Server Or Headend Patents (Class 725/114)
  • Patent number: 7937739
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, device and/or system for communicating over a wideband distribution network. The device may include, for example, a downstream conversion module for converting a legacy downstream electrical signal of a legacy downstream frequency band into an extended downstream optical signal of an extended downstream frequency band; and/or an upstream conversion module for converting an extended upstream optical signal of an extended upstream frequency band into a legacy upstream electrical signal of a legacy upstream frequency band. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Xtend Networks
    Inventors: Ron Shani, Yeshayahu Strull, Semion Kofman
  • Publication number: 20110099583
    Abstract: A digital broadcasting system and a method for processing data in the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a digital television (DTV) located in one independent space among a plurality of independent spaces physically separated from one another is disclosed. The method includes receiving guest information recorded in a storage area of a compact wireless device and a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key value of the AP card, receiving the WEP key value corresponding to the AP card of the DTV from a management server, comparing the WEP key value received from the compact wireless device with the WEP key value received from the management server, generating at least one recommendation service information dependent on the guest information, if the two WEP key values are identical to each other, and displaying the generated recommendation service information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sungeun SHIN, Sangrea Woo
  • Patent number: 7930722
    Abstract: A method for providing community information concerning an accommodation area includes the steps of (a) inputting community information of the accommodation area to a storage medium; (b) creating a television presentation and a web presentation using software, wherein the software imports the community information from the storage medium and automatically formats and lays out the community information into the television presentation and the web presentation; (c) applying presentation elements having user-modifiable rules associated therewith to the television presentation and the web presentation; (d) transmitting the television presentation to the accommodation via a distributed communications network; and (e) optionally displaying the web presentation on a web site associated with the accommodation area. A system for creating, managing and delivering community information is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Touchtown, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Pepper, Evan M. Ruiz, David A. Hornig, Karen A. Graff
  • Patent number: 7930726
    Abstract: Provided are an IPTV service system and a method thereof. The IPTV service system includes: a headend, a set-top box, and a plurality of multicast routers. The headend assigns a multicast group address for each channel and assigns a source address for each PID with respect to an MPEG-TS and packetizes the MPEG-TS into a plurality of packet streams. The set-top box identifies a user-selected channel and the necessary elementary streams in the MPEG-TS for the selected channel, and requests selective reception of only packet streams corresponding to the selected channel and the necessary elementary streams from the plurality of packet streams. The plurality of multicast routers form a multicast path between the headend and the set-top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae Cheol Sim, Kee Seong Cho
  • Publication number: 20110088075
    Abstract: A system and method for distributing auxiliary data embedded in video data includes a content source that embeds the auxiliary data into the video data. The content source then encodes the video data together with the auxiliary data to create a distribution multiplex including compressed video data. A decoder receives and decompresses the distribution multiplex to reproduce the video data with the auxiliary data embedded. A television or other device then detects and extracts the auxiliary data from the video data. The television or other device processes the auxiliary data to support a variety of possible interactive applications including displaying a synchronized widget on a display of the television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Mark Eyer
  • Publication number: 20110088076
    Abstract: A system and method for media adaptation are provided. A method for providing media to an electronic device includes receiving a request for a media with a set of characteristics, and determining if the media with the set of characteristics resides in a media storage. The method also includes if the media with the set of characteristics resides in the media storage, retrieving the media with the set of characteristics from the media storage. The method further includes if the media with the set of characteristics does not reside in the media storage, transcoding an alternate media with an alternate set of characteristics to produce a transcoded media with the set of characteristics. The method additionally includes providing the media with the set of characteristics from the media storage or the transcoded media with the set of characteristics to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: FutureWei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongbing Li, Peng Zhang, Yunchao Gao, Ye-Kui Wang, Yue Chen, Hong Heather Yu
  • Publication number: 20110082735
