Abstract: A tangible, non-transitory machine-readable medium includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry to receive a signal indicative of high dynamic range content. The signal includes 1) a first portion that forms a first percentage of the signal and is associated with a first brightness range and 2) a second portion that forms a second percentage of the signal associated with a second brightness range. The instructions, when executed, are also configured to cause the processing circuitry to produce an adjusted signal to represent the signal such that a graphical representation of the adjusted signal includes an area corresponding to the first portion of the signal that is expanded relative to a graphical representation of the first portion of the signal. Furthermore, the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to cause display of a graphical representation of the adjusted signal.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for combining programming content in a controlled synchronized manner. The systems and methods allow for centrally generated content to be modified using local content. The centrally generated content can include data that specifies what portions of the centrally generated content can be modified by the local content.

Abstract: A tangible, non-transitory machine-readable medium includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry to receive a signal indicative of high dynamic range content. The signal includes 1) a first portion that forms a first percentage of the signal and is associated with a first brightness range and 2) a second portion that forms a second percentage of the signal associated with a second brightness range. The instructions, when executed, are also configured to cause the processing circuitry to produce an adjusted signal to represent the signal such that a graphical representation of the adjusted signal includes an area corresponding to the first portion of the signal that is expanded relative to a graphical representation of the first portion of the signal. Furthermore, the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to cause display of a graphical representation of the adjusted signal.

Abstract: A system for coordinated playback of time-shifted content with time-adapted complimentary content is provided. The time-shifted content may be played back from storage media, both local and remote. Time-shifting may occur by independent playback such as from optical discs and other memory devices, as well as from user manipulation of features in a playback system based upon real-time or near real-time content distribution. The content is identified, along with timing information identifying where in the content the playback is occurring. Time-adapted complimentary content may then be selected and transmitted to the playback system. Such time-adapted content may include advertisement, product and service offerings, complimentary information, audio and/or video content, and so forth.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to mitigating decoding and rendering delay experienced during channel change operations. In particular, the techniques provided herein use a first stream of content with a relatively low group of pictures (GOP) length as a temporary content to decode and render while a second version with a relatively larger GOP length is decoded. By rendering the first stream during decoding of a second stream, the digital channel changing operation may be enhanced by rendering a version of the digital content with less delay.

Abstract: Broadcasts over designated bands of the radiofrequency spectrum allow for flexible use of the spectrum as well as for the receipt of return signals from receivers. To obtain return signals, information indicating one or more return channels and/or one or more return time windows may be sent with the broadcast transmission. The broadcast transmission may be made over UHF bands, with the return signals being made over VHF bands. Spectrum may be utilized more efficiently by transmitting one or more beacon signals that define parameters for the broadcast transmission. Receivers may be adapted to decode the data of the beacon signals and rapidly tune to the broadcast transmission.

Abstract: Broadcasts over designated bands of the radiofrequency spectrum allow for flexible use of the spectrum as well as for the receipt of return signals from receivers. To obtain return signals, information indicating one or more return channels and/or one or more return time windows may be sent with the broadcast transmission. The broadcast transmission may be made over UHF bands, with the return signals being made over VHF bands. Spectrum may be utilized more efficiently by transmitting one or more beacon signals that define parameters for the broadcast transmission. Receivers may be adapted to decode the data of the beacon signals and rapidly tune to the broadcast transmission.

Abstract: A system for coordinated playback of time-shifted content with time-adapted complimentary content is provided. The time-shifted content may be played back from storage media, both local and remote. Time-shifting may occur by independent playback such as from optical discs and other memory devices, as well as from user manipulation of features in a playback system based upon real-time or near real-time content distribution. The content is identified, along with timing information identifying where in the content the playback is occurring. Time-adapted complimentary content may then be selected and transmitted to the playback system. Such time-adapted content may include advertisement, product and service offerings, complimentary information, audio and/or video content, and so forth.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for combining programming content in a controlled synchronized manner. The systems and methods allow for centrally generated content to be modified using local content. The centrally generated content can include data that specifies what portions of the centrally generated content can be modified by the local content.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for combining programming content in a controlled synchronized manner. The systems and methods allow for centrally generated content to be modified using local content. The centrally generated content can include data that specifies what portions of the centrally generated content can be modified by the local content.

