Receiver (e.g., Set-top Box) Patents (Class 725/151)
  • Patent number: 9015738
    Abstract: A video stream measurement method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, a video stream comprising plurality of timestamps located at specified intervals of the video stream. The computing system broadcasts the video stream for a user and decodes a first time stamp broadcasted during a first time period. The computing system monitors a user interaction function performed by the user and associated with the video stream. The computing system generates and transmits a report comprising a description associated with the user interaction function. The computing system receives an analysis associated with the report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Amsterdam, Stephen C. Hammer, Christopher E. Holladay, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 9009775
    Abstract: Disclosed is a broadcasting signal transmission device, a broadcasting signal reception device, and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woosuk Ko, Sangchul Moon, Hotaek Hong
  • Patent number: 9009776
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display, a speaker, a connector to output a video signal and audio signal, a display driving module to control outputting of the video signal with respect to the display and connector, a sound driving module to control outputting of the audio signal with respect to the speaker and connector, and an output control module to instruct the sound driving module to output the audio signal from the connector when an event of instructing the display driving module to output a video signal to the connector occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kotaro Fukui
  • Patent number: 9003444
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 9002005
    Abstract: A number of encryption system types utilized by subscriber terminal devices currently requesting tuning to a particular switched digital video (SDV) content selection is determined in response to each change in a number of the subscriber terminals requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection. SDV content associated with the particular SDV content selection is encrypted as either encrypted SDV content or multiply partially encrypted SDV content based upon the determined number of encryption system types beginning from a current play location indicated for the SDV content selection within an electronic program guide (EPG). Either the encrypted SDV content or the multiply partially encrypted SDV content is distributed as part of an outgoing SDV content stream to the subscriber terminals currently requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Lejeune, Brant L. Candelore
  • Patent number: 9002180
    Abstract: A particular method includes displaying a user interface for a media recorder in response to first user input. The method includes receiving a command to display recording space for the media recorder via the user interface. The method also includes sending a representation of the recording space to a display device. The representation includes a first indicator of available recording space, a second indicator of recording space used to store first media content that is deletable without additional user input when one or more conditions are met, and a third indicator of recording space used to store second media content, where an item of the second media content can only be deleted by the media recorder when the media recorder receives a user command to delete the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Blake Dolph, James Gordon Beattie, Jr., Julia A. Hein, Rita H. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8997147
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8997157
    Abstract: An audio/video network system for distributing satellite broadcast services includes an antenna unit for receiving audio/video broadcast services. The antenna unit is in communication with a master receiver, which receives the audio/video broadcast services and displays them on a first television associated with the master receiver. The master receiver is in communication with a plurality of slave clients, which receive audio/video broadcast services from the master receiver and display them on a respective television associated with each of the slave clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Harish N. Patel, Daniel A. Lotocky, Nathan B. Zerbe, Thomas H. James
  • Patent number: 8990866
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for data processing in a device with integrated set-top-box and femtocell functionality are provided. Data may be received via an integrated femtocell and set-top-box device and may be synchronously processed, utilizing a common clock, to perform one or more femtocell functions and/or set-top-box functions. The common clock may be derived from global navigation satellite system signals. The integrated femtocell and set-top-box device may convert the received data from a first to a second format. The converted data may be transmitted to a cellular enabled communication device via a cellular transmitter within said integrated femtocell and set-top-box device and/or to a multimedia device via a multimedia interface within said integrated femtocell and set-top-box device. The received data may comprise multimedia content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Victor T. Hou, Xuemin Sherman Chen, Charles Abraham, Wael William Diab, Vinko Erceg, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Mark Kent
  • Patent number: 8990872
    Abstract: A device having a test module configured to connect with a server through a cellular telephone network and a wireless area network. The test module is also configured to initiate, in the server, a diagnostic test of an Internet Protocol television network and a set-top box device. The test module is further configured to receive information indicating problems with the Internet Protocol television network and the set-top box device, and to display the information on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Michael Boatright, Nathan L. Edwards, Sean T. Hamrick
  • Patent number: 8984569
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to support multiple audio tracks in an adaptive media stream. Segments of the adaptive stream are encoded so that the player is able to locate and request a specific one of the available audio tracks using byte range requests or the like. Audio content can be removed from video segments, or at least moved to the end of the segments so that a byte range request obtains just the video content when the default audio is not desired. The audio content can be obtained from a separate audio segment. Indeed, multiple audio tracks can be packaged into a common audio segment so that byte range requests can obtain just the particular audio track desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Mark B. Hurst
  • Patent number: 8984553
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8978063
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150067758
