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: A media appliance and corresponding method, the media appliance comprising a video signal source such as a TV receiver, and signal processing apparatus for generating a corresponding sequence of frames for output to a screen. The appliance comprises a client application programmed to capture one of the frames and use the captured frame to generate an image to represent a user in relation to bidirectional communications over a packet-based network.

Abstract: A distributed system architecture is described for control of a Set Top Box (STB). The architecture employs server software implemented as JSON middleware, and provided on the STB 32 as a local server, as well as on a Tooling Device 34 and a Control Application 36. The distributed system facilitates communication with the STB over a data network such as the internet. A remote client device running a browser 30 can interact with the STB 32 to access STB functionality 32.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include receiving content from a first local government entity; associating a virtual channel identifier with the received content; and transmitting the received content and the virtual channel identifier on a shared local government channel, wherein the shared local government channel includes content received from a second local government entity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for associating additional content with broadband content are provided. A pairing between a customer premise device configured to output broadband content and a customer device may be identified by a service provider system. Information associated with content output by the customer premise device may be received by the service provider system from the customer premise device. Based at least in part upon an evaluation of the received information, the service provider system may identify additional content to be communicated to the customer device. The service provider system may then facilitate communication of the additional content to the customer device.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to streaming DVR devices that can communicate over an Internet Protocol (IP) network with other streaming enabled DVR devices. Implementing a peer-to-peer type connection, one streaming enabled DVR device may be able to stream buffered video data to another streaming enable DVR device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A DVR sends, over the Internet, to a server, information that indicates a set of programs. The information also may indicate a ranking of the programs in the set relative to each other. In response to receiving the information from the DVR, the server determines a “to do” list of programs that the DVR should record as those programs are broadcasted in the future. The “to do” list indicates recording times and channels for each program. The server sends the “to do” list back to the DVR over the Internet. The DVR receives the “to do” list over the Internet and stores the “to do” list. As the programs on the “to do” list are broadcasted, the DVR automatically records those programs at the list-specified times and on the list-specified channels. The DVR stores those programs on the DVR's hard disk drive for later viewing by the DVR user.

Abstract: An upstream bandwidth conditioning premise device for use as part of a CATV system and for placement on or near a user's premise to reduce noise created on the user's premise that would otherwise be injected into upstream transmission channels and passed into an RF main signal distribution system of the CATV system. The device includes a variable attenuation device, a signal measurement circuit, a memory circuit and an electronic circuit, which is configured to iteratively determine (i) whether an incremental amount of additional attenuation is to be applied and (ii) whether at least a portion of a previously applied incremental amount of attenuation is to be removed. The electronic circuit includes a counting circuit, a threshold comparison circuit configured to compare a peak signal strength to a predetermined threshold, and a peak comparison circuit configured to compare a contemporary peak signal strength to a previous peak signal strength.

Abstract: [Object] To execute applications in link with the progression of content being viewed at user's home. [Solving Means] A terminal apparatus practiced as one embodiment of the present disclosure has an extracting block configured to extract signature data indicative of features of content to be reproduced, a query generating block configured to generate a query that at least includes the above-mentioned extracted signature, a communication block configured to transmit the above-mentioned generated query to a server apparatus and receive a response returned by this server in response to the above-mentioned response, and an application executing block configured to obtain an application on the basis of an application URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in which at least application identification information is written, this URL being included in the above-mentioned received response, and execute the obtained application.

Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RS-DVR) system is disclosed. The RS-DVR system includes a network interface to communicate data between the RS-DVR system and a subscriber system via a network, a file system module coupled to the network interface, an ingest agent coupled to the file system module to receive encoded media segments that represent media content files encoded at a plurality of different bitrates; and a storage architecture coupled to the file system to store the encoded media segments, resulting in stored media segments. The RS-DVR carries out a number of functions and operations to service multiple subscribers and associated subscriber systems, such as various storage device management operations, file structure techniques, assignment of recorded media to subscribers, file system indexing, and supporting shared and per-subscriber content rights.

Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RS-DVR) system is disclosed. The RS-DVR system includes a network interface to communicate data between the RS-DVR system and a subscriber system via a network, a file system module coupled to the network interface, an ingest agent coupled to the file system module to receive encoded media segments that represent media content files encoded at a plurality of different bitrates; and a storage architecture coupled to the file system to store the encoded media segments, resulting in stored media segments. The RS-DVR carries out a number of functions and operations to service multiple subscribers and associated subscriber systems, such as various storage device management operations, file structure techniques, assignment of recorded media to subscribers, file system indexing, and supporting shared and per-subscriber content rights.

Abstract: An information distribution and processing system contains a remote site, a sender and a receiving apparatus. The remote site contains a first set of digital data. The sender delivers a second set of digital data to the receiving device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving device contain a timing device for automatically receiving the second set of digital data at predetermined times. The second set of digital data contains a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, at least one non-displayable symbol, and at least one linking reference associated with the second set of displayable data. If desired, a user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to the remote site. The associated linking reference is used by the remote site to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Abstract: Utilization of stored of personalized information and communication preferences in a profile in a STB in a structured format or via cookies allows at least a combination of feature rich telephony applications, with the personalized data stored in STBs facilitating feature rich communications sessions. Providing advanced multimedia communications applications using personalized data resident in STBs could allow an entity to provide, for example, many previously unavailable services, and therefore provide considerable new business potential. The personal information stored in the STB can convey many exemplary benefits, such as communication preferences, alternate contact modalities, payment preferences, priority preferences, trusted contacts, personal information, as well as multimedia messaging, etc. The integration of the personal information with the intelligent personal agent also enhances the user experience.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting media services is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media system having a controller element that contextually associates a plurality of portals with a corresponding plurality of multimedia broadcast channels as an aggregated service offering. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of network performance assessment apparatus, systems and processes collect performance information pertaining to a current capacity utilization of a network, identify an occurrence of a capacity constraint on a portion of the network that is communicating the program to at least one presentation device, and modify at least one characteristic of the program and/or the communication thereof over the network so that a total capacity utilization of the network is less than a peak capacity of the network.

Abstract: A method and/or system are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request may be sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. The STB may receive a data stream from the server, wherein the server generates the data stream by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The web page may be composited in the web browser based on the received data stream. The server may be located in a server computing cloud or may be a local server. The unsupported portion of the web page may comprise a binary plug-in. A supported portion of the web page may be rendered before or concurrently with the overlaying of the data stream during compositing.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for generating or selecting bookmarks for a multimedia presentation. These bookmarks may be encoded with the multimedia presentation into a multimedia container, which may then be transmitted to an end-user device. Also, these bookmarks may be made available to an end-user device over the Internet. Each bookmark may demarcate a content event and may comprise semantic information for that content event. Bookmarks may be generated automatically (e.g., by performing a media-analysis process) reviewed by a human. The end-user device may use the bookmarks to perform a trick play (e.g., semantic trick play) on the multimedia presentation.

Abstract: A procedure to broadcast digital multimedia contents to subscribers, where a first digital data transport stream broadcast to subscribers from a head end (12) via a first telecommunications network other than a telecommunications network based on an Internet IP protocol is received in a customer device (15); transmission from a first retransmission unit (153) of a lost packet petition message to a second retransmission unit (132) contained in a service application unit (13) connectable to the customer device (15) via a second telecommunications network (11) based on an Internet IP protocol; in response to the lost packet petition message from the first data transport stream, transmission of a second digital data stream that comprises at least one packet lost form the first digital data transport stream.

