Abstract: A system for disposing of body fluids collected during surgery comprises a canister and an apparatus for emptying and cleaning the canister. The canister has a lid having an inlet port to receive body fluids during surgery and for insertion of a cleaning fluid sprayer during servicing, an outlet port with a suction tube extending into the canister for removal of fluids therefrom, and a vacuum port for the application of vacuum to the canister. The servicing unit is an appliance having a receiving compartment in which the canister is placed. A connector head in the servicing unit connects the canister to a source of cleaning fluid and to a conduit for evacuating the fluids in the canister through the suction tube and to a decontamination chamber, where they are brought into contact with a disinfecting fluid, and subsequently to a drain.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods operable to distribute targeted content. Additionally, disclosed are corresponding apparatus and methods operable to selectively choose and cache selected ones from among the distributed targeted content, and to further choose ones from among the cached content to present on a device. In some aspects, selective caching of content may be based upon a match between predetermined content attribute information and predetermined profile information. Further, in some aspects, an indicator is operable to trigger the selective inclusion of one or more of the cached content in a presentation of other content, which may be based on a match between a desired content attribute associated with the indicator and the respective predetermined content attribute information of the cached content.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for resizing multimedia content for efficient statistical multiplexing. In response to a request to resize a current segment of data, an encoding module associated with the selected segment adjusts the amount of motion information to be encoded to resize the segment of data. For example, the encoding module associated with the selected segment of data may merge two or more motion vectors to reduce the amount of motion information to be encoded. As another example, the encoding module reselects encoding modes for one or more blocks of pixels of at least one frame within the segment of data.

Abstract: Techniques to seamlessly switch reception between multimedia programs are described. For “continued decoding”, a wireless device continues to receive, decode, decompress, and (optionally) display a current program, even after a new program has been selected, until overhead information needed to decode the new program is received. After receiving the overhead information, the wireless device decodes the new program but continues to decompress the current program. The wireless device decompresses the new program after decoding this program. For “early decoding”, the wireless device receives a user input and identifies a program with potential for user selection. The identified program may be the one highlighted by the user input or a program anticipated to be selected based on the user input. The wireless device initiates decoding of the identified program, prior to its selection, so that the program can be decompressed and displayed earlier if it is subsequently selected.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for exchanging information between a plurality of encoder modules and a multiplex module to combine segments of data from the encoder modules with an improved overall quality. In particular, the encoder modules associate their respective segments of data with quality and rate information and send at least the quality and rate information associated with the segments of data to the multiplex module. The multiplex module analyzes the quality and rate information to determine whether the segments of data that encoder modules desire to include in the current superframe fit within the available bandwidth of a transmission channel. If the multiplex module determines the plurality of segments of data do not fit within the available bandwidth, the multiplex module selects one or more of the segments to be resized based on the quality and rate information received from the encoder modules.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for adjusting encoding variables of an encoding device. In response to a request to resize a segment of data, an encoding module adjusts at least one encoding variable used to encode one or more subsequent segments of data such that the subsequent segments of data are encoded at a bit rate that is different than the bit rate at which the subsequent segments of data would have been encoded had there been no request to resize. At some point, the encoding module re-adjusts the encoding variables used to encode the segments of data such that the subsequent segments of data are encoded to achieve a desired encoding result. For example, the encoding module may re-adjust the encoding variables after a period of time or may incrementally adjust the encoding variables until the encoding variables result in achieving the desired encoding result.

Abstract: A wireless communications device configured to operate in a multimedia broadcast system is disclosed. The wireless communications device includes a receiver configured to receive a plurality of video streams each comprising intra-coded and inter-coded video frames. The wireless communications device also includes a video decoder, and a processing unit configured to switch the video streams to the video decoder. The processing unit is further configured to receive a prompt to switch from a first one of the video streams to a second one of the video streams, and in response to the prompt, delay switching to the second one of the video streams until an intra-coded video frame is received in the second one of the video streams.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate relocating an IP buffer from a conventional location in a user device handset to a radio-access network (RAN) interface in order to reduce acquisition delay in the user device. By performing IP buffering at the transmission side of a forward link transmission, acquisition time can be reduced by approximately 5-7 seconds. Additionally, a physical layer aware encoder can be employed, which has knowledge of transmission constraints associated with, for example, a conventional DVB-H transmission protocol, and can parse streaming media into 1-second segments that can be pre-packaged in a current superframe for display at a subsequent time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to encode multimedia data enabling, among others, for example, improved decoded video quality, improved error recovery capabilities and/or improved decoding efficiency are described. An encoder device determines one or more distortion values for one or more portions of multimedia data based at least in part on one or more concealment methods related to concealing the one or more portions if the one or more portions were received in error. The encoder device determines one or more encoding methods for the one or more portions based at least in part on the one or more estimated distortion values. In one aspect, determining the one or more encoding methods comprises determining the one or more encoding methods so as to refresh the one or more portions based at least in part on a comparison of the one or more estimated distortion values and one or more thresholds.

