Interactive Data Transmitted In Video Signal Band (e.g., Vbi Or Hbi Data) Patents (Class 725/136)
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Patent number: 8359626Abstract: A method of transmission of application data (97) in a digital transport stream characterized in providing an application data table (110) containing information regarding the applications (97) carried in each service (91, 92) within the transport stream. The application data table (110) may conveniently be designated by a fixed PID value and a TID extension value varying in dependence on the bouquet of services chosen. The use of a single application data table to provide information across all services within a bouquet provides a number of advantages, in particular when deciding whether or not to maintain certain applications when switching between services.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Francois Rey, Thierry Furet, Philippe Poulain
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Method and apparatus for receiving broadcasting service information in a digital broadcasting system
Patent number: 8351410Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for receiving PSI/SI in a DVB-H receiver, in which packets carrying PSI/SI are detected from TS packets received over a wireless network and counted, and the PSI/SI packets are read if the packet count number reaches a predetermined packet number.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2007Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Jae-Hong Lee, Seok-Min Hwang -
Patent number: 8352997Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring blackout events are provided. A particular method includes receiving a server blackout event associated with a scheduled blackout of a first media service. The method also includes receiving at least one client blackout event from at least one set top box (STB) affected by the scheduled blackout. For example, the server blackout event and the client blackout event(s) may be received at a subscriber event transmission interface (SETI). The method further includes storing the server blackout event and the client blackout event(s) at a data warehouse.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Kenneth Ospalik, Daniel Malee, John Mathew, Marisa Earnshaw, Giya Tektumanidze
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Patent number: 8352583Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing bookmark information of a media server through a network based on the UPnP AV standard is disclosed. If a request for bookmarking a content item is made, a bookmark item is created and the created bookmark item is linked to the content item by adding the ID of the created bookmark item to the property information of the content item and recording the ID of the content item to be bookmarked in the created bookmark item.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sung Joon Ahn, Chang Hyun Kim
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Patent number: 8341688Abstract: A stream of time-ordered data, such as a movie, is divided into multiple fragments of equal length, which are repetitively transmitted at different respective repetition rates. The fragments are reordered for transmission so that those which occur near the beginning of the original data stream are transmitted more frequently than those which occur later in the data stream. When a user enters a request to utilize the data, the individual fragments are stored upon receipt at the user's premises, and reassembled into a contiguous stream. The ordering of the fragments is such that the wait time required before utilization of the data can begin is limited to a predetermined maximum, and at least one copy of every fragment becomes available by the time it is needed.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Interval Licensing LLCInventors: J. Thomas Ngo, Steven E. Saunders, Owen Rubin
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Patent number: 8341663Abstract: In one embodiment, a Media Analysis and Delivery System obtains a set of media delivery rules, wherein the set of media delivery rules includes one or more triggers, each of the triggers identifying a topic of interest. The Media Analysis and Delivery System examines a media stream for at least one of the one or more triggers in accordance with the set of media delivery rules. The Media Analysis and Delivery System provides at least a portion of the media stream in response to at least one of the triggers in accordance with at least one of the set of media delivery rules.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Mukul Jain, Labhesh Patel, Sanjeev Kumar, Sravan Vadlakonda, Arthur Gerald Howarth, Ashish P. Chotai, Aseem Asthana, Rajneesh Kumar, Shantanu Sarkar
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Patent number: 8321888Abstract: In certain implementations, a television tutorial Widget method involves providing a tutorial Widget running on a television processor to produce video images rendered as a video overlay that overlays the picture on a television display. The tutorial Widget: loading upon receipt of a command to run the tutorial Widget; identifying an operating state of the television set; retrieving and presenting a list of available tutorial videos associated with the operating state of the television set in the video overlay; identifying a tutorial video selected by a user; and retrieving and playing the tutorial video selected by the user in the video overlay. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventors: Karen Epstein, Ling Jun Wong
