Abstract: There is provided an information recording medium that reduces operation of shifting information backward or putting information forward closer together upon recording/deleting/dividing information to facilitate processes of recording/deleting/dividing information. An information recording medium records Programs 1 composed of image data, etc., UPGR 3 that refers to at least a part of the Programs 1, PGRG 5 that refers to the UPGR 3, a PGRM that collectively records the UPGR 3 and reference information thereof, and a PGRGM that collectively records the PGRG 5 and reference information thereof. When recording the UPGR 3, the information recording medium refers to the reference information contained in the PGRM, and when invalid reference information or reference information giving no reference to any UPGR 3 is present, records the UPGR 3 using the reference information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to manage previously recorded programs. In at least one embodiment identifies a plurality of previously recorded programs, categorizes each one of the plurality of previously recorded programs into one of a plurality of recorded program categories, and generates a recorded program category-based graphical user interface (GUI). The recorded program category-based GUI graphically depicts the plurality of recorded program categories and graphically depicts an amount of memory capacity utilized by each of the plurality of recorded program categories based upon an amount of memory capacity utilized by the previously recorded programs.

Abstract: Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.

Abstract: The described systems and methods control the display of media content on a media player with player preferences. The media content is analyzed and multiple signatures are computed that are representative of temporal portions of the media content. The multiple signatures are matched to a database of signatures, and a closest corresponding signature is found. Metadata associated with the closest corresponding signatures is retrieved as matching metadata. Display of the media content is controlled based on the player preferences and the matching metadata.

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: Techniques are provided for selecting which videos to recommend to users by predicting the degree to which recommending each video will satisfy certain goals. To make the predictions, a trained machine learning engine is fed both collaborative filtering parameter values and content-based filtering parameter values. In the case of video-to-video recommendations, the collaborative filtering parameter values may be based on a video pair that includes a video in which a user has already demonstrated an interest. The machine learning engine generates a machine-learning score for each video. The machine learning scores are used as the basis for selecting which videos to recommend to a particular user.

Abstract: A recording apparatus contains a timer that measures the current time based on a time zone. When writing a VOB onto a DVD, the recording apparatus refers to TM_ZONE recorded on the DVD, and judges whether the time zone which the timer is based on matches the time zone that the TM_ZONE specifies. If the two time zones do not match, the recording apparatus operates as follows. First, the recording apparatus obtains VOB_REC_TM that indicates the recording date/time of the VOB based on TM_ZONE. The recording apparatus then writes the VOB onto the DVD together with VOBI that is information of the VOB and contains (a) the obtained VOB_REC_TM; (b) LOCAL_TZ_TY indicating that the two time zones do not match and (c) LOCAL_TZ specifying the time zone which the timer is based on.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of providing modified media content is disclosed and includes receiving media content that includes audio data and video data having a first number of video frames. The method also includes generating abstracted media content that includes portions of the video data and audio elements of the audio data, where the abstracted media content includes less than all of the video data and includes fewer video frames than the first number of video frames.

Abstract: A record carrier (1) of the invention stores at least video-related user data and control data in digital form. The control data enables playback control of the user data, which control data comprises at least play control data which defines user data items which are playable, at least selection control data for enabling the user to select and control reproduction of user data and at least variable control data for operating on user and system variables. The record carrier (1) is characterized in that the variable control data comprises at least one instruction for a conditional arithmetical operation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a playback apparatus includes a setting module, a detector, and a playback controller. The setting module is configured to set first limitation information configured to limit viewing of a person having an age lower than a first age. The detector is configured to detect second limitation information from a content including a plurality of programs, the second limitation information being configured to limit viewing of a person having an age lower than a second age set with respect to a first program included in the plurality of programs. The playback controller is configured to control playback of the content based on the first and second control information.

Abstract: A data application based on a reproduction apparatus of a disk media is disclosed. In accordance with method, a scene resource data corresponding to each scene of a data application based on a base data application of the disk media or the reproduction apparatus to execute the data application on a scene-by-scene basis, thereby minimizing a time required for the execution of the data application and a limit of a size of the data application, and providing the data application personalized based on a device information or a user information.

Abstract: A playback instruction data generator determines, for each type of exceptional and special playback, a portion of target content with specific details to be played back in exceptional and special playback of the target content, on the basis of a playback rule for the category of the target content, among playback rules defined for each category of content and for each type of exceptional and special playback, and generates playback instruction data in which portion-to-be-played information indicating that portion is associated with identification information identifying the target content. A data extracting unit extracts, from content specified by a user, a portion of the content with specific details indicated by the portion-to-be-played information for the type of exceptional and special playback specified by the user, the portion-to-be-played information being included in the playback instruction data and being associated with the identification information for the content specified by the user.

Abstract: Time reconciliation, in which images that each are associated with a recording device system time are received, the recording device records the images at an original rate, a reference time is determined, and a difference time D representing an amount of time that the recording device system time is ahead of the reference time is calculated. In one alternative implementation, a down-sampling rate N is determined, and a time T to reconcile the recording device system time with the reference time is calculated based upon the down-sampling rate N and the difference time D. In another alternative implementation, a time T is determined, and a down-sampling rate N to reconcile the recording device system time with the reference time is calculated based upon the time T and the difference time D. In both alternative implementations, the images recorded by the recording device are down-sampled at 1/N of the original rate, and the down-sampled images are stored.

