Abstract: An interactive television system is described.

Abstract: A user can create a video segment or employ an existing video segment, and then share it over a computer network. The user provides an indication that one or more particular video segments are to be shared over the network. The video segment(s) is/are then automatically assessed and determined to be compatible with streaming video, or not. If the video segment(s) is/are not compatible with streaming video, it/they are converted to a compatible format automatically. An identifier for the video segment is automatically created and the segment and the identifier are automatically uploaded to a host computer over the network such as the Internet. The video segment and the identifier (optionally with other identifying material such as an identity of the sender, an access authorization for the video, a number of accesses permitted, and a duration for the availability of the video) can be stored at the direction of the host computer.

Abstract: A time sequential signal comprising audiovisual content and hyperlinks is received and displayed on a display device by the systems of the invention in a time sequential manner. The display of the time sequential signal is paused whenever a displayed hyperlink is selected. While pausing the display, data corresponding to any selected hyperlink is accessed and displayed on the display device. The corresponding data may comprise a web page accessed through the Internet or an interval page that is transmitted within the vertical blanking intervals of the time sequential signal. While pausing the display of the time sequential signal, the time sequential signal is recorded so that it can be viewed in the order it was recorded as soon as a resume display command is received by the system.

Abstract: According to the invention, a subscriber to a first satellite radio service can be provided with an option to receive, over their current receiver unit, supplemental content, such as a particular show or channel, which is otherwise only available within a relevant jurisdiction as part of a subscription package to subscribers of one or more other satellite radio services. Thus, without purchasing a full subscription to another service, the subscriber of the first satellite radio service may arrange to receive supplemental content that is otherwise only available as part of a subscription package, such as a basic or general subscription package, to subscription holders of one or more other services. The invention also provides methods of broadcasting and methods of configuring dedicated and interoperable satellite radio receiver units so that the supplemental content can be received by a subscriber.

Abstract: The method for programming recordings is applied to a recorder device containing a videogram medium and connected to a programming terminal equipment unit located in an area covered by one or more radio cells of a cellular radiotelephony network. The terminal equipment has receiving and reading means capable of receiving text messages transmitted over a broadcast channel of the network and reading concatenation sequences contained in the messages, each containing information data of a programme item from a programme broadcaster. The user selects on an input interface of the recorder device, a type of programme to be recorded which is transformed with a determined format into a recording code, which code is compared with at least one portion of each of the sequences so as to use the recording data and automatically parameterize the recording.

Abstract: A URI pointer system and method are provided for the referencing of MPEG-4 data resources carried in an American ATSC MPEG-2 TSFS. The method comprises: receiving an MPEG-2 TS, with a packetized ATSC TSFS; locating a URI in the TS; in response to the URI, accessing an address such as a lid or an http address; retrieving MPEG-4 resources from the ATSC TSFS; and, decoding the MPEG-4 resources. Accessed lid URIs provide a binding name and access scheme to the objects in the ATSC TSFS, as a lid URI embedded in an Initial Object Descriptor (IOD) is used to locate resources in the TSFS such as a BIFS scene description stream and/or an object descriptor stream. Receiving an MPEG-2 TS, with a packetized ATSC TSFS, means that MPEG-4 resources are formed in a hierarchical directory structure of BIOP objects including a DSM::ServiceGateway, a DSM::Directory, and a DSM::File.

Abstract: In a method for transmission of video information between HTTP servers and clients in a shared network resource, particularly Internet, the video information is stored as a video file consisting of packet-divided video streams compression-coded with average bit rates t(c) which cover the clients' expected channel bit rates s. Each packet and the video file are supplied with a header containing information for realizing a bandwidth-scalable video transmission over a suitable version of HTTP. During transmission switching between the video streams takes place on the basis pf an estimation of the channel bit rate s and the information in the packet header, such that the bit rate t(c) is adapted to the client's actual channel bit rate s. In a method for client-executed search and retrieval of video information in a shared network resource, particularly searching of a video frame Fx in a packet-divided video stream, the packets in a video stream are divipacket packet in each group.

