Abstract: An apparatus for recording/reproducing external device data in a broadcast receiver and method thereof are disclosed, by which a broadcast receiver allowed by a certification key is enabled to access a corresponding external device only. The present invention includes a connection checking step of checking a state of a physical connection between an external device and the broadcast receiver, a certification key registration deciding step of deciding whether a reserved certification key is registered, an access allowance deciding step of if the certification key is registered, deciding whether to allow an access to the connected external device by verifying the certification key, and an access allowing step of if the access is allowed, recording/reproducing corresponding data by accessing the connected external device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the data structure includes at least one graphic information of first type graphic information and second type graphic information. The first type graphic information is for always on display and the second type graphic information is for display in response to user request.

Abstract: A playback device generates a virtual package in response to a construction request made by an application. After the virtual package is thus generated, a virtual file system 23 allows a file recorded on a removable medium in an 8.3 format to be accessed with use of an alias in a Long File Name format, based on a merge management information file that indicates a correspondence between a file path in the 8.3 format and a file path in the Long File Name format.

Abstract: To provide a playback device that plays back a content recorded in an optical disc in conjunction with execution of an application supplied by a server. The playback device includes a disc region code detection unit operable to detect a region code from the optical disc; an application region code estimation unit operable to estimate a region code assigned to the application based on an address of the server; a restriction unit operable, if a region code assigned to the playback device, the region code detected from the optical disc, and the estimated region code assigned to the application do not match each other, to restrict the playback of the content in conjunction with the execution of the application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus and video signal processing method, a video signal encoding apparatus and video signal encoding method, and a program which can solve an EPB problem involved when an encoded video signal is subjected to smart rendering editing. In an extraction process, if EPB problem occurrence prevention countermeasures have been taken in an H.264/AVC stream, smart rendering editing is performed without monitoring the occurrence of an EPB problem. If the countermeasures have not been taken, smart rendering editing is advanced while monitoring the occurrence of an EPB problem. And, in a case where an EPB problem of insertion of an EPB has occurred, a filler or a predetermined parameter corresponding to the inserted EPB is deleted. In a case where an EPB problem of deletion of an EPB has occurred, a filler corresponding to the deleted EPB is inserted. The present invention can be applied to a device that processes a video signal using the H.264/AVC scheme.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiving apparatus for sending received contents to a recording apparatus and for getting the recording apparatus to record the contents in accordance with preset recording reservations, the receiving apparatus including: a recording ready time information acquisition section configured to acquire from the recording apparatus information about a recording ready time; a continuous recording determination section configured to determine whether two chronologically successive broadcast contents are reserved for recording based on the preset recording reservations; and an end time setting section configured such that if the two chronologically successive broadcast contents are found reserved for recording, then the end time setting section sets the time at which to end processing for recording the earlier of the two contents based on a broadcast start time of the latter of the two contents and on the acquired information about the recording ready time.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an estimation circuit, a rate control circuit, a queue circuit, and an encoder circuit. The estimation circuit may be configured to generate a size value in response to an input signal comprising (i) a plurality of frames and (ii) a plurality of embedded subtitle elements. The rate control circuit may be configured to (i) generate a control signal, (ii) pass through the plurality of frames, (iii) present a first one or more of subtitle elements for current processing in response to the size value, and (iv) present a second one or more of subtitle elements for subsequent processing. The queue circuit may be configured to (i) receive the second one or more subtitle elements, (ii) present the second one or more of subtitle elements for current processing when the control signal is in a first state and (iii) hold a second one or more subtitle elements for subsequent processing when the control signal is in a second state.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for streaming digital media content with transition effects. Audio data may be modulated and received by the streaming device for an audio fade-in effect. Similarly, video data may be modulated to perform various visual effects. Such a technique allows for fading-in of audio and/or video, fading-out of audio and/or video, and effects that blend audio from different content and video from different content during a transition from one digital media content to a different digital media content or within the same digital media content. The modulated audio and video data to generate the audio or video effect during a transition may be precomputed or computed in real-time and transmitted to the streaming device. The streaming device switches between original unmodulated content streams and effect content streams when transitions are detected.

