Having Particular Storage Feature Patents (Class 725/134)
  • Patent number: 9584847
    Abstract: Live streaming video content is processed and stored for real-time delivery of the content, future VoD viewing of the content, and time-shifted viewing of the content, by manipulating a common manifest or playlist. Previously stored content may be reordered and/or recombined in order to provide a personalized content viewing experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ERICSSON AB
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ma, Robert Hickey, Paul Tweedale, Daniel Biagini, Prabhudev Navali, Man Li
  • Patent number: 9516384
    Abstract: A method of processing a digital service signal and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes executing a primary application for the digital service signal, wherein the primary application is a triggered application or a non-triggered application, transmitting messages of interactive services for a secondary application associated with the primary application, wherein the interactive services includes a first mode related to the triggered application or a second mode related to the non-triggered application, receiving a request for descriptions identifying the interactive services, transmitting the descriptions having service id information identifying each of the interactive services and service type information indicating a type of the each of the interactive services, and providing the interactive services by transmitting information for the interactive services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sejin Oh, Seungryul Yang, Jinpil Kim, Janghun Bae, Seungjoo An, Kyungho Kim, Kyoungsoo Moon
  • Patent number: 9465435
    Abstract: Systems and methods for segmenting a video based on user engagement in respective segments of the video are presented. In one or more aspects, a system is provided that includes an engagement component configured to receive information regarding respective engagement of a plurality of users in connection with respective segments of a video. The system further includes an analysis component configured to analyze the information and calculate user engagement scores for the respective video segments, wherein the user engagement scores reflect level of the plurality of users' interest regarding the respective video segments, and an identification component configured to identify a subset of the video segments associated with relatively higher user engagement scores in comparison to other video segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Yu He
  • Patent number: 9445162
    Abstract: An Interactive Personal/Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) reservation system, and a reservation plan management method and device are provided. A reservation server receives a reservation plan addition request initiated by a DVR set top box, wherein the reservation plan addition request carries a reservation plan to be added; the reservation server obtains from the shared storage server an added reservation plan which corresponds to the DVR set top box and has been added by a user; and the reservation server performs a conflict processing on the reservation plan to be added, when determining that the reservation plan to be added exceeds a recording ability of the DVR set top box according to the obtained added reservation plan. Accordingly, a problem in the related art that the load of a reservation server is too heavy and a failure processing ability of a system is relatively weak is solved, the load of the reservation server is reduced, and the failure processing ability is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Jian Ji
  • Patent number: 9432629
    Abstract: A primary video stream of a sporting event may be provided via the Internet. In addition, at least one secondary video stream of the sporting event may be provided via the Internet. Moreover, metadata corresponding to the primary video stream and the at least one secondary video stream may be provided via the Internet. The primary video stream, the at least one secondary video stream, and the metadata may be utilized to provide interactive viewing of the sporting event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventor: Dan R. Olsen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9405363
    Abstract: Consumer electronic devices have been developed with enormous information processing capabilities, high quality audio and video outputs, large amounts of memory, and may also include wired and/or wireless networking capabilities. Additionally, relatively unsophisticated and inexpensive sensors, such as microphones, video camera, GPS or other position sensors, when coupled with devices having these enhanced capabilities, can be used to detect subtle features about users and their environments. A variety of audio, video, simulation and user interface paradigms have been developed to utilize the enhanced capabilities of these devices. These paradigms can be used separately or together in any combination. One paradigm automatically creating user identities using speaker identification. Another paradigm includes a control button with 3-axis pressure sensitivity for use with game controllers and other input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC. (SIEI)
    Inventors: Gustavo Hernandez-Abrego, Xavier Menendez-Pidal, Steven Osman, Ruxin Chen, Rishi Deshpande, Care Michaud-Wideman, Richard Marks, Eric J. Larsen, Xiaodong Mao
  • Patent number: 9373358
    Abstract: A media editing system includes one or more machines that are configured to support cloud-based collaborative editing of media by one or more client devices. A machine within the media editing system may be configured to receive a render request for generation of a media frame, determine whether a client device is to generate the media frame, and initiate generation of the media frame. Moreover, a machine within the media editing system may facilitate resolution of conflicts between edits to a particular piece of media. Furthermore, a machine within the media editing system may facilitate provision of convenient access to media from a particular client device to one or more additional client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Enzo Mario Guerrera, Steven G. Warner, Peter Erick Lee, Soenke Schnepel
