Abstract: A system includes a client device configured to detect an initial play request for a portion of a video stream and detect a subsequent play request for the portion of the video stream. A content server coupled to the client device is configured to transmit the portion of the video stream to the client device based upon the initial play request. A closed captioning information server coupled to the client device is configured to transmit the closed captioning information to the client device based on the initial play request. The client device is configured to display the portion of the video stream and the closed captioning information based upon the subsequent play request.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is arranged to control a file name of recorded moving image file and a file name of the recorded. still image file, so as to, after a recording stop instruction, in accordance with the file name of at least one of the moving image file and still, image file recorded in a period of time from a recording start instruction to the recording stop instruction, change the file name of at least one of the moving image file and still image file recorded in that period so that the file names of the plurality of moving image files recorded in that period have consecutive file numbers corresponding to recording order of the moving image files and the file names of the plurality of still image files recorded in that period have consecutive file numbers corresponding to recording order of the still image files.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a first user of a media distribution system, first wish list data identifying a program and a first program option associated with the program. When the first wish list data is received, the program is not scheduled for transmission via the media distribution system based on a published program guide available to the first user. The method also includes receiving, from a second user of the media distribution system, second wish list data identifying the program and a second program option associated with the program. The method further includes determining interest in the program based on the first program option and the second program option.

Abstract: A content playback information estimation apparatus, for estimating a state on playback of content, that is provided between a distribution server and a terminal in a system in which the distribution server distributes the content to the terminal via a network and the terminal plays the content, the content playback information estimation apparatus including: a unit configured to obtain packet data distributed from the distribution server to the terminal and to store the packet data in a storage unit; a unit configured to estimate a data amount in a buffer of the terminal based on obtained packet data; and a unit configured to estimate a state on playback at each time of the content in the terminal by comparing the estimated data amount with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer of the movie wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, then only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped, that is, the ad is unskippable; this technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, then the ad is moved to after the end of the skip; this technique is referred to as “slipad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes a storage unit having a first storage area and a second storage area, as well as an output processing unit, a record storage unit, and a display control unit. The output processing unit executes output processing for exporting and/or printing on one or more frames selected by a user from a video stored in the first storage area. The record storage unit stores, in the second storage area, a record of the output processing that includes an identifier for each frame that was subjected to the output processing. The display control unit references the second storage area and displays a record screen for displaying the record of the output processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dynamic audio perspective change during video playback are provided. A pre-recorded video is played with an associated raw audio signal. The audio signal is modified in real time based on an audio processing mode. The audio processing mode can be selected during the video playback via a graphic user interface. By selecting the audio processing mode, a user can attenuate one or more components of the pre-recorded raw audio signal. The components include near source sounds, distant source sounds, and a noise. After the desired audio processing mode is selected the entire audio signal is reprocessed according to the selected mode in a background process and stored in a memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image quality adaptive video security system, a security camera generating an original video signal from a camera sensor, inserting an image quality discrimination signal including image quality information for video to the original video signal and generating a video signal. A DVR system determines whether a video signal from a security camera is transmitted in an analog transmission scheme or in a digital transmission scheme. In the case of the analog transmission scheme, the DVR system decodes the analog video signal to a first digital component video signal and detects image quality information. In a case of the digital transmission scheme, the DVR system converts the digital video signal to a digital second component video signal and detects image quality information.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: The inventions disclosed herein include devices and methods that allow users to couple a digital media player to a display screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a bottomside of the screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a topside of the screen. In several embodiments, the digital media player is positioned approximately horizontally such that the digital media player is oriented approximately parallel to the floor of the room.

Abstract: The inventions disclosed herein include devices and methods that allow users to couple a digital media player to a display screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a bottomside of the screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a topside of the screen. In several embodiments, the digital media player is positioned approximately horizontally such that the digital media player is oriented approximately parallel to the floor of the room.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing pulsed or continuous energy in a process chamber, and methods of fabricated said apparatus, are provided herein. The apparatus may include a substrate having a plurality of electrical terminals disposed on one or more surfaces of the substrate, a plurality of solid state sources grown on top of the plurality of electrical terminals, the plurality of solid state sources providing pulsed or continuous energy when electrically powered, and one or more cooling channels formed in one or more areas of the substrate.

