Abstract: A video receiver is operable to receive video bitstreams from a video transmitter over, for example, a wireless high definition transmission link. The received video bitstreams comprises a plurality of video frames and corresponding coding information. The coding information such as, for example, block motion vectors, block coding modes, quantization levels, and/or quantized residual data, is extracted for performing frame-rate up-conversion on the received plurality of video frames. The coding information is generated at the video transmitter via entropy decoding on a compressed video from a video feed from, for example, an IP TV network. When an uncompressed video is received, the video receiver is operable to perform frame-rate up-conversion on the received uncompressed video using extracted block motion vectors and associated confidence-consistence measure.

Abstract: A video processing system is operable to perform one or more display queue trick (DQT) operations utilizing decoded frames queued in memory. The decoded frames are generated from the start of random access points (RAPs) in frame segments in an encoded video stream. Location of RAPs may be determined during decoding of the encoded video stream. Exemplary encoding scheme comprise MPEG, AVC and/or VC1. The DQT modes include forward and/or reverse display modes. The used frames are selected based on determination of DQT mode parameters, queuing limitations and/or frame properties of selected and/or unselected frames in the frame segments. Frame properties comprise frame discardability and/or display inter-frame dependencies between selected and/or unselected frames. The video processing system is operable to jump to preceding and/or subsequent RAPs during DQT mode operations. The video processing system is also operable to skip one or more RAPs during such jumps.

Abstract: Error concealment for motion picture expert group (MPEG) decoding with personal video recording functionality. Error concealment of MPEG data may take place within various components within playback, recording, reading and writing data systems. The error concealment may be provided within existing systems whose components may not be capable of accommodating errors within MPEG data. In certain embodiments, the available data that contain no errors is maximized to conceal those portions of the data that do include errors. Various layers may be accommodated while performing error concealment, including the MPEG transport stream layer, the video layer, and the audio layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for indicating the identity of a device for receiving and retransmitting programming information. The device, which may be a set-top box or suitable communication network receiver, may be configured to receive a broadcast signal from an antenna, which may be a satellite, a cable, an electronic communication network or any other suitable source. The programming information may be any type of audio or video data, or any other suitable type of data. The broadcast signal may have multiple channels that include the programming information. Each of the channels may include a distinct watermark. The device may splice between the channels to generate a signature that the device may embed in an output data stream that may be used to display or perform the programming information.

Abstract: Schemes for rewinding a HITS stream in video recorder and playback systems are presented herein. Reference pictures are stored for a group of pictures, allowing subsequent pictures to be decoded from the reference pictures. The foregoing significantly reduces the number of picture decodes required to display a HITS stream in reverse order.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for denying a user a benefit of information transmitted to a device. The device may be a satellite signal receiver, which may be in the form of a set-top box, or any other device for which location-based security is desired. The method may include disabling a function of the device if the device is in a location at which the user is not entitled to the benefit. The device location may be determined based on the position of at least one beacon, which may be part of a Global Positioning System satellite.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) authentication with DVI or HDMI receiver devices are provided. An HDCP transmitting apparatus according to the invention may include a computer and a look-up table accessible by the computer. The look-up table may include a database for storing an interoperability characteristic for an HDCP receiving device. The computer can communicate with the HDCP receiving device. The computer may also insert a delay in an initiation of the authentication and/or communication of content between the HDCP transmitting apparatus and the HDCP receiving device. The magnitude of the delay may be based on an interoperability characteristic retrieved from the look-up table that corresponds to the HDCP receiving device. The inserting may occur prior to the implementation of authentication initiation and ongoing link integrity checking between the transmitting apparatus and the HDCP receiving device.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for dynamically adjusting forward error correction (FEC) rate to adapt for time varying network impairments in video streaming applications over IP networks may be disclosed. At a server side of a client-server communication system, a rate of transmission of forward error correction (FEC) packets to one or more clients may be dynamically adjusted based on receiving at least one upstream FEC packet from a plurality of clients. The rate of transmission of the FEC packets to the plurality of clients may be increased when a rate of occurrence of lost data packets is above a particular threshold value. The upstream FEC packets may comprise an urgent packet requesting transmission of a particular FEC packet in order to recover one or more particular lost data packets.