Abstract: The invention is for player/recording systems for AN content such as DVD+RW, HDD, Blu-ray RE that record content from broadcast. To navigate through the content the player provides menus allowing the user can select content to watch. Passive content is replaced with active agents so that each piece of content will also contain a program part. The action by a user selecting a piece of content to play results in the program part being executed instead of the content being played. This program part displays menus that allow the user to navigate this particular piece of content, or alternatively, the program part may just start playing the AN content. Playing the ctual content is under the control of the application. At the end of the content, the application decides the next action, such as displaying another menu. The application chooses when to exit the content (based on user action or end of content) and returns to the player menus.

Abstract: A personal video recorder is provided for displaying a targeted advertisement on a display in conjunction with displaying of a broadcast stream on the display. A viewer profile of a viewer of the display is defined based on signals received by a controller indicating usage of a viewer control interface by the viewer, for example based on viewer reactions to a broadcast stream or to an advertisement. A targeted advertisement is selected from stored advertisements based on the viewer profile of the viewer of the display. The targeted advertisement is displayed on the display. The viewer profile is updated based on subsequent signals received by the controller indicating usage of the viewer control interface. The signals indicate viewer reactions, for example, a viewer reaction to a broadcast stream or a viewer reaction to an advertisement or a viewer purchase.

Abstract: The playback apparatus realizes stereoscopic viewing by overlaying planar or stereoscopic graphics over stereoscopic video in a way that reduces eye strain using following method in abstract: A graphics plane holds therein data composed of graphics data. A shift engine shifts, in a case when a composition unit composites the graphics data with a left-view video frame, coordinates of each of the pixels is shifted in a first horizontal direction, and in a case when the composition unit composites the graphics data with a right-view video frame, coordinates of each of the pixels is shifted in a second horizontal direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A video data transmitting device 30 manages storage areas 31a, 31b of a memory card 31 by equally segmenting these storage areas into partitions whose capacities are equal to each other. Image data forming video data is stored piece by piece in each partition in the sequence from a head partition toward a tail partition. Then, the image data is overwritten sequentially from the oldest, whereby the storage areas 31a, 31b are always temporarily stored with N-pieces of image data starting from a point of the time when recording the image data and ending to a point of time tracing back for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: In a playback device for playing back a moving image recorded on a recording medium while executing an application recorded on the recording medium, to improve the use efficiency of a memory bus when combining the moving image with an image relating to the application. Whether or not to combine a background image, which is used as a background of GUI graphics such as a menu or a moving picture used by the application, is determined depending on whether the moving image covers the entire background image. If the moving image covers the background image, there is no need to combine the background image with the moving image. In this case, a memory bus allocated to the reading of the background image can be used for, for example, writing the moving image read from the recording medium onto a memory. Hence the memory bus bandwidth can be effectively used.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus that can be connected to a video playback apparatus includes an input unit configured to input video data from the video playback apparatus, an interpolation unit configured to generate interpolated frame image data of input video data, and an output unit configured to output the interpolated frame image data as interpolated video data, wherein the interpolation unit generates different interpolated frame image data according to a playback mode of the video playback apparatus.

Abstract: Sending content between client devices connected to a computer network is described. According to one described aspect, a server maintains a database correlating unique identifiers for client devices to their network address information. A first client device may query the server for network address information of a second client device by sending the unique identifier to the server. The server returns the network address of the second client device, which is used to send a message directly from the first client device to the second client device, indicating the availability of content. Also, the message is preferably formatted such that it automatically populates a content guide of the second client device, with an entry used to initiate a transmission of the content from the first client device to the second client device.

