Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing desired portions of a multimedia presentation. Desired portions of a multimedia presentation are determined. In one embodiment, an editor may determine which portions of the presentation are desired. Alternatively, or additionally, specified criteria may be applied to the presentation to determine the desired portions. An annotation file is then created based upon the determined desired portions of the multimedia presentation. The annotation file contains pointers corresponding to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation. Annotation management software may be use the annotation file to cause a display device to display only desired portions of the presentation. The annotation file may be applied to a broadcast presentation or a recorded program file. In one embodiment the annotation file may contain information related to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation and/or the remainder of the multimedia presentation.

Abstract: A system for multipath contactless transaction processing, comprising a networked server comprising a processing unit, a billing entity based on a first networked computing device comprising a processing unit and a video feed, the feed interloping a television broadcast video signal, the signal made available to potential purchasers to watch, wherein, during said viewing, a cue is provided whenever a transaction or interaction is available for scanning by a mobile device, and wherein, the user is prompted accordingly to act upon using the device.

Abstract: A system and method for prioritizing the insertion of recorded media into a broadcast stream according to a comparison of priority indicators in the broadcast stream and in the recorded media insertion. The recorded media insertion may be multi-media in nature.

Abstract: A multimedia system provides program schedule information simulcast as a data stream (e.g., HTML) including commands and displayable, selectable indicia associated with the commands, along with programs for display. A device may be adapted to separate the HTML data stream and to store that data in a cache as pages (e.g., web pages) retrievable by a browser in the device, whereupon the program schedule information is displayed including the displayable, selectable indicia. Selecting the indicia directs the device via the associated command to receive and display a program associated with the displayable indicia. The indicia may be any text, icon, dynamic figurine, and the like. In one example, program schedule pages, including the commands and displayable indicia, are stored and marked on a server coupled to the Internet and to a scanner adapted to scan the server for marked pages, and to upload the marked pages to a transmission system.

Abstract: A method and system for 3-D enhanced advertising for TV broadcast of 2-D video is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing enhanced advertising of a 2-D video broadcast, comprises receiving the 2-D video broadcast containing a 2-D advertisement having an image. The image is identified within the advertisement. A matching 3-D object in an image library is used; wherein the library comprises one or more 3-D objects. The matching 3-D object is used to generate an advertisement, wherein the advertisement has a 3-D highlighted rendering of the image.

Abstract: A solar cell having an open loop voltage that approaches a critical voltage range when exposed to light. A circuit, connected to the solar cell, is configured to load the solar cell when the open loop voltage of the solar cell reaches a threshold within a predetermined range of the critical voltage range.

Abstract: Systems and methods are herein disclosed for efficiently and cost-effectively balancing the voltages across batteries and/or cells in an energy storage system. A controller monitors the battery voltages and instructs regulator circuits to balance voltages between any batteries or sets of batteries having imbalanced voltages. Regulator circuits implementing a modified ?uk converter can be utilized. Regulator circuits can have two capacitive circuits, one inductive circuit, and two switches. Two capacitors, an inductor, and two field effect transistors can be used in each regulator circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for performing an alphabetic search using a single application of keys is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for selecting a program title using an alpha-numeric keypad, comprises gathering one or more searchable items from a broadcast source; generating a dynamic directory of the one or more searchable items by a set-top box; narrowing the scope of the dynamic directory upon receiving a narrowing command from the keypad; receiving a partial program title from the keypad at the set-top box; returning a list of possible selections by the set-top box, wherein the list includes the program title; and receiving a subselector key selector signal from the keypad at the set-top box, wherein the subselector key selector signal selects the program title.

