Abstract: A device for recording records digitally encoded video information on a record carrier according to a predefined recording format, such as DVD+RW. The device has a unit for gathering meta-data which describes parameters of the real-time information, and records the meta-data. The record carrier has to be compatible to existing recording devices which are not aware of the meta-data. Thereto the device has control means for recording the meta-data in at least one hidden location of the record carrier which hidden location is not or less likely accessible for storing data according to the predefined recording format.

Abstract: A method and device for storing an interactive television program for playback at a later point in time, wherein said interactive television program comprises at least one interactive television application. The applications are transmitted inside modules (11, 12) through a data carousel (2) within a transport stream (20). The method comprises receiving the transport stream, parsing the stream for application modules and storing them as a storage stream on a storage medium (31). The storage stream is stored separate from said transport stream (20). The data or object carousel is recorded outside the Transport Stream and recorded like a stream, preferably as a single file. This file is a sequence of modules with some header information preceding the modules making playback faster as the information needed to obtain the objects from a module is located directly in the header of that module. Furthermore, the solution according to the invention solution is platform independent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for recording a signal. A recorder (200) comprises a receiver (201) for receiving a source signal (101) having associated first play time information such as a Normal Play Time timeline. The receiver (200) is coupled to a recording controller (203) which generates a recorded signal (301) from the source signal (101). The recorded signal (301) comprises a recording discontinuity with respect to the source signal (101) caused by for example the recording being paused in a time interval. The recording controller (203) is coupled to a storage medium (205). The recorder (200) further comprises a time processor (209) for generating second time information for the recorded signal (301) in response to the first play time information and the recording discontinuity. The second time information may for example be a compensated NPT timeline or event descriptors or stream events having time indications modified to correspond to the recorded signal (301).

Abstract: An interactive television system includes a partial font generator (38) which generates a character font file of only those fonts used by a given application program for text display. The partial font file contains the language character fonts utilized by the application program, but less than the complete character set of the language. The partial font file thus requires less time or bandwidth to transmit in the allotted transmit intervals. The partial font file may be generated by a manual process, or by an automated analysis of the fonts used by application program.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium of handling recording of interactive television, such as MHP, wherein interactive television applications may initiate recording of interactive television content. The interactive television is tagged with information linking the content to the application that made the recording for access control purposes. In this way applications can see which recorded content is related to the application. Thus access is limited for applications to related recorded content. Furthermore an application may select between different parts of a multi-part program, such as a series of television programs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication and/or reproducing device (20) able to read a data carrier (22) and a remote unit (10) comprising additional data (11) for the data carrier (22). The recording and/or reproducing device (20) and the remote unit (10) communicate via a network (30). The remote unit (10) is able to retrieve data carrier properties (23) from the data carrier (22) inserted in the recording and/or reproducing device (20), and to authenticate said data carrier (22) by comparing said properties (23) with the ones of a corresponding data carrier legally produced by a provider, before sending the additional data (11) to said recording and/or reproducing device (20).

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, data that will be needed for starting the applications of the storage medium are stored in a reserved area of the storage medium. The data stored in the reserved area are read and cached in a single operation when the storage medium is declared to the operating system. Therefore the seeking and spinning-up operations of the reading head that are required for starting the application(s) are limited to a minimum. According to a second aspect of the invention, programs that create a new application file indicate whether this application file should be assigned to the reserved area. If so, the file system implementation allocates the application file to the reserved area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a WebDVD player to link legacy DVD discs to related web sites and to play normal WebDVD discs. The player includes a database containing a URL list of popular DVD content providers. After the disc is loaded into the player, the player reads the provider unique identification (PVR ID) and uses the PVR ID to find URL of associated content provider from URL list. URL of content provider is indexed to a table containing a list of some popular title identifications (Title IDs) of discs, location of Title ID on the disc, method of deriving Title ID, and URL of a related web site. The player then attempts to derive the Title ID of the disc according to the method in the table and compares the derived Title ID with the data in the Title ID column of the table to find the corresponding URL for locating the web pages of the content provider.

Abstract: A service that provides playback of media content, that may include advertising content, to a user. The system comprises device, that may be a portable wireless device, where the wireless device has a media drive and an application that reads content from a medium inserted in the media drive. The system further comprises a service that communicates with the wireless device via a wireless network. The service provides control commands to the application program for controlling playback of content from the medium when inserted in the media drive. The service may also provide advertising content to the user based on a user profile. A fee may be paid for the delivery of the content and/or the advertising to the user.

Abstract: A device for real-time recording information has a file subsystem for storing the real-time information according to predefined allocation rules, including a predefined extent length (N). The device has an application subsystem for managing application control information, which includes clips (291,292) of the real-time information, a playlist of playitems indicating parts to be played of the real-time information in the clip. A bridge clip (293) is provided for linking a first and a second playitem based on re-encoded real-time information from an ending part of the first clip and a starting part of the second clip. The file subsystem is arranged for copying additional units of real-time information (294) from the first clip and/or the second clip for creating the bridge clip stream having at least the predefined extent length, and the application subsystem is arranged for adapting the application control information for accessing the bridge clip stream including said additionally copied units.