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Patent number: 8321894Abstract: A transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus have improved characteristics such as entertainment and convenience for a user who receives content received by a digital satellite broadcast receiver. A broadcasting side, along with a first content (video/audio content), broadcasts content (second content) as data for forming a GUI related to a broadcast content as the video/audio signal. A reception apparatus side receiving the content executes a process for outputting a GUI together with a picture of the first content in accordance with the description in a script of the second content. Further, a process is executed to generate use history information in accordance with the user's use of the first content in the reception apparatus and to change the content of a service provided on the GUI based on the use history information.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2003Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Naoki Yoshida
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Patent number: 8316405Abstract: A presence information sharing apparatus is provided which includes a video acquiring unit for acquiring predetermined video contents from a content distribution server, a status information notifying unit for transmitting presence information containing acquisition source information on video contents acquired from the content distribution server to a presence server via a communication network, a status information acquiring unit for acquiring presence information transmitted by at least one another user from the presence server, a presence video acquiring unit for acquiring a video of video contents being viewed by the another user as a presence video from the content distribution server based on the acquisition source information contained in the presence information received by the status information acquiring unit, and a display controlling unit for displaying the video contents being acquired by the video acquiring unit and the presence video being acquired by the presence video acquiring unit on a disType: GrantFiled: December 31, 2009Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Koichi Ogasawara
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Patent number: 8312485Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for the selective filtering of objectionable content from a program. The selective filtering of objectionable content from a program is accomplished by applying an encoding process and a decoding process to the audio and/or video signal of the program. The encoding process includes marking potentially objectionable material in the program with filtering information that identifies the type (e.g., audio, violent content, sexual content, etc.) and intensity level (e.g., mild, graphic, extreme, etc.) of the potentially objectionable material using filter codes. The decoding process includes comparing, during the presentation of the program to the user and prior to outputting the audio or displaying the video, the filtering information to filter criteria, which includes user supplied filter settings, to determine whether filtering of the potentially objectionable content (i.e., audio and/or video) should be performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Caption TV, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Robson, James D. Gee
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Patent number: 8312504Abstract: Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2003Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Time Warner Cable LLCInventors: John B. Carlucci, Louis D. Williamson, John W. Callahan, Erik G. Urdang, David M. Kimble, Thomas L. Gonder, Joseph Buehl
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Patent number: 8312498Abstract: A digital television (101) which allows the user to view a digital broadcast program receives a digital broadcast signal, and outputs it on the display screen. The digital television sequentially stores print information of the broadcast program in response to a predetermined output instruction during viewing of the broadcast program. The digital television transmits the stored print information to a printer in response to a print start instruction after the predetermined output instruction. In this way, the digital television sequentially saves print data of the broadcast program that the user is viewing, allows the user to select required data later, and can print the selected data all together.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Oida, Eri Kanai
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Patent number: 8312497Abstract: A method includes receiving at a set-top box a broadcast signal including closed-captioning content. The closed-captioning content includes subtitles related to the broadcast signal and uniform resource locator (URL) data. The URL data is extracted from the closed-captioning content. The URL data is stored in a memory of the set-top box.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Larry B. Pearson, Edward Walter
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Patent number: 8306402Abstract: A display device switches a broadcast channel which is being received by a tuner unit based on a broadcast channel switching instruction input from a user operating unit and transmits broadcast channel switching information to a recording and reproduction device. The recording and reproduction device sets a channel of a tuner unit to the same channel as the display device based on the broadcast channel switching information. A content is recorded and reproduced by a recording and reproduction unit based on a time shift viewing/listening instruction, a switch unit of the display device is switched from the tuner unit to the recording and reproduction device, and the reproduction output from the recording and reproduction device is displayed on a display unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Toshihide Ishihara