  • Patent number: 9374569
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium readable by a non-versatile interpretation device (e.g., navigation engine of DVD player) and executable on a player device (e.g., a DVD player), the non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions executable even on the non-versatile interpretation device to enable a method of enhanced search and retrieval of one or more relevant media entities (e.g., a combination of an audio stream and a video stream corresponding to a video) from a comprehensive dataset of media entities stored on the non-transitory storage medium. The non-versatile interpretation device comprises a navigation engine built on a limited set of virtual commands embedded on to a chipset to provide interaction with the media entities. The non-transitory storage medium stores a plurality of keywords that are in-built. Each of the keywords are pre-linked to at least one of the media entities on the non-transitory storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Subhanjan Sarkar
  • Patent number: 9342584
    Abstract: Provided is a server apparatus, including: keyword storage capable of storing event-identification information and one or more keywords in relation to each other, the event-identification information identifying an event, the one or more keywords relating to the event; and a first keyword-registering section configured to obtain event-identification information and detailed information from an event-information registering server, the event-identification information identifying an event, the detailed information being on the event, to extract one or more first keywords from the obtained detailed information, and to register the one or more extracted first keywords and the event-identification information in relation to each other in the keyword storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Nagasaka, Tomonori Misawa
  • Patent number: 9294708
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided. The method includes the steps of providing a web or social networking account within a chat server for a digital video recorder (DVR) of a security system, the DVR receiving a chat message from a person through the chat server and the DVR automatically executing a predetermined instruction corresponding to a content of the received chat message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Sathishkumar Mohan, Trishla Seetharaman, Raja Manikandan, Abdul Raheem
  • Patent number: 9277044
    Abstract: A transportable wireless loudspeaker 110 and system 100 for managing multi-user wireless media playback over a media playback system 100. Allows for multiple users on user devices 150 to share their media wirelessly by seamlessly switching between users (501, 601, 701) connected to the media playback system 100. The ability to have multiple users sharing their media provides for more sources of media to be played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventors: Steven P. Kahn, Eric A. Sanders, Stuart W. Lumsden
  • Patent number: 9245584
    Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, a cue playback decision unit 610 determines, based on recording information acquired from a recording information storage unit in which a recorded content having a program recorded and the recording information of the recorded content are associated with each other, whether or not a recorded content of a playback target is a recorded content whose recording is started prior to starting time of the program and which is to be played back by cue playback. A time confirmation unit 612 acquires, when it is determined that the recorded content is a recorded content to be played back by cue playback, recording starting time included in the recording information of the recorded content of the playback target from the recording information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Nishizawa, Kensaku Ishizuka, Masakazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9225925
    Abstract: A phone that interacts with a television system. At least one module may be adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection. At least one module may also be adapted to display video information corresponding to the video selection. At least one module may further be adapted to transmit a control signal adapted to cause the display of video information corresponding to the video selection on the television system. The phone may, for example, be adapted to receive television system setting information and provide for user control of various television system settings. Also for example, the phone may be adapted to receive media guide information, present such information to a user, provide for user selection of a media element, and transmit a control signal adapted to cause delivery of the selected media element from a multimedia source to the television system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Jeyhan Kararoguz
  • Patent number: 9215492
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from an advertisement monitor device, notification of a video stream that includes an advertisement insertion event. The advertisement insertion event includes a scheduled transition between the video program and at least one targeted advertisement associated with a corresponding target group of set top boxes. The method includes preparing resources to receive the video stream. A notification is sent to the advertisement monitor device to begin transmitting the video stream. The video stream, a unique identifier (ID) associated with the video stream and associated metadata for the video stream is received. The method includes analyzing the video stream to identify at least one issue in association with the advertisement insertion event, and generating a report that includes the identified at least one error, the unique ID, and the associated metadata for the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Robin Montague Mathews, Michael Patrick Ruffini