    Abstract: Method in an audiovisual programme receiver-decoder client device, the method using a function for providing notification of capability specific to a standardised display forwarding function to inform a remote item of equipment of the capability of the device to transmit an item of content. The method comprises a step of insertion of information elements into a link layer of a communication interface of the device, a step of reception of an item of information from a second remote device connected to the interface by a direct point-to-point link, a step of configuration of the control of the reception and/or reproduction of an item of audiovisual content received by the device using the item of information representative of a remote command and a step of insertion of data adapted to the insertion of a coded, received item of audiovisual content into frames inserted into a data stream transmitted at the MAC link layer of the interface to the remote device connected via the intermediary of the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ludovic JEANNE, Jean-Marie STEYER, Cyril QUINQUIS
  • Patent number: 8973085
    Abstract: A descrambling apparatus includes a descrambling module and a one-time programmable module. The descrambling module descrambles an input data stream. When the one-time programmable module is in a first status, the descrambling module descrambles the input data stream by a first mode. When the one-time programmable module is in a second status, the descrambling module descrambles the input data stream by a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Ting-Pang Tsao
  • Patent number: 8973079
    Abstract: A method of managing bandwidth usage at a customer premises includes receiving a content stream at a set-top box device coupled to a display device. The method also includes receiving a signal at the set-top box device from an external power interface. The signal indicates that a low power state has been detected at a power outlet of the external power interface, the power outlet associated with the display device. Further, the method includes sending a signal to a source of the content stream in response to receiving the signal indicating the low power state. The signal indicates that the source is to cease sending the content stream to the set-top box device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: David A. Levine, Dale Malik
  • Patent number: 8966529
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8966561
    Abstract: A method and a system of controlling application devices simultaneously. The application devices can be a Web tablet, a set-top box, a VCR, a TV, and PDA, a lamp, a coffee machine, a radio, a telephone, a background wall, a DVD player or an electronic information panel. The method includes four steps controlled by a server: retrieving first documents (501) from a first set of application devices; retrieving identification (502) of a user; generating (505) second documents, each comprising an instruction, on the basis of at least a part of the retrieved identification of the user and at least a part of the first documents; simultaneously sending (506) at least one of the second documents to each device of a second set of the application devices; and performing (507) for a given device of the second set one instruction from at least one of the second documents received in the given device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria Van Doorn
  • Patent number: 8959327
    Abstract: A security processor may be embedded within a digital cable ready (DCR) digital TV (DTV) system-on-chip to performing content protection operations during digital TV signal processing. The embedded security processor may be used to perform operations that are currently performed by an external entity, such as, for an example, a CableCard. The embedded security processor maybe configured to use a conditional access function including, but not limited to, CableLabs® Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS) based function. The security processor may be reprogrammable to enable the system-on-chip to be reconfigured with a different function and/or to allow operation with a new cable service provider. The security processor may enable secure reprogrammability of the system-on-chip utilizing security algorithms and/or other mechanisms including use of chip-specific identification information. The SoC may be enabled to operate with a CableCard whenever the security processor may be disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Xuemin Chen
  • Patent number: 8955019
    Abstract: A network system in which a terminal apparatus, a recording apparatus, and a server apparatus are connectable via a network is disclosed. The server apparatus includes a service processing unit performing a service of reserving recording of a content to the recording apparatus by a request from the terminal apparatus, and an available service information provision unit managing information on the service available to the recording apparatus as available service information and transmitting the available service information to the terminal apparatus in response to a request from the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Kinoshita, Takashi Kanao, Hiroyuki Chiba, Tsuyoshi Honma, Hirofumi Kouda
  • Patent number: 8955015
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of an apparatus for providing separate user classifications and interfaces to multiple users of a set-top box of the television system. Each user classification may be configurable to provide different interfaces, menus and available features to the users of the set-top box. Further, each user classification may include several sub-classifications to further personalize the set-top box to the various users of the system. Also, each user classification may also monitor the habits and usage of each class and store such information for use by the set-top box to suggest settings of the set-top box that the user may be interested in, such as a favorite channel list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bin Xu, William J. Ivanich
  • Patent number: 8949924
    Abstract: A multiplexed display apparatus and method for a digital broadcast receiver are provided. A multi-screen display apparatus for a digital broadcast receiver of the present invention includes a broadcast reception unit for receiving broadcast data of a primary service channel and at least one secondary service channel; a decoding unit comprising a video decoder for decoding video data of all types of video frame of the primary service channel and a predetermined type of video frame of the secondary service channel and an audio decoder for decoding audio data of a predetermined service channel, by time frame; a multiplexed screen processing unit for multiplexing the video data of the primary service channel and the at least one secondary service channel output by the decoding unit; a display unit for displaying the multiplexed video data in the form of multiplexed screen image; and a speaker unit for outputting the decoded audio data in the form of an audible sound wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Wireless Republic Group Inc.