Abstract: Processing video for utilization in second language learning is described herein. A video file includes spoken words in a source language, subtitles in the source language, and subtitles in a native language of an end user (a target language). The subtitles in the source language are synchronized with the spoken words in the video, and the subtitles in the source language are mapped to the subtitles in the target language. Both sets of subtitles are displayed simultaneously as the video is played by the end user.

Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus which reproduces image files stored in a recording medium, comprising: a retrieving unit adapted to separately retrieve for a first image group recorded in accordance with a first file rule and a second image group nonconforming to the first file rule; a determination unit adapted to determine a reproducing order for an image group which has been completely retrieved by the retrieving unit upon discriminating the first image group and the second image group; and a reproducing unit adapted to reproduce an image group for which the reproducing order is determined, wherein the retrieving unit starts retrieving for the second image group when finishing retrieving for the first image group, and the reproducing unit reproduces an image group, which has completely been retrieved by the retrieving unit, in a reproducing order determined by the determination unit.

Abstract: Provided are a detailed information providing method and apparatus in content storage apparatus that automatically provide a user with desired broadcast information in synchronization with the Internet. The detailed information providing method includes: when a recording operation that records content to the content storage apparatus starts, requesting an information search of a web server based on information on a broadcast currently being recorded and simultaneously extracting broadcast related detailed information from a broadcast signal of the broadcast currently being recorded; and when the recording operation stops, creating a user interface of a recording list based on an Internet-based broadcast related detailed information searched by the web server and the broadcast related detailed information extracted from the broadcast signal.

Abstract: Enhanced history buffer systems and methods are operable to temporarily store program content for program events. An exemplary embodiment receives program content corresponding to each of the plurality of program events, generates a unique discrete program content file in the enhanced history buffer for each of the plurality of program events, and stores the received program content for each of the plurality of program events in the associated one of the discrete program content files. Each discrete program content file begins at a known starting location in the enhanced history buffer and ends at a known ending location in the enhanced history buffer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for outputting broadcast recorded by schedule recording. A schedule recording command message is received from a broadcast output apparatus at a cloud server. Broadcast data corresponding to the schedule recording command message is received. A file format used by the broadcast output apparatus is identified. The broadcast data is transcoded into the file format used by the broadcast output apparatus. The transcoded broadcast data is stored. The transcoded broadcast data is transmitted to the broadcast output apparatus when a broadcast request message is received from the broadcast output apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for content reproduction, a recording medium, and a program that make it possible to edit taken images easily and automatically in accordance with an intention of an editor. Each time a reproduction is performed, a reproduction start point and a reproduction end point of VOBU units of images reproduced by a disk camcorder are recorded in Play Data 81. The recorded reproduction start point and reproduction end point are read, and edit points representing a reproduced section of a longest, a shortest, or an average length are obtained. The obtained edit points are registered in a UD_PGCIT 94. Scenes are reproduced in order on the basis of the edit point data in the UD_PGCIT 94, and thus automatic edit reproduction is performed. The present invention is applicable to disk camcorders.

Abstract: A method of presenting auxiliary data for an interactive recording medium is disclosed. In an interactive recording medium reproducing apparatus that reproduces A/V data and contents data recorded on an interactive recording medium and contents data provided by a contents providing server, the contents data provided by the contents providing server is presented appropriately according to the attributes of the contents data by using attribute information for the contents data.

Abstract: Controlling the audio-visual recording by audio-visual recording devices within a facility comprising the host or owner of the facility predetermining a plurality of value levels of at least one attribute of said audio-visual content and predetermining a plurality of limitations on the recording of audio-visual content, each corresponding to each of the value levels. There is sensing the value level of said at least one attribute and limiting the recording of said audio-visual content based upon the value level of the one attribute.