Abstract: In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to automatically set a selected setpoint temperature to a second setpoint temperature less than or equal to a predetermined magnitude, and to reduced the second setpoint temperature and/or the differential temperature, as a predetermined function of the magnitudes of detected time intervals between successive heat demands of the water heater, to reduce the energy cost associated with the water heater.

Abstract: There is provided a camera stabilization platform system comprising a body, a rotation sensor system in a fixed orientation relative to the body, a motor system and a rotatable member system operable to be rotated by the motor system relative to the body, the rotation sensor system operable to measure a rotation angle and a rotation direction, wherein the motor system is configured to rotate the rotatable member system by the sensed rotation angle in a rotation direction opposite to the sensed rotation direction.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera using light emission profile information to position a light emission profile at a desired location in an image acquisition window. A light energy balance point of a light emission profile can be used to position the balance point at a desired location in an image acquisition window.

Abstract: A communications networking having reduced transmission latency and improved reliability is described. To reduce signal transmission latency, network management data is removed from a data stream to prioritize the transmission of payload data at higher transmission rates. Management data is returned to the data stream in such a way that it minimizes an impact to payload transmission rates. To improve communications network reliability, the network is configured to form a primary communication path and a redundant communication path. Upon failure of a transceiver at one node, the network engages redundant transceivers on a per-node basis thereby using a segment of the redundant communication path. The data stream is returned to the primary communication path upon circumvention of the failed transceiver.

Abstract: A highly reliable optical switching device and optical switching method ensure restoration of the failure in the large-capacity high density wiring of the multicore fiber with the general number of cores (7 cores, 19 cores and the like). An optical transmission system which transmits a supervisory control signal concerning a transmission path switching to one or more cores of a single or multiple multicore fibers, an active signal to one or more cores, and a standby signal to one or more cores includes optical switching devices connected to respective ends of the optical transmission system. Upon detection of the transmission failure of the active signal based on the signal transmission condition and information from the supervisory control signal, it is switched to the standby signal. The supervisory control signal is transmitted to the center core of the multicore fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a Generic Status Portal (GSP) configured to grant access to a Managed Entity (ME) via an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) Management and Control Interface (OMCI), wherein the ME comprises status information about a non-OMCI management domain at the ONT. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising initializing an ONT ME, adding status information associated with a managed function to the ONT ME, indicating a status information update of the ONT ME, and providing the status information via an OMCI. Included is a method comprising providing status and performance monitoring (PM) information from an ONT via an OMCI at the ONT, wherein the status and PM information is associated with at least one managed function instance of at least one non-OMCI domain.

Abstract: A method of automatically switching connection is disclosed in the present invention. The method is applied to connection setting between a signal transmission device and at least one signal transceiver device. The method includes outputting a detecting signal to search the signal transceiver device within an effective range of the detecting signal, receiving a reacting signal generated according to the detecting signal, analyzing the detecting signal wherein the detecting signal represents a distance between the signal transmission device and the signal transceiver device, and switching the connection setting of the signal transmission device when the distance is smaller than a threshold, so that the signal transmission device can be matched with the signal transceiver device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a controller for commissioning a wave division multiplexing optical network during capacity expansion.

Abstract: A system is disclosed to identify authorized EO devices and unauthorized EO devices within a scene. The system hampers the operation of the unauthorized EO devices detected within the scene.

Abstract: A network apparatus used in an optical network is disclosed. The network apparatus includes one or more first tunable and temperature controlled (TTC) lasers, one or more transmitters each of which is connected to one of said one or more TTC lasers, one or more second TTC lasers, one or more digital signal processing (DSP) transponders (TPNDs) each of which is connected to one of said one or more second TTC lasers, one or more receivers, and a controller to control said one or more transmitters and said one or more DSP TPNDs, wherein said one or more transmitters defragment an optical access spectrum, and said one or more DSP TPNDs exploit a newly available spectrum. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical transceiver device is provided, including an O/E transceiver module, an optical switching module and a switching control module, for providing network communication services for a first and a second optical fiber network equipment. The O/E transceiver module is an integrated chip having multiple transceiver units integrated therein. The switching control module is connected to an in-line equipment and the optical switching module for controlling the optical switching module to execute corresponding optical path switching operation according to an optical path switching control signal output from the inline equipment. In comparison with conventional optical transceiver devices, the invention is advantageous of simple structure, smaller volume and more flexible optical path switching.