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Patent number: 8296800Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides access to interactive features of an electronic program guide by a user from within a broadcast advertisement. The method of the present invention comprises receiving the broadcast advertisement comprising audio, video and promotional metadata over a broadcast distribution network. The received promotional metadata is analyzed to determine one or more valid electronic program guide features and present options on a display device corresponding to the one or more valid electronic program guide features. The user selects a presented option for execution.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2001Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.Inventors: Francis D. Palazzo, Bruce Plotnick, Joel I. Boyarski
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Patent number: 8286202Abstract: Systems and methods of memorializing a viewer's viewing experience are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents a movie to the viewer, detects an occurrence of one of a plurality of event capture triggers, captures at least one image of the viewer in response to detecting the event capture trigger, and stores the image of the viewer.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventor: Nicholas Newell
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Patent number: 8286203Abstract: According to one embodiment, a service provider determines whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content. Responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content, a hot key signal is generated. The hot key signal is sent to the users via a side channel out-of-band with one or more channels for content. The hot key signal from the out-of band side channel is received by a terminal device. The terminal device determines whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user currently viewing content from the service provider. Responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, an indication that the hot key signal has been received is displayed. Responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, the user is directed to the available content indicated by the hot key signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolpoh Matz
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Patent number: 8272010Abstract: A television display system with a television display for displaying television services and internet information, and an input unit for providing a command, the television display system receiving a data stream containing a plurality of key files, each key file including executable data and a respective key image representing said executable data. The television display system includes a memory for continuously maintaining over a period at least one of the key files, a display section displaying upon occurrence of any of a number of preselected events, a key image stored in said memory, superposed on a displayed said television service, said key image upon activation executing said executable data included in the same key file. The system also includes a command section for executing content of the key file of the displayed respective image conditional upon a key command being provided by the input unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Sony Europe LimitedInventors: Andre Julien Jacques Heughebaert, Gert Josef Elisa Copejans, Luc Robert Marcel De Ceulaer
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Patent number: 8266669Abstract: A method and device for storing an interactive television program for playback at a later point in time, wherein said interactive television program comprises at least one interactive television application. The applications are transmitted inside modules (11, 12) through a data carousel (2) within a transport stream (20). The method comprises receiving the transport stream, parsing the stream for application modules and storing them as a storage stream on a storage medium (31). The storage stream is stored separate from said transport stream (20). The data or object carousel is recorded outside the Transport Stream and recorded like a stream, preferably as a single file. This file is a sequence of modules with some header information preceding the modules making playback faster as the information needed to obtain the objects from a module is located directly in the header of that module. Furthermore, the solution according to the invention solution is platform independent.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Declan Patrick Kelly, Philip Steven Newton, Jingwei Tan, Liang Gan, Jun Shi, Wilhelmus Jacobus Van Gestel
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Patent number: 8266663Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing interactive content. The method can include receiving a video signal from a first source of a television system, where the video signal includes video content but does not include data relating to an interactive application. The method can also include retrieving an interactive application from a second source of the television system.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Mary McCarthy, Scott Pettit, John McClenny, Roland Noll
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Patent number: 8265013Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing an interactive broadcasting service in a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) system are provided. The method includes receiving content attributes, including a terminal interaction request time index information, and corresponding contents from a content provider; after transmitting the contents to a terminal, sending a burst allocation request message to a Base Station (BS) to allocate an uplink bandwidth to the terminal at the terminal interaction request time; and receiving interactive information from the terminal over the uplink bandwidth allocated to the terminal. The content provider or the service provider can request a response from a plurality of recipients through the MBS service, gather their responses, and reflect the gathered information in the contents.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Jun-Hyung Kim, Nae-Hyun Lim, Yong Chang
