Abstract: Systems and methods that manipulate a system time clock in an audio decoding system and/or a video decoding system are disclosed. In one example, the method may include the steps of selecting a trick mode rate and adjusting system time clock update rate as a function of the selected trick mode rate.

Abstract: An interactive multimedia broadcasting system with an end-user terminal (TV), e.g. an enhanced television system or preferably an Internet Protocol TeleVision IPTV infrastructure, adapted to receive channels of multimedia data, a content server (CS) adapted to transmit these channels to the terminal, an interactivity database (ID) adapted to receive, from the content server, notices of available interactivity on the channel transmitted to the terminal, and an interactivity server (IS) controlled by the interactivity database and adapted to transmit interactive items (Interactivity 1, Interactivity 2, Interactivity 3) to the terminal and to receive feedback from this terminal. The feedback relates to the acceptance, by the user, of the interactive data proposed by said interactive items. This system is for instance. The content server is adapted, upon acceptance by the user, to transmit the interactive data to his/her terminal (TV) on an extra channel.

Abstract: Provided is a method of a media server providing broadcast content received from an outside source in a universal plug and play (UPnP) network. The method includes receiving a message from a control point requesting to change to a second channel, while transmitting broadcast content of a first channel by setting a connection for streaming with a media renderer; and transmitting the broadcast content of the second channel instead of the broadcast content of the predetermined first channel by changing a broadcasting reception of the first channel while maintaining the connection.

Abstract: A multimedia content redirection method is provided. The multimedia content redirection method reproduces media content at a sink node employing enhanced media reproduction performance by redirecting a current media content being reproduced to the sink node when the sink node, such as audio device or media player, capable of reproducing multimedia contents is discovered in a network while a source node such as mobile terminal is reproducing the media content in an ad-hoc network.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing information of a device to other devices through the home network are provided. The method includes: generating relative location information indicating that a first device is present in a vicinity of a second device if a remote control signal for the second device is received; and providing the relative location information as location information of the first device to at least one other device belonging to the home network. Accordingly, the user can acquire location information of devices belonging to the home network. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify the correspondence of devices visually recognized by the user to the device list obtained as a result of the search.

Abstract: The present invention displays a broadcast program without causing discomfort to the viewer caused by a shift in the display position. The burn-in of the display apparatus when displaying EPG and GUI images is prevented. When viewing a channel, the timing of events such as the broadcast start time of the next program and the insertion of CM video are acquired from program attribute information such as the SI and metadata. Information such as the time of the next program or insertion of an advert is detected from the attribute information, and video data that is displayed in the display area of the display unit is changed at that time. The change in video data is executed when setting the area of the video data to be applied to the effective video data area to the display area, by changing the coordinate data of this area.

Abstract: For providing a receiving contract service being convenient or friendly to both the broadcast service providers and the viewers, and in particular, for providing a digital broadcast receiver set, an information apparatus and a digital broadcasting receiving system, there is provided a system in which a digital broadcast receiver set 100, an output apparatus 110 and recording apparatuses 120 and 130 are connected with a control bus 10, wherein there are provided a designated program devising portion 203 for extracting a plurality of programs at the same time, a receiving contract managing portion 212 for managing information relating to receiving contacts, and a output destination supervising portion 213 for managing distributing destination of the broadcast programs at the present, thereby distributing the broadcast programs to the output apparatus 110 and/or the recording apparatuses 120 and 130, on a basis of the contents of the receiving contracts.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing high-quality, synchronized audio/video playback on Blackberry™-type portable electronic devices lacking native video support. Synchronization intervals are determined whereby to instantiate frame rate control signals for processing and synchronizing data in the form of stored images and audio to generate the synchronized audio/video playback.

