Abstract: A data storage system having mutable objects incorporating time is described herein. According to the systems and methods described herein, a data item may be partitioned into parts (data objects) and stored as an index object. As the object storage system provides immutable objects, when a new version of a data item needs to be stored, only those parts (data objects) of the data item that changed need be saved rather than the entire data item. The systems and methods described herein allow for efficient storage, access and manipulation of mutable data items using an underlying immutable object system.

Abstract: A data storage system having mutable objects incorporating time is described herein. According to the systems and methods described herein, a data item may be partitioned into parts (data objects) and stored as an index object. As the object storage system provides immutable objects, when a new version of a data item needs to be stored, only those parts (data objects) of the data item that changed need be saved rather than the entire data item. The systems and methods described herein allow for efficient storage, access and manipulation of mutable data items using an underlying immutable object system.

Abstract: A data storage system having mutable objects incorporating time is described herein. According to the systems and methods described herein, a data item may be partitioned into parts (data objects) and stored as an index object. As the object storage system provides immutable objects, when a new version of a data item needs to be stored, only those parts (data objects) of the data item that changed need be saved rather than the entire data item. The systems and methods described herein allow for efficient storage, access and manipulation of mutable data items using an underlying immutable object system.

Abstract: Closed captioning information is provided regarding the location of a speaker, and when the text is spoken. An audio/video signal includes a video data and the closed captioning information. The closed captioning information includes a time index, a closed captioning text, and positioning information. The positioning information indicates a position within a frame of the video data, and is associated with the closed captioning text for a given time index. The position corresponds to the speaker who is speaking the associated closed captioning text. A decoder device decodes the closed captioning information to determine the position of the speaker within the video data, and the time index to correlate the closed captioning text and positioning information to a specific frame of video data. The video data is preferably scaled to provide a less than full screen video.

Abstract: Closed captioning information is provided regarding the location of a speaker, and when the text is spoken. An audio/video signal includes a video data and the closed captioning information. The closed captioning information includes a time index, a closed captioning text, and positioning information. The positioning information indicates a position within a frame of the video data, and is associated with the closed captioning text for a given time index. The position corresponds to the speaker who is speaking the associated closed captioning text. A decoder device decodes the closed captioning information to determine the position of the speaker within the video data, and the time index to correlate the closed captioning text and positioning information to a specific frame of video data. The video data is preferably scaled to provide a less than full screen video.

Abstract: A wireless encryption key integrated storage system is provided to prevent unauthorized access of data stored on the storage device without secure authentication between the storage device and a key device. In one embodiment, a data storage device comprises a magnetic disk; a head assembly having a read/write head which read and write data from/on the magnetic disk; a wireless transceiver configured to receive and transmit wireless signals from a key device, the wireless signals comprising information used to establish a secure authorization between the data storage device and the key device to access secured content in the magnetic disk; and a processor configured to encrypt/decrypt data transferred between the data storage device and the key device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a file system that can store files or data streams in such a manner as to increase the effective storage capacity of the device on which the files or data stream are stored. In one embodiment, a system for processing and storing data comprises a first processing module configured to receive data directed to the system, the data comprising a first portion and a second portion; a second processing module configured to store the first portion of the data within a data storage device and remove the second portion of the data; a third processing module configured to retrieve the first portion of the data from the data storage device, the first portion of the data being combined with filler data to form reconstituted data; and a fourth processing module configured to send the reconstituted data to an output device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a content license is created that defines parameters for accessing a piece of digital content. A first logical expression in the content license defines a plurality of playback devices that are authorized to access the piece of digital content. A second logical expression in the content license defines at least one time interval when the plurality of playback devices are authorized to access the piece of digital content. The content license is used to access the piece of digital content.

Abstract: Setting parameter values are migrated through a new software upgrade. Each software version includes a version number. The version number of the new software is compared to a version number of the current software. The version number of the current software is determined by reading a version number parameter value-stored in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). If the version number of the new software is higher than the version number of the current software, for each setting parameter value within a new map file, either a current setting parameter value stored in the NVRAM or a default value from the map file, is loaded into a temporary memory. The map file, corresponding to the current version number parameter value stored in the NVRAM, is used to associate the values in the NVRAM to their corresponding setting parameters. Once a value for each setting parameter is loaded into the temporary memory, the values from the temporary memory are then loaded into the NVRAM.