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Patent number: 8266650Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic service guide multiplex transmission interface method comprising: Step S102 in which an electronic service guide system generates electronic service guide broadcasting data according to system configuration data and the electronic service guide broadcasting data is sent to a multiplexer via a interface; the step S104 in which the multiplexer receives and multiplexes the electronic service guide broadcasting data and the multiplexed electronic service guide broadcasting data is transmitted to a modulation emitter; step S106 in which the modulation emitter receives the multiplexed electronic service guide broadcasting data, modulates the data and transmits the modulated data to user terminal; and step S108 in which the user terminal is tuned to receive the electronic service guide broadcasting data and demultiplexes it, and generates, stores and displays electronic service guide service navigation information.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: ZTE CorporationInventors: Zunyou Ke, Qinghua Yao
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Patent number: 8255382Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Boopsie, Inc.Inventors: G. Gregory Carpenter, Timothy L. Kay
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Patent number: 8245268Abstract: A method configured for facilitating an interactive multimedia experiences comprising accessing a system-readable specification defining a multimedia experience configured for audience interaction and performing the multimedia experience in accordance with information comprised by the system-readable specification. The information comprised by the system-readable specification includes information for enabling facilitation to of audience response tracking, experience navigation and feedback of audience responses. Performing the multimedia experience includes gathering audience responses, analyzing the audience responses, outputting information resulting from the analyzing audience responses and outputting experience content.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Internal Machine Industries, Inc.Inventors: Brandon Lee Hudgeons, Hoyt Lindley
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Patent number: 8230476Abstract: Interacting with a television program includes beginning playback of the program for perception by a user, analyzing the program to detect a cue within the program, automatically pausing playback of the program when the cue is detected, accepting user input data in response to the cue, resuming playback of the program when the user input data is received, and comparing the user input data to a non-user response. Interactivity provided by the program analysis, pausing playback, accepting user input data, resuming playback, and comparing operations supports execution of at least one of an entertainment application and an educational application at a user's site without requiring modification of the television program by a program provider.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Dave P. Singh
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Patent number: 8224159Abstract: A data accessing and reproducing apparatus and method that permits a user to selected desired video clips and perform editing on the clips such that the time needed to display a thumbnail representation is minimized. In an edit mode, thumbnail pictures are arranged and displayed in the order of which edit results are reproduced. These thumbnails may be, for example, a lower resolution, proxy representation of the audio or video data. When data of thumbnail pictures are read from a disc, the data are read in the order of which they have been recorded. The order of which thumbnail pictures are displayed on the screen is different from the order of which they are arranged on the screen, and thus, the seek time for the disc becomes the shortest. Thus, the thumbnail pictures can be displayed at high speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masaki Hirose, Motohiro Terao, Takashi Furukawa, Hisao Tanaka
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Patent number: 8209719Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller adapted to monitor one or more activities taking place at a media content processor, and present an iconic symbol in a graphical user interface window adjusted according to the one or more activities being monitored. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventor: Scott White
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Patent number: 8205225Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hisao Nishioka, Takaaki Enomoto, Jun Ota, Chisato Kisanuki
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Patent number: 8205223Abstract: A method and video device are disclosed for accessing information. In an embodiment of the present invention, part of data included in a title, being played, read from a storage medium or extracted from a broadcast signal is extracted and sent to a server over a network, and information corresponding to the part of the data (i.e., information related to the data and complete data of the data) is received from the server and played. Rather than the part of the data, information related to a position of the data, (e.g. a time point at which the playing of the data starts within the title or a radial position or a physical address at which the data is located in the storage medium) may be sent. The data may be data that forms audio, a frame-shaped video clip or a frame-shaped picture included in the title.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Bok Hyun Pack, Young Kuk Kim, Hyun Ahn, Han Seop Ryu, Yeo Han Yun, Yun Hee Han
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Publication number: 20120151515Abstract: A method of retrieving data from broadcast programming on a communication device, the method comprising: mixing a data stream with media to be broadcast; broadcasting the media including the data stream; and processing the data stream on an electronic card.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: Dialware Inc.Inventors: Alon ATSMON, Amit Antebi, Tsvi Lev, Moshe Cohen, Gabriel Speyer, Alan Sege, Nathan Altman, Ram Anati
