Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for creating and using video playlists within a network. In accordance with the invention, a user is enabled to create a playlist comprising a plurality of video segments and store the playlist for later access and viewing. In some implementations, the user may upload playlists to the network in order to permit other users to view the playlist and, if desired, watch the playlist's contents. In other implementations, the content provider or third parties may create playlists and make the contents available for viewing. In yet other implementations, the content provider or a third party may insert advertisements into a playlist's contents.

Abstract: Systems and methods for navigating hypermedia using multiple coordinated input/output device sets. Disclosed systems and methods allow a user and/or an author to control what resources are presented on which device sets (whether they are integrated or not), and provide for coordinating browsing activities to enable such a user interface to be employed across multiple independent systems. Disclosed systems and methods also support new and enriched aspects and applications of hypermedia browsing and related business activities.

Abstract: A PC (11) of the present invention comprises a one-segment broadcast tuner (16), a display output I/F (18) for transmitting, to a TV (21), data of a broadcast program received by the one-segment broadcast tuner (16), and a PC-side relay coordination control section (14) for transmitting a channel code for (i) causing the TV (21) to receive, via a digital tuner (26) or an analog tuner (27), a broadcast program containing same content as the broadcast program being received by the one-segment broadcast tuner (16), and (ii) causing the TV (21) to output data of the broadcast program. Therefore, in a case where an output of the TV (21) is switched from the broadcast program being received by the one-segment broadcast tuner (16) to the broadcast program being received by the digital tuner (26) or the analog tuner (27), a user of the PC (11) can continuously watch a broadcast program containing same content as before the output switching.

Abstract: An access server generates a handshake with storage servers resulting in more rapid access to the stored data, for example, video data, by a user. The handshake also results in load balancing effects.

Abstract: Digital television channels are preemptively cached based on a modeling of a user to reduce delays while switching channels. A current television channel is selected using a first tuner. A future television channel selection of the user is then predicted based on a modeling of the user. The recorded content of the predicted future television channel is preemptively cached using a second tuner. A buffer of the recorded content of the predicted future television channel is displayed when the user switches from the current television channel to the predicted future television channel. The modeling of the user is updated and stored in storage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate and use content-aware watermarks are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method, media composition data is received and at least one word present in an audio track of the media composition data is selected. The word is then located in a watermark.

Abstract: A system includes a transport central processing unit of an information appliance device. The transport central processing unit receives a message from a head-end. The transport central processing unit provides access of the message to the security processing unit. A host central processing unit connected with the transport central processing unit is prohibited access to the message.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to link television broadcast content and Web content with each other so that both types of content match the characteristics of television media, and prevent the viewing of television broadcasting from being interrupted. An associated information providing method for providing associated information linked with a video to an audience includes the steps of: receiving select information for selecting the video viewed by the audience and audience identification information for identifying the audience; retrieving locational information on a network of associated information about contents of the video viewed by the audience on the basis of the received select information; and transmitting the retrieved locational information to the audience on the basis of the audience identification information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of rendering a thin client application in a network device, for parsing the internet data so as convert the internet data into a common data format which can be rendered in set-top box using any type of middleware. The invention would be equipped to handle any type of application and also would be cost-efficient to be developed in a middleware layer of a network device like set-top box.

Abstract: A reception apparatus includes: a reception unit configured to receive a broadcast stream at least including a data stream for data broadcasting; a first style selector configured to select a display style for each of data broadcast content acquired from the broadcast stream received by the reception unit; a second style selector configured to select, when the data broadcast content corresponding to the style selected by the first style selector corresponds to a plurality of display styles, one display style out of the plurality of display styles; and a display unit configured to display the data broadcast content corresponding to the style selected by the first style selector or the second style selector.

Abstract: A method for reestablishing presentation of a paused media program is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Set-Top Box (STB) located in a building can have a controller element that presents a media program to a media device operable only in the building, pauses presentation of the media program responsive to a pause request, generates a departure mark that identifies a presentation point in the media program associated with the pause request, receives a request to resume presentation of the media program from the departure mark at a portable communication device capable of maintaining communications with the STB outside the building, and transmits to the portable communication device a presentation of the media program from the departure mark. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transmission apparatus, including: an application data transmission section adapted to transmit data of an application for HbbTV; and an table transmission section adapted to transmit an table including an application profile which represents one or more additional functions to the application and is configured from a first bit region of high-order n bits and a second bit region of lower-order (16-n) bits which represent presence or absence of functions allocated to bit positions thereof with a bitmap structure and wherein, in the first bit region, values for changing over the functions to be allocated to the bit positions in the second bit region are set.

