Abstract: System for the production of images the system comprising one or more cameras (2,3,4,2a,3a,4a) for providing overlapping images on a base (1), the system comprising a merger (5) for merging one or more overlapping images supplied by one or more of the cameras into a composite image (6). The merging process takes into account that the base is rotating with a rotational speed ?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection method applied to digital coded video data available in the form of a video stream comprising consecutive frames divided into macroblocks themselves subdivided into contiguous blocks. These frames comprise I-frames, coded independently, P-frames, predicted from a previous I- or P-frame, and B-frames, bidirectionally predicted from at least two frames between which they are disposed.

Abstract: The invention describes a system (1) for generating audio-visual summaries for audio-visual program content (3). The system comprises a search unit (4) for locating a pre-generated text summary (5) associated with the program content (3); a speech synthesizer (6) for converting the text summary (5i) into speech (7); a video 5 summary generator (8) for generating a video summary (9) of the audio-visual program content (3), and an audio/video mixer (10) for mixing the synthesized speech (7) with the video summary (9). Moreover the invention describes an appropriate method for generating audio-visual summaries (5i) for audio-visual program content (3).

Abstract: A user of a mobile client requests electronic content information for being downloaded via a data network. The client first receives a semantically summarized version of the requested content information. If the downloading is prematurely interrupted, the user has at least a meaningful summary available.

Abstract: A method for selecting a chapter boundary for a digital video recording is provided that includes examining cut-rates for the recording. A determination is made regarding whether a default chapter length has passed. A determination is made regarding whether the cut-rate for the recording at the default chapter length is low. The chapter boundary is selected at the default chapter length when the cut-rate for the recording at the default chapter length is low.

Abstract: An apparatus for content indexing uses processing parameters that become available while processing multimedia content. One embodiment of this processing includes compression. A video processor receives multimedia content and generates processed multimedia content. A system for content analysis receives processing parameters from the video processor, where the processing parameters are separate from the processed multimedia content and are generated as a result of processing the multimedia content. The system for content analysis generates content descriptors representative for the multimedia content, responsively to the processing parameters generated during or while processing, e.g., encoding or decoding, the multimedia content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for creating an icon (11, 12), representing a group of images comprising a plurality of images (1, 2, . . . , N). The icon is composed of a selection of images from that group of images. The method comprises: —determining a relative importance (I1, . . . IN) of each image (1, 2, . . . N) and—generating an icon composed of a selection of images based on the determined relative importance of each image.

Abstract: As the amount of audiovisual data that can be received by consumers increases rapidly, there is an increasing need for proper summarisation of audiovisual data like films. Thereto, the invention provides a method of creating a multimedia summary of a stream of audiovisual data like a film. First, a textual summary is retrieved (204). Next, the stream of audiovisual data is segmented (208) and information is extracted from the stream of audiovisual data (210) and the textual summary (206). Finally, segments are selected (212) that carry information matching information carried by the textual summary. Summaries of films and series are abundantly available on the internet and are made by and for devotees, providing a reliable seed for creating a multimedia summary.

Abstract: To control the sound output of various devices (1a, 1b, 1c, . . . ) a control unit (3) gathers information (I) on the sound output of the devices. Before a device starts producing sound, it submits a request (R) to the control unit. In response to the request, the control unit allocates a sound share (S) to the device on the basis of the sound information, the sound share involving a maximum volume. Thus the volume of any new sound is determined by the volume of the existing sound. An optional priority schedule may allow existing sound to be reduced in volume.

Abstract: On a distributed data processing system, a history of file migration is maintained. When access to a file is requested and the file is not found, the migration history is consulted to determine the current location of the file, and to update links contained in other files that point to the request file.

