Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for protecting real time media including receiving media packets, generating media bit strings from the media packets, applying a forward error correcting code across the generated media bit strings to generate at least one forward error correcting bit string and generating at least one forward error correcting packet from the at least one forward error correcting bit string. Also described are a method and apparatus for recovering from losses of real time media packets including forming media bit strings from received media packets, forming forward error correcting bit strings from received forward error correcting packets, decoding the formed media bit strings and forward error correcting bit strings to obtain recovered media bit strings and recover lost media packets from the recovered media bit strings. Further described is a data structure for a forward error correcting header on computer readable media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the distribution of multimedia content, comprising: a first step comprising a download in “push” mode of a multimedia content, in a partial way, from a content server to a client device, and a second step comprising a download of the missing elements of said multimedia content in “pull” mode via a “peer to peer” mechanism from a second client device, and in that the multimedia content can be reconstituted with n+p blocks, n and p being non-null natural integers, n blocks being downloaded during said first step and p blocks being downloaded during the second step, the multimedia content being exploitable only after reception of n+p blocks.

Abstract: The invention enables a standard client according to the DVB-IPI phase 1 standard and connected within a local area network interconnected with a service delivery network via a non-transparent gateway to discover all the services offered to it both by the external delivery network an d by the servers in its local area network. The invention is based mainly on a service discovery aggregation functionality that we call “SD & S proxy” implemented on any one of the devices connected to the local area network running jointly with an ad-hoc configuration of the gateway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting digital data packets protected by error correction packets and more precisely the manner of inserting these correction packets into the data packet stream so as to increase the correction effectiveness of the error correction method while limiting the latency introduced into the transmission. The packets are set out in matrix form, error packets are computed on lines and columns and are inserted regularly into the stream at a sufficient distance from the data packets that they protect.

Abstract: A method for transmitting first packets encapsulated in second packets in a transmission system in which part of the first packets contain a first timing reference for synchronization of a receiver clock and at least part of said second packets contain a second timing reference for reducing transmission jitter of the second packets at the receiver is described. This method is characterized by the steps, at the transmitter, collecting first packets, determining whether a collected first packet contains a first timing reference and triggering transmission of a second packet encapsulating collected first packets including said first packet containing the first timing reference in response to a positive determination.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assigning parts of multimedia files to distributed storage devices, the number of said devices being an integer n, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step consisting in dividing each multimedia file in windows, which represent data for contiguous playback of a given duration; a step consisting, for each multimedia file, in determining a number k so that any original window of file can be recovered from any k distinct symbols; a step consisting, for each window of each said multimedia files, in assigning n corresponding symbols to said devices, one to each device, the n distinct symbols being created using erasure coding; and a step consisting in partially or totally filling the storage memory left on each device after said first steps with prefix windows of said multimedia files.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for securing a data packet stream involving the following steps: arranging the packets to be sent in a matrix of D rows and L columns; to each row and each column of the matrix, applying an error correction function, the result of which is a correction packet; then sending the resulting correction packets in addition to the data packets. The invention also concerns a method for reconstructing lost packets in a data packet stream involving the following steps: arranging the received packets in a matrix of D rows and L columns, taking their sequence number into account; to each row and each column of the matrix containing at least one lost packet, applying a function for reconstructing missing packets using the received packets and the correction packet corresponding to the row or to the column. The invention also concerns the devices implementing these methods.

Abstract: The method can be used to provide a solution to the allocation of multicast addresses within a local area network by stream servers, particularly audio/video. This solution does not involve configuration or particular servers. The invention relies on the use of identifiers of the transmitted stream to construct the multicast address. Also, this method enables the transmission client to know the duly constructed multicast address to subscribe to a stream.

Abstract: The invention allows a user, wanting to receive, on the one hand, a digital television offer broadcast in a conventional manner, and, on the other hand, an offer of video services on an IP network, to have a conventional receiving device capable of redistributing on the local network the services that he receives. This receiver will therefore be seen on the network as an additional source of IP services. The conventional service offer will be incorporated into the IP services offer.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for navigating through subtitles of an Audio Video data stream an address information of one or more played back data units is stored together with the subtitle information of said played back data units during play back of said data units. One or more of said stored subtitle information can be displayed. Following the selection of one of said displayed subtitle information the stored address information of the data unit corresponding to the selected subtitle information is retrieved and the corresponding data unit is accessed using said retrieved address information. Playing back the accessed data unit conveniently allows to watch and listen to a scene including subtitles again, e.g. by a few clicks on the remote control.

Abstract: This method of managing auxiliary programs broadcast with main programs in a digital data stream comprises: a step of receiving a plurality of digital data streams including said digital data stream; a step of detecting data identifying all the auxiliary programs contained in said digital data stream; a step of extracting all the identified auxiliary programs in the stream; and a step of the receiver storing all of the auxiliary programs identified and extracted from the stream. It advantageously includes a step of access to an auxiliary program which includes a substep of fast transmission of all or a portion of the stored auxiliary program.

Abstract: The invention consists in a procedure for generating an address value within a terminal linked to a communication network. Initially, the terminal receives a pair of address values sent by a configured terminal. Then, the terminal determines a characteristic value of the network which is contained in the first and the second address values. The terminal then calculates a third address value containing the characteristic value of the network. Finally, the terminal assigns the third address value to the terminal if this value is not already assigned to another terminal. According to a refinement, the terminal sends a request to a terminal having this third request; if there is no response, this third address value does not belong to another terminal, so it can be assigned to the terminal to be configured. The invention also relates to the terminal designed to implement the procedure. The invention also relates to a terminal which receives a message comprising a first and a second address values.

Abstract: A programmable data processing device for a digital TV set-top box comprises: a loading engine for receiving portions of code of a first type and/or data from a DSM-CC Carousel, a storage means for storing the portions received by the loading engine, an execution engine for executing an application embodied by the received portions; and a translating engine for translating the first type code into a native code of the execution engine. The translating engine is adapted to compile at least a certain one of said received portions into native code and to store the thus compiled portion in the storage means, and to interpret other portions of code, and the execution engine is adapted to process compiled code and interpreted code within a same application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a module and a process for inter-user communication across a bidirectional network. The module comprises a unit for triggering recording, in a storage space of a server, of information received by the server from users via the bidirectional network, and a unit for controlling a broadcasting of data stored in the storage space to the users, via a broadcasting network. It also comprises a unit for monitoring connection of the users to the server via the bidirectional network. Moreover, the unit for triggering recording and/or the unit for controlling broadcasting is designed to operate as a function of the users connected to the server which are identified by the monitoring unit. Advantageously, the bidirectional network is temporary and the broadcasting network is a permanent unidirectional network. Applications to P2P technology, in particular for television.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of control of the displaying of audiovisual transmissions by a receiver furnished with means of receiving and of recording audiovisual transmissions. The method comprises a step of recording a first transmission selected by the user; and following an action by the user to display the recorded transmission, a step of reading a transmission of a second type prerecorded in the recording means (this transmission being for example of advertising type), and a step of displaying the transmission of the second type before the end of the displaying of the first transmission for a duration stored in the receiver, the displaying of the transmission of the second type being a condition for displaying the first transmission.