Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a set top box generating a playlist corresponding to content titles stored in a memory of the set top box. A user device is in communication with the cloud location and the set top box through a network. The user device reviews the playlist and selects a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The cloud location includes a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content. One of the cloud location and the set top box communicates the transcoded content to the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a set top box generating a playlist corresponding to content titles stored in a memory of the set top box. A user device is in communication with the cloud location and the set top box through a network. The user device reviews the playlist and selects a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The cloud location includes a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content. One of the cloud location and the set top box communicates the transcoded content to the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for using content on multiple devices includes a head end associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account and authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content. The first user device forms a selection signal corresponding to a first content. The head end communicates the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal. The first user device displays the first content on a first display associated therewith. The second user device receives the first content and displays the first content on a second display associated with the second user device.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a user receiving device includes a first user device that receives first user settings and stores the first user settings therein. The first user device communicates first user settings to a second user receiving device. The second user receiving device operates with the first user settings.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a user receiving device includes a head end associating a first user device with a user account having first user settings. A first user device communicates a device identifier associated with the user receiving device to the head end. The head end communicates the first user settings associated with the user account to the user receiving device. The user receiving device operates with the first user settings.

Abstract: A system and method for using content on multiple devices includes a head end associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account and authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content. The first user device forms a selection signal corresponding to a first content. The head end communicates the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal. The first user device displays the first content on a first display associated therewith. The second user device receives the first content and displays the first content on a second display associated with the second user device.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a set top box generating a playlist corresponding to content titles stored in a memory of the set top box. A user device is in communication with the cloud location and the set top box through a network. The user device reviews the playlist and selects a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The cloud location includes a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content. One of the cloud location and the set top box communicates the transcoded content to the user device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for distributing multi-media information from a satellite broadcast system. A hub receives a signal from the satellite broadcast system, wherein the signal represents video information and audio information associated with multiple broadcast channels. The hub centrally demodulates and decodes the received signal for distribution to one of a number of access point devices. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the decoded signal represents uncompressed video and audio information corresponding to one of the broadcast channels. The access point devices convert the received decoded signal for output respective displays (e.g., television sets). The hub can also be equipped with an interface to provide access to a public data network, such as the global Internet. Further, the hub can be supplied with a digital video recording capability.

Abstract: A system and method includes a host device using a first format, an intermediate device, a user device using a second format and a network in communication with the host device, the intermediate device and the user device. The user device communicates a first user generated signal having the second format to the intermediate device. The intermediate device converts the second format of the first user generated signal to the first format to form a second user generated signal. The intermediate device communicates the second user generated signal to the host device.

Abstract: A system and method for using content on multiple devices includes a head end associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account and authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content. The first user device forms a selection signal corresponding to a first content. The head end communicates the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal. The first user device displays the first content on a first display associated therewith. The second user device receives the first content and displays the first content on a second display associated with the second user device.

Abstract: A checkerboard subsampled image is packed in a format to remove shifts that would otherwise result in jagged edges where edges that were not jagged used to exist when checkerboard subsampling is used to reduce video bandwidth. The packing format places alternate rows of a checkerboard subsampled image row by row or places alternate columns of a checkerboard image line by line. By removing the shift and jagged edges, high frequency components that are difficult compress and display as annoying artifacts are eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote watermarking of a media program is disclosed. The method inserts a pattern of substituted second versions of media program portions that are invisible to the viewer, into reproduced copies of the media program. The method permits the watermarking of encrypted media programs.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a local content aggregated system includes a switch module receiving external channel signals, user receiving devices and a local headend generating a local channel signal. The local headend communicates the local channel signal to the switch module and communicates local channel program guide data to the user receiving devices. The user receiving devices receive external program guide data corresponding to the external channels. The user receiving device selects either a first external channel signal from the external channel signals or the local channel signal at the program guide to form a selection signal corresponding to a selected channel at a first user receiving device of the user receiving devices. The user receiving device communicates the selection signal to the switch module, which is switched in response thereto. The switch module communicates the selected channel signal to the first user receiving device.

Abstract: A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a set top box that receives a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area, generating a weather log, comparing the weather log and the profile and disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing. A head end and a plurality of other set top boxes may be used to gather the weather data to form the profile.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a local content aggregated system includes a switch module receiving external channel signals, user receiving devices and a local headend generating a local channel signal. The local headend communicates the local channel signal to the switch module and communicates local channel program guide data to the user receiving devices. The user receiving devices receive external program guide data corresponding to the external channels. The user receiving device selects either a first external channel signal from the external channel signals or the local channel signal at the program guide to form a selection signal corresponding to a selected channel at a first user receiving device of the user receiving devices. The user receiving device communicates the selection signal to the switch module, which is switched in response thereto. The switch module communicates the selected channel signal to the first user receiving device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing a time stamp in a remotely applied watermark is disclosed. The method permits a time stamp of high resolution to be added remotely while minimizing the number of bits necessary in the time stamp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote watermarking of a media program is disclosed. The method inserts a pattern of substituted second versions of media program portions that are invisible to the viewer, into reproduced copies of the media program. The method permits the watermarking of encrypted media programs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing content signals received from a plurality of different, and possibly dissimilar, signal sources, such as different satellite networks, and providing a display based on the content of those signals. The apparatus includes a tuner/demodulator for receiving content signals and demodulating the received content signals as programming bitstreams, and one or more access control devices for descrambling any conditional access present in the demodulated programming bitstreams. The apparatus further includes a processor, such as a system chip, which is responsible for all command and control functions. The system chip evaluates conditional access to determine whether the bitstream needs decryption, descrambling, or both, and processes a bitstream from one of the multiple signal sources for display on a suitable output device.

Abstract: Personal multimedia devices can detect when an incoming video format is different from a native format and make a local decision to convert incoming video formats to a format native to the personal multimedia device. The personal multimedia device may include a media processor that comprises an MPEG decoder/encoder, graphics processors, and a video decoder/encoder. These components increase a frame rate of a received video signal when the frame rate of the received video signal is less than a frame rate of the native video format of the personal multimedia device and decrease the frame rate of the received video signal when the frame rate of the received video signal is greater than the native frame rate of the set-top box. The graphics processor scales a frame resolution of the frames in the received video signal to correspond to the native video format.

Abstract: A distributed computer system, as for transmitting and receiving executable multimedia applications, includes a source of a continuous data stream repetitively transfering data representing a distributed computing application and a client computer, receiving the data stream, for extracting the distributed computing application representative data from the data stream, and executing the extracted distributed computing application.