Abstract: Closed captioning information is provided regarding the location of a speaker, and when the text is spoken. An audio/video signal includes a video data and the closed captioning information. The closed captioning information includes a time index, a closed captioning text, and positioning information. The positioning information indicates a position within a frame of the video data, and is associated with the closed captioning text for a given time index. The position corresponds to the speaker who is speaking the associated closed captioning text. A decoder device decodes the closed captioning information to determine the position of the speaker within the video data, and the time index to correlate the closed captioning text and positioning information to a specific frame of video data. The video data is preferably scaled to provide a less than full screen video.

Abstract: Setting parameter values are migrated through a new software upgrade. Each software version includes a version number. The version number of the new software is compared to a version number of the current software. The version number of the current software is determined by reading a version number parameter value stored in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). If the version number of the new software is higher than the version number of the current software, for each setting parameter value within a new map file, either a current setting parameter value stored in the NVRAM or a default value from the map file, is loaded into a temporary memory. The map file, corresponding to the current version number parameter value stored in the NVRAM, is used to associate the values in the NVRAM to their corresponding setting parameters. Once a value for each setting parameter is loaded into the temporary memory, the values from the temporary memory are then loaded into the NVRAM.

Abstract: Closed captioning information is provided regarding the location of a speaker, and when the text is spoken. An audio/video signal includes a video data and the closed captioning information. The closed captioning information includes a time index, a closed captioning text, and positioning information. The positioning information indicates a position within a frame of the video data, and is associated with the closed captioning text for a given time index. The position corresponds to the speaker who is speaking the associated closed captioning text. A decoder device decodes the closed captioning information to determine the position of the speaker within the video data, and the time index to correlate the closed captioning text and positioning information to a specific frame of video data. The video data is preferably scaled to provide a less than full screen video.

Abstract: A set top box (STB), an interactive television and a personal computer (PC) are coupled together as part of a network, preferably a home network. A processing request is received by the STB, wherein the processing request is preferably a request to manipulate a corresponding data. The corresponding data is preferably content stored within the home network. In response to the processing request, the STB first determines if a processing capability of the STB is sufficient to perform the processing request. If the STB includes sufficient processing capability, then the STB processes the request. If not, then the STB determines if the PC has sufficient processing capability to process the request. If the PC includes sufficient processing capability, then the STB issues a command to the PC to perform the processing request. Once the PC receives the command from the STB, the PC performs the processing request on the corresponding data and sends the processed data from the PC to the STB.

Abstract: A watchdog controller securely interrogates a main system CPU of an application module to determine if the main system CPU and its associated programming software are trustworthy. The watchdog controller and the application module preferably reside within a set top box. The watchdog controller includes a watchdog CPU which generates a digitally signed status request message using a watchdog certificate. The status request message is received by the main system CPU and validated for authenticity. The main system CPU then generates a status response message using a system certificate. The status response message is received by the watchdog processor and validated for authenticity. If the status response message is not valid then the watchdog controller preferably triggers a system reset. After the system is reset, a similar attempt is made to receive a valid status response message from the main system CPU.

Abstract: Closed captioning information is provided regarding the location of a speaker, and when the text is spoken. An audio/video signal includes a video data and the closed captioning information. The closed captioning information includes a time index, a closed captioning text, and positioning information. The positioning information indicates a position within a frame of the video data, and is associated with the closed captioning text for a given time index. The position corresponds to the speaker who is speaking the associated closed captioning text. A decoder device decodes the closed captioning information to determine the position of the speaker within the video data, and the time index to correlate the closed captioning text and positioning information to a specific frame of video data. The video data is preferably scaled to provide a less than full screen video.

Abstract: Setting parameter values are migrated through a new software upgrade. Each software version includes a version number. The version number of the new software is compared to a version number of the current software. The version number of the current software is determined by reading a version number parameter value stored in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). If the version number of the new software is higher than the version number of the current software, for each setting parameter value within a new map file, either a current setting parameter value stored in the NVRAM or a default value from the map file, is loaded into a temporary memory.