Abstract: A presentation system is disclosed for synchronizing a performance of a plurality of presentation content portions at a network node, wherein, e.g., when two such content portions are to be presented concurrently at the network node, at least one is delayed until the other such portion can be presented concurrently therewith. That is, these two portions may be received by the network node at times sufficiently far apart so that the earlier received content portion must have its presentation appropriately delayed in order to be presented concurrently with the second content portion. In one embodiment, the content portions are transmitted via at least a portion of the Internet to a plurality of network nodes, wherein the presentation system can distribute the presentation content data to the network nodes via a plurality of network routes and presentation formats. In particular, a first portion of the content data may be provided as slides in, e.g.

Abstract: An enhanced interactive television broadcast is disclosed wherein an audio/video broadcast is viewed on a first display system, and an “enhancement” to the broadcast is simultaneously viewed or experienced on a second, separate display system. The “enhancement” is synchronized to the broadcast, and delivered to a user as a code fragments, such as a JavaScript message. URLs are not required. Portions or elements of a web page are reduced to single code fragments, rendered client-side upon receipt. The invention implements Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize the client's application clock to global time. Messages, or JavaScript code fragments, are time-stamped and evaluated based on the client's application clock.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for using network and computer resources effectively. Resources are spread out on network 3. Spread abroad herein are: structuralized documents d1, d2 on server 1a; structuralized documents d3, d4 on server 1b; and structuralized document d5 on server 1c. Server 1a, for example: 1) accepts a reference request for structuralized document d1 from client 2a; 2) acquires fragments f2, f3, f4, f5 for referee structuralized document d1 from server 1a itself and from other servers 1b,c; 3) embeds fragments f2-f5 in structuralized document d1; and 4) transmits embedding-processed structuralized document d1 to requester client 2a. A “fragment” here is all or a portion of a structuralized document.

Abstract: A virtual channel system for a web appliance includes an interactive television having a virtual channel memory disposed therein. The virtual channel memory includes data associated with at least one consumer selectable virtual channel. The data is an updatable Web page that is displayed when its associated virtual channel is selected. The interactive television also includes a user data input memory that includes user demographic information. The user demographic data can be used to customize the virtual channels available at the ITV. More specifically, the ITV system uses the demographic data to establish the virtual channels available to a specific consumer in accordance with the demographic information that he or she has input to the ITV system.

Abstract: A method, graphical user interface and electronic device for forming guiding lines in a graphical user interface of an electronic device comprising at least a display and a navigating device, wherein a potion of the virtual desktop area of the graphical user interface is seen on the display at a time. In the method, digital material is placed on the virtual desktop area. The method further comprises the steps of determining a point of origin within the digital material and defining at least two points through which a guiding line is drawn, the guiding line indicating the distance and/or direction to the point of origin. The guiding line is then displayed along with the digital material on the display.

Abstract: A video decoder system operates in different configurations to request and acquire information using one or more communication links and different communication protocols. A method for acquiring information requested by a User via a program guide selection involves retrieving access data from memory. The access data is retrieved in response to a User selection made from options shown on a displayed program guide. A data identifier is derived from program map data associating the data identifier and the User selection. Information is identified in an input signal in response to the access data using the identifier. The identified information is retrieved from the input signal to produce a retrieved information output and the retrieved information is formatted for display. The decoder may establish a Request communication link with a first device using the access data.

Abstract: At least a portion of a media file can be downloaded by accessing one or more items of media data associated with a media file stored on a remote server, wherein the media data includes at least one sample table; receiving input from a user identifying a playback location associated with the media file; determining a plurality of data items required to play at least a portion of the media file from the identified playback location based on the at least one sample table; and transmitting one or more byte-range requests to the remote server using the hypertext transfer protocol to retrieve the plurality of data items. Further, the media file can be progressively downloaded from the identified playback location until the end of the media file is reached, playback of the media file is terminated, or input is received from the user identifying a new playback location.

