Abstract: A multimedia distribution system or interactive digital television broadcast system (iDTV) comprising several content providers (CP: CP1, CP2) broadcasting channels of video signals to a user (TV, STB) via a content selector (CS). The broadcast system comprises a user behavior analyzer (UBA) with quantitative behavior classifier (E(w)) able to analyze and to classify the quantitative consumption behavior of the user, and with a qualitative behavior classifier (F(x)) having as output classified user behaviors and prediction on future behaviors of the user. The classifiers are coupled to an opportunities selector (G(y)) that also receives information from additional content providers (ACP: ACP1, ACP2, ACP3). Under control of the opportunities selector G(y), additional content, e.g. advertisements, meta-information, iTV applications, trailers, . . . is send to a multimedia data combiner (H(z)) whereby the additional content is published, e.g. by mixing or by an overlay operation on/ over the selected channel.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of relaying traffic from a source application (46a-46c) to a targeted destination in a communications network (14, 16). The method comprises the steps of providing a first and at least one second network adapter, each providing access to a network (14, 16) having a plurality of destinations. Furthermore, a first routing table, which defines a first default destination associated with the first network adapter, is provided. Traffic from the source (46a-46c) to the targeted destination is relayed using one of the network adapters (20, 22). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one second routing table defining at least one second default destination is provided. Each second network adapter is individually associated with one second default destination. The step of relaying includes the step of selecting one of the first and second routing tables (60, 62).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for managing electronic information and related devices where electronic information is forwarded from at least one electronic information source of a plurality of electronic information sources towards at least one terminal of at least one corresponding user of a plurality of terminals of corresponding users through a communications network. The at least one electronic information source of the plurality of electronic information sources sends electronic information towards the at least one terminal of at least one corresponding user. The terminal of a first user and terminals of users related to this first user send their electronic information preferences towards a community interest management module. The community interest management module subsequently determines community information preferences based on the information preferences of the first user and based on the information preferences of the users related to the first user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an object perception method, for use by a perceiving device that is adapted to perceive at least one object in an environment comprising a plurality of objects. Each object of the plurality of objects is adapted to provision meta-information characterizing the corresponding object. The perceiving device includes at least one object of the plurality of objects in a selection by varying a perspective of the object perceiving device. The perceiving device perceives this at least one object of the plurality of objects included in the selection and captures a representation of the at least one object included in said selection in a snapshot. The perceiving device further perceives meta-information corresponding to the at least one object in the selection and additionally the meta-information corresponding to the objects of said plurality of objects not included in the selection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of relaying traffic from a source application (46a-46c) to a targeted destination in a communications network (14, 16). The method comprises the steps of providing a first and at least one second network adapter, each providing access to a network (14, 16) having a plurality of destinations. Furthermore, a first routing table, which defines a first default destination associated with the first network adapter, is provided. Traffic from the source (46a-46c) to the targeted destination is relayed using one of the network adapters (20, 22). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one second routing table defining at least one second default destination is provided. Each second network adapter is individually associated with one second default destination. The step of relaying includes the step of selecting one of the first and second routing tables (60, 62).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of relaying traffic from a source application (46a-46c) to a targeted destination in a communications network (14, 16). The method comprises the steps of providing a first and at least one second network adapter, each providing access to a network (14, 16) having a plurality of destinations. Furthermore, a first routing table, which defines a first default destination associated with the first network adapter, is provided. Traffic from the source (46a-46c) to the targeted destination is relayed using one of the network adapters (20, 22). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one second routing table defining at least one second default destination is provided. Each second network adapter is individually associated with one second default destination. The step of relaying includes the step of selecting one of the first and second routing tables (60, 62).

Abstract: A method for waking up a plurality of sleeping devices. Each sleeping device is coupled to a waking device over a communications network and is adapted to provide a service feature to the waking device upon a request for the service feature from the waking device. The waking device sends a request for service to a network element of the communications network, which is always on. The network element receives the request for service, determines which features are requested by the waking device, and wakes up the sleeping devices that provide these requested features.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for waking up a sleeping device. The sleeping device being coupled to a waking device over a communications network. The sleeping device is adapted to provide a service in an awake state, to the waking device at request for service of the waking device. This method, first, comprises the step of sending the request for service by the waking device in direction of the sleeping device. The communications network additionally comprises a Network Element which is always on, and being coupled to the communications network. The method further comprises the steps of the Network Element intercepting the request for service destined to the sleeping device and the step of the Network Element at intercepting of the request for service, generating a request to wake up the sleeping device and determine a substitute service to the waking device until the sleeping device is awake.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for managing Electronic messages and a related system wherein at least one electronic message is forwarded from an electronic messaging source of a plurality of electronic messaging sources towards at least one terminal of a at least one corresponding user of a plurality of terminals of corresponding users through a communications network. The at least one electronic messaging source of the plurality of electronic messaging sources send at least one electronic message towards the at least one terminal of said at least one corresponding user. The terminal of the first user and terminals of users related to said first user send electronic message block preferences towards a community interest management module where the community interest management module determines community message block preferences based on the electronic message block preferences of the first user and the electronic block preferences of the users related to the first user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for managing electronic information and related devices where electronic information is forwarded from at least one electronic information source of a plurality of electronic information sources towards at least one terminal of at least one corresponding user of a plurality of terminals of corresponding users through a communications network. The at least one electronic information source of the plurality of electronic information sources sends electronic information towards the at least one terminal of at least one corresponding user. The terminal of a first user and terminals of users related to this first user send their electronic information preferences towards a community interest management module. The community interest management module subsequently determines community information preferences based on the information preferences of the first user and based on the information preferences of the users related to the first user.