Abstract: A television receiver including: a reception control unit which judges whether reception of the cable television broadcast signal has succeeded, by setting the channel data composed of the combination of the frequency table stored in the first storage unit and the modulation method stored in the second storage unit, the modulation method corresponding to the tuned channel. The reception control unit sequentially changes the channel data to be set in a previously determined order to make the reception unit receive the cable television broadcast signal corresponding to the tuned channel when the reception control unit judges that the reception of the cable television broadcast signal has not succeeded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing brief information on a data broadcasting service in a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) receiving terminal, which includes extracting brief information on a data broadcasting service from received DMB signal to sort and store the brief information for each channel and program, and displaying brief information on a relative data broadcasting service together with information for each program when requesting Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information. Accordingly, the convenience of use of such a terminal may be increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for initializing a digital broadcasting receiver and method thereof are disclosed, by which the digital broadcasting receiver provided with virtual machine to process additionally provided services can be quickly initialized. The present invention includes generating a first task required for initializing the digital broadcasting receiver in order to perform an A/V broadcasting service, generating a second task required for initializing a virtual machine installed in the digital broadcasting receiver to perform a data broadcasting service, initializing the digital broadcasting receiver included in the digital broadcasting receiver by executing the first task and initializing the virtual machine by executing the second task after the digital broadcasting receiver is initialized.

Abstract: A terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) system includes at least one broadcasting station for transmitting a digital broadcasting transmission frame containing predetermined service number information according to service, and a digital broadcasting receiver for receiving the digital broadcasting transmission frame and providing service number information contained in the received digital broadcasting frame according to service.

Abstract: A selection operation of a designated channel for a broadcast signal received via an antenna is performed, so that the broadcast signal of the designated channel is detected and the detected broadcast signal is output to a monitor via a video IC and the like. When the power of a microcomputer is turned on (power supply is started), the microcomputer causes a tuner to perform a channel-selection operation for the channel that has been selected at the time of most recent turn-off of the power (power supply stop). As a result of the channel-selection operation, if the tuner cannot detect the broadcast signal of the channel, the microcomputer displays an image of that channel (an image where an video image is not shown) on the monitor and thereafter displays an image for notifying a user of a measure to be taken through an OSD circuit.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment network system has a video-on-demand (VOD) application which allows viewers to create their own customized lists of preferred video content programs, such as movies, games, TV shows, and so forth. Viewers are permitted to select criteria for grouping various video content programs into manageable sets. Lists of programs are provided in one or more scrollable lists, the scrolling rates of which are programmable. Once grouped, previews for the set of programs are displayed. The VOD application allows the viewers to browse the previews at their own rate, skipping forward to the next preview or backward to the previous preview. During this automated browsing, the VOD application enables the viewer to add any of the programs of interest to a customized list. The viewer can retrieve the customized list at any time. If the viewer orders a program from the customized list, the program remains available to the viewer for a rental period (which is adjustable).

Abstract: A content retransmission system comprises a content providing server for providing, through external networks, information content purchased and an associated purchase breakdown, a smart communicator for remotely controlling the purchase process, and for wirelessly transmitting, short-range, a transfer request for the information content and a current location reference, a home server for receiving the information content and associated purchase breakdown and storing it and the associated purchase breakdown, and for receiving the transfer request and current location reference and transmitting information content corresponding to the transfer request through a power line, and a communication apparatus for receiving the information content through the power line and transmitting, by infrared, the received information content to the smart communicator.

Abstract: A content distribution apparatus includes a receiving section, a correction section, an evaluation section and a summary generation section. The receiving section receives plural pieces of watching information of target content information and stores the received watching information. Each of the watching information includes information indicating a reproduction start position from which it was started to reproduce the target content information. The correction section corrects each of the reproduction start positions to any of a plurality of predetermined positions. The evaluation section generates evaluation information of each corrected reproduction start position based on the corrected reproduction start position and the stored watching information. The summary generation section extracts a part of the target content information based on the generated evaluation information of the respective corrected reproduction start positions to generate summary information of the target content information.

