Abstract: A method and structure manage a database. A first device that includes data is coupled to a second device that includes metadata relating to the data. The second device is removed from the first device and the metadata is modified. The second device is again coupled to the first device and the modified metadata on the second device modifies the data on the first device.

Abstract: Broadcast signals carrying video and audio data are transmitted after encoding and compression process at a broadcast station and then stored temporarily in a hard disk recorder/player in a broadcast recording apparatus. The broadcast signal includes a row of video and audio packets having no empty spaces for synchronization with the actual program playback speed. The playback of a program is controlled with a timing data which is carried in each of the video and audio packets. Accordingly, the broadcast signals of the program transmitted at a speed faster than the actual program playback speed are temporarily stored and when desired, can be played back at any time.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a TS and stores into an HDD a partial TS which contains a broadcast program selected by a TS decoder. A CPU creates broadcast program attachment information from PMT or the like in which control information of the selected broadcast program is written, and stores the broadcast program attachment information into a flash ROM. The broadcast program attachment information contains copy control information, bit rate information, and PIDs of CAT and EMM. When outputting the partial TS to an external VCR for copying, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus refers to the broadcast program attachment information, and gives instructions as necessary to update PMT or set the recording mode in the VCR, prior to the output of the partial TS to the external VCR.

Abstract: A technique for transferring data between a first device and a second device using a shared line buffer connected to a system bus which couples the first device and the second device. The technique includes (i) transferring data between the line buffer and dedicated memory associated with the first device, wherein the first device includes a data controller coupled to the system bus through a bus interface. The transferring (i) includes using the data transfer controller to effectuate a multiword data transfer between the dedicated memory and the line buffer. The technique further includes multiword data (ii) transferring between the line buffer and the second device across the system bus. When the transferring (i) precedes the transferring (ii), data is read from the dedicated memory from output to the second device, and when the transferring (ii) precedes the transferring (i), data is written to dedicated memory from the second device.

Abstract: A system and method for a secure cached subscription system is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a content provider and a caching device connected to the content provider. The content provider speculatively downloads information into the caching device based upon a user's data. A processing device is connected via a high-bandwidth connection to the caching device for processing the information.

Abstract: Signals are transmitted over a multiplexed channel for receipt by a plurality of client devices. One of the signals carries content data and another signal carries message data associated with an identifier. The message data can be output only by those client devices identified by the identifier.

Abstract: A consumer electronic apparatus includes at least a clock, and in some cases a microprocessor, which produces data, such as time-of-day or control parameters, which are stored in volatile memory. A power failure can cause this data to be lost. The data are stored in nonvolatile memory according to an algorithm during normal operation, so that they are available after a power failure. In one version, the parameters are stored at fixed intervals. In another version, the parameters are stored in response to a change. In yet another version, the parameters are stored in a manner which is distributed among plural memory locations to extend life.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing and prioritizing record events. A priority manager includes an event list that lists scheduled record events. Each event in the event list has a priority that is different from the other events in the event list. If some of the events conflict, then those events with the highest priority in the event list are recorded. A user can assign priority to events when they are scheduled or at a later time. This enables event conflicts to be resolved by the user when the events are initially scheduled. When an event conflict arises later, the conflict is resolved by the priority manager according to the relative priority of the events in the event list.

Abstract: A method for controlling presentation of items of enhanced content in an interactive television system comprising at least one distribution unit and a plurality of decoder units arranged to store items of enhanced content and cause them to be presented to a user on receipt of a trigger signal from the distribution unit, the method comprising: storing the items of enhanced content at the decoder units; storing at the distribution unit a schedule indicating a desired synchronisation between the items of enhanced content and a running program with which the enhanced content is associated, the running program comprising a timing stream and a series of periodic indications of the identity of the running program; transmitting the running program to the decoder units over a transmission channel via the distribution unit; and at the distribution unit analysing traffic passing over the transmission channel so as to determine whether the said periodic indications of the identity of the running program continue to be de

Abstract: The present invention is a process in which broadcasters can supplement existing multimedia streams such as video and audio with additional multimedia streams in a coordinated and integrated way, allowing users, after reception of the broadcast stream, to select which substream to use, without requiring an upstream channel to communicate this user preference back to the server or any additional bandwidth to broadcast these additional streams.