Abstract: Broadcasts over designated bands of the radiofrequency spectrum allow for flexible use of the spectrum as well as for the receipt of return signals from receivers. To obtain return signals, information indicating one or more return channels and/or one or more return time windows may be sent with the broadcast transmission. The broadcast transmission may be made over UHF bands, with the return signals being made over VHF bands. Spectrum may be utilized more efficiently by transmitting one or more beacon signals that define parameters for the broadcast transmission. Receivers may be adapted to decode the data of the beacon signals and rapidly tune to the broadcast transmission.

Abstract: A system for coordinated playback of time-shifted content with time-adapted complimentary content is provided. The time-shifted content may be played back from storage media, both local and remote. Time-shifting may occur by independent playback such as from optical discs and other memory devices, as well as from user manipulation of features in a playback system based upon real-time or near real-time content distribution. The content is identified, along with timing information identifying where in the content the playback is occurring. Time-adapted complimentary content may then be selected and transmitted to the playback system. Such time-adapted content may include advertisement, product and service offerings, complimentary information, audio and/or video content, and so forth.

Abstract: A method for frustrating unauthorized duplication of at least a portion of a sequence of images being embodied in digital data in a given order in a bitstream, the method including: storing data corresponding to an individual one of the plurality of images in at least one memory device in the given order; and, reading the data out from the at least one memory device in a pseudorandom order as part of the bitstream to provide a rearranged order of digital data different from the given order and adapted to frustrate conventional display of the sequence of images.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronic format and frame rate conversion in a multiple format video processing system adapted to avoid display motion artifacts causes by 3:2 conversion of 24 Hz video source video by tripling the frame rate of the source video and responsively adjusting the format of the resultant video signal.

Abstract: A peripheral device that can be configured, for example, in a personal computer (PC) system, between the PC processor and the PC monitor. The peripheral device receives video signals from the PC processor for display on the PC monitor. In addition, the peripheral device receives television (TV) signals from a TV source, for example, via a standard TV connection. The peripheral device combines the video content of the TV signals with the video signals received from the PC processor to generate a combined video signal for display on the PC monitor. The peripheral device supports web-based applications where the web-page layout is received by the PC system via a conventional Internet connection, where the peripheral device overlays the video content of the TV signals over appropriate corresponding windows in the web-page layout. In this way, bandwidth in the PC's Internet connection does not have to be used for streaming media delivery of TV video content.

Abstract: A media content capture and distribution system includes at least one capture system which provides clips of media content satisfying a set of at least one trigger defined for the capture system. The clips are transmitted to a distribution system. A channel creator in the distribution system combines a plurality of the clips that satisfy at least a portion of the criteria defining the content requirements of a microchannel into a microchannel stream. The microchannel stream is transmitted to a client through a computer network.

Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus that adaptively utilizes at least chrominance information to control bit allocation in an MPEG-like compression encoder. The invention controls bit allocation of a video signal by examining at least color difference (U, V) components within the video signal, identifying, illustratively, flesh-tone indicative portions of the color difference signals, and preferentially encoding those identified portions of the video signal by allocating additional bits to, e.g., macroblocks associated with the flesh-tone indicative portions of the signal.

Abstract: A multiple format video signal processing system operating in conjunction with a display device timing system to produce synchronized video and timing signals suitable for use by a fixed horizontal scanning frequency display device.

Abstract: A video processing system that automatically adjusts video processor parameters depending upon the format of a received video signal in, e.g., a television receiver capable of receiving a multiplicity of video formats.

Abstract: An adaptive scan format converter (14, FIG. 1; FIG. 2) at a transmitter/encoder of a video signal processing system such as a high definition television (HDTV) system, as a function of what format is desired for coding and transmission via an output channel. Similarly, at a receiver, a received scan format is automatically converted (36, FIG. 1; FIG. 2) to a desired format for display as needed. For example, a received interlaced signal (I) will be automatically converted to progressive (P) format to be compatible with a progressive scan display device (39). A received progressive signal will be passed to the display device without format conversion. Automatic scan conversion is performed seamlessly so that, for example, the conversion between progressive main television program material and interlaced commercial material is produced without artifacts and is essentially invisible to a viewer.