Abstract: Pre-recorded video library (PVL) is much more difficult to realize than other pre-recorded multimedia library (PML). Among the existing, mature mobile mass storages, portable HDD (with 1?<disk diameter<3.5?) is the only one that can store a PVL. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a portable video hard-disk drive (pVHDD). It should be removable from the mobile video device.

Abstract: The present invention is to disclose an IP-based video broadcasting system for broadcasting video contents regarding TV programs to customers particularly from Asia regions particular to the Asian regions from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, China, Korea, Japan, India, Vietnam, etc. via the internet or intranet. The system comprises a broadcasting apparatus and a plurality of client players, whereby the broadcasting apparatus comprises a timezone-shifting means, a timezone-non-shifting means, a language-selecting means, and a customer-profile means to provide customers with good quality of overseas TV broadcasting services.

Abstract: A user can create a video segment or employ an existing video segment, and then share it over a computer network. The user provides an indication that one or more particular video segments are to be shared over the network. The video segment(s) is/are then automatically assessed and determined to be compatible with streaming video, or not. If the video segment(s) is/are not compatible with streaming video, it/they are converted to a compatible format automatically. An identifier for the video segment is automatically created and the segment and the identifier are automatically uploaded to a host computer over the network such as the Internet. The video segment and the identifier (optionally with other identifying material such as an identity of the sender, an access authorization for the video, a number of accesses permitted, and a duration for the availability of the video) can be stored at the direction of the host computer.

Abstract: The use of a visual indicia or cue facilitates computer based access of a network by a consumer witnessing a presentation. A visual indicia or cue is provided during the presentation indicative of a relationship between the visual indicia or cue in the presence of a location on a network. This allows this location on the network to be accessed by a computer having an appropriate input device for responding to a released control signal associated with the visual indicia or cue wherein such response of the input device will connect the computer to the location.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing broadcast programs. The method of providing a broadcast program in a client apparatus, includes generating final frame information identifying a frame corresponding to a broadcast watching stop time of a broadcast program that a user has been watching; transmitting the final frame information to a server that provides the broadcast program through the Internet; requesting the broadcast program from the server; receiving the broadcast program starting from a final frame searched for by the server based on the final frame information; and providing the broadcast program to the user. It is possible to provide a broadcast program from the stopped part of the broadcast program at a desired time after a user stops watching the broadcast program, even though the broadcast program is not recorded by the client apparatus.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows a user to maintain the display of a video frame containing one or more interactive links while also maintaining access to the links. Thus allowing the user to select and examine any desired links at his own pace. For one embodiment, the display of a video frame is maintained by interrupting the refreshing of the frame buffer and the interactive link stream. Interrupting both the frame buffer refresh and the interactive link stream refresh results in the frame being “frozen” along with its associated links. For one embodiment, pressing a button on a control device effects the interruption of the frame buffer refresh and the interactive link refresh. The button may toggle to resume the video display. Alternatively, or additionally, the video display may resume if no action is taken in regard to the interactive links within an specified time.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for remote access to Internet Protocol television by enabling place shifting utilizing a telephone company network, that comprises, confirming an identity of a remote Internet Protocol enabled device, managing a rate of a data stream to the remote Internet Protocol enabled device based upon the confirmed identity, and transmitting the data stream to the remote Internet Protocol enabled device utilizing a broadband network.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) component networking system, comprising a presentation device and a sink component configured to simultaneously present on the presentation device A/V program data received from at least two different source components.