Abstract: At least one of a first device, a second device, and a relay device compensates for wavelength dispersion in a first optical wavelength path. The first or second device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device so that wavelength dispersion in a second optical wavelength path is compensated. The relay device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the relay device so that a total amount of wavelength dispersion of the signal light compensated in the first optical wavelength path does not change substantially with the change in the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device. The first optical wavelength path is switched to the second optical wavelength path after the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device is changed to a value that can compensate for the wavelength dispersion in the second optical wavelength path.

Abstract: A submarine network includes a submarine network with a branching unit BU for splitting or combining a signal between a main trunk path and a branch path for allowing signals from different paths to share a same fiber optic path, said BU and submarine network normally having a fixed and predetermined wavelength arrangement preventing reconfigurability of the submarine network, and a latching wavelength selective switch WSS or wavelength blocker WB in the branching unit for splitting or combining the signals between the main trunk path and branch path to enable a latching capability and enable reconfigurability of the branching unit BU, the latching WSSS being a bistable liquid crystal based material without moving parts for increased stability and lower power consumption over use of conventional mono-stable liquid crystal LC switches in a submarine network.

Abstract: An optical node includes a wavelength splitter configured to split optical signals comprising multiple optical wavelengths into separate outputs, with each of the separate outputs having a different wavelength. The optical node further includes a detector configured to detect optical signals associated with packets at each of the separate outputs, and determine a modulation applied to the optical signals at each of the separate outputs. The optical node also includes a processing unit configured to identify destination optical nodes for the packets based on the determined modulation.

Abstract: An apparatus, e.g. an optical communication system, includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The transmitter includes a laser configured to provide an optical signal amplitude-modulated among M different levels, e.g. in two polarizations. The receiver is configured to demodulate the optical signal to produce a received symbol constellation including a plurality of symbol rings in a complex I-Q space.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive a reported queue depth for a current granting cycle, and a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to determine accumulated bandwidth credits from at least one granting cycle prior to the current granting cycle. An apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a reported queue depth for a second granting cycle, a processor coupled to the transmitter, and a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive a transmission grant size that is based on the reported queue depth and accumulated bandwidth credits from a first granting cycle prior to the second granting cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive a plurality of instructions, a plurality of first messages, and a plurality of second messages, a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the instructions, the first messages, and the second messages, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the second messages based on the instructions, wherein the instructions instruct the processor to transmit the second messages based on polling times. An apparatus comprises a processor configured to compile instructions, wherein the instructions instruct prioritizing of data transmissions based on propagation delays, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the instructions.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of optical line terminals (OLTs) corresponding to different providers that share an optical distribution network (ODN), a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) coupled to the OLTs via the same ODN and configured to communicate with the different OLTs using different corresponding pairs of upstream and downstream channels, wherein the upstream and downstream channels are interleaved across a plurality of wavelength bands and comprise a sequence of alternating and contiguous upstream and downstream channels, are aligned with a plurality of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) channels, and satisfy a plurality of design requirements for the OLTs and ONUs.

Abstract: A temperature controlled multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) may be used in a multi-channel optical transceiver. The temperature controlled multi-channel TOSA generally includes an array of lasers optically coupled to an optical multiplexer, such as an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), to combine multiple optical signals at different channel wavelengths. The lasers may be thermally tuned to the channel wavelengths by establishing a global temperature for the array of lasers and separately raising local temperatures of individual lasers in response to monitored wavelengths associated with the lasers. A temperature control device, such as a TEC cooler coupled to the laser array, may provide the global temperature and individual heaters, such as resistors adjacent respective lasers, may provide the local temperatures. The optical transceiver may be used in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical system, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) in a WDM passive optical network (PON).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of communication between optical transceivers in an optical WDM network, wherein a broad-band modulation of optical signals in a primary frequency band is utilized for transmitting primary high-speed data, while a plurality of relatively low-frequency in-band subcarriers is used to modulate the optical signals to transmit secondary data between network nodes, wherein the plurality of low-frequency subcarriers lie at least in part within the primary frequency band.