    Abstract: Methods and devices enable users of still or video image content to indicate objects within images in order to obtain more information regarding products of interest. Selected portions of an image or coordinates within the image may be included in a product query message transmitted to a server. The server receiving image information may process the information to recognize objects or particular products within the image selection. Recognized objects or products may be compared to a database of available merchandise to determine availability. Information regarding commercially available products may be included in a product information message transmitted to the user's computing device. Users may initiate a purchase transaction for recommended products based on the product information. The image may be broadcast by a variety of content delivery services including a mobile broadcast TV network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: PRASANNA KANNAN, Dirceu G. Cavendish
  • Patent number: 7921448
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods, systems, and devices for simultaneously receiving and processing multimedia asset packages transmitted by a plurality of multimedia content providers. The methods and systems of the present invention implement a multiport catcher appliance configured to receive a plurality of transmissions, simultaneously, from multiple content providers in a multimedia asset distribution system. The multimedia catcher receiver includes a multimedia network interface unit configured to simultaneously receive multimedia data segments from content providers, a multimedia network interface unit that provides the multimedia data segments to a receive unit, a receive unit configured to reconstruct and validate a multimedia asset package using multimedia data segments transmitted by a content provider, and a content management system to manage multimedia asset packages and provide multimedia asset packages to a multimedia server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ascent Media Group, LLP
    Inventors: Richard C. Fickle, José A. Róyo, Timothy Bruce Aron
  • Patent number: 7917128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for inserting at least one multimedia message multiple element into a multimedia message. The method comprises the following steps transmitting at least one multimedia message multiple from a network element to a mobile station, transmitting one first multimedia message from the network element to the mobile station, and inserting the multimedia message multiple element into the first multimedia message. Preferably, insertion occurs in the mobile station, and the multimedia message multiple element is only transmitted once by the network element to the mobile station and is inserted into a plurality of multimedia messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sabine Van Niekerk, Norbert Schwagmann, Belhassen Jerbi
  • Patent number: 7913277
    Abstract: A system, module and method is provided for metadata extraction and re-insertion. A module has a first input for receiving a compressed digital media stream having metadata such as DPI cues or content related information contained therein and an output for providing a first control signal including metadata information to an encoder. The metadata is extracted from the digital media stream by the module and generates a control signal including the metadata. The encoder module re-encodes the digital media contained in the digital media stream and re-inserts the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Tim Rahrer
  • Publication number: 20110067082
    Abstract: The disclosure presents a system for facilitating transmission of live audio-visual content between a first location and a second remote location. The system includes a portable communication apparatus having an input/output switch; an audio matching converter; a codec in communication with the input/output switch for receiving the live video content signal transmitted from the input/output switch; and a 4G or higher wireless modem in communication with the codec. The system also includes a terminal communication apparatus having a carrier receiving unit; a codec in communication with the carrier receiving unit; an audio matching converter in communication with the codec; and an input/output switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Weigel Broadcasting Co.
    Inventor: Kyle Walker
  • Patent number: 7907634
    Abstract: A method and system of transporting multimedia signals from a source 12 to customer equipment (CE) 14. The method and system being applicable to cable, telecommunications, and other systems where signals are transported from a source 12 to CE 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: John G. Hildebrand, Francisco Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7908244
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to localize content management of media content assets. A local content is received at a regional media center. The local content corresponds to an event localized within a locality. The local content is prepared into an asset using a media content management system. An asset package containing the asset is propagated to a head-end for distribution to a subscriber in the locality. In another embodiment of the invention, an asset package containing an asset and asset attributes is received from a propagation unit. The asset is created from a local content corresponding to an event localized within a locality. The asset is distributed to a subscriber in the locality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ascent Media Group, LLC
    Inventors: José A. Royo, Igor Vezmar, Timothy B. Aron, Richard C. Fickle
  • Patent number: 7908635
    Abstract: A communication system and a family of methods for remote access to personal television service are disclosed. According to this invention, a remote personal TV service center provides centralized program guide information. A user may access to the personal TV service center through a digital video recorder which is connected to the personal TV service center via telephone modem or a network server. A user may access to the personal TV service center through a remote computer terminal or a personal digital assistant which is connected to a computer network. The user selects program events and programs the digital video recorder by using a graphical user interface installed in the front panel of the digital video recorder in case of local programming, or using a similar GUI which is incorporated into the Web pages presented to remote users by a Web server in case of remote programming. The media stream stored in one digital video recorder may be transferred to another digital video recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Barton, David C. Platt
