Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for receiving audiovisual programs sent by a server to at least two reception devices. Initially, a first user requests a document from the server that establishes a unicast stream to download said document. Then, a second user requests to receive the same document, even truncated by a part. The server studies the proposal and possibly, for a lower price, agrees to the download. The server then switches the broadcast of the document from a unicast stream to a multicast stream, the first and second devices receiving said document via the same multicast stream. The invention also relates to a device for receiving audiovisual content and a server for implementing the method.

Abstract: A control server is intended for controlling content distribution to peers coupled to a communication network which comprises at least one content serving means (CNS, N1-N3) storing contents. This control server is arranged i) for transmitting messages to these peers to inform them that a content will soon be distributed by means of an identified multicast session, and to identify content parts that have been respectively associated to them, and ii) for ordering at least one content serving means to initiate this identified multicast session to transmit the content to the peers, in order those having decided to listen to the multicast session store the content parts that have been identified into their respective messages.

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: An information processing system or a digital decoder (5) makes it possible to process data originating from at least one application (3), for example, by way of a bouquet of television programs, and comprises an operating system (1), a virtual machine (10) and an application manager (4) executing one or more variable management instruction sets (11) so as to influence the operating system (1) and the virtual machine (10) during the execution of the application.

Abstract: An information processing system or a digital decoder (5) makes it possible to process data originating from at least one application (3), for example, by way of a bouquet of television programs, and comprises an operating system (1), a virtual machine (10) and an application manager (4) executing one or more variable management instruction sets (11) so as to influence the operating system (1) and the virtual machine (10) during the execution of the application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of adjusting the sound levels originating from several audio sources, within a television receiver. The audio components originating from at least two audiovisual or audio sources are received in an audiovisual receiver and mixed so as to generate a single audio signal. The levels assigned to each source can be adjusted by the user with the aid of an icon displayed on a screen. The icon comprises at least two points representing the two sources and a cursor which moves along two dimensions, the distance between this cursor and the point representing a source being proportional to the sound level assigned to this source. The present invention also relates to the audiovisual terminal for the implementation of the method.

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 present invention relates to a method for receiving audiovisual programs sent by a server to at least two reception devices. Initially, a first user requests a document from the server that establishes a unicast stream to download said document. Then, a second user requests to receive the same document, even truncated by a part. The server studies the proposal and possibly, for a lower price, agrees to the download. The server then switches the broadcast of the document from a unicast stream to a multicast stream, the first and second devices receiving said document via the same multicast stream. The invention also relates to a device for receiving audiovisual content and a server for implementing the method.

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: A broadcast network sends audiovisual transmissions to a plurality of receivers. The transmissions contain also short audiovisual transmissions, typically advertising spots and information for triggering the displaying of an advertisement page. The receivers are furnished with a large recording capacity that allows the recording of several short audiovisual transmissions. At a time defined by the information transmitted in the audiovisual transmissions, the short audiovisual transmissions are, upon reception in the receiver, automatically replaced by transmissions of the same type previously recorded in the receiver. The receiver resumes normal displaying of the transmissions at the end of the broadcasting of the audiovisual transmissions of a certain type. According to an improvement, the recording of the transmissions can be performed according to the preferences of the user. The preferences of the user are defined during a configuration phase.

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: An information processing system or a digital decoder (5) makes it possible to process data originating from at least one application (3), for example, by way of a bouquet of television programs, and comprises an operating system (1), a virtual machine (10) and an application manager (4) executing one or more variable management instruction sets (11) so as to influence the operating system (1) and the virtual machine (10) during the execution of the application.

Abstract: An information processing system or a digital decoder (5) makes it possible to process data originating from at least one application (3), for example, by way of a bouquet of television programs, and comprises an operating system (1), a virtual machine (10) and an application manager (4) executing one or more variable management instruction sets (11) so as to influence the operating system (1) and the virtual machine (10) during the execution of the application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and device for representation on a digital television screen. The process for the representation on a digital television screen of a display comprising the representation of a video signal, the representation of applications and the representation of the navigator is characterized in that it comprises a step of detecting the activation of the navigator, a step of resizing the display of the video signal and the representation of applications according to one and the same homothetic reduction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for distributing audiovisual documents transmitted from a broadcasting office. The office broadcasts the documents to fixed distribution facilities. The users approach the facility and with the aid of a portable terminal request the downloading by radio of the documents that they have selected. Once downloaded, the users can connect the portable terminal to their home so as to reproduce the documents recorded in the terminal. The present invention also relates to the distribution facility and the portable terminal making it possible to store the document.

Abstract: Television receiver furnished with a memory (21, 22, 23) for receiving service data comprising a processing module (11) which correlates usage criteria received together with the service data and storage criteria characterizing the memory or memories of the receiver. By correlating the two criteria, the module determines the conditions of storage. Advantageously, a reorganizing module (12) can process the content of the memory so as to free some space in order to store new service data. The invention also relates to the storage process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of adjusting the sound levels originating from several audio sources, within a television receiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and device for representation on a digital television screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to the receiving and displaying of short audiovisual transmissions broadcast by a transmitter to digital television receivers. The receivers are furnished with a large recording capacity. The short audiovisual transmissions are typically advertising spots. According to the invention, the short audiovisual transmissions are, upon reception in the receiver, automatically replaced by transmissions of the same type previously recorded in the receiver. The receiver resumes normal displaying of the transmissions at the end of the broadcasting of the audiovisual transmissions of a certain type.

Abstract: Television receiver furnished with a memory (21, 22, 23) for receiving service data comprising a processing module (11) which correlates usage criteria received together with the service data and storage criteria characterizing the memory or memories of the receiver. By correlating the two criteria, the module determines the conditions of storage.