Abstract: There is provided a moving picture processing device (100) that has a display unit (120), a main processor (150), a display control unit (160), and a main memory (180). Using an overall-moving-picture data item stored in the main memory (180), the display control unit (160) and the display unit (120) play the overall moving picture (AM1), whereby a plurality of sectional moving pictures (SM11 to SM14) is displayed. In other words, displaying one moving picture enables a plurality of moving pictures to be displayed. Therefore, by using the moving picture processing device (100), it is possible to simultaneously display more moving pictures than those determined depending on the device's capacity to play moving pictures.

Abstract: [Object] To download, even when a recording medium having content recorded thereon is not inserted in an electronic apparatus, subcontent related to the content. [Solving Means] With a BD-ROM inserted in a recording/reproducing apparatus 100, a resident application in the recording/reproducing apparatus 100 reads metadata stored in the BD-ROM and stores the metadata in a disc library DB 34. When a BD-ROM is not inserted in the recording/reproducing apparatus 100, the resident application downloads the latest trailer from a content server 22 based on a URL of the content server 22 included in the metadata stored in the disc library DB 34, and then stores the latest trailer in a local storage 8. Accordingly, even when a BD-ROM is not inserted, the resident application can reproduce, via a disc library 30, the latest trailer stored in the local storage 8.

Abstract: In a device for generating a digest of a television broadcast program containing subtitle information, a character number calculation section calculates, based on the subtitle information, a character number of a subtitle displayed in each of segments provided at regular intervals. A digest scene specifying section compares the calculated character number with a threshold and specifies, as one or more digest scenes of the television broadcast program, one or more segments in which the calculated character number is larger than the threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for quickly starting recording seamless-playable data are provided. At the end of recording a preceding record content, identification information of a clip information file for a subsequent record content to be recorded next is recorded in an attribute information storage file set for the preceding record content. More specifically, a clip information file for a subsequent chapter is reserved at the end of recording of a preceding chapter, and an identifier of the clip information file is recorded in the clip information file for the preceding record chapter. Through the prior reservation process of the clip information file, an updating process for updating the clip information file at the start of recording of the subsequent chapter becomes unnecessary. Data recording, such as a photographing operation of a video camera is thus quickly started.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus is provided which is capable of reproducing audio data continuously and unbrokenly, without increasing the storage capacity of a storing means.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a recording and reproduction control unit that records content on a predetermined recording medium and that reads and reproduces content from the predetermined recording medium, wherein the recording and reproduction control unit transmits and records information necessary for reproducing deleted content to a different information processing apparatus when it is intended to delete the content as a deletion target recorded on the predetermined recording medium, and synthesizes and reproduces the deleted content on the basis of the information from the different information processing apparatus when it is instructed to reproduce the deleted content.

Abstract: A control unit of a recording apparatus determines a transfer mode of content data by an external device, re-encodes the content data by a re-encoding unit and records the re-encoded content data in a recording unit if the determined transfer mode is a first transfer mode with which the re-encoding unit is compatible, and records the content data in the recording unit, re-encodes the content data read out from the recording unit by the re-encoding unit, and re-records the re-encoded content data in the recording unit if the determined transfer mode is a second transfer mode with which the re-encoding unit is not compatible.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method for generating record data, guaranteeing seamless playback even in a case of occurrence of a jump. In a multilayer disc having a plurality of recording layers, it is configured that an allowable range of an intra-layer jump and an inter-layer jump carried out in a playback processing of an information recording medium is determined and a required time for the intra-layer jump and the inter-layer jump is calculated on the basis of the determined allowable jump range information so as to determine a data configuration requirement such as an allowable minimum consecutive data size of data to be stored in the information recording medium on the basis of the calculated required jump time. With the present structure, seamless playback is made possible even in a case of occurrence of not only an intra-layer jump but also an inter-layer jump.