  • Patent number: 7908628
    Abstract: A video and digital multimedia aggregator includes a content decoder, coder (codec) and formatter. The codec formatter receives coding and formatting requests that characterize input source content and desired output target content. Data conveyed about the source and target content may include parameters such as physical and/or logical addresses, coding and compression parameters, format descriptions, content size, description of auxiliary services, and other metadata elements that may be required for coding and formatting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: William D. Swart, John S. McCoskey, Michael L. Asmussen
  • Patent number: 7904930
    Abstract: In an implementation of broadcast content delivery, content is broadcast to television-based client devices via a broadcast communication link. The content can be generated for display to include a user-selectable control to initiate a request for additional content that includes broadcast content and/or on-demand content. A content provider receives the request for the on-demand content from a client device via a two-way communication link, and broadcasts the on-demand content to the television-based client devices via a channel of the broadcast communication link. The content provider also communicates an identifier via the two-way communication link to the client device such that the client device can identify the channel of the broadcast communication link and receive the on-demand content via the broadcast communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amit A. Dhodapkar, Arvind K. Peechara
  • Patent number: 7904452
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a record information storage module stores record information related to content recorded by an external apparatus in association with a keyword representing the content and user information. A search information storage module stores a search phrase used for searching in an external apparatus in association with user information. A search word handler extracts a predetermined number of words having high search frequency from search phrases stored in association with specific user information to generate a word list. A record information handler extracts keywords stored in association with the specific user information to generate a keyword list. A ranking processor generates ranking information indicating a word in the word list which matches a keyword in the keyword list. A communicator provides the ranking information to an external apparatus corresponding to the specific user information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koji Kasano, Toshihiro Fujibayashi
  • Publication number: 20110053623
    Abstract: Embodiments may be disclosed herein that provide systems, devices, and methods of creating and using virtual service groups on HFC networks. One such embodiment is a system comprising: a headend in communication with a plurality of consumer premises devices; contiguous or non-contiguous bands of QAM carriers; the plurality of consumer premises devices organized into virtual service groups and tuned to designated bands of data corresponding to the virtual service group to which each consumer premises device is assigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Agustin Rovira, Gary Marshall Springer, James A. Strothmann
  • Patent number: 7890985
    Abstract: A media server in a home entertainment network allows a media rendering device to act as a digital media receiver. The media server enables trick mode functions such as scan forward or reverse, slow motion, pause, and seek on rendering devices with capabilities limited to 1× playback. The media server receives commands from user input at the rendering device transmitted over the network to the media server. The media server manipulates the media stream before transmission over the network by deleting or adding frames to the media stream as necessary to emulate the desired playback functions and replacing frame timestamps to create a media stream that appears to the media rendering device as a sequential 1× stream. The transmitted media stream may not contain all of the media content stored in the corresponding media file on the media server, thus avoiding limitations on the download bandwidth and local client storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Bowra, Ashley C. Speicher, Nicholas J. Fang
  • Publication number: 20110030002
    Abstract: A system and method for the automated discovery of advertisement decision services and advertisement management services employs an advertisement application server which receives the address of an advertisement management service from an IPTV Controller during the registration phase. The advertisement application server then begins the configuration process by informing the advertisement decision server of the availability of a new advertisement management service. Additionally, an OITF having an embedded ADM makes use of markers in a received content stream to identify the location at which an advertisement is to be inserted, requests and receives advertisements from an ADS, and renders a video stream based on the received content and the received advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventor: George Foti
  • Publication number: 20110023075
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording/reproduction apparatus includes a power source controller. The power source controller includes a determination unit, a stand-by mode execution unit, and a pause mode execution unit. The determination unit determines whether or not an event associated with at least one of recording and reproduction of the information signal occurs at start-up time. The stand-by mode execution unit executes a stand-by mode in which the power level of each of the encoder, the decoder, the recording medium, and the plurality of signal processors is controlled to be lower than a predetermined level. The pause mode execution unit executes a pause mode in which the power to each of the encoder, the decoder, the recording medium, and the plurality of signal processors is turned off, and the power level of the process controller is controlled to be lower than the predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Osamu TANABE