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Patent number: 8191102Abstract: A method (1) of transmitting interactive television, whereby interactive television applications are transmitted inside application-modules. These modules are transmitted in a broadcast stream. Recording systems cannot decide which modules are to be recorded. Therefore storage related information of said modules is signalled in the broadcast stream. Module identification information related is implemented in the Application Information Table (AIT) and/or in the Download Information Indication (DII) message. Thus information is included in the broadcast stream concerning categories stating whether application modules are mandatory, optional or forbidden to record. Alternatively properties of a module are chosen from Code/Data/Both and/or Fixed/Variable. Recording systems use this information do decide if application modules are to be recorded or disregarded. Alternatively, application module identification information is transmitted in said broadcast stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2003Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.Inventors: Philip Steven Newton, Declan Patrick Kelly, Jingwei Tan, Jun Shi, Liang Gan
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Patent number: 8181217Abstract: Techniques to monitor presentation timestamps for content are described, which may be used to render content at a client. In an implementation, content is received having timestamps that define expected timing for output of the content at a client. The timestamps may then be monitored and compared to a client clock to determine if the content rendered matches the content expected to be rendered. When a discrepancy is detected, one or more corrective actions may be undertaken to restore output of the content to the timing defined by the timestamps.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Senthil Kumar Gnanasambandam, Sanath K Yekollu, Pradip K Fatehpuria
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Patent number: 8171510Abstract: Apparatus is provided by which a television viewer can view other images e.g. during commercials or main program. For example, during a commercial, a viewer may channel surf or surf the internet. A banner is provided on a viewing screen while the viewer watches these other images. In this way the advertiser providing those commercials can still reach those viewers who are channel or internet surfing. Also, the banner will indicate to the viewer when the commercial is over and the normal programming has resumed. In another embodiment, during the main program user can activate one or more small commercial windows and position them on the screen based on his preference, e.g. using a remote device. Information is communicated to a broadcaster by the viewer's video system indicating the above-mentioned commercial windows are open on the viewer's screen.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: JLB Ventures LLCInventors: Yakov Kamen, Leon Shirman
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Patent number: 8160064Abstract: The invention relates, in various aspects, to systems and methods for linking content stored on a computer network with content broadcast over a television network. The system includes a database, a trigger mechanism, a communications interface, and a packet generator. The database stores tokens representative of links to the stored content and delivery information representative of at least a duration for delivering the token. The trigger mechanism indicates an instruction to deliver a token over the television network, generating a signal indicating a respective one of the stored tokens and a time for starting the delivery of the respective token. The communications interface has a channel in communication with a television set top box device for transferring the respective token to the television set top box device. The packet generator generates packets within a stream of television content to be broadcast over the television network.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Backchannelmedia Inc.Inventors: Michael Kokernak, Madeleine Noland, Colin Campbell, Gordon Bechtel
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Patent number: 8161504Abstract: Systems and methods of memorializing a viewer's viewing experience are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents a program stream to the viewer, detects an occurrence of one of a plurality of event capture triggers, captures at least one image of the viewer in response to detecting the event capture trigger, and stores the image of the viewer.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Inventor: Nicholas Newell
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Patent number: 8156103Abstract: A computer-related and/or business type method is presented for embedding one or more media hotspots within a digital media file and, in response to interaction from a separate target entity, such as via an associating request, associating one or more resultant actions with the media hotspot(s). In exchange for associating the one or more resultant actions with the media hotspot(s), an interactive media service entity being affiliated with a web site displaying the digital media file and/or a user being affiliated with the digital media file itself is compensated based upon at least one compensation plan.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Clayco Research Limited Liability CompanyInventor: Leigh Rothschild
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Patent number: 8151296Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server. The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Joel G. Hassell, William L. Thomas, Michael D. Ellis