Abstract: A virtual set-top box (vSTB) for executing a middleware component, designed originally for use with the physical STB, including emulating hardware capabilities of the physical STB to process IPTV content received over a connection for presenting the IPTV content on a display of the electronic device.

Abstract: A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, storing contents being downloaded through a FLUTE or an internet in a storage medium, based upon the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content, and displaying a list of recordings including the contents stored in the storage medium.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top-box (STB) having a controller to operate the STB coupled to an interactive television network as an audio visual answering machine using a digital video recorder forming a part of the STB, use at least one camera coupled to the STB to capture video, use at least one microphone coupled to the STB to capture audio, present video from at least a calling party on a television set coupled to the STB, and present audio from at least the calling party on speakers coupled to the STB. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to access non-real-time (NRT) content. The method includes receiving, by the reception apparatus, a selection of the NRT content included in a digital television broadcast signal broadcast by a content source. The reception apparatus determines whether the selected NRT content is stored in a memory of the reception apparatus. When the selected NRT content is determined not to be stored in the memory, the reception apparatus determines whether the selected NRT content can be downloaded from an external device that is accessible via a communication network. When the selected NRT content is determined to be downloadable from an external device that is accessible via the communication network, the reception apparatus downloads the selected NRT content from the external device.

Abstract: A system, method and device for swapping display configurations between viewing devices. The system allows for swapping channels back and forth between the TV and the media device. A user and devices associated with the user are registered with the system. A swap setup is configured by setting swap configuration information. Swap functionality is provided to the registered devices. A swap initiation signal is received at the registered devices and display configurations are swapped between the registered devices.

Abstract: An approach is provided to facilitate network connectivity and consumption of broadband services. A data network connection is established by a set-top box. Sharing of the data network connection by a plurality of user devices is permitted by the set-top box. A credit count is maintained based on the sharing of the data network connection by the plurality of user devices.

Abstract: In the specification and drawing a television is described and shown with a multimedia player for playing information, a grabber for producing a word from the information and a controller for controlling a computer to search for data related to the word. Moreover, a method for operating the television is also disclosed in the specification and drawing.

Abstract: A device consistent with certain embodiments has a television receiver and an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) receiver. A decoder decodes television programming from either of the television receiver or the IPTV receiver. A programmed processor(s) retrieves metadata relating to television programming, IPTV content, any installed Widgets, and the television (TV) receiver device's function, all of which are considered search targets. The programmed processor stores tags from the metadata in a database and associates the tags with their targets. A search engine searches the database for tags in response to a search query and to retrieve the associated target on command. The control processor executes the target by either tuning to the target's program content or by launching or resuming a Widget or TV device function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus is provided. The signal processing apparatus includes: a memory unit in which a plurality of channels and Internet addresses corresponding to the channels are stored; a network connecting unit which is connectable to the Internet; and a control unit which controls the network connecting unit to connect to an Internet address corresponding to a channel selected by a user and to receive content provided from the connected Internet address.

Abstract: A method of receiving data of a digital broadcast receiving device is provided. The method includes receiving a predetermined section of a data file including a plurality of sections, through a broadcast signal network, and receiving the remaining sections of the plurality of sections of the data file through an Internet network.

Abstract: Provided is a method of a receiver to receive a broadcast service. The method includes: receiving a content; obtaining information on an adjunct service of the broadcast service from the content; transmitting a trigger request according to the information on the adjunct service; receiving at least one trigger in response to the request; and performing a trigger action on a trigger target object at a trigger time on the basis of the received at least one trigger, wherein the received at least one trigger is located in a specific time segment.

Abstract: A method for re-transmitting missing packets in an improved manner in association with transmitting an MPEG transport stream between a client and a server of a communication network is provided. New type of customized control packets are introduced which are periodically embedded into the transport stream at the server from which the MPEG transport stream is distributed, wherein each of the embedded control packets is provided with package identification data. A client receiving the MPEG transport stream, including the embedded customized control packets, will, on the basis of the package identification data obtained from a customized control packet be able to identify each of n packets which were inserted by the server into the transport stream subsequent to the respective customized control packet.

Abstract: Television programming may be annotated with metadata and the metadata may be shared among subscribers. A set-top box may receive, from a server, metadata relating to a television program, the metadata having been created by users of other set-top boxes and at least some elements of the metadata including information describing portions of the television program to which the metadata is relevant. The set-top box may present the metadata during portions of the television program at which the metadata is relevant.