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 system and method are provided for an automated digital video editing system that can combine previously stored video advertising with just-in-time content video, such as breaking news, sports, traffic and weather. The system and method can deliver the combined video to mobile devices in accordance with demographic, geographic, or other criteria selected by the advertiser.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving a request to record television content on a specified channel for a specified period of time. The method can also include tuning to the specified channel at the specified time, and recording the specified content. The method can also include determining that one or more segments of the television content is corrupted. The method can also include presenting a notification indicating that some of the television content is corrupted, retuning to the specified channel made by the request, and acquiring uncorrupted television content for use in replacing the one or more segments of corrupted television content.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for selecting, in real time, a leading view of a multi-angle television program. A video recorder receives a program view selection. The video recorder then transmits a viewer data request for the currently selected program view to a service provider. The video recorder may then receive requested viewer data of the selected program view and one or more alternate views of the selected program. The video recorder may then determine if the selected program view is the leading view of the selected program. When the selected view is not the leading view and the video recorder is configured for automatic view switching, the video recorder may autonomously switch to the leading view of the selected program. Alternatively, the video recorder may present vote totals of all views of the selected program and enable a selection of a desired alternate view.

Abstract: Metadata defining TV video settings is embedded in or otherwise accompanies a video stream. The metadata is executed by the TV to establish the settings, which consequently may be optimized for the particular video stream.

Abstract: A storage medium storing: video data; and graphics data for displaying a menu. The graphics data includes first graphics data displayed on the screen when an activation command is generated by a user and may also include second graphics data displayed on the screen at a designated time.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus configured to reproduce moving image data based on management information including time information and position information about a plurality of intra pictures in the moving image data and display the reproduced moving image data on a display includes a determination unit configured to acquire information about a time interval and a position interval between two intra pictures from the time information and the position information and determine a bit rate between the two intra pictures, and a display control unit configured to display information concerning the bit rate determined by the determination unit, on the display.

Abstract: An information-processing device including a recording unit configured to record a plurality of types of content-data items to be recorded onto at least one predetermined recording medium, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the plurality of types of content-data items recorded onto the recording medium by the recording unit includes at least one content-data item of which reproduction is difficult for a purpose-built reproduction device to perform, the purpose-built reproduction device supporting a predetermined format, and a notification unit configured to make a notification according to a predetermined method when the determination unit determines that the content-data item of which reproduction is difficult to perform is included, the notification indicating details on the determination is provided.

Abstract: A signature device including a storage unit configured to store moving image data, and a processor configured to extract original metadata from moving image data for the image data of each of a plurality of images forming the moving image data, the original metadata including location data of the image data and identification data of the moving image data, to encode the image data of each of the images into still image data in accordance with an image format, to write the still image data into a first area, to write the original metadata extracted by the extractor into a second area, the first area and the second area being included in a storage area of a still image data file in which the still image data is filed, and to generate summary data for the still image data file.

Abstract: An information management method for managing whether to allow playback of copyrighted content includes an invalidating step, executed by playback management means when an invalidating request for content recorded on a recording medium is received, of registering the content in playback-management information as being in a playback-prohibition state; a playback processing step, executed by playback controlling means when a playback request for content on the recording medium is received, of permitting playback only when the content is not in the playback-prohibition state with reference to the playback-management information; and an invalidation canceling step, executed by the playback controlling means when playback-permission information associated with content in the playback-prohibition state is obtained, of updating the playback-management information so that the playback-prohibition state of the content is canceled.