Abstract: There is disclosed a decoder buffer capable of receiving streaming video data packets and storing the data packets in a plurality of access units. Each of the access units holds at least one data packet associated with a selected frame in the streaming video. The decoder buffer comprises: 1) a first buffer region comprising at least one access unit for storing data packets that are less immediately needed by the video decoder; and 2) a re-transmission region comprising at least one access unit for storing data packets that are most immediately needed by the video decoder. The decoder buffer, in response to a detection of a missing data packet in the re-transmission region, requests that the streaming video transmitter retransmit the missing packet.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit includes a recording device having first data stream and second data stream, the second data stream may be program data that contains multiple sections, and the first data stream may be program information data, may read out whereby the program information data related to the sections may be correlated to the time elapsed from program commencement. A graphic generating device may read out the first data stream and create a first image based on the first data stream. A control device may detect some of the second data stream and read out based on information contained in the first data stream. A decoding device may decode some of said second data stream read out by the control device and a second image may be played back, the second image may be included in the program data.

Abstract: In a private video recorder for recording contents of TV program delivered from TV stations, data of the contents of TV program (contents data) are memorized into segments in a contents data memory area, and the contents data are controlled as one video picture file by appointing the segments memorizing the contents data in segment appointing information of the video picture file. When the contents recorded in the private video recorder is edited, only the appointment of the segments in the segment appointing information is rewritten without cutting, copying or inserting the contents data.

Abstract: A radio receiver and storage unit which concurrently and continuously receives and records a plurality of separate, simultaneously broadcast programs, and then selectively reproduces desired programs at desired times. User interface buttons selectively perform the following five functions not available on a conventional radio: Pause: suspends the reproduction of the live or recorded programming currently being played; Save: permits the listener to save the complete content of a live program currently being reproduced; Jukebox: permits the listener can select and playback previously recorded programming; Mark: allows the user to “bookmark” a specific position on a program; and Options: permits the user to obtain information about available programming, or to perform less frequently used functions.

Abstract: A system and method for partitioning storage space in a video recording system or multi-media system into a plurality of discrete partitions. Each of the discrete partitions can be allocated to a different user of the video recording system or application of the multi-media system. Furthermore, the systems are designed to allocate an amount of the storage space to each partition to eliminate hoarding of the storage space by only one user or application.

Abstract: Methods and systems for content distribution are provided that include a broadcast transmitter for transmitting a signal that comprises content, a receiver for receiving the signal, and an optical disc recorder coupled to the receiver for recording the content to an optical disc, which may be an optically altered optical disc.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction apparatus includes a magnetic disk. An information apparatus sets an instruction to initialize the magnetic disk and transmits the set instruction to the recording/reproduction apparatus through a network. The recording/reproduction apparatus receives the instruction from the information apparatus through the network and initializes the recording medium in accordance with the instruction. Thus, a user can finely initializes the recording medium of the recording/reproduction apparatus from remote locations.

Abstract: A computer program of exercise recording system of recording user's body exercise performs, in the exercise recording system, an exercise contents setting step of setting exercise contents for a plurality of body exercising parts, an exercise contents displaying step of displaying exercise contents images having a plurality of display areas corresponding to the plurality of exercising parts.

Abstract: Stories are detected in multimedia data composed of concurrent streams for different modes such as audio, video and text and linked to related stories. First, time periods of uniformity in attributes of the streams serve as “building blocks” that are consolidated according to rules that are characteristic of the story to be detected. The attributes are then ranked by their respective reliabilities for detecting the story to be detected. An inter-attribute union of the time periods is cumulated attribute-to-attribute in an order that is based on the ranking. A buffered portion of the multimedia data that is delimited by the starting and ending times is retained in mass storage. The starting and ending times are indexed by characteristics of content of the portion to form a story segment which is maintained in a data structure with links to related story segments.

Abstract: A real-time rich media recording system. The system includes a capture module, a recording module and a random access module. The recording module real-time records a rich media source captured by the capture module as digital data. The recording module constructs a rich media relational table, and inserts an event label into the rich media relational table in response to an action instruction. The random access module stops the recording process of the recording module in response to an interrupt instruction, locates a location in the digital data, disables the event labels located after the location in the rich media relational table, and reinstates the recording module to record the rich media source at the position following the location in the digital data.

Abstract: Interactive television systems and methods are provided for enhancing program guide content using recording and alert features for video related to promotions, advertisements, and other selectable displays presented in an interactive television application such as an interactive television program guide. An option to record video related to a selectable display may be presented to users. The option to record may be presented in an information display screen that is displayed in response to a user selecting a selectable display. The interactive television system may automatically record the related video in response to the user selecting the record option using a local or a network-based recording and storage device. Users may access a list of recordings that have been recorded. Other types of media may be integrated into the list, and listings may be selected and viewed by the user.