Abstract: A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, storing contents being downloaded through a FLUTE or an internet in a storage medium, based upon the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content, and displaying a list of recordings including the contents stored in the storage medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a transmitter and a switch. The transmitter transmits, to a television receiver, an address used to access a server on a network used by a mobile terminal. The switch automatically switches, after the address is transmitted, the display of the mobile terminal to an operation display that displays an operation element suitable for the operation state of the television receiver.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising the steps of receiving, at a user electronic device from a computer system including at least one computer, a media work and one or more associated tags; receiving, at the user electronic device from a user input device, a query related to at least one of the one or more associated tags; obtaining, at the user electronic device, instructions for an action to be performed based on the query; and performing, at the user electronic device, the associated action, in response to the query.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a video signal from an application running on a server over an IP network to a client device. The application is drawing its content, in a plurality of sequential drawing events, into a virtual frame buffer. Simultaneously, each drawing event is registered in a list of drawing events and each drawing event is associated with an address (location) of each area that was affected by this drawing event. The list is repetitively checked and if any area have changed since previous periodic check, such area is retrieved, segmented into blocks of standardized size and transmitted, together with its address in a frame, over the IP network to the client. On the client side the encoded blocks are received and combined, using the address data, into frames of an encoded video stream that can be directly fed into an industry standard decoder of client device.

Abstract: Variables incorporated into a hypertext markup language program guide enable location of hypertext elements. Once the variable is located, the information contained within the identified hypertext element may be used to tune to a particular channel.

Abstract: Provided is a content converting method and system. The content converting method and system may extract web content elements from collected web contents, may extract domain elements from a web page including the web contents, may match the extracted elements with broadcast content elements and thus, may enable the web contents to be played in a broadcast receiving apparatus.

Abstract: A monitor includes: an input receiving section for causing a single setting screen to receive an input of respective communication setting values of an STB and a monitor; and a setting section for setting, for each of the STB and the monitor, a corresponding communication setting value of an inputted plurality of communication setting values.

Abstract: A method of viewing recorded media in accordance with one embodiment includes receiving a media stream from a remotely located media source over a network, storing the media stream on a media storage device, and generating a condensed media file to store a subset of frames of the media stream. Further, the method includes receiving a seek request associated with a specified time within the media stream, determining a first frame within the subset of frames in the condensed media file that is previous to and closest in time to the specified time, and displaying the first frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method executable by an adaptive stream concatenation server to deliver a concatenated transport stream to a video distribution system are provided, as are embodiments of adaptive stream concatenation servers. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an adaptive media stream containing television programming in an adaptive packet format at the adaptive stream concatenation server via a digital network. The contents of the adaptive media stream are concatenated by the adaptive stream concatenation server to create a concatenated transport stream containing the television programming in a streaming format different from the adaptive packet format and compatible with the video distribution system. The concatenated transport stream containing the television programming is then transmitted in the streaming format to the video distribution system.

Abstract: A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for Internet audio/video delivery. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for Internet audio/video delivery.

Abstract: A broadcasting system and its associated broadcasting method for multimedia bitstream are provided. The broadcasting system includes a wireless access point, a broadcasting device and a source device. The broadcasting method includes the following steps. A wireless network is provided by the wireless access point. A multimedia bitstream is provided by the source device. A broadcasting command is generated by the source device according to a trigger signal. The broadcasting command is transmitted to the broadcasting device by the source device via the wireless network. A direct communication link is created between the source device and the broadcasting device. In addition, the multimedia bitstream is transmitted to the broadcasting device by the source device via the direct communication link.

Abstract: A system and method for providing companion content on a device that downloads content associated with a media presentation playing on a media player and displays the downloaded content at times synchronized to time-offsets (from the start of the program) of the presentation by signals from the media player.

Abstract: If there is a service provider for which basic registration has already been performed, the processing proceeds to step S15 to determine whether there is an IP broadcast service or not. If no IP broadcast service is provided, the processing proceeds to step S17 to determine whether there is another service provider for which the basic registration has already been performed. If no other service provider for which the basic registration has already been performed is found in this determination, a transition is made to a portal site of the service provider for which the basic registration has already been performed. If it is determined that an IP broadcast service is provided in step S15, the processing proceeds to step S16 to perform a caution display. In the caution display, a display is made to prompt acquisition of channel information. In the case of acquiring channel information, an indication informing the user is displayed so that the channel information can be acquired at this phase.