Abstract: An enhanced television broadcast system may enable the transmission and reception of a real-time event when a new program is about to begin. The real-time event may control access to enhancements from the program that is ending. In some embodiments, these real-time events may constitute triggers that are included within packets transmitted in an Internet Protocol multicast. As one example, the trigger may include a Uniform Resource Locator in the form of a tv: protocol that automatically causes the television display to go to full screen television.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing full content on a display screen. The apparatus includes a portable device adapted to allow viewing of full content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a memory that stores the full content; a display screen that displays only a portion of the full content; a button which facilitates communication of the full content between the portable device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen; and a wireless transmitter that communicating the full content from the portable device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The signal is received by the local control device which provides the full content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: A real-time translation system for digital televisions and method thereof. It includes a real-time translation server, an operating unit, and a digital television apparatus including a digital signal receiver, a display device, an Internet-enabled device, an operation signal receiving module, and a processor. The processor is connected to the digital signal receiver, the display device, the Internet-enabled device, and the operation signal receiving module.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for generating a combined channel list including broadcast services and one or more online services. The apparatus includes: a broadcast receiver which receives a broadcast stream comprising a plurality of broadcast services, and a plurality of logical channel numbers (LCNs) for the plurality of broadcast services; a network communicator which communicates with a network; and a processor which generates a channel list, wherein the broadcast receiver receives information indicating a network location through the received broadcast stream, the network communicator connects to the indicated network location to receive online service information including an LCN of an online service receivable by the network communicator, and the processor generates the channel list based on the plurality of LCNs of the plurality of broadcast services and the LCN of the online service.

Abstract: A procedure for broadcasting multimedia digital content to subscribers, in which a first transport stream of digital data is transmitted from a header source (12) through a first telecommunications network differing from a telecommunications network based on an IP internet protocol to subscribers and is received in a customer device (15); transmission from a first channel change unit (153) of a first channel change message to a second change unit (132) of a service application unit (13) connectable to the device (15) through a second telecommunications network (11) based on an IP internet protocol; in response to a channel change message received by the first change unit (153); transmission of a second digital data stream associated with the desired channel, which begins in a key frame stored in a second storage unit (133) of the server (13), in response to the reception of the first change message received in the second channel change unit.

Abstract: An IPTV may be controlled in part by a second user consumer electronic (CE) device using a web page served from a third party server even though the third party server cannot function as a proxy to the IPTV.

Abstract: A card includes a printed circuit board hosting components configured to access internet data. Card leads are connected to the printed circuit board. The card leads include power leads, audio/video signal leads and communication leads for engagement with externally accessible matching leads of a television. A housing encloses the printed circuit board and a portion of the card leads.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enabling non-IP-encapsulated videos to be received at subscriber premises and displayed on IP playback devices are provided. A terminal adapter receives a non-IP-encapsulated video at a subscriber premise and transcodes the video to a format that can be processed by the IP playback device. The terminal adapter IP-encapsulates the transcoded video and then routes the IP-encapsulated video to the IP playback device. In this way, the processing to convert non-IP-encapsulated videos stored on video servers is not concentrated at a central location but instead distributed across subscriber premises. Furthermore, congestion on the downstream link can be reduced because videos in a video server are not required to be transmitted downstream under two different schemes.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing content on a display screen. The apparatus includes a portable device adapted to allow viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a memory that stores the content, or a portion thereof, and an electronic address of the content; a display screen which displays the content, or a portion thereof; a button which facilitates communication of the content between the portable device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen; and a wireless transmitter that communicates the electronic address of the content from the portable device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The local control device retrieves the content from a remote location and provides the content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a display facing in a first direction, a video camera facing in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction, and a wireless communications receiver operable to receive supplementary image data from a remote image source, the supplementary image data comprising an indication of where a supplementary image is positioned with respect to a reference image. The portable electronic device is arranged in operation to display a captured image from the video camera on the display of the portable electronic device. When the captured image comprises all or part of the reference image as displayed on a separate display associated with the remote image source, the portable electronic device is arranged in operation to display the supplementary image positioned with respect to the reference image, instead of the corresponding part of the captured image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for delivering audio and video data. In such a device, the audio/video data travel together and are compressed along with the signaling data for the delivery of these audio/video data. Under current compression standards, these data are being increasingly compressed. This maximum compression proportionally complexifies the encoding and decoding of audio/video data. The appearance of network cables comprising six twisted pairs of wires makes it possible to produce networks having higher speed capacities. The object of the invention is not to increase speeds by using additional twisted pairs but to simplify the data traveling through the network.

Abstract: A system is dedicated to the transmission of additional contents (CA) accessible in interactive mode and associated with contents (CP) broadcast to primary communication terminals (TP1, TP2), connected to a broadcasting network (R1) and associated with programming information (PI).

