Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the performance of the running of a stored interactive application on a de-coding apparatus is disclosed. The recorded program which is associated with the stored interactive application is run, wherein the program and interactive application are stored in a storage device. The running of the stored interactive application is controlled using a second application.

Abstract: A method is described for writing an optical disc (2) having a multi-layered storage space (30) comprising at least a first storage layer (31) and a second storage layer (32) below the first layer (31). The method comprises the step of preventing a write operation to a portion of the second storage layer (32) located below a maiden portion of said first storage layer (31). In one embodiment, all blocks (40) which are physically located in the second storage layer (32) are incorporated in a defect list (DL) until a sufficiently large portion of the first storage layer (31) has been written at least once. In another embodiment, all blocks (40) which are physically located in the second storage layer (32) are covered by a system file with a predetermined name (“DUMMY”) until a sufficiently large portion of the first storage layer (31) has been written at least once.

Abstract: A method is described for recording an audiovisual information stream comprising a background sound stream (2), a background graphics stream (3), an optional original sound stream (20) containing original spoken text, at least one optional translation sound stream (21, 22) containing spoken text in different languages, and at least one optional subtitle picture stream (30, 31, 32) containing subtitles. A first information stream (140) is recorded which contains the background sound stream (2), and a second information stream (15) is recorded which contains the background graphics stream (3). The optional translation sound streams (21, 22) are each recorded as individual elementary audio files (142, 143; 242, 243; 342, 343) separate from the first and second information streams, and the optional subtitle graphics streams (30, 31, 32) are each recorded as individual elementary graphics streams (151, 152, 153; 351, 352, 353) separate from the first and second information streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for recording a main file comprising a main information signal and auxiliary files comprising auxiliary signals in a track on a record carrier. The apparatus writes in a first location a block of an auxiliary file comprising a part of an auxiliary information signal having a specific presentation time, in a second location a subsequent block of the corresponding auxiliary file and in at least one location between the first and second location at least one block of the main file comprising a part of the main information signal having a presentation time which corresponds to the presentation time of the auxiliary information signal to be written in the first location. In this way the respective files are interleaved written on the record carrier such that the jumping time between subsequent read actions is significantly reduced. This results in an increase of the effective read bit-rate of a playback device.

Abstract: The apparatus is suitable for managing a data carrier (1) obtaining a fast data transfer from it to the apparatus when the carrier is driven with a constant angular velocity (CAV). It comprises a motor (3) for driving the carrier, an optical head having light source (16) for reading and/or writing data stored form and in it. Furthermore, it comprises means, involving a processor set (50) for determining the frequency of the use of files contained in the data carrier, such that the more frequently used ones are put in a location for a faster transfer. While the transfer is being performed, the motor and the light source arc stopped so that supply energy is economized, which is interesting for a battery-operated apparatus. Application: The invention is well suited for small size R/W optical discs (SFFO).

Abstract: A device having a media reader and an application configured to control playback of content from a medium when inserted in the media reader. The device interfaces with a remote network that transmits control commands including advertising. Playback of the advertising is required to enable playback of content from the medium. The device may be a portable wireless device that receives control commands from the remote network via a wireless coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus (270) and method is disclosed for preventing a viewer from switching from a channel when an advertisement is being displayed on the channel. The apparatus (270) and method comprises an advertisement controller (270) in a video playback device (150) that (1) prevents a viewer of a direct (non-recorded) broadcast from switching channels when an advertisement is displayed, and (2) prevents a viewer of a recorded program from fast forwarding the recorded program in order to skip past advertisements that were recorded with the program. A viewer may either watch the advertisements or pay a fee in order to be able to change channels or fast forward when the advertisements are being displayed.

Abstract: A method, a media system of/for recommending media content on the media system (103) by use of a first set (300) of preference profiles stored on the media system and a second set (301) of preference profiles stored on a server (101), wherein each preference profile of said two sets of preference profiles comprises preferred media content saved with characteristics of a community on the server, and saved with characteristics of a user on the media system. The media system can be a TV, a computer, a personal video recorder, a set-top box or a radio. The media content can be TV, video, a radio broadcasting, Internet or Internet sites. The community characteristics can be a community name, a profession, an employer, a department of the employer, a group, a sub-group, a region of living, a sex, sexual preferences, etc. The preferred media content can be categories such as comedy, horror, sport, opera, news, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for receiving a first and second video signal. The first video signal represents a sequence of images having a first size, and the second video signal representing a sequence of images having a second size, the second size being smaller then the first size of the images. The apparatus combines said first and second video signal so as to obtain a composite video signal suitable for displaying on a display unit. The signal combination means being adapted to combine the first and second video signal while the size of the images corresponding to the second video signal remains unchanged.