Abstract: A media delivery system simultaneously delivers a media asset stream (201) for normal play-out and a trick play stream (202) for the fast forward and rewind modes. The trick play stream (202) is a content-based summary of said media asset stream (201) instead of a dropped frame version of the media asset stream.

Abstract: A packet based media delivery system (201) has a media store for media assets, and a channel manager enabling packet based delivery of the media assets through broadcast channels and/or on-demand channels to end users (204). According to the invention, the packet based media delivery system (201) further has a community media store (203) for end user originating media assets, and a community channel manager (202) enabling end users (204) to create a community channel. The community channel has a number of linked end users, and enables packet based delivery of the user originating media assets to the linked end users only.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an object perception method, for use by a perceiving device that is adapted to perceive at least one object in an environment comprising a plurality of objects. Each object of the plurality of objects is adapted to provision meta-information characterising the corresponding object. The perceiving device includes at least one object of the plurality of objects in a selection by varying a perspective of the object perceiving device. The perceiving device perceives this at least one object of the plurality of objects included in the selection and captures a representation of the at least one object included in said selection in a snapshot. The perceiving device further perceives meta-information corresponding to the at least one object in the selection and additionally the meta-information corresponding to the objects of said plurality of objects not included in the selection.

Abstract: A terminal device (TD) coupled to a multimedia distribution system (MDS). The terminal device is provided with an interface (IM) having selection buttons associated to sensors (SNS) for allowing a user not only to select multimedia outputs from the multimedia distribution system (MDS), but also for transmitting zapping intentions corresponding to the behavior of the user to a user behavior analyzing device build into the terminal device. The zapping intentions are derived from biometric parameters such as pressure, movement, temperature, heartbeat and/or sweat and are translated by the user behavior analyzing device into behavior parameters that are transmitted to and interpreted by the multimedia distribution system. As feedback, the multimedia distribution system replies with second multimedia outputs with the purpose of orienting or influencing the user in his/her selection choice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Callback module for use in a telecommunications system. The telecommunications system comprises a voicemail system for recording messages of a calling party and replaying the recorded voicemail messages at later time. The callback module comprises a calling line identification retrieving part that is adapted to retrieve a calling line identity of a calling party, a callback part that is able to call back the calling party using the said calling line identity of the calling party. The callback module further comprises a voicemail analysis part to analyse the recorded voicemail for detecting a call back number and a callback number retrieving part that is adapted to retrieve a callback number detected in the recorded message. Further the call back number forwarding part of the callback module is adapted to instruct the callback part to use the callback number retrieved from the recorded message instead of the calling line identity.

Abstract: A multimedia distribution system or interactive digital television broadcast system (iDTV) comprising several content providers (CP: CP1, CP2) broadcasting channels of video signals to a user (TV, STB) via a content selector (CS). The broadcast system comprises a user behavior analyzer (UBA) with quantitative behavior classifier (E(w)) able to analyze and to classify the quantitative consumption behavior of the user, and with a qualitative behavior classifier (F(x)) having as output classified user behaviors and prediction on future behaviors of the user. The classifiers are coupled to an opportunities selector (G(y)) that also receives information from additional content providers (ACP: ACP1, ACP2, ACP3). Under control of the opportunities selector G(y), additional content, e.g. advertisements, meta-information, iTV applications, trailers, . . . is send to a multimedia data combiner (H(z)) whereby the additional content is published, e.g. by mixing or by an overlay operation on/ over the selected channel.

Abstract: A multimedia telecommunication system with a telecommunication service provider (TSP) to broadcast a multimedia composition signal (CS) from a multimedia content provider (MCP) to a user station (US). The multimedia signal comprises several multimedia signal components such as for instance audio signals (AU), video signals (VD), subtitles data (ST) and/or logo data (LG). The multimedia content provider (MCP) comprises a first signal composer (CP) for combining the multimedia signal components into the multimedia composition signal. The user station is provided with a multimedia recorder (VCR) and a user interface set (TV), generally a television set associated to a Set-Top-Box.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an object selection method and an object selection device for selecting an object of a plurality of objects displayed at a displaying part. This method first comprises the step of detecting a user selection of an object of a plurality of objects. Subsequently the object selection device selects the object of the plurality of objects based on the user selection. The detecting of the user selection of the object is based on a position of a pointer relative to the displaying part.

Abstract: An interactive digital television system (iDTV) with a personalization module (PM) for injecting signals towards a small user-groups. The iDTV system comprises a broadcast operator (BO) for sending to subscriber units (SB: SB1-SB3) a downstream digital broadcast stream (BS) received from an interactive digital television provider (ITVP), and also comprising an interaction return channel operator (RCO) for providing interactivity between the subscriber units and the interactive digital television provider by means of a bi-directional interaction return channel (IC). The personalization module (PM) is coupled to the bi-directional interaction return channel (IC) and allows intercommunication between the subscriber units. As a result, a user can escape the limitations of the current linear TV programs and is transformed from a pure spectator into a producer and director of a collective or individual iDTV experience.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive digital television broadcast system that comprises a broadcast operator adapted to send towards a plurality of subscriber units a downstream digital broadcast stream, which is received from an interactive digital television provider. The digital broadcast stream is displayed at the plurality of subscriber units. The interactive digital television broadcast system further comprises an interaction return channel operator for providing interactivity between the plurality of subscriber units and the interactive digital television provider by means of a bi-directional interaction return channel.