Abstract: Disclosed are a broadcast receiving apparatus and a broadcast receiving method. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes a displaying part; a signal receiving part for receiving a broadcast signal corresponding to one of a plurality of channels; a user inputting part where a user inputs a first selecting information; and a controller for causing generation and display of an indication of a plurality of channel information corresponding to the inputted first selecting information, and controlling the signal receiving part to receive a broadcast signal corresponding to a channel selected according to an input of a second selecting information.

Abstract: During the several seconds of delay time that it takes for a digital set top box (“STB”) that is connected to a television or other display device to switch channels and display the next target program, other information or data can be displayed to a viewer of the television. This other data (“zap page”) can include, for example, advertising, information about the next/target program, a window showing a segment of the next/target program that is transmitted over the next/target channel, personal information associated with the viewer (e.g., notification that one or more electronic mail messages have arrived, stock prices of securities in the viewer's portfolio, etc.) and potentially based on the viewer's profile (e.g., recipes for cooking enthusiasts, news clips from preferred sources, advertisements of particular interest, etc.), and/or local and regional information (e.g., weather forecasts, etc.).

Abstract: A method of compiling byte code into native code disclosed together with a server (100) and a receiving terminal (101) for the same. The method comprises the steps of transmitting byte code files containing byte code from a server to a receiving terminal; transmitting grouping information relating to the grouping of byte code files to the receiving terminal; and compiling byte code files received at the receiving terminal to native code. The byte code files are selected for compilation as a function of the grouping of byte code files.

Abstract: Set top boxes are provided with access to full EIT data streams without having to off-tune from one transport to another. If off-tuning is required, however, a locking mechanism substantially reduces or eliminates service interruption. Data in the additional EIT data streams in the non-home transports is reorganized to be sent by time rather than by service. EIT data is stored in the set top box in an architecture which significantly reduces the redundancy inherent in EIT data, allowing a full 7 days of EIT data to be stored in the set top box memory. The set top box of the present invention is backward compatible with conventional set top boxes.

Abstract: The described implementations provide for referencing locally and remotely deployed resources in a television-based entertainment system. The entertainment system includes a content provider or network server. The network server accesses a digital broadcast network via any one of multiple different digital broadcasting protocols. The network server distributes source content to a head end component of the system, which in turn distributes the source content to a client device such as a set-top box. The source content includes a number of embedded references to resources such as those deployed locally by the set-top box and/or deployed remotely by the network server. The set-top box utilizes a mapping table to determine actual values of syntactical abstractions in syntax of the embedded references to access and/or launch at least one locally or remotely deployed resource.

Abstract: Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor unit, primarily including storage means for storing inter alia in digital form the visual and sound information to be used, and associated, through a number of interfaces, with display means for sound playback which provide a multimedia environment. The unit is controlled by a multitask operating system including a library of integrated tools and services in the storage means. The system is also associated, through an interface, with a telecommunications modem and is connectable to an audiovisual information distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, the telecommunications functions also being managed by the multitask operating system.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling computers associated with a communications network to remotely locate each other and establish a master-slave relationship.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering data over a network to a large number of clients, which may be suitable for building large-scale Video-on-Demand (VOD) systems. In current VOD systems, the client may suffer from a long latency before starting to receive requested data that is capable of providing sufficient interactive functions, or the reverse, without significantly increasing the network load. The method utilizes two groups of data streams, one responsible for minimizing latency while the other provides the required interactive functions. In the anti-latency data group, uniform, or non-uniform or hierarchical staggered stream intervals may be used. The system may have a relatively small startup latency while users may enjoy most of the interactive functions that are typical of video recorders including fast-forward, forward-jump, and so on. Furthermore, the system can maintain the number of data streams, and therefore the bandwidth, required.