Abstract: A system for providing playback of media content to a user. The system comprises a portable wireless device, where the wireless device has a media drive and an application that reads content from a medium inserted in the media drive. The system further comprises a service that communicates with the wireless device via a wireless network. The service provides control commands to the application program for controlling playback of content from the medium when inserted in the media drive.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for obtaining updated information using a portable disk-based information device. The disk-based information device may be included within or attached to a portable networking device such as a personal data assistant (PDA) or a cellular telephone. Update information may be received from a data provider through, for example, a mobile telephone network. The update information may be compared with information provided on the disk. Updated information may then be delivered to a user in response to a user request, reporting new information and replacing outdated information provided on the disk with information received from the data provider.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system comprising a recording and/or reproducing device (11) able to read a data carrier, and a first remote unit (12) comprising additional data for the data carrier. The recording and/or reproducing device (11) and the first remote unit (12) communicate via a network. The communication system comprises a second remote unit (13) able to authenticate a trusted recording and/or reproducing device, and to make the trusted recording and/or reproducing device access the additional data. A trusted recording and/or reproducing device is able to detect the presence of the data carrier in the recording and/or reproducing device and to authenticate said data carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enhancing multimedia data (24) contained on an information carrier (23). A recording and/or reproducing device (20) is able to read the information carrier (23) and to communicate with a remote unit (10) via a network (15). The information carrier (23) contains additional data (25). The method in accordance with the invention comprises the following steps performed from the information carrier (23): reading a user file (22) containing user data defining user's previous actions in a storage unit (21) of the recording and/or reproducing device (20),—providing the additional data (25) as a function of the user data, and—updating the user data to reflect the user's latest actions.

Abstract: Various methods are disclosed for producing an edited MPEG audio/video stream from first and second streams recorded in a transport-stream format normally intended for broadcast purposes. According to one implementation, a bridge sequence is generated which recodes data from both of the original streams, in the region of the edit point. Padding packets are inserted in the elementary streams to adjust a continuity counter values so as to allow continuous decoding across the join between bridge sequence and second sequence proper. In another implementation, seamless playback is not required, the bridge sequence is omitted, and various process are implemented “on-the-fly” to generate an edited stream compliant with MPEG-2 specification. To this end, exit and entry points are constrained to certain types of coded pictures, and offset between time-bases is adjusted to avoid buffer overflow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing a recorded data stream is disclosed. A frame number is received from a user interface for an edit point in the recorded data stream selected by a user. An expected presentation timestamp of the selected frame number is calculated. A first predetermined value is added to the expected timestamp to form a first time limit. The first predetermined value is then subtracted from the expected presentation timestamp to form a second time limit, wherein the first and second time limits form a time window. The system then searches for the selected frame at the expected presentation timestamp on a storage device using the time window. The predetermined values are chosen to ensure that only a single frame (the required frame) can have a PTS within the time window.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive device and method of reading from or writing to a record carrier (10), wherein data is input or output via an interface (32) using a first format according to a first file system. In the drive device (30), the first format is mapped to a second format according to a second file system used on the record carrier (10). Thereby, it is possible to use different storage technology with the same interface, for example, a hard-disc based Microdrive can be used with a Compact Flash interface. This is especially advantageous in connection with removable drive devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording a data stream on a storage medium for improving non-linear playback performance of the recorded data is disclosed. First, the data stream is received. The I-pictures from the data stream are stored in a first buffer and the remaining data from the data stream is stored in a second buffer. Each time the first buffer becomes full, the I-pictures stored in the first buffer are written onto an intra-coded allocation unit on the storage medium. Then, the contents of the second buffer are written onto preferably a subsequent inter-coded allocation unit.

Abstract: A method of recording and playing back contents to and from a personal video recorder (PVR) for audio-visual contents. The recorder comprises a storage medium (12). Information is presented concering the recorded content on said medium (12). Programmes of a first type of programmes are recorded on the storage medium (12), wherein the programmes are subscribed to by a user of the recorder. Programmes chosen by the user for viewing are played back. Programmes of a second type of programmes are recorded of said storage medium (12), wherein said second type of programmes is comprised in a user profile. Furthermore, a third type of programmes is recorded on said storage medium (12), wherein said third type of programmes comprises programmes being recommended by a broadcaster.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a user access to a server content from an information carrier player (101) comprising a parental control access step (104) based on a current parental control level (Current PCL i) selected from among a set of parental control levels (PCL i), this method comprising; a) an association step (106) for associating a list (List i) of server addresses with said parental control levels (PCL i), b) a control step (109) for restricting the user access to the list (List i) of server addresses associated with said current parental control level (Current PCL i).