  • Patent number: 9215310
    Abstract: A method of delivering an audio and/or visual media file including, for example, one or more of full or partial master recordings of songs, musical compositions, ringtones, videos, films, television shows, personal recordings, animation and combinations thereof, over the air wirelessly, from one or more servers to an electronic device with or without an Internet connection, said method comprising transmitting and audio and/or visual media file in compressed format to said electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is effective to receive said audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content on demand by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Skky Incorporated
    Inventors: John Mikkelsen, Robert Freidson
  • Patent number: 9171348
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for rendering video content is disclosed according to an aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises retrieving video content from a network, directing the retrieved video content to a video hardware accelerator, wherein the video hardware accelerator renders the video content into rendered video content, and determining whether the video content is to be displayed in an embedded mode or a full screen mode. The method also comprises, if the video content is to be displayed in the embedded mode, then instructing a graphics processing unit (GPU) to composite the rendered video content with other rendered content for display to a user on a display, and, if the video content is to be displayed in the full screen mode, then instructing the video hardware accelerator to send the rendered video content to the display without compositing by the GPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Min Qin, Grace Kloba, Huan Ren
  • Patent number: 9172730
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, including receiving, at a computing device, a request from a user to display descriptors of media programming content for a time period; identifying people associated with the user employing information stored in a computer database, and identifying time-associated media programs electronically scheduled on behalf of the identified people; and providing for display, to the user, the descriptions of the identified people and of the time-associated media programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Gossweiler, III
  • Patent number: 9069468
    Abstract: A set of storage devices may interoperate to share a pool of storage space, such as in a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) scheme. However, the details of the representation of the pool and the allocation of capacity to the pool may enable advantages and/or impose limitations on the storage set. Presented herein are techniques for generating a representing a pooled partition on one or more storage devices featuring a pool configuration representing the pool as a set of spaces manifested by the pool; a set of storage devices sharing the pool; and a set of extents that map physical areas of the storage devices to logical areas of the spaces. The flexibility of these pooling techniques may enable such features as flexible capacity allocation, delayed binding, thin provisioning, and the participation of a storage device in two or more distinct pools shared with different sets of storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Karan Mehra, Emanuel Paleologu
  • Patent number: 9055328
    Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Chanyu Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Vijay K. Bhagavath, Robert Edward Markowitz, Joseph Thomas O'Neil
  • Patent number: 9043843
    Abstract: A television receiver including a tuner and one or more processors may be presented. The television receiver may be configured to tune the tuner to a television channel. The television receiver may be configured to create and store an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over a period of time. The television receiver may be configured to, after a predefined period of time, select the omnibus channel file for deletion. The television receiver may be configured to determine a television program to receive extended storage. The television receiver may be configured to store a portion of the omnibus channel file as an individual program file, wherein the portion of the omnibus channel file corresponds to the television program. The television receiver may be configured to, after storing the portion of the omnibus channel file, delete the omnibus channel file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Templeman, Yunfeng Yang
  • Publication number: 20150143450
    Abstract: A system for compositing images in a compressed bitstream can include memory and first and second modules. The first module can be configured to receive images and corresponding position information that indicates positions of the images in a composite image, determine pixels of the images that will be occluded in the composite image, and store, at memory locations of the memory, pixels of the images that will be visible in the composite image. The second module can be configured to receive the position information, retrieve, from the memory locations, the visible pixels of the images, determine the images corresponding to the visible pixels based at least on the memory locations, and generate the composite image by arranging the visible pixels based at least on the position information. In one or more implementations, the visible pixels can be compressed before being stored in memory and decompressed after being retrieved from memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jaewon SHIN, Brian Francis SCHONER, Frederick George WALLS
  • Publication number: 20150143445