Abstract: A system for providing, in a television system, the combination, transmission, and reception of multiple video presentations over a single channel of a television distribution system. Presentations may be concurrently broadcast for viewing by many users, as well as interactively requested for display by many (potentially one thousand or more) individual users. A presentation consists of a sequence of images which reproduce a full motion, reduced motion, or a still image video presentation for the user when displayed. The signal is transmitted in a standard television format, and consists of a sequence of video images from the various presentations being transmitted. A user terminal receiving the transmitted signal is selectably operable to display one of the multiple transmitted presentations with accompanying audio. The terminal identifies the video images on an associated television receiver. The number of concurrent presentations, and the degree of motion in the presentations are dynamically variable.

Abstract: An interactive information aggregator is provided for off-broadcast access to trigger information, which can include interactive television triggers, accompanying content and data, network addresses. The aggregator can be implemented in an interactive television system so as to perform real-time capture and aggregation of trigger information through cooperation with content providers, use of a network of collection devices deployed in the interactive television system, or generation of trigger information by third-party entities. The aggregated information can then be made available to ancillary devices used by viewers, independently of being provided to a set top box and television. For instance, the aggregated information can be provided to ancillary devices that do not have direct access or capability to process television broadcast signals.

Abstract: A transmit device and method, a record/play device and method, a record system as well as a media allowing selection of the ideal record media by the receiver. The EPG data generator of a transmit device generates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) showing the scheduled transmission of the program to be broadcast. An editor generates supplemental information containing information indicating the program data quantity, adds the supplemental information to the EPG and a multiplexer transmits the EPG added with the supplemental information.

Abstract: A transmit device and method, a record/play device and method, a record system as well as a media allowing selection of the ideal record media by the receiver. The EPG data generator of a transmit device generates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) showing the scheduled transmission of the program to be broadcast. An editor generates supplemental information containing information indicating the program data quantity, adds the supplemental information to the EPG and a multiplexer transmits the EPG added with the supplemental information.

Abstract: A transmit device and method, a record/play device and method, a record system as well as a media allowing selection of the ideal record media by the receiver. The EPG data generator of a transmit device generates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) showing the scheduled transmission of the program to be broadcast. An editor generates supplemental information containing information indicating the program data quantity, adds the supplemental information to the EPG and a multiplexer transmits the EPG added with the supplemental information.

Abstract: A method for providing television functionality includes defining a time period, associating a user preference with the time period, providing a first result in accordance with the user preference if a request for television functionality is received during the defined time period, and providing a second result if the request for the television functionality is received outside the defined time period.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting advanced editorial content items to subscribers in a distribution network. The method comprises presenting an electronic program guide comprised of data representing program availability on a broadcast distribution network and a selectable editorial content control to present an editorial content index page. An editorial content index page is presented on a display device within the context of the electric program guide in response to selecting the editorial content control, the editorial content index page comprising one or more links or pointers, such as hyperlinks, to editorial content items. A user selects a pointer to an editorial content item from the set of pointers and the editorial content item is presented on the display device.

Abstract: A transmit device and method, a record/play device and method, a record system as well as a media allowing selection of the ideal record media by the receiver. The EPG data generator of a transmit device generates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) showing the scheduled transmission of the program to be broadcast. An editor generates supplemental information containing information indicating the program data quantity, adds the supplemental information to the EPG and a multiplexer transmits the EPG added with the supplemental information.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for presenting broadcast information that comprises steps of: (a) receiving broadcast information; (b) receiving guidance information relating to presentation of the broadcast information; (c) paying for a capability to alter or override at least a portion of the guidance information; (d) receiving user input to alter or override at least some of the guidance information; (e) analyzing the guidance information, the capability, and the user input to provide one or more presentation rates; and (f) presenting the information at the one or more presentation rates.

