Abstract: An optical disc (2) contains at least one title comprising a collection of mosaic video data (22) which, on reading and suitable processing by a disc drive (3), result in a mosaic of multiple scenes (41, 42, 43, 44) in different sections (31, 32, 33, 34) of a display screen (4). The title further contains data (21) representing a machine-executable application for the disc drive (3) causing the disc drive (3) to generate a graphics layer overlying said mosaic of multiple scenes. Said graphics layer comprises a first portion which is at least partly transparent and which is aligned with one of said sections (31, 32, 33, 34) of the display screen (4); and said graphics layer comprises a second portion which is fully opaque and which is aligned with all other sections of the display screen (4).

Abstract: Sensor devices (1) are provided with trigger signal generators (2) for repeatedly generating trigger signals and light detectors (12) for detecting light parameters such as intensities and colors and color temperatures and patterns and fluctuations of light (43) at a location and transmitters (9) for, in response to trigger signals, transmitting control signals based on detections to control devices (20) for controlling light sources (40) to influence the light (43) at the location. The sensor devices (1) may further comprise theme code generators (3), location code generators (4), processors (5), scanners (10), and position detectors (6).

Abstract: An optical disc (2) contains at least one title comprising a collection of mosaic video data (22) which, on reading and suitable processing by a disc drive (3), result in a mosaic of multiple scenes (41, 42, 43, 44) in different sections (31, 32, 33, 34) of a display screen (4). The title further contains data (21) representing a machine-executable application for the disc drive (3) causing the disc drive (3) to generate a graphics layer overlying said mosaic of multiple scenes. Said graphics layer comprises a first portion which is at least partly transparent and which is aligned with one of said sections (31, 32, 33, 34) of the display screen (4); and said graphics layer comprises a second portion which is fully opaque and which is aligned with all other sections of the display screen (4).

Abstract: When configuring a network system (10) in a user's residence, a patient to receive home healthcare assistance or other user receives an encoded configuration message. One type of configuration message includes a sequence of code words, each of which corresponds to one or more numerical digits, which the user receives via voice or text message on a mobile phone (28), as an email message, etc., and the user enters the codewords into a set top box (STB) (12). The user enters the codewords by selecting the codewords and/or images representing the codewords displayed on a GUI (18). The STB (12) uses a translation table (40, 42) to decode the codewords to determine the numerical sequences. The complete sequence represents a configuration information sequence, such as a user ID, an IP address, or the like, and is employed by the STB (12) to configure itself and/or other components in the network system (10).

Abstract: When installing a remote healthcare network system (10) in a users residence, a user input device, such as a remote control (26) for a home-end device (HED) (12) includes a helpdesk button (56) that the user (16) may depress to request a helpdesk session with a service provider helpdesk employee (20). The session is carried out using a network connection upon which a VoIP connection is built between the parties to permit verbal communication. Additionally, graphical information is exchanged using a broadband connection or the like. The HED (12) stores screenshots that represent actions the user (16) has performed during setup, and provides the screenshots to the helpdesk employee (20) during the session to assist the employee (20) in diagnosing the users problem. The employee (20) additionally sends graphical instructions or screen shots that are presented to the user (16) to instruct the user regarding a next action to resolve the issue.

Abstract: When installing components of a remote patient health monitoring system (14?), a generic off-the-shelf set top box (STB) (12) and home gateway (30) are configured by inserting a configuration carrier (42) into each device. The configuration carrier (42) has stored thereon configuration routines and information provided by the remote health monitoring service provider. Configuration information includes, without being limited to, network IDs and channel information, hardware ID information, and the like. The home gateway (30) is connected to the STB (12) using WiFi network link, and to a central server (20) over an Ethernet link. The home gateway (30) is further coupled to one or more patient monitoring devices using a wireless link, such as Bluetooth.

Abstract: A multimedia home platform (MHP) application (131) is customized for selecting, for presentation or recording during a commercial break (224), a channel or substream of a channel whose viewer category most closely matches the particular user profile (S320). The profile is built by logging channels visited, direct query and answer and by user voting on the commercial showing or just shown (S540).

Abstract: Maturity levels of those present to watch a television program are automatically and transparently determined and matched to a derived maturity rating of the candidate program (S244). If none of the detected levels achieves the rating, the program is blocked (S234). Presence is preferably determined by communication exchange with wearable RFID tags (144).

Abstract: A machine-readable information carrier (2) contains content (video, audio, photographs, software, data; 20A; 20B) with restricted access, wherein at least one portion (23) of the content is a restricted portion. The information carrier (2) further contains data (21) associated with the said content, the data (21) representing a machine-executable access application which contains machine-executable instructions for a reader device (3, 3A) for controlling the reader device's access to the content of said carrier. The access application (21) is designed, when the reader device attempts an access to the restricted portion (23) of the content, to check authorization of the reader device, and to deny access to information in the said restricted portion (23) of the content if it finds that the reader device is unauthorized or to allow access to information in the said restricted portion (23) of the content if it finds that the reader device is authorized.