Abstract: A digital radio broadcast system provides various interactive features, including skip forward and skip backward. In one embodiment, data is transmitted at a faster than real time rate and accumulated in a buffer at a receiver. The user can play a current track or skip to subsequent or earlier tracks. In another embodiment, two or more programming service streams (i.e., user channels) are communicated such that a user can move directly from a current track to the beginning of a track of another stream. In another embodiment, tiers of service levels are provided so that paying subscribers can bypass some or all of the commercial messages, while non-paying subscribers can not bypass the commercials. Replacement programming may be transmitted in a portion of the bandwidth of the free service. At a receiver, control data may be used with multimedia data to provide a multimedia clip which identifies features of a track, such as artist, song title or lyrics.

Abstract: A media content recording system in a subscriber network television system includes a memory for storing logic, a storage device comprising a buffer space for continuously buffering media content instances, and a processor configured with the logic to represent each of the media content instances in the buffer space.

Abstract: A data elementary buffer with underflow and overflow operational constraints is incorporated into a digital televison receiver to regulate the flow of data related to an ancillary data service to be presented in synchronization with a video or audio program element. The data elementary buffer ensures that data is received in time for decoding and presentation in synchronization with the video or audio element. The data elementary buffer also limits the amount of data that the receiver may be required to cache. The minimum size of the data elementary buffer is three times the size of a nominal data access unit or three times the quantity of data that the receiver can receive at the maximum rate in the period that a video element is displayed by the receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus along with a method for displaying a list of data to be transferred from one storage area to another in conjunction with a progress status report of the data transfer, thereby allowing users to know at a glance how far the transfer of desired data has progressed.

Abstract: Responding to an event in the environment of a computing device by pausing the display of a television program. After detecting an event that indicates that the viewing experience of a viewer is likely to have been interrupted, a computing device automatically pauses the output of the television program and begins recording a television signal on which the television program is encoded. When the interruption is completed, the recorded television signal is resumed in a time-shifted manner such that the viewer can continue viewing without missing the portion of the television program that would have otherwise been displayed during the interruption. In this manner, the television program can be automatically paused in response to events that may interrupt the viewing experience, such as an incoming telephone call, the receipt of an electronic message, or other events occurring in the home or in the environment of the computing device.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for encouraging viewing of broadcast contents. When a mail receiving terminal receives e-mail including a message that a CM by an advertiser will be broadcasted from a mail server, a program record button (64), a program view button (65), a CM record button (66) and a CM view button (67) as well as the message that the CM by the advertiser will be broadcasted are displayed on a mailer screen (50). The mail also includes program information such as the program start date and time, the program finish date and time, the CM start date and time, the CM finish date and time and the broadcast channel. When the CM record button (66) is clicked, a CM recording reservation signal is transmitted to a VCR in accordance with the program information through the infrared interface of the mail receiving terminal.

Abstract: A storage medium adaptable to changes in a screen aspect ratio provides various information and audio/video contents that are displayable in a user interactive environment, and includes interactive screen display files that correspond to different screen aspect ratios, respectively. The interactive screen display files are constituted to be adjusted to corresponding screen aspect ratios. Interactive information in the storage medium is constituted to be adjusted to different screen aspect ratios. Thus, interactive information can be displayed without distorting the position and size thereof even when a screen of a predetermined size is changed into another screen of a different size.

Abstract: A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus (i.e. a Personal Video Recorder) comprising a memory (i.e. firmware), a storage device (i.e. a hard drive), and a network interface (i.e. a Local Area Network interface). The memory is configured to substantially exclusively store the operating system of the apparatus. The storage device is configured to substantially exclusively store video content (i.e. television programs). The network interface is coupled to the memory and the storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus reproducing content of an information storage medium interactively by receiving information, which is necessary for reproducing the content in the interactive mode, from Internet or from the information storage medium, and reproducing the content interactively based on the received or read information, thereby allowing dynamic and/or automatic update of an interactive screen content. Further, even if the necessary information for reproducing the content interactively is not recorded on the information storage medium, the content can be reproduced interactively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying a media database with broadcast media. A receiver receives a broadcast signal from a broadcast source. A selector selects a segment of the broadcast signal. An identifier determines if the selected broadcast segment contains valid signal content in relation to a plurality of signals, which are stored in a signal database. A modifier modifies the signal database with a portion of the selected segment if the segment is identified as having valid signal content.