Abstract: A system for providing video-on-demand service, broadband internet access and other broadband services over T-carrier systems including a pull multiplexer cherrypicker at the head end is disclosed. The pull multiplexer receives upstream requests and cull out MPEG or other compressed video packets, IP packets and other data packet types to satisfy the requests or to send pushed programming downstream. The downstream can be DSL or HFC. Each customer has a cable modem, DSL modem or a gateway which interfaces multiple signal sources to a LAN to which settop decoders, digital phones, personal computers, digital FAX machines, video cameras, digital VCRs etc. can be attached. Each gateway can coupled the LAN to a DSL line or HFC through a cable modem or a satellite dish through a satellite transceiver. A PSTN and conventional TV antenna interface is also provided.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: In an interactive information distribution system that utilizes open sessions to provide requested information to users, a method for sharing the use of open sessions between a plurality of set top terminals associated with a common account number or user.

Abstract: The invention which is the subject of this application relates to the ability to utilize a receiver and processing means for received data in the reception of multiple transport streams of data. Processing components which are included in receiver apparatus are provided with the ability to only receive one transport stream of data at any one time. In the current invention, in order to present to the processing components in the receiver, one single transport stream, but still allow the receiver apparatus to receive multiple transport streams of data, there is provided a means of initially processing the received multiple streams of data which involves the steps of demultiplexing the data from the multiple transport streams, re-mapping the data, selecting packets of data in accordance with user and receiver selection criteria and then multiplexing the said selected packets of data into a single stream of data which can then be presented to the processing components.

Abstract: A transmission schedule table of program data to be transmitted from a video server to a client is previously transmitted to a filter unit. The filter unit receives program information concerning a currently received program, from the client. Based on a transmission schedule table and program information, the filter unit filters program data multiplexed on the basis of frequency and time, which is transmitted from the video server, while changing its own filtering characteristic. The filter unit transmits the filtered data to the client.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for enabling the creation and/or control of interactive television content using declarative-like directives such as HTML, scripting languages, or other languages. A a centrally located proxy server is configured to receive, transcode and convey transcoded web based content to client devices. Upon detecting directives which indicate particular resources required for a presentation are prerequisites, the proxy server conveys signals to a client device that these particular resources are prerequisites. In response to receiving the conveyed signals, the client device may take actions to prefetch these resources. The client device is further configured to prohibit initiation of the presentation until the prerequisite resources are acquired.

Abstract: A program-changing method for a network having at least two nodes that include a first and a second predetermined node, each network node having a program, includes a network management system connected to the first predetermined node of the network. New changing program data and a control signal are transmitted to the first predetermined node connected to the network management system which is disposed in the network separately from the nodes and configured to manage the changing of the programs in the nodes. The first predetermined node replaces its program with the new changing program data. The network management system transmits a program-transmitting-signal to the first predetermined node, causing the transmission of the newly changed program data stored therein to the next predetermined node to change the program of the next predetermined node under control of a respective control signal to the second predetermined node from the network management system.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver retrieves from a database the image of a program on a user-selected channel which was stored previously at the same time so as to display the image on a display device, in response to a channel selection command by a user. If a broadcast exists on the user-selected channel, the broadcast receiver displays the broadcast program on the display device. If no broadcast exists on the user-selected channel, the broadcast receiver displays a message that there is no corresponding broadcast on the display device. By viewing, during the channel selection, the displayed image of the program stored previously, the user can ascertain whether or not the channel being selected is the same channel as the user desires to view. If the channel is not the desired channel, the user can provide a second channel selection command while the preceding channel selection is performed. This permits the user to select a desired channel quickly.

Abstract: The invention relates to delivering a program to an individual business or residence. In one embodiment, a process for pre-storing a portion of a program distributed on a plurality of distribution conduits and in a linear schedule with staggered start times is described. A first start time of the program is determined for a first distribution conduit, and a second start time of the program is determined for a second distribution conduit. A stagger time between the first start time and the second start time is also determined. A segment of the program equal in length to the stagger time is stored.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first processor connected to a communications channel device. The communications device is capable of receiving and transmitting information to a video-on-demand (VOD) service provider. A VOD content decoder is provided that is conencted to the first processor. A video and audio formatting processor is provided that is connected to the first processor and the content decoder. An index memory is provided that is connected to the first processor. The index memory stores a plurality of VOD program segment representations of either whole VOD program content or partial VOD program content. Also provided is a method that includes selecting a start and stop time for recording a representation of a segment of at least one VOD program. The method also includes converting a VOD program identifier of at least one VOD program to a text representation.