    Abstract: Provided is a production apparatus that can produce a distribution content that offers an even richer color tone expression during playback of video. The production apparatus for producing a distribution content including distribution video data is constituted by an original acquisition unit that acquires original video data; a distribution video acquisition unit that acquires the distribution video data, the distribution video data having been generated by conversion of the original video data to a lower gradation; a difference generation unit that generates difference data between the original video data and the distribution video data; and an output unit that outputs the difference data. A playback apparatus plays back the distribution content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Takahiro YAMAGUCHI, Yoshiichiro KASHIWAGI, Yoshihiro MORI, Masayuki KOZUKA
  • Publication number: 20150135251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Thomas E. Westberg, Brian Fife, Joseph DiGiovanni, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9027072
    Abstract: Set top boxes (STBs) in a cable system are configured on a box-by-box basis to facilitate beta and trial testing of new or updated services. STBs are assigned to deployment groups identified by a deployment group identifier. Features configurations including hierarchies of features can be defined individually for different deployment groups. Configuration files for provisioning the STBs are provided by a cable system head end according to the deployment group the STB is assigned to. STBs can be configured at the time they boot and register with the system or in a “hot” manner to avoid rebooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: CSC Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Neill
  • Patent number: 9021542
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive a selection of media content that has finished being broadcast where the selection is of the previously broadcast media content, transmit a request for the media content, and receive the media content for presentation at the display device, where the media content includes a plurality of segments, where one or more of the segments is provided by each of a plurality of digital video recorders (DVR's) that have recorded the media content, where the DVR's are remote from the set top box, and where the plurality of segments are merged prior to presentation by the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Picucci
  • Publication number: 20150113579
    Abstract: Provided is a method of providing an associated application in an Android platform-based receiver, including (a) obtaining identification information including at least one of current channel information and current program information of a digital broadcast; (b) obtaining and executing an associated Android application associated with the digital broadcast selected from a plurality of Android applications based on an attribute information included in each of the plurality of Android applications and the identification information; and (c) changing a state of the associated Android application based on an event when the event is received. Accordingly, an associated Android application, the life cycle of which is managed while associated with a digital broadcast and which is personalized for a user based on attributes or a pre-designed associated condition, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: ANYPOINT MEDIA GROUP (KOREA OFFICE)
    Inventor: Wonjang Baek
  • Publication number: 20150106844
    Abstract: A video display system includes a video display unit, and an external unit configured to be communicatable with the video display unit. The video display unit includes a display panel and is configured to transmit specific information to the external unit. The specific information includes display panel information related to the display panel. The external unit is configured to derive a parameter from the specific information received from the video display unit and to transmit, to the video display unit, one of the derived parameter and related data related to the derived parameter. The parameter determines image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yohei Funatsu, Koichi Maeyama, Daisuke Miki, Yoshito Shiraishi, Shoji Araki
  • Patent number: 9007525
    Abstract: An audio and video communications apparatus eliminates a system clock frequency difference, freeing a user from unconformable feeling of audio and video. The audio and video communications apparatus includes: a transmitting unit and a receiving unit (106/108) transmitting and receiving audio and video via a network; a PTS correction timing determining unit (111) determining timing to update a correction amount of a PTS according to information of the audio or the video to be transmitted and received, the PTS being given to the received audio or the received video; a PTS correcting unit (112) correcting the PTS by updating the correction amount at the timing determined by the PTS correction timing determining unit (111); and an audio and video output unit (113) outputting the received audio and the received video corresponding to the corrected PTS found at a current time indicated by the audio and video communications apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Honda
  • Publication number: 20150101006
    Abstract: Unique content identifiers allow users to find and select desired network or locally stored content or applications, solving a problem of user content search and selection in systems that provide access to large libraries of content. A method of selecting digital media content according to the invention includes the steps of providing a database of content ID codes, wherein each code uniquely and permanently identifies different, specific digital media content. One or more of the content ID codes are entered using an input device, which causes the immediate or scheduled viewing of the content associated with the input ID code. The content ID code may be numerical, alphanumerical, or may comprise some form of uniform resource identifier. The digital media content is a broadcast video program, an on-demand video program, an on-demand application program, or a game. The database, or portions thereof, may be electronically stored at the location of the display or at a location remote from the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Eduard Zaslavsky
