Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for taking an enriched digital photograph is described. The method includes a specially programmed physical device performing the following steps: automatically start capturing audio video data with a capture device; capturing a digital; photograph during the capture of the audio video data; and automatically stop capturing the audio video data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for taking an enriched digital photograph is described. The method includes a specially programmed physical device performing the following steps: automatically start capturing audio video data with a capture device; capturing a digital; photograph during the capture of the audio video data; and automatically stop capturing the audio video data.

Abstract: A data processing system (70) for graphics processing, including a scene manager (80). The scene manager (80) includes a scene loader (86) for receiving a description of 3 dimensional objects in a scene from a 3-dimensional modelling tool (46). The description includes first 2-dimensional frame data. The scene manager (80) has a texture image modification unit (84) for receiving second 2-dimensional frame data from a 2-dimensional rendering engine (40), and for replacing the first frame data by the second frame data. The scene manager (80) has an animation scheduler for scheduling and monitoring an animation of the scene. The system includes a display manager (96) operative to invoke the scene manager (80) to render output frames in a display buffer (100), and a scene Tenderer (88) configured for applying the 2-dimensional frame data to the 3-dimensional objects to produce textured 3-dimensional objects in the display buffer (100) and outputting the textured objects in the animation.

Abstract: A method for enriching digital photographs, the method comprising: receiving a digital photograph and video data captured before a time at which the digital photograph is captured until after said time, wherein the video data comprises a sequence of video frames; processing the digital photograph and the video frames to layer the digital photograph and the video frames into a plurality of layers thereby creating a plurality of video layer sequences; defining an order of the plurality of layers; generating playback guidance, the playback guidance defining how to combine the video layer sequences during playback; and transmitting the order, the video layer sequences and the playback guidance to a display device for playback.

Abstract: There is provided according to embodiments of the invention a method of changing channels in a hybrid multicast video distribution environment, which is carried out by receiving a plurality of multicast video streams concurrently in a server, buffering first segments of the video streams respectively, wherein the first segments comprise an independently decodable frame and zero or more predicted frames, encoding the first segments to form new segments having new frame quality parameters that are less than the frame quality parameters of the first segments, assembling the first segments and the new segments into respective channel packs of the video streams, and responsively to a request, identifying one of the video streams and transmitting at least a portion of the oldest stored channel pack of the one video stream from the server to a receiving device. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A content recommendation method and system including providing a plurality of content items, the number of items designated as N, representing each of the N content items symbolically represented as a unique point on a two-dimensional plane, thereby associating an x and y coordinate with each one of the content items, changing the x and y coordinate of the unique point based on user requests for other content items besides the one of the N content items, determining a distance between the unique point and a multiplicity of points corresponding to a multiplicity of other content items, returning at least a first content recommendation to a user, the at least a first content recommendation including a content item associated with a point closer than any other point to a point associated with the content item presently being viewed by the user. Related methods and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A method of operating a client device within a viewing environment is described. The method includes: receiving content at a client device, presenting the content to a viewer by rendering the content as rendered content on a display surface in operable communication with the client device; receiving engagement data at the client device, the engagement data indicating a level of engagement with the content of at least one user who is viewing the rendered content; and adapting presentation of the content in dependence on the engagement data by changing how the content is rendered on the display surface. Related systems, apparatus, and methods are also described.

Abstract: There is provided according to embodiments of the invention a method of changing channels in a hybrid multicast video distribution environment, which is carried out by receiving a plurality of multicast video streams concurrently in a server, buffering first segments of the video streams respectively, wherein the first segments comprise an independently decodable frame and zero or more predicted frames, encoding the first segments to form new segments having new frame quality parameters that are less than the frame quality parameters of the first segments, assembling the first segments and the new segments into respective channel packs of the video streams, and responsively to a request, identifying one of the video streams and transmitting at least a portion of the oldest stored channel pack of the one video stream from the server to a receiving device. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for enriching digital photographs, the method comprising: receiving a digital photograph and video data captured before a time at which the digital photograph is captured until after said time, wherein the video data comprises a sequence of video frames; processing the digital photograph and the video frames to layer the digital photograph and the video frames into a plurality of layers thereby creating a plurality of video layer sequences; defining an order of the plurality of layers; generating playback guidance, the playback guidance defining how to combine the video layer sequences during playback; and transmitting the order, the video layer sequences and the playback guidance to a display device for playback.