Abstract: A method (1) of transmitting interactive television, whereby interactive television applications are transmitted inside application-modules. These modules are transmitted in a broadcast stream. Recording systems cannot decide which modules are to be recorded. Therefore storage related information of said modules is signalled in the broadcast stream. Module identification information related is implemented in the Application Information Table (AIT) and/or in the Download Information Indication (DII) message. Thus information is included in the broadcast stream concerning categories stating whether application modules are mandatory, optional or forbidden to record. Alternatively properties of a module are chosen from Code/Data/Both and/or Fixed/Variable. Recording systems use this information do decide if application modules are to be recorded or disregarded. Alternatively, application module identification information is transmitted in said broadcast stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a user access to a server content from an information carrier player (101), said server being intended to contain data associated with a rating level (RL), said method comprising; a) a parental control access step (104) based on a current parental control level (Current PCL i), b) a control step (107) based on a comparison between said current parental control level (Current PCL i) and the rating level of said data, for selecting authorized data to be displayed on said information carrier player (101).

Abstract: A user commands a recording device (10) to store a recording (71) on a removable recording medium (70). The user selectively adds interactivity to the recording (70). In response to any added interactivity, the recording device (10) links the recording (71) and an interactive module (72) that is based on the added interactivity. The interactive module and an interactive link (73) representative of the link between the recording (71) are both stored on the removable recording medium (70).

Abstract: The invention relates to a user interface system for presenting to a user the contents of an information carrier (101) intended to be inserted into a reading apparatus, said information carrier (101) containing data files having different content types and different coding formats, said user interface system comprising:—selection means(102) for selecting a set of data files (105), complying with the capabilities of said reading apparatus to play such data files (103), from among data files contained on said information carrier (101), —presentation means (107) for presenting a table of contents from the selected data files (105)

Abstract: A method and a system for mobile ad-hoc Internet sharing. The system comprises a first portable device (10) that is provided with wireless communication capability (11) and that is enabled to identify a user A of the device (10), a second device (20I;20II) that is provided with wireless communication capability (21I;21II) and with capability (22I;22II) to connect to the Internet via an ISP, and that is enabled to identify a user B responsible for the connection, and an ISP (30). The method comprises wirelessly sending information from the first device (10) to the second device (20I;20II), for initiating a connection between the first device (10) and the ISP (30), forwarding the information from the second device (20I;20II) to the ISP (30), identifying, at the ISP (30), that the information is sent from user B and originates from user A, and initiating, at the ISP (30), registration for charging of an account (36) of user A for said connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recovering blocks of data recorded on an optical record carrier in case of a power failure affecting a recording and reproducing device. Said device comprises means for writing a recording indication information on the optical record carrier to indicate that a recording has started, said recording indication information including a recording start address, and means for overwriting the recording indication information at a recording end. After a power failure, if a recording indication information is written on the optical record carrier, then the recording and reproducing device is able to determine that a recording has not ended properly. In these conditions, said device is able to parse the recorded data, starting from the recording start address, in order to find the end of the improperly ended recording.

Abstract: A first content is received and presented to a user on a television (TV) platform (16). A second content is also received and presented concurrently to the user. In an interactive TV platform (16), a user selects the second content. In one aspect, the first content is advertising content (40) and the second content is information content (46), electronic mail content (42), downloadable file content (44), or program content (32, 34, 36, 38). In another aspect, the first content is program content (32, 34, 36, 38) and the second content is one of information content (46), electronic mail content (42), advertising content (40), and downloadable file content (44).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the handling of a recorded data stream and associated linear application is disclosed. Linear real-time playback of the data stream and running of the linear application is commenced from a starting point thereof. On entering a non real-time playback phase, select frames from the data stream are mapped using a mapping scheme to create an interactive trick play stream. Events from the linear application are mapped into the interactive trick play stream using the disclosed mapping scheme.

Abstract: The invention applies relates to the access to an additional content related to a main content from a player having an Internet access and being designed so as to allow the setting of parental levels. In a preferred embodiment the main content is stored on a disc edited withwith links toward the additional contents. When the disc is in place in the player, such a link can be established to access to the additional content. The invention applies when such an access is subject to a user identification. The invention consists in adding to the user identification process a step for recovering the parental level applicable to the user and adapting the offer made to the user depending on the recovered parental level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of protecting content stored on a storage medium (7) against unauthorized access, said storage medium (7) being accessible by a drive (D) of a portable device (2) which is connectable to a network (1). In order to provide a high level of protection against unauthorized access it is proposed to use the authentication procedure of the network (1) to generate a cryptographic key (ck) for encryption and decryption of content stored on said storage medium (7). In particular, the present invention is used in a mobile phone network where the authentication key (ak) is stored on a SIM card (8) used in a mobile phone (2).

Abstract: A device for recording digitally encoded video information records video packets and characteristic point information for controlling the playback of the packets. The device has an error detection unit (32) for detecting recording errors, and the size of a missing part of the real-time information due to a detected error. The characteristic point information can be used for detecting errors by verifying the accessibility of the video packets. An exit point before the detected error and an entry point after the detected error are determined, such that the video information up to the exit point and starting at the entry point constitute decodable streams of packets. Further the device has a recalculating unit (31) for recalculating, in the event of a detected recording error, the characteristic point information (CPI) by skipping packets between the exit point and the entry point.