Abstract: The invention describes a method of annotating a timeline file (T) which method comprises identifying distinct key resources (K1, K2, K3, . . . , Km) in the timeline file (T), and describing a number of annotations for one or more key resources (K1, K2, K3, . . . , Km) in an annotation file (A) such that an annotation for a key resource (K1, K2, K3, . . . , Km) is tied to the key resource (K1, K2, K3, . . . , Km) corresponding to that annotation.

Abstract: A radio system for sensing the spatial configuration of a physical object comprising a transmitter (102) which sends a query message to a transponder (104) having at least one antenna (106). A radio frequency shield (108) is moveably interposable between the transmitter and one or more antennas and thereby attenuates the signal strength of the query message received at an antenna. In any state of spatial configuration of the physical object, the transponder is able to receive the query message and, in reply, send a response message containing data determined according to the signal strength of the query message received at the one or more antennas.

Abstract: There is provided a sales promotion device (10) for modifying purchasing behavior. The device (10) is distinguished in that it includes spatially co-located first and second component parts (20, 30; 40, 50, 60). The first component part (20, 30) comprises a consumer product (20) and the second component part (40, 50, 60) is operable to encourage a purchaser of the device (10) to seek one or more further products (30), the second part (40, 50, 60) being electronically responsive when spatially presented by the purchaser at retailing premises (200) to enable the purchaser to gain access to and/or take possession of the one or more further products (30).

Abstract: There is provided a method of automatically including one or more context related links in association with scene data content. The method is distinguished in that involves providing a recording apparatus including: (i) a data store for reading and/or writing data content; (ii) a sensor for sensing audio and/or visual subject matter from a scene and generating corresponding scene data content; (iii) identifying components for use in identifying a spatial location of the apparatus in proximity of the scene and/or an identity of the scene; (iv) a microprocessor for co-ordinating operation of the data store, the sensor and the identifying components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for performing digital rights management. The idea of the invention is that a master right associated with a content is stored at a first authorised device (211). An authorised device is a device which can be considered trusted and performs actions with contents according to the associated rights. These devices enforce rights that are bound to contents, and perform the security tasks of the DRM system employed. A subright is derived from the master right, which subright controls what type of access a second authorised device (261) is given to the associated content. Finally, the subright is distributed to the second authorised device, given that the second device complies with predetermined distribution criteria associated with the master right. The device distributing the subright authenticates the device which is to receive the subright, ensuring that the second device can be trusted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a record carrier, drive device and method of reading from or writing to the record carrier, wherein a predetermined navigation area (DN) is provided on said record carrier for storing at least one predetermined parameter specifying at least one of a logical format and an application format used on said record carrier. Thereby, a universal portable disc format can be provided, where a single disc can contain content in many formats from many different devices and all these content types can coexist. A clean separation of physical, logical and application level structures is thus possible without loosing any flexibility or ability of drive devices to maintain these structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solution to protect network data stored on a network unit within a network related to a carrier data stored on a record carrier. A copy protection system already provided for protecting a carrier data is used therefore so that in a key locker stored in a key locker area (22) of the record carrier (2) a network dat identifier (URL) identifying the network data to be used for retrieval of said network data om the network (4) and a decryption key (DK) to be used by a read-out device (1) for d cryption of encrypted network data are stored. The network data identifier (URL) is used to et access to the network data, and the decryption key (DK) is thereafter used to decrypt enc pted network data if access to the network data is permitted.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, contains a disc (12) storing a database with a set of records, each record containing a same set of fields, each record capable of containing record specific content in the fields. A disc drive (10) reads data from the disc (12) a fragment (F) at a time. Each fragment (F) contains a plurality of data blocks that are stored substantially contiguously on the disc (12). The disc drive (10) can be switched between a read mode and a power saving mode, wherein at least part of the disc drive (10) is disabled to cut power consumption. A user interface device renders a view of the database with selected records and fields from a user selectable one of a plurality of respective subsets of the set of records and/or fields of the records. The user interface (14, 16, 18) is programmed to command the disc drive (10) to switch to the read mode to retrieve fields from records from the selected subset from the disc (12).

Abstract: When a stream of audio-visual data like a television program is recorded (110) with a digital video recorder comprising a compression engine (113) for compressing the stream prior to storage using a variable bit-rate compression technique, the size of the full stream to be stored is unknown. The invention provides a method which solves this problem by providing information on the complexity of the stream to be stored. With this information, combined with information on the duration of the stream of audio-visual data and the compression algorithm used to compress the stream, the amount of storage space to be reserved for storing the stream of audio-visual data can be determined.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for obtaining updated information using a portable disk-based information device. The disk-based information device may be included within or attached to a portable networking device such as a personal data assistant (PDA) or a cellular telephone. Update information may be received from a data provider through, for example, a mobile telephone network. The update information may be compared with information provided on the disk. Updated information may then be delivered to a user in response to a user request, reporting new information and replacing outdated information provided on the disk with information received from the data provider.