Abstract: An auxiliary display device, capable of remotely controlling a set-top box (STB) and/or television to select a program channel, is used to navigate a web browser in the auxiliary display device to a web site associated with the selected channel. A web page associated with the selected channel is presented on a display of the auxiliary display device. When the channel is selected, current tuned channel information is transmitted by the set-top box (STB) and/or television to the auxiliary display device, irrespective of whether the auxiliary display device was used to select the channel. In an alternate embodiment, the STB and/or television forward channel information to the auxiliary display device via a cable head-end.

Abstract: An enhanced electronic program guide (EPG) capable of displaying DBS program information and NTSC program information seamlessly and in real-time on a display device is accomplished, in one form, by a wide-band data link between a DBS receiver adapted to receive a DBS broadcast data stream and an internet set-top unit, the internet set-top unit adapted to receive NTSC audio/video signals and internet data/information. In another form, the DBS receiver is controlled by the internet set-top box. Supplemental information transmittable on the DBS data stream may also be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for receiving non-real time push content involves receiving a transport stream containing an Internet Protocol stream of packets containing non-real time content, non-real time service metadata and non-real time content metadata; demultiplexing the Internet Protocol stream of packets to produce: non-real time content, non-real time service metadata, and non-real time content metadata; where the Non-Real Time content metadata includes a Non-Real Time push NRT_Service_Category. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an interactive media system includes generating, by a first communication system, an information signal and a display signal for display by an electronic medium, transferring the information signal by a wireless signal transfer network, receiving and processing the information signal by a server, providing, by the server, data included in the information signal to a functional network, wherein the server retrieves return data from the functional network and provides the return data to a second communication system, generating, by the second communication system, a return information signal and providing the return information signal to the wireless signal transfer network, and transferring, by the wireless signal transfer network, the return information signal to the first communication system, which generates the display signal for display on the electronic medium.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for updating viewing status between a set-top box and one or more social networks. User preferences are set for communicating a viewing status between the set-top box and one or more social networks. A determination of media content viewed by a user is made by a user utilizing the set-top box. The viewing status of the user is posted in response to the user preferences and the determined media content.

Abstract: A server may be used to handle at least some of processing of content retrieved via and/or derived from Internet access operations of a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs). Resource allocation and/or utilization, and/or tasks or applications performed in the server during the processing may be configured based on control data, which may be determined by the server and which may comprise capabilities of links between the server and each of the plurality of STBs, requirements of the tasks, characteristics of the content and/or the Internet access operations, user preferences and/or interactions, and/or content provider preferences. The server may dynamically reconfigure the tasks and/or resources based on monitoring of its operations and/or changes of the control data. Configuring tasks and/or resources may comprise time slicing access to resources that are commonly used during concurrent servicing of at least some of the plurality of STBs by the support server.

Abstract: A video playback system includes a content provider server for providing video signals of a first and a second video; a video decoder; a display for displaying video content outputted from the video decoder; a playback control server for controlling the video decoder; a first mobile communication device for transmitting a first selection message to the playback control server via internet at a first time point; and a second mobile communication device for transmitting a second selection message to the playback control server via internet at a second time point. The playback control server utilizes the video decoder to receive video signals of the first video according to the first selection message, and utilizes the video decoder to receive video signals of the second video according to the second selection message after the second time point.

Abstract: A method for providing audio portions of broadcast television signals is disclosed. A television signal is buffered by a multimedia client. In response to a user request, audio data may be obtained from a service provider and sent back to the multimedia client using a network back-channel. The obtained audio data may be synchronized with a video portion of the television signal and output to an audio device, while the television signal is output to a display device.

Abstract: A device for provisioning, retrieving, and using data guide information transmitted in a digital broadcast signal is disclosed. A receiver receives the digital broadcast signal which includes digital television programming packets multiplexed with data packets and thereafter routes the received signal to a demodulator. The demodulator provides a demodulated signal to a detector which identifies data packets contained therein. A processor then determines the types of data in the data packets, as well as the respective channels on which the identified types of data are transmitted. The processor prepares a menu for a display screen enabling a user to select the channel of interest, and enables the user to be connected accordingly.

Abstract: A system for searching TV program data via the Internet, wherein TV program data is received from broadcasting stations via the Internet and recorded in a database. A program data search means enables the user to search for specific TV program data or search tabulation data for the TV program data provided by a search tabulation means.