Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards generating an image from a plurality of content layers. The content layers may include secure content that overlaps at least one other content layer. When the image is generated, the secure content may be rendered as a layer below the plurality of content layers. Additionally, each area of content layers that is overlapped by an area of the secure content may be modified to be transparent, where the area of the secure content is visible in the image through each transparently modified area. In some embodiments, an alpha channel value of each pixel in each area of content layers that is overlapped by the secure content may be modified. Secure content and unsecure content at a same layer may be split into different layers, where the unsecure content layer may be rendered at a theoretical secure content layer.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor.

Abstract: A method for rendering one or more user interface objects on a television screen is disclosed. The method is performed at a computer system coupled with the television screen. The method includes receiving a request for rendering a user interface object, and identifying a variable scaling factor. The variable scaling factor is determined in accordance with a distance parameter corresponding to a distance between a respective user and the television screen. The method also includes rendering the user interface object on the television screen in accordance with the variable scaling factor while maintaining a display of a television program on the television screen based on a fixed scaling factor.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system processes digital streams and associates stream information with segments of video and audio components. Segments of video and audio components from memory are sent to one or more decoders essentially simultaneously with the storing of the segments of video and audio components from the memory on one or more storage devices. The decoder converts the video and audio components into output signals.

Abstract: A method for rendering one or more user interface objects on a television screen is disclosed. The method is performed at a computer system coupled with the television screen. The method includes receiving a request for rendering a user interface object, and identifying a variable scaling factor. The variable scaling factor is determined in accordance with a distance parameter corresponding to a distance between a respective user and the television screen. The method also includes rendering the user interface object on the television screen in accordance with the variable scaling factor while maintaining a display of a television program on the television screen based on a fixed scaling factor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an enhanced photo digital video disc (DVD) communicates with connected sources such as a digital camera, PC, or memory card where information such as digital photo, movie and music files are downloaded, as selected by the user, and stored on a storage device. The user creates slide shows of photos stored on the storage device that show each photo and/or movie in sequence or with transition special effects between photos. The invention extracts photo metadata from the photo image file and stores the information on the storage device along with the photos and Includes any audio annotation(s) associated with the downloaded photos and downloaded audio files that the user can attach to a photo in the slide show. When the user wants to save slide show(s) to a DVD the invention constructs an MPEG stream containing the photos, movies, and audio annotations. Photo metadata are encoded onto the DVD as closed captioning and/or subpictures, selectable for display at viewing time.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting a picture of a video program for display in accordance with a selected trick play mode of a DVR are described herein. Sometimes, when desired playback speed is faster than normal, a DVR is forced to select some pictures to play and some pictures to skip. Ideally, in order to preserve “smooth” viewing quality, the next picture to be displayed should be temporally close to the currently displayed picture. Since some pictures can take longer to decode than others, accounting for picture decoding costs helps ensure that the best picture can be selected for decoding given playback speed requirements. According to one embodiment of the invention, for each picture of a plurality of pictures in a video data stream, a DVR determines a decoding cost for that picture. Based on the determined costs, the DVR selects a particular picture. The DVR outputs the selected picture for display.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting a picture of a video program for display in accordance with a selected trick play mode of a DVR are described herein. Sometimes, when desired playback speed is faster than normal, a DVR is forced to select some pictures to play and some pictures to skip. Ideally, in order to preserve “smooth” viewing quality, the next picture to be displayed should be temporally close to the currently displayed picture. Since some pictures can take longer to decode than others, accounting for picture decoding costs helps ensure that the best picture can be selected for decoding given playback speed requirements. According to one embodiment of the invention, for each picture of a plurality of pictures in a video data stream, a DVR determines a decoding cost for that picture. Based on the determined costs, the DVR selects a particular picture. The DVR outputs the selected picture for display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an expanded functionality digital video disc (DVD) creates an enhanced DVD with index tables for the program streams on the DVD. Index tables point to key locations in an MPEG program stream with each entry in the index table set to point to a group of pictures (GOP) header in the MPEG stream. The invention can select GOP headers at predefined intervals, semi-random intervals, or at key locations. The invention creates an index table either during storage of a program stream on a hard disk, during a scan of program material already stored on a local hard disk, or while program material is being read out of the hard disk and written to a DVD. The invention adds a new directory to the DVD structure and writes the index table(s) for the stream(s) into the directory. The new directory and its content are only recognized by invention-enabled DVD players and DVRs.

Abstract: A method for dynamically managing a digital recording system's bandwidth requirements, provides prioritized accesses to the recording system's hard drive according to a pre-defined policy which gives the first priority to the data streams being written to the disk, the second priority to the data streams being read from the disk, and the third priority to other accesses to the disk. The recording system's bandwidth efficiency may also be improved by optimizing allocation of the disk's storage space which is partitioned into lower bandwidth portions and higher bandwidth portions, where lower bandwidth data streams are stored in lower bandwidth portions and higher bandwidth data streams are stored in higher bandwidth portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an enhanced photo digital video disc (DVD) communicates with connected sources such as a digital camera, PC, or memory card where information such as digital photo, movie and music files are downloaded, as selected by the user, and stored on a storage device. The user creates slide shows of photos stored on the storage device that show each photo and/or movie in sequence or with transition special effects between photos. The invention extracts photo metadata from the photo image file and stores the information on the storage device along with the photos and Includes any audio annotation(s) associated with the downloaded photos and downloaded audio files that the user can attach to a photo in the slide show. When the user wants to save slide show(s) to a DVD the invention constructs an MPEG stream containing the photos, movies, and audio annotations. Photo metadata are encoded onto the DVD as closed captioning and/or subpictures, selectable for display at viewing time.

Abstract: In a method for dynamically managing a digital recording system's bandwidth requirements, accesses to the recording system's hard drive are prioritized according to a pre-defined policy which gives the first priority to the data streams being written to the disk, the second priority to the data streams being read from the disk, and the third priority to other accesses to the disk. The recording system's bandwidth efficiency may also be improved by optimizing allocation of the disk's storage space which is partitioned into lower bandwidth portions and higher bandwidth portions, where lower bandwidth data streams are stored in lower bandwidth portions and higher bandwidth data streams are stored in higher bandwidth portions. The inner portions of the disk are lower bandwidth portions and thus data streams are recorded from the inner diameter outwards to the outer diameter of the disk. A recorded data stream may be migrated from a higher bandwidth portion to a lower bandwidth portion.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an expanded functionality digital video disc (DVD) creates an enhanced DVD with index tables for the program streams on the DVD. Index tables point to key locations in an MPEG program stream with each entry in the index table set to point to a group of pictures (GOP) header in the MPEG stream. The invention can select GOP headers at predefined intervals, semi-random intervals, or at key locations. The invention creates an index table either during storage of a program stream on a hard disk, during a scan of program material already stored on a local hard disk, or while program material is being read out of the hard disk and written to a DVD. The invention adds a new directory to the DVD structure and writes the index table(s) for the stream(s) into the directory. The new directory and its content are only recognized by invention-enabled DVD players and DVRs.