  • Publication number: 20110019978
    Abstract: A media playback device may be operable to determine whether replacement media content corresponding to at least a portion of a received broadcast media stream is available during reception of the broadcast media stream from one or more broadcast sources. At least some of the replacement media content may then be retrieved when personal video recording (PVR) operations are requested during play of the received broadcast media stream, to enable seamless performance of the requested PVR operations using at least a portion of the retrieved replacement media content. Exemplary PVR operations may comprise pausing, fast forwarding, and/or rewinding. The replacement media content may be retrieved from a plurality of local and/or remote replacement servers. Availability of replacement media content, from remote replacement servers, may be determined based on programming data in said broadcast media stream, routing information provided by a broadcast source, and/or by inquiry via one or more cataloguing servers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Adil Jagmag
  • Publication number: 20110016502
    Abstract: A device for signal receiving such as a set-top box is disclosed in which there is the presence of at least one unit (2) for receiving a signal (S) and at least one unit (3) for sending the received and processed signal (S?) to an image and/or sound broadcasting apparatus (4) such as a television set, radio set, PC, iPOD, and any other existing and/or achievable apparatus; means for processing the signal (S) converts said signal (S) -into the signal (S?) to be sent through a circuit (5) adapted to allow passage towards the broadcasting apparatus ? (4) of information, data, promotions or advertising depending on suitable scheduling of said circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Riccardo Pilla
  • Patent number: 7873981
    Abstract: A method of providing set up services to customer premise equipment (CPE), the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network. The method includes operating a network element as a set up terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network. A request to initiate a set up process is received from the CPE. A set up server coupled to the communications network is accessed to initiate a set up application. The set up server communicates with the CPE through the network element to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jacklyn A. Mickle, Michael W. Smith, James Chilton
  • Patent number: 7870279
    Abstract: A streaming data filtering method and apparatus utilizing users' profiles to deliver streaming data to users is presented. The invention uses context-based cues to extract content from both video and text ontologies. The invention provides novel techniques that semi-automatically generate a media concept hierarchy using hierarchical classifiers for representing text, closed-caption, and video features. This hierarchy is used to classify arrival of real-time news and will also be used to match users' profiles. Moreover, this hierarchy can be dynamically re-organized based upon user changes and arrival of real-time news. Matching a request with respect to a concept hierarchy is more efficient and reliable than searching specific keywords since the views of collected documents are refined as the hierarchy is traversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Chuang, Son Dao, Asha Vellaikal, Greg Kaestle
  • Patent number: 7870593
    Abstract: A list of video programs downloadable via a digital subscriber line, including a presently-unavailable video program and its associated date of download availability, is presented to a user. A user selection of the video program is received. Based on the user selection, an entry is added to a download schedule to schedule downloading the video program on or after its associated date of download availability. The video program is downloaded via the digital subscriber line based on the download schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ATT Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stuckman, Michael Grannan, Robert R. Bushey, Russell W. White, Benjamin A. Knott, David Patron
  • Patent number: 7861271
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transmodulator unit. The transmodulator unit generally comprises (i) a first input configured to receive a baseband video signal, (ii) a second input configured to receive a first encoded data signal and (iii) an output configured to present a second encoded data signal. The second encoded data signal is generated in response to the first encoded data signal and the baseband video signal. The first encoded data signal comprises an advanced data signal. The second encoded data signal comprises a legacy data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Ion Coman
  • Patent number: 7849490
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing scalability for channel change requests in a Switched Digital Video system is presented. A request for a channel change is received. A determination is made regarding whether a channel requested by the request for a channel change is currently being provided to the settop box. When the channel requested by the request for a channel change is being provided to the settop box then the request for a channel change is buffered for transmission at a later time. When the channel requested by the request for a channel change is not being provided to the settop box then the request for a channel change is immediately sent to an SDV server in communication with the settop box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aamer Akhter
  • Patent number: 7849489