Abstract: A system and method for ranking media. Embodiments enable presenting media in a first venue, obtaining feedback from at least one user and providing an indication whether to present the media in a second venue. The media may be audio, video, and/or text or any combination thereof. The first venue for example may be the Internet or an Internet online community. The second venue may for example be television (cable, broadcast or a DVD variant) or radio. The media may be presented in the first venue and feedback is obtained in any manner, for example via the first venue or over any other medium such as by phone, computer or in any other way. The feedback for example may be based solely on the media or in relation to other media presented. The indication may be provided as to whether to present the media in a second venue.

Abstract: A system and method of adding hyperlinked information to a television broadcast. The broadcast material is analyzed and one or more regions within a frame are identified. Additional information can be associated with a region, and can be transmitted in encoded form, using timing information to identify the frame with which the information is associated. The system comprising a video source and an encoder that produces a transport stream in communication with the video source, an annotation source, a data packet stream generator that produces encoded annotation data packets in communication with the annotation source and the encoder, and a multiplexer system in communication with the encoder and the data packet stream generator. The encoder provides timestamp information to the data packet stream generator and the data packet stream generator synchronizes annotation data from the annotation source with a video signal from the video source in response to the timestamp information.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a unidirectional broadcast network is utilized to provide digital content to users in a manner that allows users' computing devices to maintain synchrony with personal, relevant information. In at least some embodiments, the broadcast network utilizes a data channel and a signaling channel. The data channel is used for broadcasting data to various users, while the signaling channel—typically used for transmitting device or machine specific data—is used to transmit user-specific information associated with the information or data that the user finds relevant. This user-specific information can then be used by the user's mobile computing device to manage, e.g. record and place into device database for time shifted retrieval, such information or digital objects delivered over the broadcast data channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises extracting future event recording selections scheduled on a plurality of media devices. Each of the plurality of media devices is coupled through a private access network to a service provider and includes a digital video recorder. The method further comprises aggregating recorded data based on the scheduled future event recording selections; and generating a top recording events list based on the aggregated recorded data for transmission to a selected media device of the plurality of media devices.

Abstract: A method of presenting video content to clients of an e-commerce, information-based or services website is provided enabling their website designers or providers to benefit from the vastly growing amount of video content on the Internet and automate the integration of already generated video content into their web services pages, products and services.

Abstract: A system for conveying viewer-selected information to viewers of a golf tournament includes a group of external input signals, a command facility, and a remote device able to convey viewer-selected information to the viewer. The external signals are from a group that includes at least a real-time identity of a club that a player is using. The remote viewing device is able to convey transmitted visual information and includes (1) a means for receiving transmitted signals conveying visual information, (2) a means for displaying selected visual information, and (3) a means to enable a viewer to select the visual information desired to be displayed from a group including at least the real-time identity of the club that a selected player has had removed from a golf bag used by the player.

Abstract: The new zooming feature of the present invention applies to video service on mobile phones. The feature offers more interaction between the end user and the video server and it provides more interesting viewing. It has the potential to become a service differentiator for video services provided by wireless service providers. Because the bandwidth required for the streams does not change, the only complexity incurred is the control message processing and the only extra storage required is at the video server or the proxy.

Abstract: A cable modem of a CATV system includes an address monitoring unit and a proxy requesting unit. The address monitoring unit monitors an address of at least one set top box connected to the cable modem based on a content of transmission sent to the cable modem from the set top box. The proxy requesting unit requests for sending relevant information about the set top box to an address indicated by monitoring result of the address monitoring unit, when the proxy requesting unit is requested for sending the relevant information by at least one management device connected to the cable modem via a CATV network.

Abstract: A remote device is capable to receive network address information, such as uniform resource locator (URL) addresses, and other supplemental content that are available along with television signal. A set top box coupled to a television receives the network address information via triggers. The set top box transmits a television program from a first channel to a television, and transmits network address information associated with a second channel to the remote device. After receiving the network address information, the remote device can display the corresponding supplemental content while a viewer is watching the first channel on the television. The supplemental content can include program-related address information and/or non-programming-related content. In another technique, the viewer can subscribe certain channels, such that supplemental content on the subscribed channels is obtained and stored, and can be made available to the remote device via the set top box or via a different communication link.