  • Patent number: 9001276
    Abstract: A method and system for multiplexing of multiple channels of video data through a single analog broadcasting channel is disclosed. The method enables a spatial and temporal multiplexing of videos of each of the multiple channels. The multiplexed content is created as a result of multiplexing that is encoded to generate digital transport stream that is transmitted through analog medium. The system enables a STB receiver to decode each of the videos from the stream. At least one video from the multiple videos is played on the television based on user selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Arpan Pal, Aniruddha Sinha, Arindam Saha, Hiranmay Ghosh, Gautam Shroff
  • Patent number: 9003458
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering data over extant infrastructure within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and the infrastructure comprises that nominally used for on-demand (OD) services such as VOD. The method includes the allocation of dedicated end-to-end network resources via a “session request, as well as data flow control and packet size adaptation, by a data server based on feedback from the requesting/receiving client device (e.g., DSTB) within the network. Mechanisms for retransmission requests for error recovery are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Tom Gonder, Craig Mahonchak, John Carlucci, Vipul Patel, John Callahan, Jay Thomas
  • Patent number: 8997141
    Abstract: An application management server includes: a terminal management table storage unit configured to store terminal device identification data for identifying a terminal device and information indicating whether or not transmission of notification data is necessary while correlating the terminal device identification data with the information; a registration request reception unit configured to receive from the terminal device, a registration request for registering transmission of notification data, and update the terminal management table storage unit based on the registration request; a release request reception unit configured to receive from the terminal device, a release request for releasing transmission of notification data, and update the terminal management table storage unit based on the release request; a via-broadcasting notification transmission unit configured to perform a process of including notification data in a broadcasting signal and transmitting the notification data; and a via-communicatio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Hoso Kyokai
    Inventors: Shigeaki Mitsuya, Kinji Matsumura, Akitsugu Baba, Hiroshi Fujisawa, Masaru Takechi, Yasuaki Kanatsugu, Hiroyuki Hamada
  • Patent number: 8990875
    Abstract: A receiver and method for operating the same includes a memory storing purchase information therein and a communication module. A controller is in communication with the memory and the communication module. The controller determines whether an existing Internet connection is present at the communication module when the existing Internet connection is present and communicates purchase information to a service provider through the existing Internet connection. The controller determines whether a subscriber-initiated Internet connection has occurred within a mandatory callback time period, when purchase information has been communicated within the mandatory callback time period and advances the mandatory callback time period. The controller initiates the communication module to initiate a new Internet connection when there is no existing Internet connection present or no subscriber-initiated Internet connection has occurred within the mandatory callback time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Cocchi, Donald J. Breier, Dennis R. Flaharty, Raynold M. Kahn
  • Publication number: 20150082334
    Abstract: A display apparatus, a paid broadcast processing apparatus, and a control method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes: a tuner configured to receive at least one broadcast signal through at least one broadcast channel; a signal processor configured to signal-process the received at least one broadcast signal; a display configured to display the signal-processed at least one broadcast signal; an interface connected with at least one paid broadcast processing apparatus which descrambles at least one paid broadcast signal; and a controller configured to control the signal processor to signal-process the received at least one broadcast signal into a form that is displayable through the display, and, when the received at least one broadcast signal is the at least one paid broadcast signal, transmit the at least one paid broadcast signal to the paid broadcast processing apparatus through the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min-suk SEO, Jeong-kee PARK, Jong-po LEE
  • Patent number: 8978089
    Abstract: In one form, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus for broadcasting an event. The method includes receiving data related to an event via an uplink. Another aspect of the method includes determining whether the data is broadcast on a recurring basis. The method also includes determining whether a transponder channel associated with multiplexed program channels has any unused data or bandwidth to broadcast a portion of the data along with the multiplexed program channels. Additionally, the method includes broadcasting the portion of the data in a data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies LLC
    Inventor: David Christopher St. John-Larkin
  • Publication number: 20150067757
