Abstract: Apparatus that transfers program identifying data of the video signal delivered by video equipment such as satellite and cable set-top boxes accesses program-related information from an electronic program guide or from the received television signal and encodes the information into the VBI of the received video signal before transmitting the signal to a video recorder. Apparatus according to the present invention includes a tuner which receives the video signal and circuitry which receives electronic program guide (EPG) information. The apparatus also includes a processor and an XDS encoder. The processor extracts selected EPG information for the program currently being received and, using the XDS encoder, inserts the selected information into the XDS data area of the received signal.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient communication of customized messages is described which builds upon existing mechanisms for the transmission and playback of advertising programs and enhances the advertising programs by providing customized components of the program in an efficient manner. This scheme reduces the bandwidth requirements and eases the task of production by the advertising producers of a multiplicity of customized advertising messages, each targeting a separate household or groups of households.

Abstract: Systems and methods of viewing multiple data streams are disclosed. A base station receives a first data stream and a second data stream. The first data stream is transmitted to a first device. The first device is capable of displaying motion video. The first data stream is displayed on the first device. The second data stream is transmitted to a second device. The second device Is capable of displaying motion video. The second data stream is displayed on the second device.

Abstract: A television signal receiver is operative to allow the assigning of a home channel and to tune to that home channel upon power-up of the television signal receiver. The home channel may be selected according to a channel label that identifies the broadcaster, broadcast affiliate or broadcast channel type regardless where the channel is assigned in the area or system of the receiver. The channel label is transmitted as auxiliary data. In one form, the manufacturer of the television signal receiver selects or sets the home channel, which may or may not be changeable by a user of the television signal receiver. In another form, the user of the television signal receiver selects or sets the home channel. The home channel feature may be disabled if desired.

Abstract: A system and method for generating and delivering user-specific content from one or more television broadcasts based on closed captioning contents of the television broadcasts are disclosed herein. One or more sets of television content, representative of one or more television channels, multimedia channels, and the like, are received by a content distributor. The content distributor, in one embodiment, decodes the closed captioning contents of the television content. Using a set of parameters defined by a user or an administrator, the content distributor, in one embodiment, generates user-specific content, such as a text transcript, a still image, an audio clip and/or a video clip from a portion of the television broadcast. In one embodiment, the set of parameters includes one or more keywords.

Abstract: In a video data transmitting method of sending in real-time video data being externally inputted, when encoding video data being inputted as stream data, start and stop of an encoding process is repeated at a predetermined time interval to carry out a data dividing process whereby a plurality of time-continuous video data are generated as partial video data. Also, metadata of partial video data is generated, which is sent, together with the partial video data, in real-time as partial video metadata.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for capturing, organizing, and presenting information generated from a television program. The method monitors closed caption data of television programs for transition symbols and user defined search parameters and scheduling information. Information relating to captured television programs is entered into a capture management database for assembly into an interactive results file. The interactive results file allows a user to browse, view and navigate the captured television program information.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to producing of digital information and digital broadcasting and more specifically to system and method for combining video stream with digital information. The presented solution for combining video stream with digital information can be utilized in different future networks, such as digital television networks, third generation mobile networks and IP networks (IP, Internet Protocol).

Abstract: A digital broadcast sending/receiving system includes a digital broadcast sending apparatus and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus. The digital broadcast sending apparatus multiplexes the audio data and video data of a broadcast program into the transport stream together with preselection control information which controls preselection information image facilitating program preselection, and sends the transport stream to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. On receiving the transport stream, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus extracts the preselection control information, and reproduces a preselection screen on a display in which the preselection information image is superimposed on the video image of the broadcast program. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives from the viewer specification of a program to be preselected.