Abstract: A portable electronic book viewer receives electronic text and graphic files, or electronic books, by connection to a television program delivery system. The electronic books may provided as compressed data that is transmitted with a video signal. The electronic books are transmitted in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal. The electronic books may be received at a set top terminal, and stored in memory at the set top terminal. A hardware upgrade may be added to a conventional set top terminal to provide for reception, storage and processing of the electronic books. Such storage may be by way of a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, and a magnetic cartridge for example. The portable viewer may receive the electronic books from the set top terminal. The portable viewer may then decompress the electronic books for display and viewing. The electronic books are decompressed only at the time of viewing.

Abstract: There is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus which is capable of performing a tuning process in a short period of time even in the case where a large number of tuning requests are issued. A tuning request reception section 204 receives an issue tuning request. A tuning request storage section 205 stores the tuning request received by the tuning request reception section 204. A tuning process section including a tuning request acquisition section 206 and a tuning execution section 207 performs a tuning process for the broadcast signal corresponding to the tuning request, and if a next tuning request is issued during a tuning process, performs a next tuning process in accordance with one of the tuning requests stored in the tuning request storage section 205. A tuning request which is stored in the tuning request storage section 205 during a tuning process is erased by a tuning request erasure section 208 after the tuning process.

Abstract: In a digital video recording system (DVR), a method of identifying the MPEG picture coding type of individual pictures of a GOP that is contained within a DSS transport packet, without parsing and evaluating each DSS transport packet. The picture coding type identifies whether a picture is an intra-coded (I) picture, predictive-coded (P) picture or bi-directionally predictive-coded (B) picture. The method facilitates implementation of DVR system playback modes, and especially trick modes by indentifying and indexing the transport packet payload containing the I-picture (frame or field).

Abstract: A delivery server comprises image contents and informational data about the image contents in its storage device. From a video recorder being a client, a request to deliver image contents that a user of the video recorder desires is issued to the delivery server. At this time, the user transmits informational data about the image contents to the delivery server. The delivery server searches for the image contents of the server itself based on the informational data transmitted from the video recorder, and delivers the image contents that the user of the video recorder desires to the video recorder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an advanced set top box device comprises an integrated removable digital storage system coupled to a digital tuner that receives and demodulates signals received from a video casting network. In another embodiment, the removable digital storage device is integrated into an advanced television device. This invention overcomes the finite storage limitations of conventional systems and provides a user with much greater flexibility in managing the increasingly massive amount of content and data being received by way of interactive TV services. It also enables a user to view digital content on devices other than the one TV in a home that may be capable of receiving the content.

Abstract: There is provided a system, method and software application that receives a data stream via a data network such as the Internet. The received data is recorded in a data storage device. The system stores various transcoding algorithms for a variety of playback devices and transfer networks. The recorded data is then transcoded into a format compatible with other devices or data transfer constraints. A user can interface with the system to input information particular to the other devices and transfers. This information is stored by the system and used to determine the transcoding algorithm best suited to the needs of the user based on the user input.

Abstract: A program record and playback system is provided with: a reception device which receives broadcast program on a plurality of channels; a record and playback device which records and plays back the received broadcast program; and a control device which controls the reception, recording and playback of the broadcast program. The control device has a broadcast contents determination device which determines contents of a broadcast program recorded by the record and playback device; a delimiter signal assignment device which assigns a delimiter signal to a breakpoint of the contents of the recorded broadcast program; and a playback instruction device which refers to the delimiter signal, and issues to the record and playback device an instruction to play back the recorded broadcast program from the breakpoint of the contents.

Abstract: A consumer set-top terminal and method that receives and stores digital programming services such as television programs for subsequent playback by the user in a manner analogous to a conventional video cassette recorder (VCR). An interface allows the terminal's user to control a transcoding proces based on the desired quality level for the transcoded data, e.g., high, medium or low. The transcoding is provided without the expense and complexity of a full encoder. By performing transcoding at the terminal, the bit rate of the data can be reduced sufficiently to allow economical storage at the terminal. Moreover, the user can set the quality level to be different for different programs, different parts of the same program, or for different channels. The user input can be received via an interface, such as an on-screen display, which is optionally integrated with electronic program guide data. The user input can be established beforehand as well.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital broadcast system and method for enabling a viewer linkage to internet service providers via a channel remote controller. The channel remote controller can transmit one of a plurality of channel request signals in response to the viewer's selection. Each channel request signal corresponds to one of the internet service providers. The system comprises a communication apparatus, a broadcast station communicating with the communication apparatus, and a terminal electrically connecting with the communication apparatus for display presentation from the linked internet service provider. The communication apparatus receives the signal from the channel remote controller, converts the signal into a corresponding script to link to the corresponding internet service provider, and transmits the corresponding script.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed which includes: a storing element for storing content data corresponding to an image associated with a distributed storage medium; a retrieving element for retrieving address information on a network from the distributed storage medium; an accessing element for accessing the storing element based on the address information retrieved by the retrieving element; and a recording element for recording to the distributed storage medium the content data acquired by the accessing element from the storing element.