    Abstract: A moving image viewing apparatus or system automatically records all available broadcast programs simultaneously on air even if power a switch off. A list of the broadcast programs simultaneously on air is displayed for selection with the power switch on. The system retrieves a selected broadcast program during the preceding part of the same broadcast program is being recorded. Such a broadcast program as has started to record on the way or given up in midstream is disposed not to be retrieved. The system allows the memory to automatically overwrite the recorded broadcast program with a new one after the recorded broadcast program has been retrieved to the end. Also unselected broadcast program is allowed to be automatically overwritten with a new one after the on air of the broadcast program is over. The overwritten can be inhibited if a user wants to save the broadcast program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: NL GIKEN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahide Tanaka, Tohru Matsui
  • Patent number: 8973083
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method of integrating video games into live sporting events, or the converse, in an interactive way. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a viewer watching a broadcast sporting event can elect to become a “phantom participant” in an event. At one or more designated points in the event (e.g., a golf tournament), the viewer's set-top box will switch from feeding the broadcast event to the viewer's television screen to feeding a stream from a video game unit to the same television screen. The video game unit is configured to receive information from the broadcast feed that includes information such as, but not limited to, the event location, the hole being played (in the golf example), the participants, and statistics related to the performance of the participants. This information may be used by the video game unit to present the viewer with the opportunity to “virtually” compete with the participants in the broadcast event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas A. Belton, David J. Braun
  • Patent number: 8973081
    Abstract: In a receiver for downloading video content including 3D video and outputting the downloaded video content to a removable medium, information concerning 3D video is made usable also by the removable medium. A content receiver includes a download control unit for receiving, via a network, video content and reproduction control information for use in reproducing and outputting, to outside, the video content and an output control unit for exporting the received video content to an external medium. In the content receiver, when outputting the video content to an external medium, the output control unit records, based on first 3D video information delivered being included in the reproduction control information and indicating a state of 3D video existence in the video content, second 3D video information indicating whether the video content includes 3D video in management information of the external medium for recording the video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Koreeda
  • Patent number: 8973024
    Abstract: Whether or not HDCP authentication is necessary is determined and managed for each device connected to an HDMI port. In selector control, when switching to an HDMI port to which is connected a video signal output apparatus that requires HDCP authentication, DDC access is turned off by setting an HPD signal to Low. Communication is then resumed after a predetermined amount of time has passed by setting the HPD signal to High and thereby turning the DDC access back on. When switching to an HDMI port to which is connected a video signal output apparatus that does not require HDCP authentication, the HPD signal is kept at High, and video and audio data is output without resuming the DDC access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruki Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 8973075
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adding or extracting metadata for video streams. The system receives a video stream compressed according to a video encoding standard, and generates a packet for transmission across a packet-switched network. The system inserts at least one compressed segment of the video stream into a payload of the packet. The system also receives metadata that describes content within the video stream and is not compressed according to the standard, inserts the metadata into the packet without compressing the metadata according to the standard, and transmits the packet across the packet-switched network to a target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Raymond W. Willis, Jeffrey A Heim
  • Patent number: 8966567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Thomas E. Westberg, Brian Fife, Joseph DiGiovanni, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8965182
    Abstract: A broadcast program recording overrun and underrun scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a start and end broadcast time. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record from the program guide using a remote input device. The system schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The system allows the viewer to adjust the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a broadcast program by specifying the time increment to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times of a specific program or series of programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
  • Patent number: 8959566
    Abstract: A method for displaying content stored in a block of multiplexed content, the multiplexed content including a plurality of instances of content where each instance of content includes an associated content identifier, the method including receiving, at a content receiver, content identifying information for the content and instructions for displaying the content, determining a selected content identifier based on the content identifying information, selecting the block from one or more blocks based on the selected content identifier, scanning the block for a content identifier and encountering the content identifier, comparing the encountered content identifier to the selected content identifier, and processing an instance of content associated with the encountered content identifier where the encountered content identifier corresponds to the selected content identifier. A system for displaying and a system for storing multiplexed content are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: David A. Kummer