Abstract: A given video segment is configured to include links to one or more other video segments or information sources. The given video segment is processed in a video processing system to determine an association between an object, entity, characterization or other feature of the segment and at least one additional information source containing the same feature. The association is then utilized to access information from the additional information source, such that the accessed information can be displayed to a user in conjunction with or in place of the original video segment. A set of associations for the video segment can be stored in a database or other memory of the processing system, or incorporated into the video segment itself, e.g., in a transport stream of the video segment. The additional information source may be, e.g., an additional video segment which includes the designated feature, or a source of audio, text or other information containing the designated feature.

Abstract: A method for providing enhanced content for play across multiple play platforms employs steps of delivering media content to a client device; delivering HTML content to a client device, the HTML content being accessible and usable by a plurality of client device platforms; activating a browser to access the HTML content, the browser being located on and compatible for use with the client device; activating firmware on the client device to access the media content; and incorporating the accessed HTML content with the accessed media content.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for enhanced multimedia distribution. The method can include displaying a multimedia selection at a display device coupled to a first receiver of a video distribution system, where the multimedia selection is determined by a user of a second receiver. A multimedia device can include a user interface module to receive a command from a first user to accept a channel selection of a second user. An indication of an attribute of multimedia content associated with a channel selected at a multimedia device can be received from a server having a channel content guide and stored to a database.

Abstract: At a client, a video is received. The video includes one or more advertisement slots. The video is played back to a user. During the playback of the video, an impending advertisement slot is detected. One or more advertisements are requested for placement in the advertisement slot. The one or more advertisements are received and placed in the advertisement slot.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a system and method permit an IPTV subscriber to display on a channel of an IPTV network video data from a subscriber video database. The system may include, in addition to the IPTV network and the subscriber database, an IPTV server and an IPTV set top box. The IPTV set top box is configured to receive commands causing the IPTV set top box to retrieve video data from an IPTV subscriber database, display the video data on an IPTV display unit; and to transmit the video data over an IPTV network to an IPTV server. The IPTV server is configured to transmit the video data from the IPTV server over the IPTV network such that the video data is displayable on a channel of the IPTV network.

Abstract: IPTV-based systems offer acquisition and distribution of content from numerous channels with protected end-to-end conditional access. In adopting IPTV-based systems for seamless transport and blackout management of the content, service providers would need an IPTV-based transport architecture that accommodates their existing infrastructure and provides transparent live events content blackout management. In the spectrum of service providers some have no physical infrastructure at all and some have the entire suite of infrastructure and services. Therefore, the present invention provides a new IPTV-based transport system architecture that can accommodate the spectrum of service providers, including tier-1, tier-2 and tier-3 telcos. Such architecture includes double-layer encryption and bulk decryption in addition to encapsulation that allows seamless transition from programs to alternate programs in designated blackout areas.

Abstract: Methods of providing a media file include receiving the media file and an identification of a destination set-top box for the media file at a server device. The received media file is transmitted from the server device to the identified set-top box in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) multimedia format.

Abstract: A television (TV) broadcast signal is received and routed to a TV display. An audio data stream or ancillary data stream in the TV broadcast, (such as closed-captioning), is scanned to determine if a uniform resource locator (URL) is included in the TV broadcast. If a URL is identified in the TV broadcast, then the URL can be loaded in a web browser on a computer for a user to refer to when convenient.

Abstract: Presenting video over one or more computer networks includes obtaining permission to distribute video from an owner of rights in the video, charging a flat fee for presentation of the video, where the flat fee being is on a maximum number of users who are permitted to view the video, and following payment of the fee, making the video available to the maximum number of users over the one or more computer networks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for security-management of IP TV subscribers across a network comprising: receiving and storing at an access network element, a plurality of requests to connect to one or more multicast groups from a plurality of ports; retrieving, the plurality of requests from the access network element; generating, from the plurality of requests a first profile associated with a first port, wherein the profile includes multicast group request information associated with the first port; and detecting one or more anomalies based on the first profile and subscriber information and generating a notification if one or more anomalies are detected.