Abstract: A broadcast system, method and apparatus providing content on demand. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses for rating content to be broadcast or to be broadcast potentially from a server. Additional aspects of particular embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for automatically managing storage resources of client systems. For one embodiment of the present invention, a user consumes a number of data files each having an associated temporal metadata table (TMDT). Each TMDT contains a plurality of time-indexed entries, each entry containing metadata describing a segment of the corresponding data file. The TMDT and user interaction during consumption of a one or more data files are used to create a preference profile table (PPT) for the user. The PPT is stored at the client system and is used to evaluate subsequent content. Such evaluation is used to determine broadcast schedules or automatically manage storage resources.

Abstract: A smart TV is adapted to establish a wireless local area network, and can use wireless local area network to be communicatively connected with one or more wireless internet device. The smart TV includes at least one tuner, a wireless network module, and a codec. Tuner is used for receiving TV signals, the wireless network module is used for transmitting wireless network signals for establishing wireless local area network, and wireless network module can discriminate between types of wireless internet device. Input end of codec is electrically coupled to tuner, and output end of codec is electrically coupled to wireless network module, in which codec performs an encoding function of the television signals according to type of wireless internet device to generate at least one encoded signal. Wireless network module receives encode signals transmitted from tuner, and transmits encoded signal to the wireless internet device.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, identification information identifying a specified broadcast content is converted into identification information identifying another broadcast content corresponding to the originally specified broadcast content, in accordance with table information indicating a correspondence among a plurality of pieces of identification information respectively identifying broadcast contents thereby indicating a correspondence among the broadcast contents.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a broadcast receiving device capable of shortening the time from turning-on until display of an IP broadcast. A broadcast receiving device 1, after its start-up, automatically performs setting related to an Internet protocol (IP) including setting of an address of a DNS server and receives an IP broadcast of a specified channel by multicast communication, wherein the broadcast receiving device starts to receive the IP broadcast from an IP broadcast server 53a through an IP network 4 by specifying a multicast address corresponding to the specified channel that is stored beforehand, before completion of the setting of the address of the DNS server.

Abstract: In a system, tabulated information on broadcasting programs is supplied through a network. When a user selects information on a desired program from the tabulated information of programs, supplemental information attached to the individual program information is converted into an remote control signal to remote-control a user's receiver to receive the desired program.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product for recording presentable data accessed through interactive links displayed within an interactive television program are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, an interactive television recording device receives an interactive television signal containing one or more interactive links associated with presentable data. In response to receipt of a record command, the interactive television recording device records the interactive television program, and the presentable data associated with the one or more interactive links are accessed and recorded into a designated storage medium. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive television signal and the one or more interactive links are stored on a first data storage medium, while the presentable data are separately stored on a second data storage medium. If a play command is received, the interactive television recording device plays the interactive television signal from the first data storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data transport container for transferring a number n of different types of data in an Internet Protocol network. The number n is superior or equal to 2, and data is generated as Ethernet Jumbo packets, wherein the data transport container is an Internet Protocol packet. The invention also relates to a source device and to a destination device respectively for transferring and receiving such a data transport containers. At least, the invention relates to a method for transferring n different types of data being generated as Gigabit Ethernet RTP-UDP-IP jumbo packets. Both devices are to be used in a method as mentioned above.

Abstract: A device having a test module configured to connect with a server through a cellular telephone network and a wireless area network. The test module is also configured to initiate, in the server, a diagnostic test of an Internet Protocol television network and a set-top box device. The test module is further configured to receive information indicating problems with the Internet Protocol television network and the set-top box device, and to display the information on a display.

Abstract: A method of interacting with home automation systems via a set-top box device is disclosed and includes receiving data at a set-top box device from one of a plurality of home automation systems communicating with the set-top box device. The data indicating that a triggering event has been detected at the home automation system. The method also includes sending an alert to a display device coupled to the set-top box device indicating that the triggering event has occurred.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request at a provisioning system to enable a set-top box device to function at a temporary location. The method includes authenticating the request at the provisioning system. The method includes identifying, at the provisioning system, a broadband service associated with the set-top box device that is available at the temporary location when the request is authenticated. The method also includes sending a configuration message from the provisioning system to the set-top box device to enable the set-top box device to configure the set-top box to receive the broadband service.