Abstract: A system includes a content creator, a transmitting source, and a receiver platform for communicating enhancement data associated with audio/video content according to a protocol without layering capability. A receiver platform detects for a first announcement and a second announcement, the first announcement being associated with non-layered enhancement data, and the second announcement being associated with layered enhancement data having a plurality of layers. Each layer includes one or more sources of trigger files or one or more sources of resource files. Alternatives presented in the second announcement are examined, the alternatives containing different collections of the layers of enhancement data. One of the alternatives in the second announcement is selected based on the capacity of the second receiver platform. One or more layers containing respective trigger files and resource files associated with the selected alternative are received.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal comprises receiving a broadcast signal, the signal comprising a video component and an audio component. A data component comprising an interactive application is also received (which may be part of the broadcast signal). The broadcast signal is monitored for an identification signal, and the operation of the interactive application is interrupted if the identification signal is not present.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manipulating video, audio, closed-captioned and compressed video packet data embedded in video programming signals includes a video signal processor for embedding data into a broadcast video signal prior to broadcast, the video signal containing at least one of video information, audio information, closed-captioned information and video packet data information. The embedded data is embedded in at least one predetermined line of at least one predetermined frame of the video program signal. An instruction defining a predetermined screening format for at least one of the video information, the audio information, the closed-captioned information and the video packet data information is stored and a circuit is responsive to the embedded data and the stored instruction for reproducing the information in the video signal in a predetermined screening format.

Abstract: A receiver arranged to receive and store broadcast data transported by elementary stream of a multiplexed and modulated digital television signal in a rewritable memory during a low power consumption mode for later recall by a user of the receiver. For recall, the receiver is fully energized, and the receiver is further arranged to transfer the broadcast data stored in the rewritable memory to a receiver storage device for further processing of the data under control of the user.

Abstract: A method for controlling an interactive application comprises receiving a data stream comprising an interactive application and monitoring the data stream to identify a change in the stream. In response to the change, the method further comprises preventing the interactive application from accessing files, identifying those files present in the data stream, and enabling the interactive application to access only those files present in the data stream.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a subscriber television system provides a plurality of media content instances to be displayed to a subscriber. The subscriber television system also provides triggers synchronized with instances of media content to enable restrictions on other media content in response to reception of the triggers.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a consumer, in a television or audio broadcast environment, to access specific enhanced services, for example, interactive advertisements embedded in television programs, based on a contract between a product vendor and a video receiver manufacturer. The video receiver manufacturer is the TV or set-top box manufacturer, licensee or affiliated party. Purchasing transactions, including billing, are automatically managed by a data aggregator.

Abstract: An interactive television (ITV) system transmitting ITV content created and received by different ITV platforms via a single ITV stream. The system provides universal time codes which are embedded into the ITV stream. Each time code is associated with a program identifier which uniquely identifies a particular program. An ITV receiver receives the ITV stream and compares the program identifier and time code with a program held in the receiver's memory. When a match is found, an interactive event indicated by the program is executed. The program may be loaded into the receiver's memory using a back channel.

Abstract: A local language is pre-stored in permanent memory. Equivalent data is transmitted in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) to television receivers. Each equivalent data set comprises a unique language identifier and a foreign language translation of, or graphical representative of, the local language pre-stored in permanent memory. The viewer selects the language to be displayed from an on screen menu with a remote controller. The selected equivalent data is retrieved from the VBI and stored in a RAM for future display. When the microprocessor calls up the text of a command for display, the equivalent data is substituted for the local language data so the foreign language version of the command can be displayed in a seamless manner. If no equivalent data is in the RAM, the local language pre-stored in permanent memory is displayed on the television screen in accordance with the normal operation of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A command protocol enables an applications programming interface (API) between a first interactive television (ITV) equipment and a second ITV equipment for seamless communication between the two. An API command generator receives data from the first ITV equipment in a first format. The data may be, for example, a list of ITV events to be encoded into a television program. The command generator converts data into a second format according to the API and transmits the data in the second format to the second ITV equipment. The second ITV equipment may be, for example, an ITV data encoder encoding the list of ITV events transmitted by the first ITV equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task has been previously handled.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for device interaction using a trigger mechanism. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a trigger, such as an audio tone sequence, may be inserted in the feed of a program to cause the web device to retrieve appropriate web content.

Abstract: A player device for generating audio visual signals representative of entertainment content with advertisements includes a reader mechanism for reading entertainment content pre-recorded on a first medium and reading advertisements pre-recorded on a second medium, and a processor generating command signals inserting advertisements read by the reader mechanism from the second medium into entertainment content read by the reader mechanism from the first medium.

Abstract: A technology is provided for a viewer of broadcast information or recorded information to easily obtain information related to the broadcast information or recorded information from a server, in which, in a system in which a viewer apparatus and a content providing server for providing content information related to video or voice are connected via a network, the viewer apparatus obtains related information necessary for obtaining the content information; sends the related information to the content providing server so as to request the content providing server to send the content information; and obtains the content information sent from the content providing server.

