Abstract: an illustrative video apparatus comprises a decoder that decodes video information in a native format, an emulation controller coupled to the decoder, and a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network. The video apparatus also includes a storage holding an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller. The instruction sequence comprises a code for receiving network information from the external network and converting the network information to the native format for transfer to the decoder.

Abstract: An emulator is capable of connecting to an information interface that can communicate information from an information source to an information sink in a format native to the information sink. The emulator comprises an emulation controller capable of coupling to the information interface, a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network, and a storage. The storage holds an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller. The instruction sequence comprises a code for receiving network information from the external network and a code capable of converting the network information to the native format for transfer to the information sink.

Abstract: A proxy subsystem for a media renderer comprises a network interface, a content transfer subsystem coupled to the network interface, a format transcoder coupled to the content transfer subsystem and capable of coupling to a rendering hardware. The proxy subsystem further comprises a connection manager service coupled to the content transfer subsystem and the format transcoder subsystem, and a rendering controller capable of coupling to the rendering hardware.

Abstract: The invention relates to an audio/visual system for providing network connectivity to a common embedded interface by simulating the embedded interface. The audio/visual system is coupled to a computer that has at least one memory, and comprises a rendering circuit having a memory and an emulation circuit that is coupled to the rendering circuit. The emulation circuit comprises a memory for storing instruction sequences and a processor coupled to the memory, that executes the stored instruction sequences. The audio/visual system further comprises an audio/visual apparatus coupled to the rendering circuit and the emulation circuit, and a display coupled to the rendering circuit. The stored instruction sequences cause the processor to (a) retrieve information stored in one of the memory of the audio/visual apparatus or the memory of the computer; (b) forward the information to the rendering circuit for processing; (c) forward the processed information to the display; and (d) display the processed information.

Abstract: An emulator is capable of connecting to an information interface that can communicate information from an information source to an information sink in a format native to the information sink. The emulator comprises an emulation controller capable of coupling to the information interface, a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network, and a storage. The storage holds an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller. The instruction sequence comprises a code for receiving network information from the external network and a code capable of converting the network information to the native format for transfer to the information sink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely accessing digital content is provided. The method of providing secure access to content comprises determining an identification (ID) from a secure medium including content. The method further comprises sending a session key and the ID to a server. Furthermore, the method includes requesting user authentication and if the user is successfully authenticated, receiving the session key from the server to enable reading of the content on the secure medium.

Abstract: A proxy subsystem for a media renderer comprises a network interface, a content transfer subsystem coupled to the network interface, a format transcoder coupled to the content transfer subsystem and capable of coupling to a rendering hardware. The proxy subsystem further comprises a connection manager service coupled to the content transfer subsystem and the format transcoder subsystem, and a rendering controller capable of coupling to the rendering hardware.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a computer bus to a network comprises a network interface capable of coupling to an external network and an emulator coupled to the network interface. The emulator comprises a processor control block that can emulate a host processor coupled to the computer bus and a device control block that can emulate a device coupled to the computer bus.

Abstract: an illustrative video apparatus comprises a decoder that decodes video information in a native format, an emulation controller coupled to the decoder, and a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network. The video apparatus also includes a storage holding an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller. The instruction sequence comprises a code for receiving network information from the external network and converting the network information to the native format for transfer to the decoder.

Abstract: In a media system that includes an emulator-enabled client media device, a server comprises a media directory, a control point, and a server application. The media directory contains a list of all available media content and at least a portion of the media content that can be accessed by the server. The control point is capable of communicating with the media directory using communication control actions that manage media system interactions. The server application is capable of communicating with the control point to select a content source and that communicates with an emulator-enabled client media device to manage processing of media content including emulation selection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sub-1× recording is described. The method of writing a mark on a compact disk (CD-R) medium spinning at a slow rate comprises varying the laser power between a write power and a read power while writing the mark, such that when read, the mark is read as a single mark.

Abstract: An emulator is capable of connecting to an information interface that can communicate information from an information source to an information sink in a format native to the information sink. The emulator comprises an emulation controller capable of coupling to the information interface, a network controller coupled to the emulation controller and capable of coupling to an external network, and a storage. The storage holds an instruction sequence executable on the emulation controller. The instruction sequence comprises a code for receiving network information from the external network and a code capable of converting the network information to the native format for transfer to the information sink.

Abstract: An optical appliance that is capable of processing optical media can be used to modulate a laser. In some systems, the optical appliance includes an opto-electronic transducer, a compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD) controller and front end. A a modulated laser can be used as an optical network with a terminal node in the form of a conventional optical detector such as a compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD) pickup. A CD or DVD controller and front end can be used to modulate the laser. Accordingly, the controller and front end can modulate the laser to emulate reading of an optical disk medium.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a source media device, a sink media device communicatively coupled with the source media device over an out-of-band transfer protocol, a control point communicatively coupled to the source media device and the sink media device using communication control actions, and an emulator. The emulator can be contained in one or more of the source media device, the sink media device, and the control point. The emulator comprises a communication controller capable of coupling to an out-of-band communication link and an emulation controller capable of converting information between an out-of-band communication link format and a standard device internal format.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a processor and an emulator coupled to the processor and having an external interface capable of communicating information to a network. The emulator emulates a bootable disc drive and supplies a bootable operating system to the processor from the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to an audio/visual system for providing network connectivity to a common embedded interface by simulating the embedded interface. The audio/visual system is coupled to a computer that has at least one memory, and comprises a rendering circuit having a memory and an emulation circuit that is coupled to the rendering circuit. The emulation circuit comprises a memory for storing instruction sequences and a processor coupled to the memory, that executes the stored instruction sequences. The audio/visual system further comprises an audio/visual apparatus coupled to the rendering circuit and the emulation circuit, and a display coupled to the rendering circuit. The stored instruction sequences cause the processor to (a) retrieve information stored in one of the memory of the audio/visual apparatus or the memory of the computer; (b) forward the information to the rendering circuit for processing; (c) forward the processed information to the display; and (d) display the processed information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sub-1X recording is described. The method of writing a mark on a compact disk (CD-R) medium spinning at a slow rate comprises varying the laser power between a write power and a read power while writing the mark, such that when read, the mark is read as a single mark.