Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for automatically identifying video content within source video and transmitting the video content to an electronic mail client. The transmitted video content can be streaming video, video files, and/or other medium derived from the source video. An enhanced electronic mail client is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for automatically identifying video content within source video and transmitting the video content to an electronic mail client. The transmitted video content can be streaming video, video files, and/or other medium derived from the source video. An enhanced electronic mail client is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for automatically identifying video content within source video and transmitting the video content to an electronic mail client. The transmitted video content can be streaming video, video files, and/or other medium derived from the source video. An enhanced electronic mail client is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for automatically identifying video content within source video and transmitting the video content to an electronic mail client. The transmitted video content can be streaming video, video files, and/or other medium derived from the source video. An enhanced electronic mail client is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for automatically identifying video content within source video and transmitting the video content to an electronic mail client. The transmitted video content can be streaming video, video files, and/or other medium derived from the source video. An enhanced electronic mail client is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for embedding information into streaming media is disclosed. In order to avoid a prolonged waiting period between the time a video stream is selected for viewing and the time it actually begins to play, information relevant to the content of the video stream is independently obtained and locally stored. This information may be advertising, text, games or any other media which may be of interest to the user. The information is embedded into the video or other media stream to be presented to the viewer and played immediately, so that the user avoids any wait time in viewing the selected stream that may occur due to bandwidth shortages or other system considerations.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing handwritten messages with electronic communication devices. For example the electronic communication device may be a mobile communication device and may include a touch screen, screen buffer memory, processor, and transceiver. In preferred embodiments, the mobile communication device may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a two-way pager, or a mobile telephone. The mobile communication device user may create a handwritten message on the touch screen using, for example, a stylus. In one exemplary embodiment, the handwritten message displayed on the touch screen may be stored to the buffer memory as an image, directed by the processor to the transceiver, and transmitted via a wireless connection to, for example, a wireless base station and the Internet. The Internet may route the handwritten message image to a desired Internet address. The handwritten message may be displayed in real time on the recipient's display, e.g.

Abstract: A proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information via at least one network and for building-up a good quality version of the media information. When a user device communicates with the proxy apparatus using a particular bandwidth and requests that media information be provided, the proxy apparatus first determines if a version of the media information encoded for the user device's connection bandwidth has been stored in the proxy apparatus. If a version of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth is not available from the proxy apparatus, the proxy apparatus sends a request to a media server for the media information. If the version of the media information has missing packets, the proxy device sends retransmission requests to the media server to obtain the missing packets, thereby building-up a good quality version of the media information.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information via at least one network and for building-up a good quality version of the media information. When a user device communicates with the proxy apparatus using a particular bandwidth and requests that media information be provided from a media server, the proxy apparatus first determines if a version of the media information encoded for the user device's connection bandwidth has been stored in the proxy apparatus. If a version of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth is not available from the proxy apparatus, the proxy apparatus sends a request to a media server for the media information. Once the media server receives the request, the media server begins to stream a copy of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth to the user device via the network and proxy device.

Abstract: A proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information via at least one network and for building-up a good quality version of the media information. When a user device communicates with the proxy apparatus using a particular bandwidth and requests that media information be provided from a media server, the proxy apparatus first determines if a version of the media information encoded for the user device's connection bandwidth has been stored in the proxy apparatus. If a version of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth is not available from the proxy apparatus, the proxy apparatus sends a request to a media server for the media information. Once the media server receives the request, the media server begins to stream a copy of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth to the user device via the network and proxy device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing handwritten messages with electronic communication devices. For example the electronic communication device may be a mobile communication device and may include a touch screen, screen buffer memory, processor, and transceiver. In preferred embodiments, the mobile communication device may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a two-way pager, or a mobile telephone. The mobile communication device user may create a handwritten message on the touch screen using, for example, a stylus. In one exemplary embodiment, the handwritten message displayed on the touch screen may be stored to the buffer memory as an image, directed by the processor to the transceiver, and transmitted via a wireless connection to, for example, a wireless base station and the Internet. The Internet may route the handwritten message image to a desired Internet address. The handwritten message may be displayed in real time on the recipient's display, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing handwritten messages with electronic communication devices. For example the electronic communication device may be a mobile communication device and may include a touch screen, screen buffer memory, processor, and transceiver. In preferred embodiments, the mobile communication device may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a two-way pager, or a mobile telephone. The mobile communication device user may create a handwritten message on the touch screen using, for example, a stylus. In one exemplary embodiment, the handwritten message displayed on the touch screen may be stored to the buffer memory as an image, directed by the processor to the transceiver, and transmitted via a wireless connection to, for example, a wireless base station and the Internet. The Internet may route the handwritten message image to a desired Internet address. The handwritten message may be displayed in real time on the recipient's display, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enhances a multicast information stream, such as an IP multicast session, in a communication network is provided. The stream is received through the communication network and is enhanced at substantially the time the first stream is received. The information stream may be enhanced by adding transcribed content, such as content generated by speech recognition software, or translated content, such as from a first language to a second language, to the stream. The information stream may also be enhanced by adding content to the first information stream, such as content is related to the original content. The enhanced stream may be sent to a user as a second multicast information stream. The enhanced stream may be received by the user in place of, or along with, the original information stream. The enhanced content may be sent to the user at the conclusion of the information stream, if desired.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.