Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of retrieving data in a storage network may include determining a list of storage blocks of a storage network for potential retrieval of a data file for storage on a first storage block of the storage network. The determining may be based on two or more of: assignment information of the data file as assigned by a storage network manager, location information, device types, peer-to-peer reachability, network information, and presence information. The method may also include attempting to retrieve the data file from a second storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block. Further, the method may include attempting to retrieve the data file from a third storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block when retrieval from the second storage block fails.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of retrieving data in a storage network may include determining a list of storage blocks of a storage network for potential retrieval of a data file for storage on a first storage block of the storage network. The determining may be based on two or more of: assignment information of the data file as assigned by a storage network manager, location information, device types, peer-to-peer reachability, network information, and presence information. The method may also include attempting to retrieve the data file from a second storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block. Further, the method may include attempting to retrieve the data file from a third storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block when retrieval from the second storage block fails.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor.

Abstract: Facilitating access to content in a content-aware mesh may include a coordinating node storing information associated with each image of a plurality of images. The images may be distributed among at least two nodes of the mesh. The coordinating node may provide access to each image to a node of the mesh. Providing access may be performed without transmitting all of the images to the node. The node may be configured to display an image of the plurality of images via a uniform interface without indication as to which of the at least two nodes the image is stored on.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system processes digital streams and associates stream information with segments of video and audio components. Segments of video and audio components from memory are sent to one or more decoders essentially simultaneously with the storing of the segments of video and audio components from the memory on one or more storage devices. The decoder converts the video and audio components into output signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an enhanced photo digital video disc (DVD) communicates with connected sources such as a digital camera, PC, or memory card where information such as digital photo, movie and music files are downloaded, as selected by the user, and stored on a storage device. The user creates slide shows of photos stored on the storage device that show each photo and/or movie in sequence or with transition special effects between photos. The invention extracts photo metadata from the photo image file and stores the information on the storage device along with the photos and Includes any audio annotation(s) associated with the downloaded photos and downloaded audio files that the user can attach to a photo in the slide show. When the user wants to save slide show(s) to a DVD the invention constructs an MPEG stream containing the photos, movies, and audio annotations. Photo metadata are encoded onto the DVD as closed captioning and/or subpictures, selectable for display at viewing time.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor.

Abstract: Online backup of image files includes providing a user interface for making a backup selection based on an image catalog that includes a plurality of image files, the user interface including a resolution option; receiving a backup selection based on the image catalog, the backup selection indicating a selection of an image file in the image catalog and a resolution choice associated with the image file; and sending a copy of the image file to a remote storage, the copy having a resolution that corresponds to the resolution choice.

Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an expanded functionality digital video disc (DVD) creates an enhanced DVD with index tables for the program streams on the DVD. Index tables point to key locations in an MPEG program stream with each entry in the index table set to point to a group of pictures (GOP) header in the MPEG stream. The invention can select GOP headers at predefined intervals, semi-random intervals, or at key locations. The invention creates an index table either during storage of a program stream on a hard disk, during a scan of program material already stored on a local hard disk, or while program material is being read out of the hard disk and written to a DVD. The invention adds a new directory to the DVD structure and writes the index table(s) for the stream(s) into the directory. The new directory and its content are only recognized by invention-enabled DVD players and DVRs.

Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an enhanced photo digital video disc (DVD) communicates with connected sources such as a digital camera, PC, or memory card where information such as digital photo, movie and music files are downloaded, as selected by the user, and stored on a storage device. The user creates slide shows of photos stored on the storage device that show each photo and/or movie in sequence or with transition special effects between photos. The invention extracts photo metadata from the photo image file and stores the information on the storage device along with the photos and Includes any audio annotation(s) associated with the downloaded photos and downloaded audio files that the user can attach to a photo in the slide show. When the user wants to save slide show(s) to a DVD the invention constructs an MPEG stream containing the photos, movies, and audio annotations. Photo metadata are encoded onto the DVD as closed captioning and/or subpictures, selectable for display at viewing time.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an expanded functionality digital video disc (DVD) creates an enhanced DVD with index tables for the program streams on the DVD. Index tables point to key locations in an MPEG program stream with each entry in the index table set to point to a group of pictures (GOP) header in the MPEG stream. The invention can select GOP headers at predefined intervals, semi-random intervals, or at key locations. The invention creates an index table either during storage of a program stream on a hard disk, during a scan of program material already stored on a local hard disk, or while program material is being read out of the hard disk and written to a DVD. The invention adds a new directory to the DVD structure and writes the index table(s) for the stream(s) into the directory. The new directory and its content are only recognized by invention-enabled DVD players and DVRs.

Abstract: A software architecture for printing to a home printer via a cable television communication network includes complementary clients and servers executing on each of the internet components participating in the internet-based printing. A client executes at the remote internet-based site that originates the print job, and transmits the print job to a complimentary server at the cable head end. A server at the cable head end spools the print job and preferably converts the print job into a format more suitable for a next-downstream device, such as a cable set top box. The cable head end further includes a client which transmits the print job from the cable head end's server to a server at the set top box. The server at the set top box spools the print job to an attached printer.

Abstract: A software architecture for printing to a home printer via a cable television communication network includes complementary clients and servers executing on each of the internet components participating in the internet-based printing. A client executes at the remote internet-based site that originates the print job, and transmits the print job to a complimentary server at the cable head end. A server at the cable head end spools the print job and preferably converts the print job into a format more suitable for a next-downstream device, such as a cable set top box. The cable head end further includes a client which transmits the print job from the cable head end's server to a server at the set top box. The server at the set top box spools the print job to an attached printer.