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Patent number: 8135332Abstract: Set information including information identifying one or more areas of operation of a broadcast terminal apparatus and a user ID, and broadcast-station information including a name and an identification data item of a broadcast station are stored. The broadcast-station information is stored in association with an area in which a broadcast signal output by the broadcast station can be received. An information-processing apparatus includes a detecting unit that retrieves the name or the identification data item of the broadcast station upon a reception of information identifying one of the one or more areas of operation and the user ID. The information-processing apparatus also includes a transmitting/receiving unit that receives the reception, transmits a transmission of the name or the identification data item of the broadcast station upon the reception, and receives an indicator of the broadcast station and an indicator of the user ID in response to the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kikkoji, Nozomu Okuzawa, Shinsuke Yamashita, Jun Moriya, Yasuhiro Murase
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Patent number: 8132224Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving multimedia broadcasting in order to provide multimedia broadcasting services and interactive broadcasting services are provided. An apparatus for receiving multimedia broadcasting includes a reference clock receiver, which receives a reference clock value, i.e., a current time value, of real-time multimedia broadcasting; a multimedia document receiver/storage, which receives and stores a first multimedia document; a media data receiver/storage, which receives and stores first media data; and a multimedia document renderer, which when the first multimedia document is scheduled at the reference clock value and the first media data is a rendering material used to render the first multimedia document, renders the first multimedia document using the first media data.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dae-gyu Bae, Hyun-ah Sung
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Patent number: 8132212Abstract: A method and system to permit TV viewers to interact with program content broadcast over a subscriber network, such as cable, satellite, internet, or cellular telephone. The details of the ability for the viewer to interact is embedded as data in the program signal. The subscription provider broadcasts a visual indicator as a small icon during programming that informs the viewer that interaction is permitted. The viewer then uses a remote control to purchase products, vote on events, respond to polls, download files, request information, and request callback actions. The TV viewer uses the remote control to send information to a set-top box front-end application, and to iteratively create transactions that are batched and then sent to a back-end core application and database which then handles fulfillment.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: icueTV, Inc.Inventor: Michael L. Huegel
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Patent number: 8112783Abstract: An apparatus and a method of arbitrarily adjusting the output time of caption information included in a received multimedia transport stream for broadcasting, by user input. The method includes: receiving an input of a time value for adjusting the output time of caption information, from a user through a user interface; by demultiplexing the multimedia transport stream, dividing the transport stream into video, audio, and data packets, decoding each packet, and storing the decoded packets in buffers corresponding to a type of each packet; resetting the output time of the caption information by adding the input time value to or subtracting the input time value from the output time included in the video or audio packet; and according to the output time of the reset caption information, blending the data stored in the buffer with the video information and presenting the blended information on the screen.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dong-keun Lim, Tae-hee Kim, Byong-ki Lee
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Patent number: 8104065Abstract: A content on demand system includes logic to deliver at least one audio and/or video stream and to insert markers in the at least one stream, the markers indicating a position in the at least one stream, and logic to receive from a set top box a marker for an audio and/or video stream for which the set top box has paused or suspended viewing, and upon a signal from the set top box to resume streaming of the audio and/or video stream from a position proximate to the marker.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.Inventors: Cliff Aaby, Christian J. Parker
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Patent number: 8077707Abstract: A method of forming a digital packet stream, the stream including transport packets. The method can include receiving a packet ID in a transport stream, determining if the packet ID includes a video ID, determining if a coded video frame starts a transport packet, and if a coded video frame starts a transport packet, inserting an Internet protocol/user datagram protocol (IP/UDP) header ahead of a transport packet header. The received transport stream can be an MPEG-2 transport stream. A method of forming a digital packet stream can include receiving a packet ID, determining if the packet ID includes a video ID, determining if a coded video frame starts a transport packet; determining a priority of the video frame, and inserting an IP/UDP header ahead of a transport packet header.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventor: Michael Anthony Isnardi
