Abstract: A device for use with soft robotic devices comprises soft fluidic actuators, a microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module, a fluidic module, sensors, and a control module. The actuators are operable to apply predetermined effects to surfaces and/or objects. The microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module has micro/mini fluidic channels and on-chip fluidic pressure-controlled pinch valves forming a fluidic network. Each pinch valve has a valve pinch chamber, a membrane layer, and a valve control pressure chamber. The control module receives signals from the sensors and controls the fluidic module to control the pinch valves to induce flow of fluid under pressure to the actuators. An active compression apparel may include the device, and may have a skin contact backing layer and a strain-limiting backing layer sandwiching the actuators which are operable to provide compression to the skin and/or limb of a user through the at least one backing layer.

Abstract: A device for use with soft robotic devices comprises soft fluidic actuators, a microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module, a fluidic module, sensors, and a control module. The actuators are operable to apply predetermined effects to surfaces and/or objects. The microfluidic/minifluidic valves and channels module has micro/mini fluidic channels and on-chip fluidic pressure-controlled pinch valves forming a fluidic network. Each pinch valve has a valve pinch chamber, a membrane layer, and a valve control pressure chamber. The control module receives signals from the sensors and controls the fluidic module to control the pinch valves to induce flow of fluid under pressure to the actuators. An active compression apparel may include the device, and may have a skin contact backing layer and a strain-limiting backing layer sandwiching the actuators which are operable to provide compression to the skin and/or limb of a user through the at least one backing layer.

Abstract: A user interface that displays a number of cards or windows is described where a user can move the cards in a horizontal direction freely. When a card resides in a locked zone, as defined by a user, the card will be able to be manipulated in a vertical direction, while cards that reside in a regular zone will not be able to be moved vertically. In addition, only cards that are in the locked zone can be subjected to a user action such as cutting content from the card, pasting content to the card, enlarging the contents of the card, or shrinking the contents of the card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically segmenting and pricing segments of a premium media asset. The method and apparatus is operable to price content centrally or locally according to a factor or a combination of factors, such as topic, age, popularity, or duration.

Abstract: Aspects for ensuring digital media data delivery from remote sites in a digital media distributor system are presented. The aspects include receiving playout data in the remote sites from a central site in the digital media distributor system. The received playout data is then utilized in the remote site by an inventory manager to direct control of proper playout of digital media data. The playout data includes spot files, playlists, and purge lists.

Abstract: A user interface is used for selecting a time duration for a media collection shelf. The media shelf can be populated with graphical elements corresponding to selected media assets, where the cumulative time duration of selected media assets should not exceed the time duration of the media collection shelf. When placed within the media collection shelf, a graphical element corresponding to a media asset is scaled in proportion to the time duration of the media asset as compared to the time duration of the media collection shelf. Optionally, selected media assets within the media collection shelf are played back in a particular order specified by a user.

Abstract: A user interface that displays a number of cards or windows is described where a user can move the cards in a horizontal direction freely. When a card resides in a locked zone, as defined by a user, the card will be able to be manipulated in a vertical direction, while cards that reside in a regular zone will not be able to be moved vertically. In addition, only cards that are in the locked zone can be subjected to a user action such as cutting content from the card, pasting content to the card, enlarging the contents of the card, or shrinking the contents of the card.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer readable medium for object retransmission in an asynchronous environment without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor (DMD) system. The system and computer readable medium include receiving objects in a receiver from a central site, generating a response document in the receiver, and sending the response document asynchronously to the central site. The received response documents are then utilized in the central site to determine which object to retransmit to the receiver. In another aspect of the present invention, the central site manages the inventory of objects in the receiver by instructing the receiver to delete objects not needed.

Abstract: Method and system aspects provide for automated monitoring of quality of service of digital video material being distributed and played. The aspects include embedding a signature in each frame of the digital video material by a program source device control. Computation of play-out statistics for the digital video material based on the signature by a program play-out device control is also included.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and computer readable medium for object retransmission in an asynchronous environment without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor (DMD) system. The system and computer readable medium include receiving objects in a receiver from a central site, generating a response document in the receiver, and sending the response document asynchronously to the central site. The received response documents are then utilized in the central site to determine which object to retransmit to the receiver. In another aspect of the present invention, the central site manages the inventory of objects in the receiver by instructing the receiver to delete objects not needed.

