Abstract: A method of multicasting a data file. The method includes transmitting a notification on an upcoming multicast transmission to a plurality of receivers (20) designated to receive the multicast transmission, tuning by at least one of the plurality of receivers (20) to one or more multicast channels, responsive to the notification, transmitting a data file, from a data server (42), on the one or more multicast channels, without the data server (42) receiving acknowledgements from the receivers (20) on whether they received the notification, determining receivers (20) designated to receive the multicast transmission that did not receive at least a portion of the data file; and attempting to deliver the data file to the determined receivers (20).

Abstract: A method of multicasting a data file. The method includes transmitting a notification on an upcoming multicast transmission to a plurality of receivers (20) designated to receive the multicast transmission, tuning by at least one of the plurality of receivers (20) to one or more multicast channels, responsive to the notification, transmitting a data file, from a data server (42), on the one or more multicast channels, without the data server (42) receiving acknowledgements from the receivers (20) on whether they received the notification, determining receivers (20) designated to receive the multicast transmission that did not receive at least a portion of the data file; and attempting to deliver the data file to the determined receivers (20).

Abstract: A method of generating an album, comprising: providing a plurality of digitally encoded images, automatically arranging at least some of the images to fit a format of an album and printing a photograph album using the determined arrangement. Preferably, each page of the album is a single sheet of photographic paper.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing an interactive connection and a non-interactive data transfer connection between a client and a service provider, comprising:creating an interactive connection;creating a data transfer connection; andgenerating a session ID which is associated with the two connections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently handling, modifying, transmitting, re-displaying and storing color images is described. An image is provided which has a plurality of pixels each having color parameters (information) in the form of color coordinates which can be considered a color point in a color space. The invention provides a plurality of color volume elements which together contain at least a portion of the color space and which in effect quantize the color space. Each color volume element has a representative color value (point) so that a first plurality of representative color values (points) are provided by the plurality of volume elements. A representative color value is determined for each pixel in the image such that, with a typical image, a subset of the first plurality of representative color values are determined. In other words, the image will not use all the values in the first plurality of representative color values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying colors in an image displayed on a display device by a computer controlled display system. The method includes selecting at least one color being representative of at least one pixel of the image, where the image includes a plurality of pixels on the display device; determining the colorimetric values for the at least one color; selecting a second color and determining the colorimetric values for the second color; and modifying the colorimetric values of a plurality of pixels in said image such that for any given pixel of the plurality of pixels having colorimetric values being matched to the colorimetric values of the at least one color, then the colorimetric values of the given pixel are modified to match the colorimetric values of the second color.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently handling, modifying, transmitting, re-displaying and storing color images. An image is provided which has a plurality of pixels each having color parameters (information) in the form of color coordinates which can be considered a color point in a color space. The invention provides a plurality of color volume elements which together contain at least a portion of the color space and which in effect quantize the color space. Each color volume element has a representative color value (point) so that a first plurality of representative color values (points) are provided by the plurality of volume elements. A representative color value is determined for each pixel in the image such that, with a typical image, a subset of the first plurality of representative color values are determined. In other words, the image will not use all the values in the first plurality of representative color values.