Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: A method and system for selection of recordable events from among a set of recordable events, based on categories and sub-categories, that cumulatively describe a substantial portion of the entire set of recordable events. After receiving a first set of categories, and first sets of sub-categories corresponding to the first set of categories, at a device, the device is configured to use the first set of categories and the first set of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record. Thereafter, the device receives a second set of categories and respective second sets of sub-categories that correspond to the categories of the second set of categories, and the device responsively configures itself to use the second set of categories and the second sets of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a blockage in the field-of-view of a camera in an image capture system by monitoring changes in the quality of images captured by the camera. As an image is acquired by the camera, intensity values for pixels in the acquired image are determined and stored in a data structure in memory of the camera. Image statistics are calculated based in part on the intensity values for pixels in the currently acquired image and at least some previous images acquired by the camera. If the image statistics satisfy at least one predetermined alert criterion, an alert is triggered. In response to triggering an alert, an alert sensor included as part of the camera is activated to indicate to a user of the image capture system that a possible blockage in the field-of-view of the camera has been detected.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a camera and a group of light emitting diodes configured and arranged to illuminate an object imaged by the camera. The group of LEDs comprises at least one first LED of a first type that emits light with a first spectrum profile and at least one second LED of a second type that emits light with a second spectrum profile that is substantially different than the first spectrum profile. The apparatus may further comprise an adjustment mechanism for adjusting of the relative amounts of illumination energy generated by the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED during each of a plurality of scan cycles of the camera.

Abstract: A method and system for selection of recordable events from among a set of recordable events, based on categories and sub-categories, that cumulatively describe a substantial portion of the entire set of recordable events. After receiving a first set of categories, and first sets of sub-categories corresponding to the first set of categories, at a device, the device is configured to use the first set of categories and the first set of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record. Thereafter, the device receives a second set of categories and respective second sets of sub-categories that correspond to the categories of the second set of categories, and the device responsively configures itself to use the second set of categories and the second sets of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record.

Abstract: A method and system for selection of recordable events from among a set of recordable events, based on categories and sub-categories, that cumulatively describe a substantial portion of the entire set of recordable events. After receiving a first set of categories, and first sets of sub-categories corresponding to the first set of categories, at a device, the device is configured to use the first set of categories and the first set of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record. Thereafter, the device receives a second set of categories and respective second sets of sub-categories that correspond to the categories of the second set of categories, and the device responsively configures itself to use the second set of categories and the second sets of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a blockage in the field-of-view of a camera in an image capture system by monitoring changes in the quality of images captured by the camera. As an image is acquired by the camera, intensity values for pixels in the acquired image are determined and stored in a data structure in memory of the camera. Image statistics are calculated based in part on the intensity values for pixels in the currently acquired image and at least some previous images acquired by the camera. If the image statistics satisfy at least one predetermined alert criterion, an alert is triggered. In response to triggering an alert, an alert sensor included as part of the camera is activated to indicate to a user of the image capture system that a possible blockage in the field-of-view of the camera has been detected.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a status such as, for example, skew and/or double feed, of a scanned image.