Abstract: A parental control system provides the ability to automatically filter a multimedia program content in real time based on stock and user specified criteria. The criteria are used to teach a learning module in the system what types of video program segments are to be considered sensitive or objectionable so that the module's understanding of what is sensitive and what is not can be applied to other video programs to provide real-time filtering. The multimedia program is broken down into audio, video, and transcript components so that sound effects, visual components and objects, and language can all be analyzed collectively to make a determination of whether offending material is being passed along in the multimedia program. The user has the option of training the system for any type of objectionable material, not just sex and violence.

Abstract: A method of selecting, storing and delivering desired audio/data/visual information includes the steps of determining viewing preferences of a viewer and receiving a first group of audio/data/visual signals, for example, broadcast and cable television signals or internet-based signals. Based on the first group of audio/data/visual signals, a second group of audio/data/visual signals, which is a subset of the first group of audio/data/visual signals, is identified. The second group of audio/data/visual signals is selected based on the association of EPG data for each signal with the viewing preferences of the viewer. Content data is then extracted from the second group of audio/data/visual signals and compared with the viewing preferences. The content data may include, for example, closed-captioned text, EPG data, audio information, visual information and transcript information.

Abstract: The method of the invention comprises two steps of adapting an image: identifying a text in the image and modifying a typographical aspect of the text. The electronic device of the invention is operative to perform the method of the invention. The invention also relates to control software for making a programmable device operative to perform the method of the invention and to electronic circuitry for use in the device of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to video signal processing such as for TV or DVD signals. Methods and systems for detection and segmentation of local visual space-time details in video signals are described. Furthermore, a video signal encoder is described. The method described comprises the steps of dividing an image into blocks of pixels, calculating space-time feature(s) within each block, calculating statistical parameter(s) for each space-time feature(s), and detecting blocks wherein the statistical parameter(s) exceeds a predetermined level. Preferably, visual normal flow is used as a local space-time feature. In addition, visual normal acceleration may be used as space-time features. In preferred embodiments visual artefacts, such as blockiness, occurring by MPEG or H.26x encoding can be reduced by allocating a larger amount of bits to local image parts exhibiting a large amount of space-time details.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and systems for bookmarking an area of interest of stored video content is provided. As a viewer is watching a video and finds an area of interest, they can bookmark the particular segment of the video and then return to that segment with relative simplicity. This can be accomplished by pressing a button, clicking with a mouse or otherwise sending a signal to a device for marking a particular location of the video that is of interest. Frame identifiers can also be used to select a desired video from an index and to then retrieve the video from a medium containing multiple videos.

Abstract: A parental control system provides the ability to automatically filter a multimedia program content in real time based on stock and user specified criteria. The criteria are used to teach a learning module in the system what types of video program segments are to be considered sensitive or objectionable so that the module's understanding of what is sensitive and what is not can be applied to other video programs to provide real-time filtering. The multimedia program is broken down into audio, video, and transcript components so that sound effects, visual components and objects, and language can all be analyzed collectively to make a determination of whether offending material is being passed along in the multimedia program. The user has the option of training the system for any type of objectionable material, not just sex and violence.