Abstract: Content check-in may be provided. Users may be able to check-in a video content item that he/she may be currently viewing or that he/she may view later such that the checked-in content item may be shared with one or more contacts. The user may provide information for one or more contacts to allow for an analysis of available viewing options for the checked-in content item that may be offered to selected contacts based on the viewing location and service provider(s) associated with the selected contacts.

Abstract: An affinity mapping service system allowing a video service provider to perform one or more automatic actions related to a video content item (e.g., automatically recording the video content item, recommending similar video content, automatically tuning to a channel airing the video content item, providing a notification when the video content item is airing, etc.) based on an affinity selection made by a user for a content object related to the video content item is provided. The user is enabled to selectively pair a social networking service identifier (e.g., username, handle, etc.) with a video service account. An affinity selection made by the user via a social networking service in association with a video content item is communicated to the video service provider and mapped to an automatic action for the video service provider to take based on action preferences selected by the user.

Abstract: Video streaming is delivered through a communication network to one or more client computing devices/systems. A number of video display or bandwidth control profiles are used in part to control an amount of bandwidth used by each client to stream video at various quality levels or audio-only. Video display profiles can be configured according to a particular device/system being used to stream video.

Abstract: A unified control (UC) interface is configured for use with a portable computing device in part to manage and control access and personalization of a service network including managing automatic user and device access to subscribed to services. The UC interface of an embodiment can be used to display an overview of a service network, including authorized users, authorized devices, and/or associated settings. The UC interface of one embodiment can be used with a portable computing device in part to enable an authorized user to manage access and/or programming personalization on a per user and/or device basis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a content streaming system that allows users to customize events that are streamed to client devices. The customization may include timer controls, volume controls, and source controls, the source controls allowing customization of the granularity of the content streamed, and the output medium of the content.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided embodying a novel approach to allow a consumer to easily manage the 3D configuration settings of their 3D capable TV set while connected to a legacy video set top box device that has a digital video output port (such as HDMI 1.1-1.3). Stereoscopic (3D) video will be transmitted in one of multiple “frame-packed” or alternating pictures formats that includes both, the compressed picture data of the left and right views, embedded as if it was a regular 2D picture in a standard MPEG2 transport video stream. Deployed (legacy) receivers will decode and output a compressed video stream as if it was a 2D video stream. The stereoscopic image can be delivered in one of the multiple frame-packed formats: side by side (left half and right half adjoined), top half adjoined to bottom half, or according to a checkerboard pattern corresponding respectively to the left view and right view.

Abstract: The systems and methods of out of band application synchronization across devices disclosed herein include a companion application running on a secondary device, such as a mobile device. An out-of-band file containing program event markers is transmitted to a set top box. These program event markers may be used to link the program watched on the STB or the mobile device. Upon reaching the position indicated by the out-of-band file, the payload may be sent out by the STB to an application on a secondary device. The secondary device running the companion application receives the payload and triggers an action to fetch the associated metadata from the server. The companion application may include related content or advertisements, and communicate with a social network or the user's network to communicate at the same time with other customers watching the same program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using DVD subpicture formatted information within a MPEG data stream to provide data channel information to a television receiver. More particularly, the television receiver comprises a MPEG decoder and a DVD subpicture processor. The MPEG decoder decodes the MPEG stream and extracts the DVD subpicture formatted signal and the DVD subpicture decoder processes one or more DVD subpicture bitstreams to produce DVD graphics. The DVD subpicture bitstream is used to carry and display data channel information such as stock quotes, electronic program guide information, advertisement information, and the like as well as provide interactive menuing functions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method (200) and a system (100) for automatically refreshing previously recorded data on a recordable storage medium during playback of the previously recorded data from the recordable storage medium. The method includes the steps of: reading (212) a segment of the previously recorded data from the recordable storage medium; and re-writing (218) at least a portion of the segment of the previously recorded data back onto the recordable storage medium. In addition, the method can include the step of selectively examining (214) the segment of the previously recorded data by searching for errors in the previously recorded data in which the re-writing step can be performed only if the level of errors in the previously recorded data reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing remote control capability involves transmitting IR and RF signals in a time multiplexed manner. The present apparatus comprises an input device, an IR signal transmitter, a RF signal transmitter and a controller operatively coupled to the input device, the IR signal transmitter and the RF signal transmitter. The controller generates and applies the IR and RF signals to the respective signal transmitters in time multiplexed manner. The IR and RF signals may be transmitted using different protocols without significantly increasing the computing capacity of the controller as compared to a controller of a remote control device which transmits only one type of remote control signal.

Abstract: A computer system is provided which allows a user to perform a system reset without performing a manual physical reset of the computer system. The computer system comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a removable memory circuit, an I/O coprocessor, an input device, and an system manager having a system management icon, system management menu, and a pointing icon. The system management menu provides a user with option for restarting a program application, resetting the computer system, inserting a new cartridge without physically resetting the computer system, and exiting the menu system.

Abstract: An input device for a computer system is provided which translates large body part or multiple body part motion into directional data. The input device includes a rigid support member having sufficient size to accommodate use by a human being for sitting, a riser member, a connection device for connecting the riser member to the support member, a transducer device in physical communication with the riser member for sensing the riser member motion and for conveying the motion to a computer system in the form of representative electrical signals, and a resilient device in physical communication with the riser member for maintaining the riser in a predetermined position relative to the support member when the riser is not subject to external forces. The cross member may be embodied in several forms, including straight and synclinal cross members. Alternatively, a haptic sphere or disc may be employed instead of a cross member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer system supporting multiple, removable ROM-based applications without requiring the ROM-applications to be inserted into a particular slot. The computer system accepts one or more cartridges into any combination of slots. Once a cartridge is inserted into a slot, the computer system senses the insertion of a cartridge. The computer system then determines whether to swap the address ranges associated with the cartridge connectors, or slots. The address swap is implemented by either (i) swapping the cartridge connector chip selects or (ii) performing a page swap with the memory management unit.