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 method of providing communications services to customer premise equipment (CPE) coupled to a television. The method includes operating a network element as a communications terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network. The network element receives from the CPE a request to initiate communications with a diagnostic system coupled to the communications network. The network element accesses a communications application executing on a communications server coupled to the communications network and pushes a communications interface to the CPE. The network element receives message information from the CPE and routes the message information to the communications server to initiate delivery of a message to the diagnostic system.

Abstract: In a system for reproducing AV information from a recording medium, such as a DVD, not only are usual titles reproduced, but also related information relevant to specific stream information is acquired easily by making use of resources on a computer network. In a reproducing system with the function of reproducing the title information recorded on a DVD and displaying it on the screen of a display section, when the user clicks a Web mark on the screen, the CPU links to a Web server on the Internet via a modem and accesses the Web page related to the stream information on the screen. At that time, the related Web page is the selected information conforming to parental information, or attribute information, set in the system.

Abstract: A software framework that allows seamless integration of generic media players into a web browser. A media player is a software module that implements specific interfaces; defines a playing state, such as playing, paused, or stopped; and associates with the playing state a current playback time. A generic media player implements interfaces, including timing interfaces and playback synchronization interfaces for exchanging timing and synchronization information with a web browser. A player-hosting peer, which is a software component built into the browser, manages generic player hosting by a web browser. The player-hosting peer negotiates playback state and rendering status between the browser and the media player. Both the media player and the player-hosting peer maintain playing state and current playback time. The relationship between the peer and the player is a master slave relationship, with the peer being the master.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Set-Top Box, a home gateway, and a method and a system for implementing interaction between the Set-Top Box and the home gateway, and the method comprises: the Set-Top Box transmitting a subscription message to the home gateway by means of a UPnP protocol message; the home gateway receiving and parsing the subscription message, combining a subscription response event according to the parsed subscription information, and then transmitting the subscription response event to the Set-Top Box by means of a UPnP protocol message; and the Set-Top Box triggering a corresponding operation according to a subscription response event message, after receiving the subscription response event message. The flexible coordination between the home gateway and the Set-Top Box can be implemented in accordance with the present invention, which can achieve the purposes of automatic diagnosis and automatic adjustment of services, and improve the user experience effectively.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus contains a local area network interface for communication, a signal-processing device that decodes program information received by the local area network interface, and an encoding device that encodes the decoded program information to reconstitute program information to which a synchronizing signal is added and to generate any one of a composite signal and a separate signal. The receiving apparatus also contains an output terminal that the encoding device supplies with any one of a composite signal and a separate signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a pair play service, the method including: searching, by a master device, for a slave device that provides the pair play service; searching, by the master device, for the pair play service of the searched slave device; and searching, by the master device, for a pair play application constituting the searched pair play service.

Abstract: A particular method includes extracting uniform resource locator data from closed-captioning content using a set-top box. The closed-captioning content is included in a broadcast signal received by the set-top box. The method includes generating a web page using the set-top box. The web page includes a portion of the uniform resource data as one or more selectable links. A check box is associated with each of the one or more selectable links The web page includes a first selectable option to enable each selectable link associated with a checked check box to be added to a uniform resource locator address book. The method also includes sending the web page from the set-top box via a local area network to a device coupled to the set-top box by the local area network in response to a request from the device for the web page.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a first receiver, a display unit, a controller and a processor. The first receiver receives a network packet stream. The controller selectively sends one of a video signal generated by processing the network packet stream and an external video signal to the display unit for displaying the received video signal, according to a control signal. The processor determines whether the network packet stream comprises a display command. The processor sends the control signal to the controller for receiving and sending the video signal of the network packet stream to the display unit, when the network packet stream includes the display command.

Abstract: Techniques for linking and browsing media on a television (TV) are provided. A selected program, which is associated with a channel of the TV, is detected and additional content, which is associated with that channel and/or the selected program, is dynamically acquired from one or more external sources. The additional content is formatted as links and simultaneously presented within a display of the TV along with the selected program that continues to play on the TV. Furthermore, activation of any link results in the additional content being dynamically acquired and presented within the display.