Abstract: A data processing system (70) for graphics processing, including a scene manager (80). The scene manager (80) includes a scene loader (86) for receiving a description of 3 dimensional objects in a scene from a 3-dimensional modelling tool (46). The description includes first 2-dimensional frame data. The scene manager (80) has a texture image modification unit (84) for receiving second 2-dimensional frame data from a 2-dimensional rendering engine (40), and for replacing the first frame data by the second frame data. The scene manager (80) has an animation scheduler for scheduling and monitoring an animation of the scene. The system includes a display manager (96) operative to invoke the scene manager (80) to render output frames in a display buffer (100), and a scene Tenderer (88) configured for applying the 2-dimensional frame data to the 3-dimensional objects to produce textured 3-dimensional objects in the display buffer (100) and outputting the textured objects in the animation.

Abstract: A method for enriching digital photographs, the method comprising: receiving a digital photograph and video data captured before a time at which the digital photograph is captured until after said time, wherein the video data comprises a sequence of video frames; processing the digital photograph and the video frames to layer the digital photograph and the video frames into a plurality of layers thereby creating a plurality of video layer sequences; defining an order of the plurality of layers; generating playback guidance, the playback guidance defining how to combine the video layer sequences during playback; and transmitting the order, the video layer sequences and the playback guidance to a display device for playback.

Abstract: A system and method for managing distributed content in a content distribution network. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A content recommendation method and system including providing a plurality of content items, a number of items in including the plurality of content items designated as N, symbolically representing each of the N content items as a unique point on a two-dimensional plane, thereby associating an x and y coordinate with each one of the content items, associating, as an initial condition, a weight of zero with each point on the two-dimensional plane, incrementing the weight associated with the unique point associated with one of the N content items each time the one of the N content items is accessed, changing the x and y coordinate of the unique point based on a plurality of user requests for other content items besides the one of the N content items, determining a distance between the unique point and a multiplicity of points corresponding to a multiplicity of other content items, returning at least a first content recommendation to a user, the at least a first content recommendation including a content item as

Abstract: A computer system for real-time determination of a motion vector comprising an image processor to apply an image processing filter to a normalized frame element of a first image frame, yielding a filtered frame element having associated filtered pixel values, a pixel selector to select a first reference pixel from the filtered frame element having the highest value of the filtered pixel values, an optic flow module to determine a first optic flow applied at a location of the first reference pixel, a pattern matching module to perform pattern matching between the normalized pixel values of the normalized frame element and normalized frame elements of a second image frame, yielding a plurality of pattern matching scores, and a motion vector determiner to determine a motion vector based on a lowest one of the pattern matching scores. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for transmission and storing of scrambled content in which the scrambled content is transmitted together with encrypted control words, the control words being used for descrambling the scrambled content, transmitting to a receiver/decoder the scrambled content and encrypted control words, said control words being encrypted by an exploitation key (KG), decrypting said encrypted control words in a removable security module with an exploitation key (KG), said removable security module being received by the receiver/decoder, characterised in that it further includes transmitting usage rules message (URM) to the receiver/decoder (2000), which usage rules (URM) impose usage constraints on the playback of the content stored on a mass storage device encrypting the decrypted encrypted control words and usage rules messages by a local key (KL) to produce encrypted control management messages (CMM) storing said scrambled content and encrypted control management message on the mass storage device of the receiver

Abstract: A computer system for real-time determination of a motion vector comprising an image processor to apply an image processing filter to a normalized frame element of a first image frame, yielding a filtered frame element having associated filtered pixel values, a pixel selector to select a first reference pixel from the filtered frame element having the highest value of the filtered pixel values, an optic flow module to determine a first optic flow applied at a location of the first reference pixel, a pattern matching module to perform pattern matching between the normalized pixel values of the normalized frame element and normalized frame elements of a second image frame, yielding a plurality of pattern matching scores, and a motion vector determiner to determine a motion vector based on a lowest one of the pattern matching scores. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a table mapping a data offset in a bitstream, apparatus for evaluating position in a bitstream, and a command for controlling the transfer of a bitstream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method of transmitting data, comprising transmitting conditional access information and content management information independently.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a table mapping a data offset in a bitstream, apparatus for evaluating position in a bitstream, and a command for controlling the transfer of a bitstream.