Abstract: An interactive television system tailoring delivery of interactive content. The system includes a request processing engine accepting user interactions with an interactive television (ITV) application. A user profiling engine associates the user interactions with an individual profile or profile group. The profile group defines events that may be triggered upon receipt of certain user interactions. A trigger/event engine monitors, in real-time, whether the user interactions correspond to any of the defined events. If an event is to be triggered, an action engine transmits an ITV command associated with the event to an encoder. The encoder performs a real-time of encoding of the ITV command for providing viewers with a dynamic ITV experience. The ITV experience provided to the viewers may also be customized based on the profile information obtained for each individual viewer.

Abstract: A device information analysis circuit 108 analyzes type and capability of reception terminal, and in accordance with the result of analysis, a scene/object conversion circuit 1002 refers to object description data 103 and scene description data 104, and determines whether or not display positions and placement (layout of the respective objects in a display screen of the reception terminal) of respective objects must be changed. If it is determined that the display position and placement must be changed, the display positions and the placement of the respective objects described in the scene description data 104 and the object description data 103 are converted in accordance with the result of analysis by the device information analysis circuit 108.

Abstract: The present invention is a navigational user interface for interactive television and, more specifically, for purchasing food products via the navigational user interface and a television. The invention uses an intuitive interactive interface for navigating through service options preferably offered by a cable television service. Services offered such as video on demand, purchasing delivery foods, restaurant selection, banking and community events is all navigated using the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitate control of interactive application execution through use of defined time periods. A broadcaster transmits a broadcast program, an associated interactive application, and at least one definition of a time period from a set including: a first time period, during which an option to execute the application may be offered to a viewer; a second time period, during which execution of the application may be started; and a third time period, during which the application may be executed. A viewer tunes to a channel associated with the broadcast program and interactive application. A broadcast receiver offers the viewer the option to execute the interactive application, if within the first defined time period. If the user elects to so execute, the broadcast receiver starts said execution, if within the second defined time period. If the interactive application continues to execute at the end of the third defined time period, the broadcast receiver retires the interactive application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for information embedding modulation and information extraction demodulation are presented which use analysis and/or synthesis filter banks. Spectral control of the form of the composite signals arising from the embedding of digital embedded information signals into digital host signals is provided. Various implementations, including cable head-end and user-end systems using such modulators are presented. One aspect of the modulator allows for reduced noise spillover into adjacent communication channels in a multi-channel communication system. In some implementations the analysis and the synthesis filter banks form perfect reconstruction filter sets. In other implementations, block transforms are used as the filter banks.

Abstract: A method and system are described that enable the construction of declarative applications, such as XDML, that can access DASE System services. DASE System services include among other things, channel switching and electronic program guide application within a broadcast environment established under the standards of Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC). For example, when a Program and System Information (PSI) application is stored in a Document Object Model (DOM) data structure or database, an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) application can be automatically generated using an EPG-transform method in accordance with the present invention. This method would: 1) Convert DOM structure into an XML document; 2) Apply an XML Style Sheet Transformation (XSLT) to the XML document; and 3) Render the resulting XML document using a conventional web-browser or XML renderer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for broadcasting data over a television signal spectrum. A network center receives rich media content elements from content providers. The network center aggregates and bundles the content elements and transmits a bundled content element to a wide network delivery system. The wide network delivery system in turn transfers the bundled content elements to a local broadcasting station associated with a local market. The local broadcasting station includes an edge server for storing content elements intended for the local market. At specified time, a new local content element is provided by the edge server to a signal combiner. The signal combiner inserts the new local content element into the television signal spectrum associated with the local broadcasting station. A transmission facility broadcasts simultaneously a signal related to the new local content element and a convention television signal.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using an interface and concomitant communication protocol to allow a host to control and communicate with a video decoder. More specifically, an interface structure having a status interface line and at least two data interface lines are employed between a video decoder and a host. The interface allows a communication protocol to effect communication and control of timing information, data transmission, and input and output selection.

