Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a content delivery network with one or more network-connected audiovisual players. A content delivery network provider can provide an access module residing within a network-connected audiovisual player wherein the access module can be configured to control the player. The access module can be configured to function within a gateway environment on the player such that the gateway environment passes commands from the access module to the firmware or secure module on the player operating in a secure environment. As a result, each player with the access module can become a part of the content delivery network as the content delivery network provider can control the network-connected audiovisual players. The content delivery network can implement multi-level access controls to licenses and encryption keys to secure audiovisual content.

Abstract: A modular video processing system and methodology for processing a plurality of video assets having different asset properties in real-time to a common format compatible with a display device is described. The system includes a plurality of pipelined video processing modules wherein each operational pipelined video processing module performs a different configurable video processing function on one or more video asset frames. The system also includes a process control module for providing each operational pipelined video processing module with data for configuring the video processing module for a current frame and data for configuring the video processing module for a subsequent frame wherein each configuration is based on one or more asset properties for the video asset being processed. Each pipelined video processing module has a memory location for the configuration for the current frame and a memory location for the configuration for a subsequent frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved three-dimensional printed circuit board and a plastic housing for power conditioning electronics such as fluorescent lamp ballasts. The novel printed circuit board of the invention is a molded printed circuit board which is generally a rectangular parallelepiped having an upper relatively plain surface and a lower relatively plain surface but in addition having integral components thereon which extend for example above the upper relatively plain surface. Such integral components extending in this direction can be used for wire receptacles, module connectors and stand-offs. Suitable materials for the printed circuit board are thermoplastics such as polyarylate, polyethylene, terephthalate, polyimide, polyamide, polyester, polyphenylene sulfone, polyether sulfur, polyether imide and modified polyphenylene oxide.

Abstract: The method of starting fluorescent lamps includes energizing the lamp and its filaments, in a cold condition, with voltages and currents considerably in excess of (and integer multiples of) normal operating parameters. This high power is supplied for either a predetermined time (on the other of 100 milliseconds) or until lamp starting is sensed. The power conditioning electronics improves the power factor by using normal inverter current to charge a capacitor so that, as full wave rectified voltage from a bridge falls, current can be supplied to the inverter from the charged capacitor. The full wave bridge rectifier includes two diodes and two silicon controlled rectifiers, the latter energized by secondary windings of a transformer which carries current under normal inverter operating conditions. In the event that operating parameters of the inverter exceed a threshold, however, current through the primary of the transformer is shunted away, thus removing the triggering current from the SCRs.