Abstract: Aspects for providing tunable parameters to control distribution in a digital media distributor system are described. A digital media distributor (DMD) with tunable control of digital media data transmission aspect includes a distribution network, a central site system, and a plurality of remote site systems. The central site system utilizes a plurality of designated control parameters, including uplink parameters, scheduler parameters, and storage parameters, for controlling distribution of digital media data. The plurality of remote site servers receive digital media data transmissions from the central site server via the distribution network according to the designated control parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for object retransmission in an asynchronous environment without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor (DMD) system. The method includes receiving objects in a receiver from a central site, generating a response document in the receiver, and sending the response document asynchronously to the central site. The received response documents are then utilized in the central site to determine which object to retransmit to the receiver. In another aspect of the present invention, the central site manages the inventory of objects in the receiver by instructing the receiver to delete objects not needed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for object retransmission in an asynchronous environment without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor (DMD) system. The method and system include receiving objects in a receiver from a central site, generating a response document in the receiver, and sending the response document asynchronously to the central site. The received response documents are then utilized in the central site to determine which object to retransmit to the receiver. In another aspect of the present invention, the central site manages the inventory of objects in the receiver by instructing the receiver to delete objects not needed.

Abstract: A method for displaying on a viewer information processing system with an interface to a display (a device for rendering audio and video), a set of multimedia segments to form a multimedia presentation. The method comprising the steps of receiving the play-list, wherein the play-list is a list of instructions for rendering each of the multimedia segments, and the sequence of the multimedia segments in the play-list is directed by the provider of the presentation; receiving multimedia segments and rendering the multimedia segments received based on the play-list. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an information processing system and computer readable storage medium is disclosed for carrying out the above method.

Abstract: Aspects for achieving efficient file transfer and traffic management in a digital media distributor system are presented. The aspects include a central site server, at least one local traffic system, and an Internet file server (IFS) coupled between the central site server and the at least one local traffic system. The IFS acts as an intermediary between the central site and the at least one local traffic system, wherein the IFS supports file transfer in both directions between the central site and the at least one local traffic system.

Abstract: Aspects for managing subsystem processes from a central site in a digital media distributor system are presented. The aspects include utilizing a plurality of threads as a task manager in a central site server of the digital media distributor, and autonomously controlling initiation and termination of one or more subsystem processes with the task manager. The aspects further include providing the task manager as a main program thread of an operating system of a central site server of the DMD system, and managing subsystem processes from start-up to shut down, including states of online, offline, process inoperable, deadlock inoperable, and spawn inoperable, with the task manager to dynamically manage the DMD system.

Abstract: A simplified TV viewer response system coupled to a telephone system enables a viewer/subscriber to respond to television displays by dialing a special code less than six digits. The code is routed to an enhanced services server. The server captures the dial string including the caller ID, checks the caller ID against a subscriber/viewer profile and maps the caller ID to the cable company providing service to the viewer/subscriber. The server delivers the response to the cable television company which processes the response according to the selected items or choices in the TV screen. Several special dialing codes of limited digits expedite viewer/subscriber selections. Each code includes a special character to route the dialing string to the server. The system provides sound recognition of viewer/subscriber selections.

Abstract: Aspects for efficient archiving and dearchiving for a digital media distributor are presented. The aspects include a tape library for storing archived storage items, an archive server coupled to and managing the tape library, and a central site server coupled to the archive server and including a stage manager component. The stage manager component performs an archive operation to the archive server in response to a store request by grouping storage items according to predefined group categories and performs a dearchive operation from the archive server in response to a retrieve request by sorting storage items according to storage order within the predefined group categories.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for object retransmission in an asynchronous environment without a continuous network connection in a digital media distributor (DMD) system. The method and system include receiving objects in a receiver from a central site, generating a response document in the receiver, and sending the response document asynchronously to the central site. The received response documents are then utilized in the central site to determine which object to retransmit to the receiver. In another aspect of the present invention, the central site manages the inventory of objects in the receiver by instructing the receiver to delete objects not needed.