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Patent number: 8074249Abstract: If there are program-related associated Web pages, a TV receiver 1000 acquires the content information of the associated Web pages from a Web server 2000 and stores it in a Web page storage unit 1006. The correspondence between the stored content information and recorded program is stored in a correspondence information holding unit 1005. The data of the program is outputted to a TV program recorder 3000, where it is recorded. The user can configure the timing, at which the storage of the associated Web pages is carried out.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasushi Shikata, Yoshikazu Shibamiya, Kazuna Maruyama, Kazuhiro Matsubayashi, Koji Mito, Hirofumi Urabe
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Patent number: 8046818Abstract: A stream of time-ordered data, such as a movie, is divided into multiple fragments of equal length, which are repetitively transmitted at different respective repetition rates. The fragments are reordered for transmission so that those which occur near the beginning of the original data stream are transmitted more frequently than those which occur later in the data stream. When a user enters a request to utilize the data, the individual fragments are stored upon receipt at the user's premises, and reassembled into a contiguous stream. The ordering of the fragments is such that the wait time required before utilization of the data can begin is limited to a predetermined maximum, and at least one copy of every fragment becomes available by the time it is needed.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Interval Licensing LLCInventors: J. Thomas Ngo, Steven E. Saunders, Owen Rubin
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Patent number: 8046808Abstract: A method of creating an audio-video stream comprises multiplexing a video component, an audio component, a content reference identifier, and a semantic data packet containing information on the relationship between the video component and the content reference identifier. Apparatus for receiving the audio-video stream, and apparatus for transmitting the audio/video stream are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2005Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Alexis Stephen Richard Ashley, Andrew James Hickman, Octavius John Morris
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Patent number: 8041025Abstract: Methods and arrangements for controlling modes of audio devices according to user selectable features are disclosed. The system can receive a user selection for an alternate mode for audio device. A monitor can monitor audio levels in a physical area and the system can automatically switch an audio device from a current mode to the alternate mode when the monitored audio level exceeds a predetermined threshold. The alternate mode can provide a higher audio level or volume than the current mode. The alternate mode can also be a closed caption mode, a record mode, and a transcript mode to name a few. Thus, when the ambient sound level reaches a predetermined level many audio devices can change modes based on user configured instructions.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Blaine H. Dolph, Jennifer Martin
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Patent number: 8040991Abstract: A method and an apparatus for synchronizing a data stream are disclosed. The method comprises: decoding the data stream to generate a decoded data stream and program clock references; generating a local clock reference; generating a simulated clock reference according to the program clock references and the local clock reference; comparing the local clock reference with the simulated clock reference; adjusting a processing timing of the decoded data stream according to the comparison result; and processing the decoded data stream according to the processing timing.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.Inventors: Ming-Jane Hsieh, Chia-Wei Yu, Yung-Cheng Hsiung, DeHuei Chen
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Patent number: 8037496Abstract: A system and method is provided to automatically generate content for ITV products and services by processing primary media sources. In one embodiment of the invention, keywords are automatically extracted from the primary media sources using one or more of a variety of techniques directed to video, audio and/or textual content of the multimodal source. In some embodiments, keywords are then processed according to one or more disclosed algorithms to narrow the quantity of downstream processing that is necessary to associate secondary sources (reference items) with the primary video source. Embodiments of the invention also provide automatic searching methods for the identification of reference items based on the processed keywords in order to maximize the value added by the association of reference items to the video source.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.Inventors: Lee Begeja, David Crawford Gibbon, Zhu Liu, Bernard Simon Renger, Behzad Shahraray, Mitchell J. Weinraub, Stephanie A. Morrison
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Patent number: RE43601Abstract: A handheld electronic device for use at a venue hosting a live sporting event, having a receiver for receiving a wireless RF transmission conveying a plurality of video streams derived from video cameras filming the live sporting event, a display and a user interface for selecting a video stream among the plurality of video streams to be displayed on the display. The handheld electronic device is capable to acquire a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation, in the locked mode of operation the handheld electronic device being precluded from displaying the video streams to a spectator, in the unlocked mode of operation the handheld electronic device being enabled to display the video streams to the spectator, the handheld electronic device capable to acquire the unlocked mode of operation in response to reception of authentication data wirelessly transmitted to the handheld electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Kangaroo Media, Inc.Inventors: Marc Arseneau, Alain Charette, Jean Arseneau, Michel Poisson