Abstract: A multimedia system provides program schedule information simulcast as a data stream (e.g., HTML) including commands and displayable, selectable indicia associated with the commands, along with programs for display. A device may be adapted to separate the HTML data stream and to store that data in a cache as pages (e.g., web pages) retrievable by a browser in the device, whereupon the program schedule information is displayed including the displayable, selectable indicia. Selecting the indicia directs the device via the associated command to receive and display a program associated with the displayable indicia. The indicia may be any text, icon, dynamic figurine, and the like. In one example, program schedule pages, including the commands and displayable indicia, are stored and marked on a server coupled to the Internet and to a scanner adapted to scan the server for marked pages, and to upload the marked pages to a transmission system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing desired portions of a multimedia presentation. Desired portions of a multimedia presentation are determined. In one embodiment, an editor may determine which portions of the presentation are desired. Alternatively, or additionally, specified criteria may be applied to the presentation to determine the desired portions. An annotation file is then created based upon the determined desired portions of the multimedia presentation. The annotation file contains pointers corresponding to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation. Annotation management software may be use the annotation file to cause a display device to display only desired portions of the presentation. The annotation file may be applied to a broadcast presentation or a recorded program file. In one embodiment the annotation file may contain information related to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation and/or the remainder of the multimedia presentation.

Abstract: Characters represented within a frame of a television presentation are identified. A pattern formed by a subset of the characters is identified if the pattern is indicative of an addressing datum. A provision is made for a selection of characters that form the pattern indicative of the addressing datum. In one embodiment, a web page is displayed upon a selection of characters that form a pattern indicative of a uniform resource locator for the web page.

Abstract: An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG.

Abstract: A content listing may provide a listing of content items a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. Viewers and/or programmers may be allowed to select between varying display environment. In addition, non-content listing objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the display environment and with the content listing information.

Abstract: A system for multipath contactless transaction processing, comprising a networked server comprising a processing unit, a billing entity based on a first networked computing device comprising a processing unit and a video screen, the video screen at least sometimes viewable by a purchaser interacting with the point-of-sale processing system. According to the system, during a transaction, a graphical indicia is displayed on the video screen in a form suitable for photographing or scanning by a payment entity mobile device; and wherein, said indicia is being replaced each time a predetermined time period has elapsed, these replacements occurring regularly until the transaction is completed.

Abstract: A computerized telephony bridge unit has a Data Network Telephony (DNT) Port and a Connection Oriented/Switched Telephony (COST) trunk port, each associated with circuitry for receiving a placing calls in the data format required by connected networks. The bridge unit further comprises conversion circuitry for converting data dynamically between network protocols compatible with each connected network. Control routines executable on the computerized bridge unit are adapted to receive a first call from one of the COST and DNT networks, to place a call associated with the received call on the network other than the network on which the call is received, and to dynamically convert data between a call connected at one port and a call connected at the other port. The data network can be the Internet, and the COST network can be any publicly or privately switched dedicated-connection-oriented telephone network.

Abstract: Characters represented within a frame of a television presentation are identified. A pattern formed by a subset of the characters is identified if the pattern is indicative of an addressing datum. A provision is made for a selection of characters that form the pattern indicative of the addressing datum. In one embodiment, a web page is displayed upon a selection of characters that form a pattern indicative of a uniform resource locator for the web page.

Abstract: An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG.

Abstract: A multimedia broadcast system provides program schedule information simulcast as a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) data stream including commands and displayable, selectable indicia associated with the commands, along with programs for display. A set top box is adapted to separate the HTML data stream and to store that data in a cache as WEB pages retrievable by a WEB browser in the set top box, whereupon the program schedule information is displayed including the displayable, selectable indicia. Selecting the indicia directs the set top box via the associated command to tune to a program associated with the displayable indicia. The indicia may be any text, icon, dynamic figurine, and the like. In a preferred embodiment program schedule WEB pages, including the commands and displayable indicia, are stored especially marked on a WEB server coupled to the Internet and to a scanner adapted to scan the WEB server for marked pages, and to upload the marked pages to a satellite broadcast system.

Abstract: An EPG displays programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. A presentation engine allows viewers and/or programmers to select between varying programming worlds. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information.

Abstract: A solar cell having an open loop voltage that approaches a critical voltage range when exposed to light. A circuit, connected to the solar cell, is configured to load the solar cell when the open loop voltage of the solar cell reaches a threshold within a predetermined range of the critical voltage range.