Abstract: A reception apparatus records a content distributed from a content distribution apparatus on a hard disk. Following an instruction from a viewer, the reception apparatus reproduces the content. The reception apparatus transmits management information including identification information about the content recorded on the hard disk to a management apparatus. The management apparatus stores the information in a management information storage. When the hard disk of the reception apparatus fails, a replacement hard disk is attached to the management apparatus. The management apparatus retrieves, based on the stored management information, the same content as the content recorded on the hard disk of the reception apparatus from a content distribution apparatus, etc., and records the retrieved content on the replacement hard disk. The hard disk of the reception apparatus is then replaced with the replacement hard disk with the content recorded thereon.

Abstract: A communication device such as a cable modem that has a first interface for receiving data from a cable media, and a pattern matching engine that evaluates patterns in the data that is received at the first interface of the cable modem and that enables the determination of appropriate procedures for treatment of the data. The pattern matching engine of the cable modem may be configured to match address segments of the data that is received at the first interface of the cable modem. In addition, the pattern matching engine is often a programmable pattern matching engine that may be programmed according to patterns that are desired to matched during various operations of the cable modem. Of note, the pattern matching engine enables pattern matching of various length frame portions. Various aspects of the present invention may also be found in a method for a communication device to compare a predetermined pattern to a pattern that corresponds to a portion of a data frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a second transport stream included within a first transport stream and reducing timing anomaly imparted to the second transport stream within the context of a front-end device subject to random access via a data bus, illustratively a PCI bus. A first transport stream is received from a transport medium, the first transport stream having disposed therein packets associated with a second transport stream. The first medium tending to impart jitter to the first transport stream. Those packets associated with the second transport stream are extracted from the first transport stream and adapted to reduce jitter, and launched via a second transport medium, the launched adapted packets forming a jitter-reduced second transport stream.

Abstract: A multicasting system for reception of multimedia information comprising: a content switch coupled to a multimedia content source and at least one multimedia smart terminal. The multimedia content source includes a plurality of multimedia contents, wherein each multimedia content is supported by a primary multimedia stream transmitted over a primary dedicated channel having a primary bandwidth. At least one multimedia smart terminal is configured to receive from the content switch over a network each multimedia content as a secondary multimedia stream transmitted over a secondary channel having a secondary bandwidth. The content switch includes a bandwidth scaler configured to scale each primary multimedia stream to a plurality of secondary multimedia sub-streams that are substantially synchronized.

Abstract: The client application provides VCR functionality in a data-centered video multicast network (36) through active prefetching of the fragments from broadcast channels. The player (10) has a user interface (12) that supports a plurality of VCR functions (14–26). Plural buffers (32) and their associated loaders (34) download video data under control of a manager module (38). The manager module accesses the playback pointer (40) and employs feasible point calculation module (42) to cause the loaders to selectively download segments so that VCR functions can be supported while maintaining continuous playback after the VCR function is performed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable code for extending payment protocols to include information related to the television context of commercial activity between a consumer using a television (or a set-top box) and a merchant, thereby enabling “TV commerce” to generate additional revenue streams which may include payments to the operator of the television system, as well as to various other parties (such as a cable or satellite provider who is providing the broadcast, the ad agency responsible for creating the advertisement from which the consumer made his purchase, etc.) involved with television advertisements and programs. A number of different payment protocols may be used for these TV commerce transactions, where the protocol messages are then augmented according to the present invention to include TV context data.