Abstract: A personal video recorder (PVR) enabled set-top box (STB) may be operable to store an advertisement and associated playback control information received from a media provider into a storage device in the PVR enabled STB, schedule the stored advertisement for viewing based on the associated playback control information. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to insert the stored advertisement into media content for one or more times based on the scheduling. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement and the media content in different transport formats. At a forward/reverse playback position during a PVR playback, the PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement when a play count associated with the stored advertisement is less than a count threshold at the forward/reverse playback position.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is for a DVD on which a TS-VOB, and pieces of playback path information each showing a playback path of the TS-VOB are recorded. When extended control with various contents can be executed by an apparatus at the time of playback, an extended attribute section in which extended control is valid is specified in accordance with the contents of the extended control. When an extended attribute section is to be uniformly specified for playback paths of the TS-VOB, a section marker for specifying a location of the extended attribute section of the TS-VOB is generated in VOB information. When an extended attribute section is to be individually specified for one playback path, a section marker specifying a location of the extended attribute section of the playback path is generated in PGC information. The generated VOB information and PGC information are written to the DVD.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for recording data in a file by first unit on a recording medium in accordance with a predetermined file system, which may include a recording control unit performing a recording control operation to record a predetermined file on the recording medium, the recording control operation including data recording control for recording successively the data on the recording medium by first unit and management information updating control for updating management information of the predetermined file system on the recording medium, a generating unit successively generating difference information of the management information by second unit during the recording control operation of the recording control unit, the second unit being an integer multiple of the least common multiple of the first unit and a minimum unit of the predetermined file system, and a backup storage unit storing as backup information the difference information generated by the generating unit.

Abstract: To provide an information recording and/or playback apparatus for dubbing onto a second recording medium all or some of plural pieces of information from a first recording medium in which the plural pieces of information are recorded. The apparatus includes a dubbing function that includes a plurality of dubbing functions respectively having different dubbing information selection methods. In the event of executing dubbing, identifiers enabling selection of one of the plurality of dubbing functions and a display screen for displaying an explanatory text regarding the respective dubbing function is displayed. In addition, when information is selected before the display screen is displayed, the information selection method of the respective dubbing function and an explanatory text to be displayed is changed corresponding to an information selection state.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for extracting a more appropriate representative frame image from moving image data that includes a plurality of frames of image data arranged in a time series includes: an input unit configured to input moving image data; a detecting unit configured to detect a frame image, which includes an image similar to a prescribed image pattern; a tracking unit configured to detect a frame image, which includes an image similar to the image included in the detected frame image; a storage unit configured to store successive frame images that have been detected by the tracking unit; a splitting unit configured to split the moving image data into a plurality of time intervals; and an extracting unit configured to extract a representative frame image using different evaluation rules.

Abstract: A remote control system (1) comprises a plurality of controlled devices (100, 100a, etc.), a specifying means (101) for specifying one controlled device (100) that the user desires as a remote control target, and a control device (200) for remotely controlling the one controlled device according to first identification information for identifying the one controlled device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method for processing a high definition (“HD”) digital video that includes video data and closed captioning data. The method (i) imports an HD digital video in a computer system, (ii) extracts closed captioning data from the HD digital video and (iii) stores the extracted closed captioning data in a storage of the computer system (e.g., hard drive of the computer system). Some embodiments first import all of the video before extracting closed captioning data from it, while other embodiments extract closed captioning data from the video as they import the video into the computer system. In some embodiments, a video editing application of a computer system performs this HD-video processing method. Accordingly, in some such cases, the method also edits the video that is extracted from the HD digital video. In addition, when video data is edited, the extracted closed captioning data is also edited in some embodiments.

Abstract: A multiplexed packetized data stream carrying real-time multimedia programs is received at a first hardware demultiplexer. Based on a user input, a video and timing portion of a program associated with the multiplexed packetized data stream can be stored for subsequent display. One type of subsequent display is time shifted display, where the stored portion of the program is played back while new portions of the program are being stored. During time shifted play back, a second hardware demultiplexer can be used, so that one demultiplexer stores new data and maintains a current clock value while the other decodes and displays the stored data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding information in broadcast or recorded segment signals are described. In certain embodiments, an audience monitoring system encodes identification information in the audio signal portion of a broadcast or recorded segment using spread spectrum encoding. A personal monitoring device receives an acoustically reproduced version of the broadcast or recorded signal via a microphone, decodes the identification information from the audio signal portion despite significant ambient noise, and stores this information, automatically providing a diary for the audience member which is later uploaded to a centralized facility. A separate monitoring device decodes additional information from the broadcast signal, which is matched with the audience diary information at the central facility.