Abstract: Methods that control use, trace ownership and authenticity of digital assets and/or brandmarks in a metaverse environment. The methods involve obtaining a first set of control properties associated with a digital asset and a second set of control properties associated with a brandmark. The first set of control properties define first usage rules for rendering the digital asset in the metaverse environment in which a user is immersed into a virtual environment and the second set of control properties define second usage rules for rendering the brandmark in the metaverse environment. The methods further involve determining whether the digital asset is compatible with the brandmark based on the first set of control properties and the second set of control properties and rendering the digital asset with the brandmark in the metaverse environment based on determining that the digital asset is compatible with the brandmark.

Abstract: Methods that determine whether real-world conditions are satisfied for a metaverse application and/or a feature of the metaverse application. The methods involve obtaining information about a real-world environment of a user that is interacting within a metaverse environment. The information includes at least one of one or more attributes of the user in the real-world environment or one or more characteristics of a physical space of the user in the real-world environment. The methods further involve determining whether the information about the real-world environment satisfies a policy associated with a metaverse application, where the policy defines one or more real-world conditions for the metaverse application and configuring the metaverse environment based on determining whether the information about the real-world environment satisfies the policy.

Abstract: Methods that generate a proof-of-life indicator used by a metaverse platform to indicate whether an avatar is being controlled by or is representative of a human user or a software-based entity. In these methods, a plurality of data streams are obtained from a plurality of sensors that are configured to monitor activity of a user that is active within the metaverse environment. The plurality of data streams relate to behavioral and biometric characteristics of the user that is interacting within the metaverse environment. The methods involve determining whether the user is a human user or a software-based entity based on aggregating attribute information extracted from the plurality of data streams, generating a proof-of-life indicator that indicates whether the user is the human user or the software-based entity and a confidence level associated with the proof-of-life indicator, and providing the proof-of-life indicator in the metaverse environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically constructing a broadcast multiplex are described. The method includes: receiving metadata associated with a first plurality of events on a plurality of source channels, the metadata including, at least, scheduling metadata; determining, on the basis of a rule-set applied to the metadata, whether events of the first plurality of events are to be included in the multiplex, thereby producing a second plurality of events to be included in the multiplex; for each one event of the second plurality of events, assigning a multiplex priority to the one event, the multiplex priority being a priority the one event is to be assigned in the multiplex in case the one event contends for space in the multiplex with a second event of the second plurality of events; copying events from the second plurality of events into the multiplex in dependence on the multiplex priorities of events in the second plurality of events; and broadcasting the multiplex.

Abstract: A method of providing information about video content to a client is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a request from a client requesting information about video content, the request including an internet protocol address of the client; establishing (a) a geographic location of the client from the internet protocol address; and (b) a time of the request; identifying one or more content providers available in the geographic location; in dependence on the one or more content providers and the time, retrieving information about the video content from a database; and providing the information to the client. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for preparing data and video sequences to enable a viewer to scroll content in a plurality of directions including a first and second direction, the content including at least one element in motion, the system including a video sequence preparation module to prepare the video sequences including a first and second video sequence, each video sequence including still images, each still image including at least part of the content, at least some of the still images including the at least one element, the video sequences being prepared such that playing the first and second video sequence effects scrolling the content in the first and second direction, respectively, and a switchover determination module to prepare the data including corresponding switchover points in the video sequences for switching between the video sequences and therefore for switching the direction of scrolling by the viewer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, method for adjusting depth characteristics of a three-dimensional image for correcting for errors in perceived depth when scaling the three-dimensional image, the method comprising: receiving three-dimensional image information comprising a stereoscopic image including a first image and a second image, the stereoscopic image having depth characteristics associated with an offset of the first and second images; determining a scaling factor indicative of a scaling for converting the stereoscopic image from an original target size to a new size; determining at least one shifting factor for varying the depth characteristics, the at least one shifting factor indicative of a relative shift to be applied between the first and the second images, wherein the at least one shifting factor is determined in accordance with the scaling factor and at least one depth parameter derived from the depth characteristics; and performing the relative shift between the first and second

Abstract: A method and system for broadcasting content, is described, the method and system facilitating simultaneous recording of multiple programs on a digital video recorder (DVR), the method and system including providing a plurality of content items, dividing each one of the plurality of content items into a multiplicity of chunks, each one of the chunks including at least one reference frame, for each one of the chunks determining a location of each reference frame included in the chunk, creating a chunk index of locations of each reference frame included in the chunk, creating a chunk file including the chunk and the chunk index, and inserting the chunk file in a data stream, such that no chunk file including a chunk from a particular content item is adjacent to a second chunk file including a chunk from the same particular content item, and broadcasting using a transmission bitrate greater than the bitrate of the data stream in a single channel in a multiplexed broadcast service, wherein the chunks files in the

Abstract: A method of presenting content to a viewer is described. The method includes: receiving a schedule of content at a client operable by the viewer, the schedule of content including a directed graph, the directed graph including a plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is connected to one or more other nodes in the plurality of nodes by one or more paths, wherein each path represents content presentable to the viewer; traversing the directed graph by following a route between nodes and along paths of the directed graph, wherein at each node the client determines a path to follow according to state information accessible by the client; and presenting content to the viewer as each path is followed.