  • Patent number: 8955019
    Abstract: A network system in which a terminal apparatus, a recording apparatus, and a server apparatus are connectable via a network is disclosed. The server apparatus includes a service processing unit performing a service of reserving recording of a content to the recording apparatus by a request from the terminal apparatus, and an available service information provision unit managing information on the service available to the recording apparatus as available service information and transmitting the available service information to the terminal apparatus in response to a request from the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Kinoshita, Takashi Kanao, Hiroyuki Chiba, Tsuyoshi Honma, Hirofumi Kouda
  • Publication number: 20150040178
    Abstract: A method includes determining an available bandwidth of a data interface connected to a media device. The method includes receiving a first portion of each of a plurality of video files and storing the first portion of each of the plurality of video files in a memory. A size of the memory to store each first portion is determined based on a pre-cache file size associated with a video file of the plurality of video files. The pre-cache file size is based on the available bandwidth. The method further includes, in response to detecting a change in the available bandwidth, adjusting the pre-cache file size associated with the video file, where the pre-cache file size decreases when the available bandwidth increases to a second available bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Philip Ted Kortum, Marc Andrew Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8935356
    Abstract: A network audio system allows AV files existing in a PC to be readily registered and music to be reproduced using a client machine. The client machine is connected to the PC and a server application and a controller application are installed in the PC. Music is reproduced using the client machine based on an AV file existing in a user folder, when the user drags and drops an icon for the AV folder to an icon for the client machine. In response to the operation, the controller application produces music piece information including the artist name and the like based the tag information of the AV file. When the music piece information is not yet registered, the server application provides the music piece information with a music piece ID for registration in the content information database. The controller application transmits a command including the ID to the client machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinobu Sano, Youichi Kudoh
  • Patent number: 8931028
    Abstract: Provided is a receiving device that without interrupting a program being viewed is capable of switching the channel to the program in a destination reception area. When reception is good, a plurality of receiving units select the same channel and receive a program; and when reception worsens, the plurality of receiving units is divided into units for program reception and units for channel searching. The receiving units for program reception continue receiving the program, and the receiving units for channel searching search for a relay station and switch to a relay station channel having better reception than the channel being viewed. In a case where a relay station channel with good reception cannot be found, series broadcast stations in the same network are searched and a switch is made to a channel of a series broadcast station in the same network that has better reception than the channel being viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Murakami, Takatoshi Shirosugi
  • Patent number: 8931030
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to detect a portable media storage device (PMSD), present media content supplied by the PMSD, present a survey to appraise the media content; receive a survey response, and transmit the survey response to a survey collection system identified by the PMSD. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Scott White
  • Publication number: 20150007247
    Abstract: Functionality of a multimedia presentation device is enhanced by establishing a communication path through an electrical connector that is selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device. Output streaming media are conveyed to the multimedia presentation device over the established communication path. A wireless communication channel is established over which input streaming media are received from a multimedia source device. Multimedia data of the input streaming media are stored in a memory that is selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device at the electrical connector. A processor, which is also selectively separable from the multimedia presentation device at the electrical connector, retrieves the multimedia data stored in the memory and the retrieved multimedia data are conveyed to the multimedia presentation device as the output streaming media on the communication path to the multimedia presentation device through the electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Robin Dua
  • Patent number: 8925029
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recording/transferring program that causes an information processing apparatus to perform the steps of: generating programming information for programming the information processing apparatus to record a particular content; starting recording of the particular content onto a recording medium in accordance with the programming information; and automatically transferring, upon completion of the recording of the particular content onto the recording medium, the particular content read out from the recording medium to an external device connected to the information processing apparatus so as to be capable of communicating therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Araki