Abstract: The invention inter alia relates to a method of receiving an optical-duo-binary, ODB, signal (S), which has a predefined ODB-transmission bit-rate (B), using a photoreceiver, said method comprising the step of filtering the ODB signal using a filter (10) which provides a frequency peak in the photoreceiver's frequency response located in the spectral range between 30% and 70% of the predefined ODB-transmission bit-rate.

Abstract: An optical communications system is disclosed. In the optical communications system, a received light source is modulated in accordance with an electrical signal using an acousto-optic modulator. The acousto-optic modulator modulates an amplitude of the received light source in accordance with an amplitude of the electrical signal. Furthermore, an angle of diffraction of a beam produced by the acousto-optic modulator is a function of a frequency of the electrical signal. The optical communications system is equipped with a waveplate that converts a polarization of the diffracted beam to correspond to the polarization of an undiffracted beam. Improved detection and recovery of the electrical signal may be achieved due to the polarization correspondence between the diffracted beam and the undiffracted beam.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided. The apparatus obtains a message for communication using visible light communication (VLC) through a light emitting diode (LED) luminary device and formats the message using a synchronization signal followed by one or more data signals. The synchronization signal and/or the one or more data signals are modulated using a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation scheme. The apparatus further receives a dimming level value associated with a brightness of light to be emitted from the LED luminary device, generates a waveform with frequencies based on the formatted message and a duty cycle for the LED luminary device based on the dimming level value, and sends the generated waveform to the LED luminary device for communication using VLC.

Abstract: A free space optical communication system (10) including first and second mono-static transceivers (20a, 20b). Each transceiver (20a, 20b) includes a reflective assembly (40) defining a reflective surface (44) about a receiving end of a respective optical fiber (32) and configured to reflect optical signals (26) within a field of view of the transceiver (20a, 20b) as a modulated retro-reflective signal (28). Each mono-static transceiver (20a, 20b) includes an acquisition system (60) configured to detect a modulated retro-reflective signal (28) and adjust the alignment of the respective transceiver (20a, 20b) in response to a detected modulated retro-reflective signal (28). A mono-static transceiver and a method of aligning a mono-static transceiver are also provided.

Abstract: A feature of the present invention pertains to a transmitter for transmitting data by video, the transmitter including a transmission data control unit that distributes the data to multiple colors constituting the video, and a display unit that converts the distributed data into a sequence of a predetermined color value with respect to each of the multiple colors and lighting the multiple colors in a communication area on a display in accordance with the sequence of the color value.

Abstract: An optical communication apparatus includes a substrate having a through hole; an optical element which includes a light terminal for receiving or sending light and is mounted on a surface of the substrate so that the light terminal faces an opening of the through hole; a light guide member which includes a first lens facing the light terminal of the optical element, a surrounding portion which surrounds a periphery of the first lens on a side of the opening of the through hole, and a guide portion which is provided inside the through hole and guides the light between the opening and another opening of the through hole; and a light waveguide which is arranged on a side of another surface of the substrate and includes a light guide optically connected to the light guide member on a side of the another opening of the through hole.

Abstract: The light emitting device includes an active layer formed on a semiconductor substrate for emitting light, a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type electrically connected to one end of the active layer, a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type electrically connected to the other end of the active layer, first and second electrodes, a feedback mechanism for laser oscillation, and a waveguide for guiding the light emitted from the active layer, in which the active layer is made of a semiconductor having an affinity with a silicon CMOS process, and the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, and the waveguide are each made of silicon as a part of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of increasing modulation of a visible light signal. The method can include receiving a signal that corresponds to the visible light signal, where the visible light signal has a magnitude. The method can also include adjusting, by a controller and based on the signal, a dimmer level of a dimmer by an amount, where the amount is proportional to the magnitude of the visible light signal, and where the dimmer level adjusts an output of a driver circuit. The visible light signal and the output of the driver circuit can be combined into a power signal and sent to one or more light sources. The one or more light sources can use the power signal to generate a light output that includes a visible light communication signal that is received by a receiver.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a cartridge attached to the main body. The cartridge includes: a casing extending in a longitudinal direction; a photosensitive drum extending in the longitudinal direction; and a separating member that is detachably attached to the casing. The photosensitive drum has a peripheral surface and is positioned in confrontation with the endless belt as a result of attachment of the cartridge to the main body. The separating member is attached to the casing and separates the photosensitive drum from the endless belt when the main body is packaged while the cartridge is attached to the main body. The separating member includes first and second end portions disposed on both end portions of the casing, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions and is configured to cover the peripheral surface.

