentation server, which then selects the audiovisual content automatically on the basis of the set selected; and a step of updating the record file, especially in the event of modification of the audiovisual content selected by the presentation server.

Abstract: Each terminal (Ti) recovers descriptive data associated with the source (S), into which an address of a collection server (SC) is inserted. The source (S) broadcasts the content over a network, and each receiver terminal (Ti) acquires the broadcast content, using said descriptive data, and signals to the address of the collection server (SC) that it is receiving from the source (S) by sending an audience report by said source (S).

Abstract: Each terminal (Ti) recovers descriptive data associated with the source (S), into which an address of a collection server (SC) is inserted. The source (S) broadcasts the content over the network, and the receiver terminals (Ti) acquire the broadcast content, using the descriptive data, and send to the address of the collection server (SC) periodic reports on the reception by said terminal (Ti) of the content broadcast by said broadcast source (S).

Abstract: The invention concerns a protocol for broadcasting to a terminal (T) audio-visual materials (PG) from an audio-visual server, comprising a signalling source (SS) and an audio-visual source (SAV). The protocol consists, via an IP network, in acquiring (A) a descriptive file of the source (SS), in acquiring (B) from the source (SS) based on the file SDP, a broadcast signalling channel (SC), and in receiving (C) on said terminal from the signalling channel (SC) at least a digital data flow supporting the audio-visual materials (PG). The invention is useful for broadcasting audio-visual materials on INTERNET.

Abstract: A memory device can include a radiation hardened, static random access memory (SRAM) cell having a first inverter pair including a first PFET and a first NFET coupled in series drain to drain by a resistor whose resistance can be an order of magnitude (i.e., ten times) larger than the source to drain resistance of the first PFET, a second inverter pair including a second PFET and a second NFET coupled in series drain to drain by a resistor whose resistance can be an order of magnitude larger than the source to drain resistance of the second PFET, the first or second PFET can include a P+ drain difflusion in an NWELL where a portion of the gate can overlie the P+ drain diffusion, a first pass gate PFET coupled to the gate of the first PFET, the gate of the first NFET, and the P+ drain diffusion of the second PFET, and a second pass gate PFET coupled to the gate of the second PFET, the gate of the second NFET, and the P+ drain diffusion of the first PFET.