Abstract: A method and system for remote control at a client of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) enables a user to configure a wireless user device as a remote control device (RCD). The RCD may communicate via a wireless network and an MCDN server to execute remote control commands at the MCDN client. The RCD may implement a remote control interface, including control elements configured for touch operation. The control elements may provide specific interactive functionality for channel selection, volume selection, playback of multimedia content, and other remote control features. The RCD may also receive feedback and status information associated with remote control commands.

Abstract: When a recording device is connected to a power source and a main power is supplied, position information of the recording device is obtained by using GPS satellites. A region where the recording device is installed is decided based on the obtained position information. Channel information appropriate for the decided region is read out from a storage medium such as a memory, and a tuner of the recording device is set automatically using the read channel information thus read. Additionally, when the position information is obtained, it is decided whether or not the position where the recording device is installed is within a predetermined distance from a boundary between regions. If it is adjacent to other region, a plurality of region codes are read out, and a request for selecting one to perform the channel setting is displayed using a display panel or an OSD function so that the selection can be received.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for centralized access to multimedia content stored on or available to a computing device are disclosed. The centralized access can be provided by a media control interface that receives user inputs and interacts with media programs resident on the computing device to produce graphical user interfaces that can be presented on a display device.

Abstract: A system, business methodology and apparatus for facilitating controlled dissemination of digital works is disclosed. An audio and video organizer, entertainment, and communication unit that plays back audio and video media content received from a central storage server. The unit relies on a smartcard, which has a personalized key that unlocks encrypted content. Using the unit, a user can purchase music or other types of media using a appropriate ordering method. The central storage server then transmits a double-encrypted, compressed audio file to the unit, where it is decrypted based on the smartcard key, and available for listening.

Abstract: Apparatus to conduct a contest in which recorded performances of different individuals are reviewed to select a winner. The apparatus comprises at least one recording booth. The booth includes recording equipment comprising at least one camera for photographing the video portion of at least one individual's performance and generating video signals, at least one microphone for sensing the audio portion of the individual's performance and generating audio signals, lighting; performance apparatus to record video and audio signals generated by the camera and microphone and generate a recorded performance by the individual, and, a display viewable by the individual indicating the individual's ownership of the recorded performance and the control by the individual of the confidentiality of the performance.

Abstract: Provided is a video information playback method of reducing a wait time until playback is resumed when resume playback of a content whose video playback can be controlled by a program operating in a virtual machine. After playback of the content is stopped in the resume playback, the program operating in the virtual machine determines whether or not the content to be playback-resumed is a content whose playback is possible either when the program operating in the virtual machine is activated or deactivated. The information of the determining indicating whether the playback is enabled or disabled is recorded in a nonvolatile memory. When a playback resume instruction is inputted, the information of the determining related to the content to be playback-resumed is read out. When the content is determined to be playback-enabled, playback is resumed from the playback stop position without activating the program operating in the virtual machine.

Abstract: A portable recording/reproducing apparatus has a function of a remote controller and a function of controlling a recording medium. The portable recording/reproducing apparatus includes an operation unit on which an operation relating to reproduction of a video content is performed, a video content reproducing unit configured to reproduce the video content in response to the operation relating to the reproduction performed on the operation unit, and a transmission processor configured to wirelessly send a display apparatus the video content reproduced by the video content reproducing unit as a control signal.

Abstract: A user can simply select and set up resolution of a monitor display device 2 among the resolutions which the monitor display device 2 supports, according to his/her taste, only by operating a specific key such provided in the remote control 4. The resolution of the monitor display device 2 is changed responding to a number of pressing down of the specific key by the user. When a command is inputted once, the resolution of video signals outputted from the optical disc player 1 is changed to be the lowest level. When the command is inputted twice, the resolution of the video signals is changed to be the next level. When the specific key is pressed down furthermore while the monitor display device 2 displays the images at the highest resolution, the output of the video signals from the optical disc player 1 is stopped. When the specific key is pressed down furthermore, the video signals are outputted at the lowest resolution.

Abstract: Embodiments of a secure module recorder system and method for securing recording and storing of information is provided. The system may include at least one secure module and a docking station having at least one receptacle for holding one of the secure modules. The secure module may include a tamper-resistant case, an input port for receiving an analog signal, a recording circuit for converting the analog signal into digitally formatted data, a memory device for storing the digitally formatted data, a playback circuit for reading the digitally formatted data from the memory device and converting the digitally formatted data into an analog playback signal, and an output port for transmitting the analog playback signal. The docking station may further include a first interface for receiving the analog signal from an external device and a second interface disposed within the receptacle for interfacing with the input port of the secure module.

Abstract: A portable content container is disclosed comprising a decoder for decoding an A/V file into an A/V stream. File directory information identifying one or more A/V files is transmitted to a consumer device. A display command is received from the consumer device to display a selected one of the A/V files on a display device. The selected A/V file is decoded into an A/V stream transmitted to the display device in response to the display command. In an embodiment, the portable content container further comprises local memory for storing A/V files.

Abstract: A video and audio recording device includes: a storage, adapted to store condensed information; a specifier, operable to specify the condensed information stored in the storage; a registrar, operable to register the specified condensed information in a timer recording list as first timer recording information; and a recorder, operable to record a video and audio signal corresponding to the first timer recording information on a recording medium.

Abstract: An digital data reproducing apparatus and a method for controlling the same are discussed. The method includes obtaining, by the digital data reproducing apparatus, emotion information associated with at least one of a user and a content, modifying at least one of audio and video characteristics of a content for reproduction based on at least the emotion information, and reproducing the content based on the modified at least one of audio and video characteristics of the content.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, a system, and a device for controlling media play. The method includes: detecting Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) input; and exercising media play control for the detected DTMF input according to mapping information between media play control and the DTMF input. The system includes a controlling device and a processing device. The processing device receives the mapping information between media play control and the DTMF input, and learns which media play control operation maps to the DTMF input of the user according to the mapping information between media play control and the DTMF input after detecting the DTMF key codes input by the user. Therefore, the processing device controls media play independently, without involving control operation performed by the controlling device.

Abstract: A display-control apparatus includes: an acquisition portion acquiring contents; a display controller displaying the contents on a display-portion; a user-detection portion detecting whether or not a user viewing the contents exist in the surrounding area; a communication controller controlling communication with a different display-control apparatus displaying the contents; and a controller configured so that, in the case where the contents are displayed by the different display-control apparatus, when the user does not exist in a surrounding area of the different display-control apparatus, after absence information indicating that the user does not exist, which is transmitted from the different display-control apparatus, is received by the communication controller, in the case where it is detected by the user-detection portion that the user exists, the controller allows the acquisition-portion to acquire the contents displayed by the different display-control apparatus which transmits the absence informatio

Abstract: A system includes a consumer electronic device adapted to render a media content and a hand-held, portable device having a touch screen display, a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing unit. The processing unit of the hand-held, portable device uses data related to the media content received via the receiver to cause command icons related to rendering of the media content to be defined and displayed in the touch screen display and to cause the transmitter to transmit one or more commands for controlling a functional operation related to rendering of the media content by the consumer electronic device in response to a user interaction with one or more of the command icons caused to displayed in the touch screen display.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a program recording apparatus is provided, which includes a storage configured to hold files, a console module configured to select a program when operated, a reception processing circuit configured to play back the program selected at the console module, while receiving the program, a presence detection sensor configured to detect a non-viewed state in which the program being played back by the reception processing circuit is not viewed, and a recording controller configured to record the program selected, as a file, in the storage, and to erase the file of the program from the storage if the program is confirmed not set to a non-viewed state before the program comes to an end.