Abstract: A method of providing a uniform user experience is described. The method entails receiving general preference information, and mapping the general preference information to format-specific preference information. This format-specific preference information can then be applied when accessing content.

Abstract: When content is reproduced from a disc, audio and a subtitle can be properly and automatically selected. An original language can be set as a language of an audio stream to be reproduced on a player side. An audio stream of the original language is described at a position that comes first in a clip information file. When audio and a subtitle are automatically set, if their languages match, the subtitle is not displayed. When player setting 500 denotes that audio is an original language and subtitle Japanese and streams 501 contained in a disc are an audio stream of Japanese (original language), an audio stream of English, a subtitle stream of English, and a subtitle stream of Japanese, the audio stream of Japanese as the original language and the subtitle stream of Japanese are selected according to the automatic setting. Since their languages match, although streams 502 finally selected are the audio stream of Japanese and the subtitle stream of Japanese, the subtitle stream of Japanese is not displayed.

Abstract: Methods, software, apparatus, and systems for reading a recordable optical disc. The method generally comprises the steps of (a) determining whether a lead-in area on the disc contains valid lead-in data and, when the lead-in area does not contain valid lead-in data, and (b) searching an area on the disc (e.g., searching for directory data, such as RSAT or VAT data). The present invention advantageously allows a disc playback device (e.g., a DVD player) to locate disc type information even on discs that are unfinalized (e.g., where no lead-in data has been recorded in the lead-in area of the disc).

Abstract: Control of audio/video equipment is provided by an apparatus constructed like a computer, with audio and video subsystems. The audio subsystem includes a programmable analog mixer and several analog and digital multiplexers to route and mix multiple inputs to multiple outputs. Databases are stored in computer mass storage to record preferences for playback of digital versatile discs, compact discs and audio files stored in the mass storage device, such as MP3 files. The playback preferences may include video output format, language, surround sound mode, etc. for DVDs and surround sound effects for CDs and audio files.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method provides logic for delivering content data. In one implementation, the computer-implemented method receives content data and metadata. The metadata is associated with a plurality of temporal positions in the content data.

Abstract: A multimedia application system uses metadata for sensory devices. The system includes: a sensory-device engine for generating a sensory device command (SDC) for controlling the sensory devices based on sensory effect information (SEI) generated to represent sensory effects by using the sensory devices depending on video contents, user preference information (UPI) of the sensory devices and device capability information (DCI) indicative of reproducing capability of the sensory devices; and a sensory-device controller for controlling sensory devices to perform sensory effect reproduction in response to the generated SDC.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method is disclosed for playing a video program for a user that has an associated commercial that can be avoided to some extent if the user is authorized. In one step, the video program is received with the associated commercial and made available for display. An attempt by the user to avoid normal playback is detected. A playback point in the video program for the associated commercial is determined. The attempt is correlated to the playback point in the video program for the associated commercial. It is determined whether the user is authorized to avoid normal playback of the associated commercial. If the user is not authorized to avoid normal playback of the associated commercial, the attempt is thwarted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a participant into video programming. A list of available social network data fields is received. Programming segments to be customized based on the available social network data fields are detected. At least one of the available social network data fields is correlated with the programming segment to be customized. Personal data of a specific user corresponding to the at least one of the available social network data fields is retrieved and the programming segment is modified to include information based on the personal data.

Abstract: An electronic mail processing apparatus includes a data receiving section (101) that receives mail data including video data or audio data, a cited data detecting section (103) that detects a cited part of the received video data or audio data as cited data from the mail data received by the data receiving section, and a reproduction control section (104) that controls a reproducing method of the received mail data. The reproduction control section (104) controls the reproduction method so that a reproduction method (for example, reproduction speed) for the cited data is deferent from a reproduction method for data other than the cited data in the received mail data.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods which allow consumers of audio-visual content (such as movies and television programs) to obtain dynamic additional content about programs and movies being watched, and customize that additional content to their personal preferences and behaviors.

Abstract: An end device that collects content playback information of a user may be provided. The end device including: a storage to store content and a table including playback information of the content in a predetermined local storage address; a control unit to retrieve content, selected by the user, from the storage, to load a storage address of the selected content, and to transmit the storage address to a decoder; and the decoder to store the storage address in the table, to change playback information of the selected content, and to decode the selected content based on the storage address.

Abstract: A personal media system and method that obtain content playback information of an end device is provided. The personal media system including: an end device reader to, when an end device that collects playback information about content playback is connected, obtain the collected playback information and content information about content stored in the end device; and a mapping unit to map the playback information and the content information, to determine playback information for each content in the end device, and to generate playback information for each content of a user based on the playback information for each content in the end device.

Abstract: A server apparatus 20 that is connected, through a communication network 11, to a mobile terminal 40 for reproducing a content and to a ticket gate machine 30. The ticket gate machine 30 detects that a user's entrance into a station area or boarding onto a vehicle, identifies at least a boarding zone, and notifies the identified boarding zone to the server apparatus 20. The server apparatus 20 includes a required duration calculating unit 22 which calculates, based on the boarding zone notified by the ticket gate machine 30, a duration for a user traveling by the vehicle, a content selecting unit 23 which determines a content whose reproduction is completed within the calculated duration, and a data transmitting/receiving unit 21 which delivers the determined content to the mobile terminal 40.