Abstract: A software appliance and method of operation are disclosed that enable distribution of software applications through consumer-electronic appliances, such as set-top boxes. The appliance and method enable the tracking of the software usage for billing purposes. The usage information is sent to the provider of the software so proper accounting may be accomplished. The software applications may be embedded within the software appliance, such as in a datastore or be accessed via a disk reader or other memory devices, such as a memory stick. Each software application is packaged in a signal format that is compatible with the Advanced Television System Committee (“ATSC”) standard 17, also known as the Digital Television Application Software Environment (“DASE”) format. The electronic appliance, or the software appliance, receives a broadcast stream of content information and unpacks the software application carried within the broadcast stream.

Abstract: In a recording system for digital broadcasting are provided a log data generation unit for generating log data (a log) based on information about TS packets outputted from a packet separation unit, a data filter unit and a data search unit. The log is comprised of, for example, the first to fourth 4-byte words. The log is generated with respect to each TS packet that has passed through the packet separation unit and temporarily stored in a register within the log data generation unit. Thereafter, when the content of the stored log satisfies previously determined conditions, the log data generation unit outputs the log to a memory access unit (control unit).

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: An apparatus and method is related to wireless communication devices with a reduced-noise recording receiver. The recording receiver receives a transmitted signal, converts the received signal to a digital base-band signal and stores the digitized base-band signal in a buffer for subsequent processing. The stored digital signals are subsequently processed to recover the transmitted data signal. The overall signal integrity in the receiver is improved by performing signal processing after reception is complete. The IF processing section of the receiver includes a frequency band translation section. The frequency band translation section translates the frequency band of the IF signal into a non-harmonically related frequency band. Since the IF signal is in an unrelated frequency band, data can be recovered from the-transmission signal with improved signal-to-noise characteristics.

Abstract: Generating a still image from a sequence of video frames comprises the steps of receiving a sequence of video frames and storing a predetermined number of the sequence of video frames temporally adjacent to an user initiated capture event, the predetermined number of frames being defined as a cliplet. Video capture is performed using cliplets, which are short video segments, preferably in compressed data format. A crop-and-process instruction is added to the cliplet. All processing, handling or storage of the data is cliplet based. Editing instructions are stored with the cliplet allowing editing to be performed by a user at one resolution and then re-performed at a higher resolution at a server where it is printed. Modified reprints of an image can be obtained without resending the images and adequate storage for the cliplets can be assured. Encryption of the cliplets during transmission and storage is facilitated by cliplet-based processing.

Abstract: A recordable media content archiving system in a subscriber network. The recordable media content archiving system comprises, among other elements, a memory for storing recordable media content characterizing information, a storage device for storing a plurality of portable mediums, and a processor configured with the memory to receive the recordable media content characterizing information into the memory, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a user interface for the recordable media content archiving system.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver (10) containing an embedded computer (26) receives digital content such as news, sports, weather and stocks. The broadcast receiver personalizes, i.e. filters and processes, the content received according to the user-chosen configuration software (82) loaded from a removable storage device (80), such as a compact flash card. The broadcast receiver displays, announces or writes to the same removable storage device the desired content. Without needing any user interaction, this broadcast receiver is well suited for the mobile environment. An interactive computer (70), as instructed by its user, writes the configurable software, including parameters, software and firmware updates to the removable storage device. The interactive computer optionally downloads the configurable software, for example, the personal stock portfolio of its user, from Internet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus of recording a multi-channel data stream on a recording medium in such a manner that substreams of digital channels constituting the multi-channel data stream can be distinguished each other in reproduction. The present recording method separates a multi-channel stream composed of substreams belonging to a plurality of channels into individual substreams, records the individual substreams separately by channel in plural stream objects allocated in a recording medium, creates a piece of search information every a substream contained in the recorded multi-channel stream, and records the created plural pieces of search information on the recording medium. The present method makes it possible to selectively search and reproduce each substream among a multi-channel stream recorded on a recording medium, thereby improving use convenience of a recording machine such as a digital video recorder.