Abstract: Error concealment for motion picture expert group (MPEG) decoding with personal video recording functionality. The present invention is operable to perform error concealment of MPEG data within various components within playback, recording, reading and writing data systems. The present invention is operable within existing systems whose components may not be capable of accommodating errors within MPEG data. Whereas prior art systems typically cannot deal with any corruption without either losing the data or suffering some operational failure, the present invention is able to conceal these errors and to continue decoding and presentation of the MPEG data. In certain embodiments, this involves maximizing the available data that contain no errors to conceal those portions of the data that do include errors. The present invention is operable to accommodate various layers while performing error concealment, including the MPEG transport stream layer, the video layer, and the audio layer.

Abstract: A transcoder (10) and a decoder (80) reconstruct an image from still image compressed data, such as EXIF data. The transcoder transcodes the still image compressed data into a bit stream of moving picture compressed data, such as an MPEG-2 4:2:2P bit stream with only intra pictures. The decoder (80) decodes the bit stream of moving picture compressed data into a still picture image that can be stored in a digital memory (100).

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for reducing the video decoder processing requirements for rewinding a HITS stream are presented herein. During rewind of a HITS stream, the video decoder builds a clean reference picture. The clean reference picture is built by decoding each of the P-pictures in the EP-EP segment. However, because the P-pictures are not displayed, the decoder does not decode the portion of the P-picture below the last intracoded slice. The decoder can build the clean reference picture without decoding the portions of the P-pictures below the last intracoded slice because the subsequent pictures do not use the said portions for prediction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing media content are disclosed and may include a server operatively coupled to a network, a first communications device operatively coupled to the network, and a second communications device operatively coupled to the network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device. The second communications device may send the device profile, received from the first communications device, and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device profile received from the first communications device. The server may send the reformatted media content to the first communications device. The server may transcode the media content from a first type of format to a second type of format. The second type of format may be compatible with the first communications device.

Abstract: Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server.

Abstract: Systems and methods that manipulate a system time clock in an audio decoding system and/or a video decoding system are disclosed. In one example, the method may include the steps of selecting a trick mode rate and adjusting system time clock update rate as a function of the selected trick mode rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide picture-in-picture timebase management are provided. In one example, a method may include the steps of sending a first video signal and a second video signal to a video decoder; sending a first audio signal to the audio decoder, the first audio signal being associated with the first video signal; locking a single timing mechanism to program clock references (PCRs) of the first audio signal; and decoding the first audio signal and the first video signal according to a timebase of the single timing mechanism.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for switching between a live video decoding and a recorded playback in a digital video and recording system. A received video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out video decoder buffer without first looping the video data stream through a playback buffer. The video data stream is transmitted from the video decoder buffer to a video decoder. If a “pause” command is received, the video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out playback buffer, while continuing to transmit the video data stream to the video decoder buffer. Transmission of the video data stream to the video decoder buffer is halted when the video decoder buffer fills up. The last byte of the video data stream that was transmitted to the video decoder buffer is marked. If a “play” command is received, the video data stored in the video decoder buffer is transmitted to the video decoder.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for reducing the video decoder processing requirements are presented herein. During a rewind operation, a reference picture for a group of pictures is decoded and stored into a reference frame buffer. By storing a reference picture for the group, the reference picture need not be decoded to display each picture in the group during the rewind operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for switching between a live video decoding and a recorded playback in a digital video and recording system. A received video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out video decoder buffer without first looping the video data stream through a playback buffer. The video data stream is transmitted from the video decoder buffer to a video decoder. If a “pause” command is received, the video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out playback buffer, while continuing to transmit the video data stream to the video decoder buffer. Transmission of the video data stream to the video decoder buffer is halted when the video decoder buffer fills up. The last byte of the video data stream that was transmitted to the video decoder buffer is marked. If a “play” command is received, the video data stored in the video decoder buffer is transmitted to the video decoder.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for reducing the video decoder processing requirements are presented herein. During a rewind operation, a reference picture for a group of pictures is decoded and stored into a reference frame buffer. By storing a reference picture for the group, the reference picture need not be decoded to display each picture in the group during the rewind operation.