Abstract: Each of plural multimedia files desired to be backed up are transformed into vector representations and divided into segments, and the segments are sent to respective participating computers in a network as a means of backing up the files. The multimedia files can be recovered and may be reconstituted with less than 100% of the segments with minimal deleterious noticeability upon subsequent display of the content in the files.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera includes a digital zoom module that performs a digital zoom function, and an optical zoom module that controls a lens unit of the digital camera to perform an optical zoom function. A depth of field manager performs a zoom-setting optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values for the optical zoom module and the digital zoom module to thereby optimize image quality characteristics of images captured by the camera device.

Abstract: A CE device can incorporate a GPS receiver and can be moved around a building with wireless access point (AP) signal strengths recorded at various locations. The optimum AP location is selected on the basis of the location-to-signal strength correlations.

Abstract: A charging mat for recharging a consumer electronics (CE) device placed thereon. The mat has a flat charging surface configured for supporting the CE device and an insulating layer opposed to the charging surface and positionable on a support surface while the CE device is disposed on the charging surface. The insulating layer has an R-value of at least three ft2-° F.-h/BTU per inch of thickness. A coupling device is closely juxtaposed with the charging surface and is configured to inductively and/or capacitively couple charge energy into a battery of the CE device when the CE device is positioned on the charging surface. A charge battery disposed between the charging surface and insulating layer provides charge energy to the coupling device.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting personal content distribution in an electronic network includes a source client device that selects and transfers personal content over a back channel. A content server receives and processes the personal content according to specific transmission instructions to thereby generating a corresponding content item. A high-power transmitter then wirelessly broadcasts the content item to one or more target client devices that receive and process the content item to retrieve the personal content.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting advertisement distribution in an electronic network includes an ad server that collects statistics for specifically targeting advertisements to device users in the electronic network. A recommendation engine then analyzes the collected statistics to create recommendation lists of ranked advertisement candidates for transmitting to client devices of the device users. A high-power wireless transmitter broadcasts the targeted advertisements to the client devices in a multicast procedure.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting content distribution in an electronic network includes a high-power wireless transmitter that broadcasts content items received from a content source to target devices that are configured in a peer-to-peer network. An electronic device may obtain current storage locations of a required one of the content items from a tracking server via a back channel. The electronic device may then generate a content request to at least one of said target devices in the peer-to-peer network for accessing the required one of the content items.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively supporting software distribution in an electronic network includes a software server and a network of client devices. The software server stores software items received from a software provider. The software items include various types of trial software that is provided to device users for temporary evaluation and potential purchase. A recommendation engine of the software server creates recommendation lists to identify optimal candidates from among the stored software items for performing an automatic and transparent software download procedures. The recommendation engine creates the recommendation lists by analyzing selectable software-ranking criteria related to device users of the client devices. The software server then downloads the optimal candidates from the stored software items to respective target devices during the software download procedures.

Abstract: Firewall ports are opened automatically and randomly by using signals received from a digital TV device such as an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) broadcast source.

Abstract: A cost function is stochastically optimized using, e.g., simulated annealing to render a neighborhood of entities based on which content recommendations can be provided to a user of a home entertainment system. The cost function represents a normalized sum of rating similarity scores from entities of the neighborhood that are related to content items viewed by the user.

Abstract: A cost function is stochastically optimized using, e.g., simulated annealing to render a neighborhood of entities based on which content recommendations can be provided to a user of a home entertainment system. The cost function represents a normalized sum of rating similarity scores from entities of the neighborhood that are related to content items viewed by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for populating a mesh network model includes peer devices that are configured to transmit peer device signals by utilizing a wireless broadcasting procedure. Mobile devices wirelessly detect the peer device signals to produce wireless scan data corresponding to the peer devices. A location server may then receive the wireless scan data for performing a location estimation calculation procedure with the wireless scan data to thereby determine location coordinates for effectively populating the mesh network model.

Abstract: A system and method for populating an access point database includes a network of access points that are implemented to transmit access point signals by utilizing a wireless broadcasting procedure. One or more mobile devices are then configured to wirelessly receive and analyze the access point signals to produce access point scan data corresponding to the access points. A location server receives and analyzes the access point scan data to determine specific access point locations for the access points. The location server then utilizes the access point locations to populate the access point database.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a film camera into a digital camera uses an electronic device placed in a space of the camera that normally contains film. The device includes an image sensing array arranged in optical communication with a lens of the camera when a shutter is open. An audio sensor is used to detect sounds within the camera, and an acoustic pattern recognizer with a built-in training mode is used to determine if the detected sounds correspond with the shutter operation. The image sensing array is switched into an image capture mode when the acoustic pattern recognizer determines that the shutter is being opened. When the shutter is opened, a read-out circuit captures multiple image frames from the image sensing array. An image processor associated with the image sensing array processes the captured images using advanced image processing algorithms.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a film camera into a digital camera uses an electronic device placed in a space of the camera that normally contains film. The device includes an image sensing array arranged in optical communication with a lens of the camera when a shutter is open. An audio sensor is used to detect sounds within the camera, and an acoustic pattern recognizer with a built-in training mode is used to determine if the detected sounds correspond with the shutter operation. The image sensing array is switched into an image capture mode when the acoustic pattern recognizer determines that the shutter is being opened. When the shutter is opened, a read-out circuit captures multiple image frames from the image sensing array. An image processor associated with the image sensing array processes the captured images using advanced image processing algorithms.

Abstract: Promotional content is downloaded from the Internet along with a trigger event defining when the content is to be played. The trigger event may be a time of day, a usage event or pattern, a weather event, or the arrival at a geographic location.

Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor and a processing apparatus receiving image frames from the sensor before and after receipt of a user picture signal. The processing apparatus discards frames that do not meet a quality criterion such as under-exposed frames. Also, the processing apparatus compresses only a subset of remaining frames, specifically, those that meet a compression amount threshold. The remaining frames are presented to a user, who can select a representative frame as the “picture” that was taken.

Abstract: ATSC TV signals are monitored for user-defined search terms and content, including both audio-video and non-audio-video content, is recorded when header tags in the files are determined to match the terms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to providing higher resolution images on an embedded device by performing a super resolution technique on a compressed image sequence and one or more motion vectors are described. In one example, the method includes compressing an image sequence using a video compression technique, wherein the image sequence comprises a plurality of lower resolution images and applying a super resolution technique to the compressed image sequence to generate a higher resolution image.

Abstract: A system for supporting a burst transmission procedure includes a burst manager that divides a selected content item into individual content segments. A transmitter then transmits the content segments in a substantially concurrent manner over different corresponding transmission channels. One or more electronic devices receives and stores the transmitted content segments. A content manager of the electronic device performs a reassembly procedure to convert the content segments into the originally-transmitted content item for utilization by a device user.