    Abstract: A cable modem system and method is provided for supporting data transfer protocols that extend beyond standard protocols used in conventional data over cable systems. A cable modem in accordance with the invention determines, during registration, whether a CMTS with which it communicates is capable of supporting an extended protocol, and if it is, transfers data to the CMTS in accordance with the extended protocol. Additionally, a CMTS in accordance with the invention is notified during registration whether or not a cable modem supports an extended protocol and stores this information. When a request for transmission opportunity is subsequently received from the cable modem, the CMTS accesses the stored information to determine if the cable modem supports the extended protocol. If the cable modem supports the extended protocol, the CMTS processes data received from the cable modem during the transmission opportunity in accordance with that protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Fred A. Bunn, Thomas L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100306792
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing correlated information services with broadcast multimedia content. In conjunction with a broadcast system offering a plurality of primary channels that carry entertainment, informational, and educational multimedia programs, the disclosed systems may provide one or more auxiliary channels containing complementary, correlated, or/and personalized information. Broadcast services are typically carried in a mass distribution system, such as a co-axial cable distribution network, a telephone distribution network, a satellite system, a radio system, a TV broadcast system, or a cellular broadcast system. The one or more auxiliary channels for delivery of the complementary, correlated, and/or personalized information service can be established in the same or different data distribution system, such as a cable modem system, a DSL system, a WiFi network, a WiMAX network, or a wireless data network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: NEOCIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Li, Titus Lo
  • Publication number: 20100306812
    Abstract: A system for and method of targeting a broadcast message to a subset of potential electronic receivers in a broadcast network is presented. The system and method may comprise collecting identifying information associated with designated electronic receivers of a targeted broadcast message, generating, using a computer processor, a data set structure using the identifying information, associating the data set structure with the targeted broadcast message, and broadcasting the targeted broadcast message and the data set structure to a plurality of electronic receivers, wherein the data set structure provides information allowing at least one of the plurality of electronic receivers to determine whether the targeted broadcast message is targeted to the at least one electronic receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: FourthWall Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis P. SLOTHOUBER, Jeffrey W. JOHNSTON
  • Publication number: 20100306813
    Abstract: A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU. The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: David Perry, Andrew Buchanan Gault, Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira
  • Patent number: 7840988
    Abstract: A technique is described for facilitating communication in access networks such as cable networks. One aspect of the present invention is directed to an improved line card configuration which may be used to provide upstream channel “high availability” protection whereby the cable modems of a failed upstream channel may be immediately and dynamically reassigned to an alternate upstream channel in order to minimize service disruption. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an improved line card configuration which is able to provide load balancing capabilities across multiple upstream channels associated with one or more line cards. According to a specific implementation, such load balancing capabilities may be used to reassign cable modems (which are physically connected to a fixed upstream port) to alternate upstream channels. Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to an improved line card configuration which is able to provide the feature of virtual cabling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiahuai Zhou
  • Patent number: 7839773
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first ranging timing description describing at least a duration of time during which a subject cable modem (CM) may burst and a duration of time during which the subject CM and other CMs in a multiple access network are not permitted to burst is translated into a second ranging timing description describing a duration during which a burst from the subject CM is expected to be received by a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The CMTS is conditioned to receive a burst from the subject CM during the duration of time described by the second ranging timing description. A timing offset is determined from at least an actual time a burst from the subject CM is received by the CMTS and the duration of time during which the subject CM and other CMs in the multiple access network are not permitted to burst to produce a determined timing offset. The determined timing offset is reported to compensate for delay in the multiple access network and the subject CM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: De Fu Li, Pawel Sowinski, James An, Robert Goguen
  • Publication number: 20100293586
    Abstract: A system for retrieval of executable applications, comprising: a broadcast television receiver apparatus; and a server; wherein the broadcast television receiver apparatus includes a communication unit having an interface for bidirectional communication with a network and adapted to determine channel information from a currently decoded channel carried in a broadcast television signal, the channel information identifying the currently decoded channel, the communication unit being further adapted to send the channel information to a server over the network, and to receive application information from the server, the application information describing a set of applications which are available for execution, and to receive executable code components for the set of applications corresponding to the application information, and wherein the broadcast television receiver apparatus further includes a data processor adapted to execute the application whilst the channel is decoded; and wherein the server is adapted to