Abstract: A method of operating a client device within a viewing environment is described. The method includes: receiving content at a client device, presenting the content to a viewer by rendering the content as rendered content on a display surface in operable communication with the client device; receiving engagement data at the client device, the engagement data indicating a level of engagement with the content of at least one user who is viewing the rendered content; and adapting presentation of the content in dependence on the engagement data by changing how the content is rendered on the display surface. Related systems, apparatus, and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of controlling revelation of one or more metadata items is disclosed. Each of the one or more metadata items is associated with one or more parts of an audio-visual data stream (101). The method comprises: for a given one or more parts (103,105) of the audio-visual data stream (101), revealing one or more metadata items (113,115,117) associated with the given one or more parts (103,105) of the audio-visual data stream (101) only after the given one or more parts (103,105) of the audio-visual data stream (101) have been accessed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, method for adjusting depth characteristics of a three-dimensional image for correcting for errors in perceived depth when scaling the three-dimensional image, the method comprising: receiving three-dimensional image information comprising a stereoscopic image including a first image and a second image, the stereoscopic image having depth characteristics associated with an offset of the first and second images; determining a scaling factor indicative of a scaling for converting the stereoscopic image from an original target size to a new size; determining at least one shifting factor for varying the depth characteristics, the at least one shifting factor indicative of a relative shift to be applied between the first and the second images, wherein the at least one shifting factor is determined in accordance with the scaling factor and at least one depth parameter derived from the depth characteristics; and performing the relative shift between the first and second

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, method for adjusting depth characteristics of a three-dimensional image for correcting for errors in perceived depth when scaling the three-dimensional image, the method comprising: receiving three-dimensional image information comprising a stereoscopic image including a first image and a second image, the stereoscopic image having depth characteristics associated with an offset of the first and second images; determining a scaling factor indicative of a scaling for converting the stereoscopic image from an original target size to a new size; determining at least one shifting factor for varying the depth characteristics, the at least one shifting factor indicative of a relative shift to be applied between the first and the second images, wherein the at least one shifting factor is determined in accordance with the scaling factor and at least one depth parameter derived from the depth characteristics; and performing the relative shift between the first and second

Abstract: An interactive method includes receiving background video including a multiplicity of video frames, at least one of the multiplicity of video frames include a plurality of sub-pictures, each of the plurality of sub-pictures representing an alternative background (1200), and switching between a first sub-picture of the plurality of sub-pictures and a second sub-picture of the plurality of sub-pictures (1210).

Abstract: A system for preparing data and video sequences to enable a viewer to scroll content in a plurality of directions including a first and second direction, the content including at least one element in motion, the system including a video sequence preparation module to prepare the video sequences including a first and second video sequence, each video sequence including still images, each still image including at least part of the content, at least some of the still images including the at least one element, the video sequences being prepared such that playing the first and second video sequence effects scrolling the content in the first and second direction, respectively, and a switchover determination module to prepare the data including corresponding switchover points in the video sequences for switching between the video sequences and therefore for switching the direction of scrolling by the viewer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically constructing a broadcast multiplex are described. The method includes: receiving metadata associated with a first plurality of events on a plurality of source channels, the metadata including, at least, scheduling metadata; determining, on the basis of a rule-set applied to the metadata, whether events of the first plurality of events are to be included in the multiplex, thereby producing a second plurality of events to be included in the multiplex; for each one event of the second plurality of events, assigning a multiplex priority to the one event, the multiplex priority being a priority the one event is to be assigned in the multiplex in case the one event contends for space in the multiplex with a second event of the second plurality of events; copying events from the second plurality of events into the multiplex in dependence on the multiplex priorities of events in the second plurality of events; and broadcasting the multiplex.

Abstract: A system for preparing data and video sequences to enable a viewer to scroll content in a plurality of directions including a first and second direction, the content including at least one element in motion, the system including a video sequence preparation module to prepare the video sequences including a first and second video sequence, each video sequence including still images, each still image including at least part of the content, at least some of the still images including the at least one element, the video sequences being prepared such that playing the first and second video sequence effects scrolling the content in the first and second direction, respectively, and a switchover determination module to prepare the data including corresponding switchover points in the video sequences for switching between the video sequences and therefore for switching the direction of scrolling by the viewer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of generating a recommended depth value for use in displaying a graphics item over a three dimensional video is described. The method includes at a headend: receiving a three dimensional video including video frames; analyzing a sequence of said video frames in turn to produce a sequence of depth maps, each depth map in the sequence of depth maps being associated with timing data relating that depth map to a corresponding video frame in the sequence of video frames, each depth map including depth values, each depth value representing a depth of a pixel location in its corresponding video frame; selecting a region of depth maps in the sequence of depth maps; analyzing said region of the depth maps in the sequence of depth maps to identify a furthest forward depth value for said region in the sequence of depth maps; and transmitting the furthest forward depth value as the recommended depth value for the region to a display device and region information describing the region.

Abstract: A method and system for broadcasting content, is described, the method and system facilitating simultaneous recording of multiple programs on a digital video recorder (DVR), the method and system including providing a plurality of content items, dividing each one of the plurality of content items into a multiplicity of chunks, each one of the chunks including at least one reference frame, for each one of the chunks determining a location of each reference frame included in the chunk, creating a chunk index of locations of each reference frame included in the chunk, creating a chunk file including the chunk and the chunk index, and inserting the chunk file in a data stream, such that no chunk file including a chunk from a particular content item is adjacent to a second chunk file including a chunk from the same particular content item, and broadcasting using a transmission bitrate greater than the bitrate of the data stream in a single channel in a multiplexed broadcast service, wherein the chunks files in the

Abstract: A system for displaying electronic program guide information about a plurality of video items on a screen, the system including a display module to display a plurality of pages layering into the screen, each of the pages including a plurality of graphical panels associated with the video items, and a user input module to receive a user input to turn at least one of the pages such that the at least one page is peeled away from other ones of the pages in order to bring the graphical panels of the at least one page in or out of view, wherein the display module is operative to show the turning of the at least one page bringing the at least one page in or out of view. Related apparatus and methods are also described.