Abstract: A television program is transmitted on a first channel and enhancements to the program are broadcast on a second channel. The first channel comprises a video service channel. The second channel may comprise an out-of-bounds (OOB) channel, a non-service channel, or a non-utilized service channel. Enhancements may be extracted from video information containing program content and enhancements. Channel, timing, and control information may be combined with enhancements prior to transmission. Combination may conform to extensions to the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) specification. A receiver may store part of the enhancements and may render enhancements in response to channel, timing, or control information. Enhancements may be compressed prior to transmission. A receiver may compress enhancements. A receiver may comprise an adjustable tuner operable to receive the second channel. Adjustment of the tuner may be in response to received information or a software program in the receiver.

Abstract: A display system for concurrently displaying stored display information and received information, having a display monitor, receiver for receiving television signals, and a sub-system having a storage unit and a processor, which sub-system can operate simultaneously with the receiver. The stored display information comprises application information portion and sponsor information portion which may be downloaded via a vertical blanking interval or a portion of the bandwidth associated with digital signals.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting program data including immersive content is provided. A generated immersive video stream is first choreographed. Then, based on this choreography, the relevant macroblocks of the immersive video stream can be identified and compressed. At this point, the compressed macroblocks of the immersive video stream are ready for transmission to a distribution system. In one embodiment, a plurality of immersive video streams can be choreographed and compressed. These compressed immersive video streams can be multiplexed for transmission and subsequently de-multiplexed for display. Before display, the relevant macroblocks can be decompressed. In one embodiment, one or more terminals can display a plurality of previews associated with at least one program, and at least one preview can include immersive content. The plurality of previews can be individually or simultaneously activated.

Abstract: A method and system for broadcasting activity occurring in a baseball game is provided, wherein the activity includes one or more base runners occupying bases in a field where the baseball game is being played. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a video image of activity occurring in the baseball game; (ii) creating a graphic overlay for the video image, wherein the graphic overlay provides indicia representing identity information of the one or more base runners occupying bases; and (iii) overlying the graphic overlay over the video image to create a combined image comprising the graphic overlay and the video image. The indicia representing identity information of the one or more base runners occupying bases is provided in the form of uniform numbers of the base runners.

Abstract: A method of executing an event in an interactive television system, includes: associating a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and in response to a selection of the function, enabling an event associated with the function. An apparatus for enabling a user interface in an interactive television system, includes: a set top box communicatively coupled to the display device and capable to transmit television signals to a display device, the set top box including a user interface engine capable to display a function associated with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; the set top box further including a controller capable to execute the user interface engine and to enable an event in response to a selection of the function.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a referenced resource within a broadcasting environment. The method includes storing translation information into a receiver memory, identifying a location of additional translation information for the referenced resource based on the translation information stored in the receiver memory corresponding to that referenced resource, receiving the additional translation information from a transport stream identified by the transport information stored in the receiver memory for the referenced source, and locating the referenced resource based on the additional translation information received.

Abstract: An interactive application in an interactive server for providing an interactive service associated with data broadcasting is automatically synchronized with programming of the data broadcasting. A broadcasting station system acquires information for specifying the interactive service associated with the data broadcasting and information for specifying a service time of the interactive service, and transmits the information to the interactive server. On the other hand, the interactive server receives a set of information for specifying the interactive service and information for specifying the service time of the interactive service from one or plural computers relating to data broadcasting, and extracts a set of information for specifying the interactive service having a relation to this interactive server and information for specifying the service time of the received information for specifying the interactive service.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an on-demand interactive magazine are disclosed. A method for processing a magazine generally comprises receiving a magazine and data associated with the magazine, receiving at least one broadcast, storing portions of the broadcasts, based on the data, and presenting the magazine to a user. In another embodiment, the method includes receiving broadcasts from a plurality of channels, and tuning to the channel on which a broadcast is to be received. The method also includes providing at least one hyperlink for selecting a stored broadcast portion. A system for providing an on-demand interactive magazine comprises a receiver operable to receive a magazine and data associated with the magazine, a receiver operable to receive at least one broadcast, a storage device, and a processor configured to use the data to store portions of the broadcasts and present the magazine to a viewer.