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Europe Limited
    Inventors: Jose Alexandre SIMOES RODRIGUES, Tassilo Volker Raesig
  • Patent number: 7836479
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a synchronization section for performing synchronization of an AV stream and metadata, and a capsulization section for capsulizing an AV stream and metadata every metadata unit, and by reconfiguring metadata unit by unit and capsulizing an AV stream by this means, makes possible partial execution of metadata, and makes it possible to carry out program distribution for processing a segment comprising part of an AV stream, speeding up of response times, reduction of the necessary storage capacity, and reduction of network traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Emura
  • Publication number: 20100287585
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to receive from a portable communication device (PCD) identification information and a request for multicast media content supplied by an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, detect that the PCD is authorized to receive the requested media content according to the identification information, transmit to the PCD one or more decryption keys responsive to said detection, determine from the identification information a media presentation format used by the PCD, instruct an acquisition server (A-server) of the IPTV network to transcode the requested media content according to the media presentation format upon receiving the requested media content on a multicast channel, receive from the A-server the transcoded media content, encrypt the transcoded media content, and transmit the encrypted and transcoded media content to the PCD over a unicast channel. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: MITCHELL ALLEN FRONDAL, Jason Savard
  • Publication number: 20100281510
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for broadcasting digital video services including a step of transmitting digital video broadcasting services in radio frames addresses to at least one terminal having a standby mode and a sleep mode. In order that the terminal may stay in standby mode to receive data the modified content of the radio frames, at least a part of the radio frames comprises information representative of a change in the content of the radio frames. The invention also concerns a reception method implemented in the terminal as well as the corresponding devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Guillaume Bichot, Helmut Burklin
  • Publication number: 20100269147
    Abstract: A method of generating and using indexing information for video content is presented. In the method, an index stream for a video stream is generated at a video content transmitter. The video stream includes video frames, and the index stream includes an index for each of at least some of the video frames within the video stream. The video stream and the index stream are transmitted from the video content transmitter to a video content receiver, which receives and stores the video and index streams. Further, at the video content receiver, the index stream is processed to locate the video frames within the video stream that are associated with at least some of the indexes of the index stream, and at least some of the located video frames of the video stream are presented to an output device under control of a user of the video content receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Charlie William Zetterower, David A. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20100262488
    Abstract: Hosted content received from media hosts is used to generate a set of fingerprints representing the hosted content. The fingerprints representing the hosted content are compared to a set of fingerprints representing reference content submitted by content owners to generate one or more match metrics. Based on the match metrics, the media host may provide indication that they accept policy terms specified by the content owners, including revenue sharing terms. If the media host accepts the revenue sharing terms, the media host may provide advertising content to viewers in association with the hosted content matching the reference content. Funds received from providing advertising content are distributed to the media host and the content owner according to the revenue sharing terms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Kyle Harrison, David King, Robert On
  • Publication number: 20100263010
    Abstract: A method for setting channels and a broadcast receiving apparatus using the same are provided. In the method, a channel is set by a broadcast receiving apparatus so as to correspond to at least one of an IP address and a domain name. Accordingly, a user can set IP addresses and domain names as channels on the broadcast receiving apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mun-seok KIM
  • Publication number: 20100262999
    Abstract: Programming stream communication systems and methods are operable to communicate programming streams to a media transmit facility. An exemplary embodiment receives at the media transmit facility a first packetized programming stream (PPS), the first PPS including a first programming stream (PS) generated by a first local programming provider (LPP); receives at the media transmit facility a second PPS, the second PPS including a second PS generated by a second LPP; multiplexes the first PS and the second PS into a transport channel; and communicates the transport channel from the media transmit facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Martin Curran
  • Patent number: 7814144