Abstract: A wireless broadcast system is disclosed. The wireless broadcast system includes a transmitter for broadcasting to a wireless communications device. The transmitter receives a plurality of streams on a logical channel, wherein one of the streams contains signaling. The transmitter arranges the streams such that the stream containing the signaling is broadcast after the other streams on the logical channel. The wireless communications device receives the streams broadcast on a logical channel broadcast in a frame, and acquires the logical channel during the broadcast of the frame in response to a prompt received during the broadcast of the same frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to encode multimedia data enabling, among others, for example, improved decoded video quality, improved error recovery capabilities and/or improved decoding efficiency are described. A method according to the application includes one or more of the following: initializing a pixel-level reference counter for a current frame, performing a prediction of a next frame referring to the current frame, incrementing the pixel-level reference counter for each pixel of the current frame that is referenced during the prediction of the next frame, readjusting a macroblock bandwidth map of the current frame, repeating the steps of initializing, performing and readjusting for each next frame in a plurality of next frames referring to the current frame, and encoding the current frame based at least in part on the readjusted macroblock bandwidth map of the current frame.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed, to a multi-channel encoder. The multi-channel encoder is configured to generate an encoded data stream. The multi-channel encoder includes a plurality of channel encoders, and a processor configured to allocate time slots in the encoded data stream to each of the channel encoders to vary the rate of data provided by each of the channel encoders into the encoded data stream.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for processing multimedia data. Such methods can include obtaining at least one metric indicative of a difference for a selected frame and adjacent frames in a plurality of video frames, the metric comprising bi-directional motion information and luminance difference information, determining a shot event in the selected frame based on the at least one metric, and adaptively encoding the selected frame based on the shot event. An apparatus for processing a multimedia data can include a motion compensator configured to obtain metrics indicative of a difference between adjacent frames of a plurality of video frames, said metrics comprising bi-directional motion information and luminance information, a shot classifier configured to determine a shot event in the plurality of video frames based on said metrics, and an encoder configured to adaptively encode the plurality of frames based on the shot event.

Abstract: System for delivering regional parameters. A method is provided for delivering regional parameters. The method includes receiving a parameter stream that includes one or more sets of regional parameters associated with one or more regions. The method also includes determining a first real-time region indicator, and selecting one or more selected sets of regional parameters from the parameter stream based on the first real-time region indicator.

Abstract: A flexible system for distributing content to a device involves associating a set of packages with a provider, associating a set of tiers with a package, associating a set of channels with a tier, and allowing subscription to a package of services associated with the provider, wherein a channel is a view of a service, the view based on the provider associated with the service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for service acquisition. In an aspect, a method is provided for service acquisition. The method includes generating one or more channel switch video (CSV) signals associated with one or more multimedia signals, encoding the CSV signals and the multimedia signals to produce error coded blocks, and encapsulating the error coded blocks into a multiplex signal. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for service acquisition. The apparatus includes a source encoder configured to generate one or more channel switch video (CSV) signals associated with one or more multimedia signals, an error encoder configured to encode the CSV signals and the multimedia signals to produce error coded blocks, and a packer configured to encapsulate the error coded blocks into a multiplex signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes receiving multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data into a first data group and a second data group based on content of the multimedia data, the first data group being configured to be independently decodable from the second data group, and wherein the first and second data groups are encoded at different quality levels. The method can also include classifying the content of the multimedia data and encoding the multimedia data based on the content classification.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes classifying content of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification, wherein the first data group comprises a coefficient and the second data group comprises a first differential refinement associated with the first data group coefficient. An apparatus for using content information for encoding multimedia data includes a content classifying module configured to classify content of multimedia data and provide content classification data, and an encoder configured to encode the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification, wherein the first data group comprises a coefficient and the second data group comprises a first differential refinement associated with the first data group coefficient.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes A method of processing multimedia data, including obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data to form an encoded bitstream, said encoding comprising inserting at least one redundant block of intra-coded data into the encoded bitstream based on the content information. In some aspects, the encoding comprises encoding the multimedia data into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and wherein the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the base layer. In other aspects, the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the enhancement layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit that reduces spacing between circuitry and a bus. In accordance with this invention, the bus is a strip of conductive material in a layer of the integrated circuit. The layer includes at least one slot that removes conductive material from the bus. The removal of the conductive material in the slot allows the space between circuitry adjacent the bus and the bus to be reduced.