Abstract: A system for automatically using internet information which is contained within a commercial on an entertainment medium e.g. television. The system determines information indicative of the web address. This can be done automatically by optical character recognition or by storing information indicative of the web address in an interval of the television signal. Once obtained, the information is sent, either to a user's computer, or to a central office which sends an e-mail to the user. In this way, the information can be used to automatically jump to a web site of the advertiser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal. In this present invention, information identifying a product item, which is in a scene to be presented from a broadcast signal, and address information of a web site providing detailed shopping information for the product item are provided together with a broadcast signal, then a signal receiving terminal stores the provided information, displays the stored information to a viewer to select one product item while or after watching an interesting broadcast program, and transmits a web site address associated with a selected product item to a network. As a result, detailed information for the selected item is acquired from a server addressed by the web site address.

Abstract: A television system for providing standard television programming and Internet browsing includes a television set for viewing digital and/or analog programming and includes a memory storage device and an integral embedded web browser for displaying data received from an Internet portal. The data is in the form of URLs and web pages that are synchronized with selected TV programming and/or advertising. A remote control selectively displays URLs and/or their associated web pages stored in memory by the Internet portal. In one aspect of the invention, TV programming can be displayed simultaneously on the screen with related web pages and URLs.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide apparatus, methods, and systems including an input to receive data associated with a channel viewership of a network; a distribution unit coupled to the input, the distribution unit to determine one or more relative viewership distributions based on the data; and a configuration unit coupled to the distribution unit, the configuration unit to provide one or more reconfiguration settings for one or more reconfigurable servers coupled to the network.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.

Abstract: A user control, such as a television remote control device, allows a user to selectively display tags during a video program. The tags provide information about items that are visible in scenes in the video. The tags can identify the brand name, item name, location where the item can be purchased, additional information about the item, etc. The tags can be turned on or off by a viewer or user during playback. In a particular embodiment, a single button press on a remote control can cause switching from a play mode without tags to a tag mode that shows tags in the video; skipping back in time a short interval; and putting the video in a slow-forward play mode, or other alternate mode of play.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for providing personalized assistance to users with setup of their respective media-playing sets provides a computing device remote from each set hosting a web page interface for prompting each user to create an individual account and to submit personal setup information for entry into this account; a script generator generates a personalized script for each set based on the personal setup information entered into the individual account of the corresponding user; this personalized script, by being activated, configures the corresponding set including by automatically making personalized setup selections from a plurality of preexisting setup alternatives supported by the corresponding set. These preexisting setup alternatives, for example, typically are described in a user manual accompanying or available for the set and, absent the present system and method, typically require difficult manual configuration to implement.

Abstract: A system enables dynamic linking between a variety of video formats including television broadcasts, web pages, and video displays which are stored on magnetic or optical media. Each frame of the video information is identified together with a plurality of locations within that frame. The locations selected by the user for example using a pointing device is then used to access associated information either within the system itself or on an external system. Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, any item on a given frame may be linked initially or thereafter to other information within or without the particular system containing that information.

Abstract: A system and device is disclosed that employs a global interactive program guide to receive, access, manage, and view digital entertainment services such as live television, television on demand, and pre-recorded video and audio programming from one on more content sources, via an internet-enabled device, anywhere in the world. As disclosed, the global interactive program guide provides a user with metadata that describes available content and enables the user to access desired content on an a la carte basis and arrange the presentation of that content in any way or order desired. The system of the instant invention can alternatively be practiced with any mobile communications device that is accessible via the internet, cell phone communications or other communications mode. Changes made to content availability are instantly synchronized through the entire system and content redundancy is obtained when available.