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recommending system that recommends content so as to keep constant network traffic between a user terminal and a server. The recommending system includes a user terminal, a content server that transmits content prestored in a storage device to the user terminal, and a recommending server that transmits recommendation data, which are connected via a network. The recommending server includes a communications unit that transmits the recommendation data to the user terminal, the recommendation data containing an identifier of provided content and a time, at which the content server starts providing the content to the user terminal, in correspondence with the identifier of the provided content. The user terminal includes a download unit that transmits the content request containing the identifier of the provided content to the content server at the time in correspondence with the identifier of the provided content in the recommendation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Noriaki Koyama, Tetsuya Gotou
  • Publication number: 20100254674
    Abstract: Fans or other persons can upload content that others can choose to view when they play back a film, television show or other packaged media content item. A server system receives a playback indication from a remote media player via a data network, and in response retrieves an uploaded supplemental content item. The playback indication can not only identify the film, television show or other packaged media content item, but can further identify a playback location in the identified content item, such as a specific scene. The server system can use such information to select and retrieve one of a number of uploaded supplemental content items. The server system transmits the supplemental content item to the media player, which then plays back the supplemental content item in association with the packaged media content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle J. Prestenback, Christopher R. Antimary
  • Patent number: 7810123
    Abstract: A high capacity interactive multimedia system is provided that can deliver large number of concurrent video on demand and high speed data streams in an integrated fashion to a plurality of subscribers located at one or more subscriber sites. A video server module in the system generates a plurality of video on demand streams, which are transported via a high capacity transport system to a plurality of clients located at a subscriber site. A web server in the system stores data, such as web pages, which are also transported via the high capacity transport system to the clients. By accessing the web pages, a plurality of subscribers interact with the system via the clients. The interactive multimedia system controls and monitors in a centralized fashion the hardware and software components of the system, thus assuring the quality of the video and data services provided to the subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Prestoy
  • Publication number: 20100251318
    Abstract: A method of providing information, comprising: capturing, at a first receiver receiving a television broadcast signal, a live image of a television channel of the television broadcast signal; transmitting the captured live image from the first receiver to a server, the server being remotely located from the first receiver; transmitting the captured live image from the server to a second receiver; and displaying the captured live image together with information associated with the television channel at the second receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SONY UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED
    Inventors: Jose Alexandre SIMOES RODRIGUES, Tassilo Volker Raesig, Frank Fritz Heider, Ruediger Hnyk
  • Patent number: 7805052
    Abstract: A video recording apparatus for continuously presenting a main program to a user without a break while presenting a commercial. A main program buffer records a main program of a video signal in accordance with a temporal position of at least the main program or commercials in the video signal, and a commercial buffer records the commercials. A controller determines whether a current time is in a period to display a commercial, on the basis of at least the temporal position of the main program or the commercials in the video signal. A mixer mixes the main program and the commercials such that the main program is temporally continuously displayed in a full screen area and such that a commercial is displayed in a small area in the bottom right corner of the screen during a period in which the commercial should be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Nakamura, Mototsugu Abe
  • Patent number: 7801969
    Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: KDD Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nakajima, Hiromasa Yanagihara, Akio Yoneyama, Masaru Sugano
  • Publication number: 20100235872
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to allocate between a video and audio quality in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) presentation and to utilize a resultant bandwidth as a result of allocation to enhance an audio or video quality in the IPTV presentation in response to a user selection among levels of video quality and audio quality. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: MARC SULLIVAN, Keith Crowe, James Pratt
  • Patent number: 7793329
    Abstract: Method and system for reducing switching delays between digital video feeds using multicast slotted transmission technique. Method, system, computer program stored on a computer readable medium for reducing switching delays between digital video feeds or different video or data channels using a slotted distribution and transmission technique. Method and system for performing a fast channel change operation. A computer propagated data signal. An article of manufacture comprising a digital video signal set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kasenna, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinay Joshi, Jayakumar Muthukumarasamy, Satish Menon, Rajiv Malik