Abstract: When performing a purging process in which remaining sheets remaining in the image forming system are gathered and ejected to any of trays in an ejection section, any of the trays other than a valid sheet tray to which a sheet having a normally formed imager has been ejected is set as a purge tray which is a tray to which the remaining sheets are to be ejected by the purging process, and the ejection section is controlled to eject the remaining sheet to such purge tray

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette chamber, a paper feed cassette, a sheet size sensor, a lift-up sensor, and an arithmetic control unit. The paper feed cassette can be mounted in the cassette chamber, and lifts up a recording sheet placed in the paper feed cassette upon being mounted in the cassette chamber. The arithmetic control unit is configured to decide that the paper feed cassette is mounted when the lift-up sensor detects that the recording sheet is lifted up, despite the sheet size sensor having detected that the paper feed cassette is not mounted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner carrier, a region setting unit, a printing-rate detecting unit, a discharge-region determining unit, and a region redividing unit. The region setting unit is configured to set a plurality of regions divided along an image width direction on the image carrier. The printing-rate detecting unit is configured to detect a printing rate when forming the image for each of the plurality of regions. The discharge-region determining unit is configured to determine necessity of a toner discharge for each region based on the detected printing rate. The region redividing unit is configured to redivide a region determined to require the toner discharge into a plurality of regions in which respective printing rates during subsequent image formation are individually detected.

Abstract: An abnormality detection device for an image forming apparatus detects an abnormality in the image forming apparatus which includes a heating belt looped around a heating roller and a fixing roller. The abnormality detection device for an image forming apparatus includes: thermistors for detecting temperatures of one widthwise end portion and the other widthwise end portion of the heating belt; a temperature difference detection section for determining whether or not a temperature difference between the temperature of the one end portion and the temperature of the other end portion which are detected by the thermistors is greater than a predetermined value; and a judgment section for judging that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus when it is determined in the temperature difference detection section that the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A correction control method includes performing correction control to bring a control value to a target value or a change through a prediction control system that previously applies a predetermined amount of correction and a predetermined timing. The prediction control system is constructed without performing data offset processing for deriving the predetermined amount of correction and the predetermined timing.

Abstract: A sensor comprising an optical sensor including a light source and a plurality of light receivers which receive light emitted from the light source and light regularly reflected and diffusely reflected by an object, a database including output data regarding multiple objects of known and different types from the plurality of light receivers when an incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a first direction to the object and when the incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, and a processor which controls the light emitted from the light source to illuminate an object of unknown type and specifies the type of the object by matching the output data of the plurality of light receivers to the database.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members arranged to align in parallel with one another, an exposure device arranged in an upper position with respect to the plurality of photosensitive members and configured to expose the photosensitive members to light, an exposure controller arranged in an upper position with respect to the exposure device and configured to control the exposure device according to inputted image data, a power board, arranged in a lower position with respect to the plurality of photosensitive members and configured to convert alternate current power to direct current power, and a voltage converter arranged in un upper position with respect to the exposure device and configured to convert the direct current power supplied from the power board into an at least single-leveled first voltage and supply the first voltage to the exposure controller.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a nip forming member to contact a surface of an image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a pressing device, and a nip pressure changing device. The pressing device includes a plurality of elastic members, to produce a contact pressure between the nip forming member and the image bearing member according to a restoring force of at least one of the elastic members upon deformation of the elastic member. The nip pressure changing device changes an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic member between at least two stages to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip. While the contact pressure is produced by one of the elastic members, the nip pressure changing device changes the amount of elastic deformation of a different elastic member, different from the one that produces the contact pressure, to change the nip pressure of the transfer nip.

Abstract: An electric power control unit alternately repeats a first electric power control period and a second electric power control period when a low electric power mode is set by a mode setting unit. When a sleep mode is set by the mode setting unit, a second electric power control is executed.