Abstract: A method of creating a collection of relevant video segments (201,203) by selecting respective portions (222-234, 242-254) from a video stream (200) which corresponds to a program is disclosed. The collection of relevant video segments (201,203) can be applied as video trailer or as video abstract. Hence the duration of the collection of relevant video segments is relatively short compared with the duration of the program. The method comprises: receiving transcript information associated with the program, the transcript information comprising a plurality of sentences; detecting a first exclamatory syntactical element in a first one of the sentences; selecting a first one of the portions (202) from the video stream (200), which corresponds to the first exclamatory syntactical element; and associating the first one of the portions (202) with a first one of the relevant video segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting a boundary of a content item in a digital video stream. The method comprises the steps of determining (130) an average bit rate of the video stream over a period of time, and detecting (140) a change of the average bit rate indicating the boundary of the content item. A moving average of the bit rate may be determined. The method can be used for an encrypted digital video stream. The invention also relates to a device for detecting a boundary of a content item in a digital video stream. The invention further relates to a receiver for receiving at least one content item in a digital broadcast video stream, and a video recorder for recording at least one TV program.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing video content includes a play means (100) for playing video content. The video content includes overlapping scenes (621, 622, 641, 642, 661, 662, 681, 682), with each scene having an associated scene signature. A scene hopping selector (44) is operative while the play means (100) is playing video content for selecting a hop. The selecting defines a current scene (102) which the play means (100) is playing at a time of the selection, and a current scene signature corresponding to the current scene (102). A similar scene hopping processor (104) operates responsive to a defining of a current scene (102). The similar scene hopping processor (104) compares the current scene signature with other scene signatures of the video content to identify a similar scene (106). The similar scene hopping processor (104) causes the play means (100) to transfer the playing to the similar scene (106).

Abstract: The method of the invention detects (1) a state of a user, determines (3) whether, based on this state, the user is asleep, and switches (5) the electronic device to a mode of reduced power consumption when it has been determined that the user is asleep. The computer program of the invention enables a programmable device to carry out the method. The electronic device of the invention comprises at least a control unit and a receiver for receiving, from a detector, a detection signal comprising a state of a user. The control unit is able to determine whether, based on his state, the user is asleep and switches the electronic device to a mode of reduced power consumption when it has been determined that the user is asleep.

Abstract: A reproduction device (200) is arranged to conditionally block the reproduction of a particular content item (324). The reproduction has a unit (202) to obtain a content reference identifier (330) identifying the particular content item (324) and a storage unit (204) for storing the content reference identifier (330). A resolution process regularly checks on the basis of the content reference identifier (330) whether the particular content item is scheduled to be available, e.g. is scheduled for broadcast. When the scheduled broadcast of the particular item has been established, a blocking unit (210) blocks the reproduction device for that scheduled broadcast.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing an information signal stored on a first storage medium (4). The apparatus comprises a reading unit (2) for reading the information signal from the first storage medium, an output unit (6) for supplying the information signal to a display unit, an user controllable input unit (8) for receiving commands to enable an user to access the information signal. The user controllable input unit is adapted to receive a first command at an instant. The apparatus further comprises a unit (10) for controlling the reading unit to start reading the information signal from said storage medium at a second position in the information signal in response to said first command, the information signal at said second position having features showing a similarity with features of the information signal at a first position read at said instant of receiving said first command, or a features of an information signal read prior to said instant.

Abstract: The sharp price decrease of storage media enabled users to store more and faster content in contrary to the past. In the near future they will be overwhelmed by the amount of data stored on storage media. Because of the enormous amount of information, they will not be able to index the multimedia content stored manually for later retrieval. Tools to support the users are required. The disadvantage of these algorithms is that they are very expensive in terms of processing power and therefore not feasible for consumer storage devices. The invention proposes an apparatus for content indexing using processing parameters that come available while processing multimedia content. One embodiment of this processing is compression, processing which is performed with almost all multimedia content before it is stored.

Abstract: Estimating a signal power in a compressed audio signal [A] is provided, the audio signal comprising blocks of quantized samples, a given block being provided with a set of scale factors. The estimating is performed by extracting the set of scale factors from the compressed audio signal, and estimating the signal power in the given block based on a combination of the scale factors. Advantageously, the extracting step and estimating step are performed on only a sub-set of the set of scale factors. The signal power estimation may be used in a silence detector (11) for use in a receiver (1).

Abstract: Silences are detected when a local signal power is below a given fixed or relative threshold value, the duration of the local signal power being below the given fixed or relative threshold value is within a first range and at least one of the parameters signal power fall/rise rate and local power deviation falls within a respective further range. The invention further relates to the use of such a silence detection in a receiver (1).

Abstract: A PVR (A) includes an output (70) wherein a TV channel selected for viewing is output, and a storage device (20) that selectively stores a channel indicator (24) therein. A user interface (60) provides means for selectively loading the storage device (20) with a desired channel indicator (24), and means for selecting a TV channel to be sent to the output (70). A buffer (82) is also included. The buffer (82) automatically records the TV channel output for viewing if the storage device (20) has no channel indicator (20) stored therein, and automatically records that TV channel indicated by the channel indicator (24) when one is stored in the storage device (20) even when the TV channel output for viewing is selected to be different from the TV channel indicated by the channel indicator (24).