Abstract: Information associated with broadcasting, information associated with a network, and information associated with a package are included in data. A terminal device has means for acquiring data from broadcasting, data from the network, and data from the package. The terminal device further has a means for displaying the data acquired by the above-mentioned means together or a means for displaying information included in the data as a link. This novel constitution allows positive information provision to users by a combination of three types of media, broadcasting, network, and package. At the same time, this novel constitution allows provision of new services by making the most of mass storage provided by package and up-to-date information provided over network.

Abstract: A broadcasting station (10) transmits a program of a continuous sequence of events as a transport stream so as to be received by at least a receiver (100). The broadcasting station (10) provides the transport stream with link information showing the links between the transport stream it transmits in its own service area (10a) and the programs being transmitted in adjacent service areas (20a). With this arrangement, the receiver (100) can receive the program it is receiving continuously in an adjacent service area (20a) by referring to the link information if it moves from the original service area (10a) into the adjacent service area (20a).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and that synchronizes utilization of a data transfer with an audio/video stream. Time information contained within an audio/video stream is monitored for a specified time at which a data transfer may be combined with the audio/video stream. Combination includes logical operations, arithmetic operations, and may include screen windowing or other operations. Time required to request and receive a data transfer may be monitored or estimated such that requests for data are issued in advance of utilization of the data, allowing for data transfer time and network access time or other factors. Requests for a data transfer may be processed employing user information such that returned data transfers reflect a characteristic of the user.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for information processing, for example, for multimedia segmentation, indexing and retrieval. The method and system includes multimedia, for example audio/visual/text (A/V/T), integration using a probabilistic framework. Both, multimedia content and context information are represented and processed via the probabilistic framework. This framework is represented, for example, by a Bayesian network and hierarchical priors, which is graphically described by stages, each having a set of layers with each layer including a number of nodes representing content or context information. At least the first layer of the first stage is processes multimedia content information such as objects in the A/V/T domains, or combinations of thereof. The other layers of the various stages describe multimedia context information, as further described below.

Abstract: A device for generating metadata for a programming event receives data corresponding to a programming event that includes descriptive information and timing information. The device analyzes the data to determine goodness of fit scores for the programming event corresponding to categories of a classification hierarchy. The device then stores metadata for the programming event that includes goodness of fit scores, time data and descriptive data. The stored goodness of fit scores may be a representative subset of all goodness of fit scores for the programming event. Also disclosed are processes performed in a device for generating metadata for programming events. Also disclosed is metadata encoded in a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A media system including memory to store media information that characterizes the media and a processor configured by the memory to provide a user interface to enable a user to define a media presentation from the media information. The processor is configured by the memory to continually and automatically segue media stream changes among a plurality of the media streams containing the media to present the user defined media presentation.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for inserting new data packets into an incoming digital video transport stream containing a plurality of original data packets. The apparatus comprises: 1) an input buffer for storing the original data packets of the incoming digital video stream; and 2) a video processor that retrieves the stored original data packets from the input buffer and determines from the original data packets N data frequencies associated with N most recently received ones of the plurality of original data packets. The video processor estimates from the N data frequencies an estimated data frequency of a plurality of next incoming original data packets and uses the estimated data frequency to determine an insertion rate at which the new data packets may be inserted into the plurality of next incoming original data packets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the mass customization of Digital Television broadcasts through the broadcasting of commercials in the form of software applications. Ad-applications are injected into various sub-streams of the transport stream and received in a dormant state by the client-side set-top box. When a commercial is to be shown, a broadcaster broadcasts a generic time-stamped trigger to a dispatching application that performs a keyword matching algorithm to decide which ad-application among those received at the receiver is to be executed. The dispatching application uses the results of the latter comparison to decide which specific dormant ad-application to route to; it then converts the generic trigger into a chosen-ad trigger that is routed to the chosen ad-application. Upon receipt of the chosen-ad trigger, the chosen ad-application executes, thereby displaying an ad customized to the individual viewer's interests.

Abstract: An adaptive data insertion mechanism conducts future available bandwidth prediction/estimation by analyzing recent bandwidth in the transport stream which is consumed by general programs and inserts data by replacement of selected packets within the transport stream. Estimates of future available bandwidth are produced from periodic sampling of bandwidth utilization together with information regarding upcoming programming changes. The available bandwidth estimate is employed to prioritize and schedule data insertion within the transport stream. Scheduled data is inserted by replacement of selected packets within the received transport stream before forwarding.