    Inventors: Jeong Wook Seo, Jong Kerl Lee, Wei Jin Park
  • Patent number: 8949911
    Abstract: A broadcast receiving device and a reporting method thereof are disclosed. If a request to purchase a pay service is received, a signal received from a remote control device within a preset reference time period is sensed before purchasing the pay service in order to determine whether the purchase is normal or abnormal, and a purchase questioning message according to the determined results is transmitted to a pre-registered contact number or an address of a user and a time display unit mounted on the broadcast receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je-hun Sung
  • Patent number: 8941784
    Abstract: A television service provider system includes a first set top box, a second set top box, and a remote control. The remote control transmits an infrared pairing signal which is only received by one of the set top boxes. The receiving set top box pairs itself to the remote control. The non receiving set top box is not paired to the remote control. The remote control then transmits control signals to operate the receiving set top box. The control signals are received by both set top boxes, but are executed only by the set top box that is paired to the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nathan Hale, Adam Schafer, Jeremy Mickelsen, David Innes, William Reams
  • Publication number: 20150026754
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a slot antenna for an electronic device, e.g. a set top box. A printed circuit board (210) comprising a dielectric material (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and electrodes (240, 360) extends into a rectangular slot (120) in the metal enclosure (110) of the device such that the electrodes are coupled with locations on opposite edges of the long dimension of the rectangular slot. The coupling may be capacitively in order to affect the level of coupling or to optimize the driving point return loss. The presence of the dielectric in the slot allows the use of a shorter slot for a given wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Henri Girard
  • Patent number: 8938754
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8935732
    Abstract: A Dynamic Video Source Selection (DVSS) component that can be implemented in a physical or virtual STB that is capable of presenting a high quality service and consistent navigational paradigm to the viewer, while detecting, selecting, and presenting the best quality programming possible based upon the current position of the viewer's device within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Geraint Jenkin, Marcus C. Liassides
  • Patent number: 8931032
    Abstract: A digital transport adapter (DTA) responds to radio frequency distribution signals to extracted digital content information therefrom and to create analog television (TV) signals and high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) signals and to pass through a copy of the distribution signals. The analog TV signals, they HDMI signals and the pass through distribution signals are made available at separate connectors for use separately by customer electronic equipment. The DTA is rigidly attached to a wall overlying a wall connection box, to make it virtually impossible to remove the DTA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Evolution Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Egan, Brent Robert Smith, Tom Lambrecht, Perfecto D. Martinez, Kee Cheol Lee, Jong Woong Park
  • Patent number: 8929942
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device including: a cable port to which an external device is connected; a reading unit that reads identification information from the external device; a determination unit that determines whether the external device is the source-side wireless communication device; an authentication memory unit that performs an authentication process with the source-side wireless communication device; a wireless communication unit that performs a wireless communication with the source-side wireless communication device; and a physical address processing unit that controls the source-side wireless communication device to store a physical address of a source-side device calculated based on from the read identification information of the sink-side device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20150007248
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a broadcast receiver is a device to which a broadcast receiving module comprising a receiver that receives a broadcast signal is detachably attached. The broadcast receiver has a power source and a controller. The power source is configured to supply electric power to the broadcast receiving module. The controller is configured to perform, when energization control information containing identification information and time information is received, energization control on the broadcast receiving module identified by the identification information based on the time information. The identification information is configured to be unique to the broadcast receiving module. The time information is configured to relate to power supply to the broadcast receiving module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takuji KIMURA
  • Patent number: 8925032
    Abstract: If an incoming call arrives at a mobile phone as an AV output device while a video signal is output to a TV as an AV input device, as incoming call processing, a command notifying arrival of the incoming call is transmitted to the TV, and thereafter output of the video signal is stopped. The reason for the stop is displayed on the TV. When the call is terminated in the mobile phone, a command notifying termination of the call is transmitted to the TV, and the output of the video signal is resumed. Thereby, a notification screen is stopped on the TV, and reproduction of video is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuji Daioku
  • Patent number: 8910205
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8910204
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8910233
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes a first signal processing block and a second signal processing block. The first signal processing block is utilized for processing an input signal to generate a first target processing result, including a plurality of packets initially reproduced from the input signal, to an output port of the first signal processing circuit, where each of the packets contains a corresponding packet identifier (PID). The second signal processing block has an input port coupled to the output port of the first signal processing circuit, and is utilized for processing the first target processing result according to PIDs of the packets and accordingly generating a second target processing result. There is no buffer coupled between the output port of the first signal processing circuit and the input port of the second signal processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Chieh Wang, You-Min Yeh, Chin-Wang Yeh, Rong-Liang Chiou
  • Patent number: 8908106
    Abstract: A mobile device stores a TV application for serving as a remote control capable of controlling a TV receiver. The mobile device starts the process of starting the TV application and transmits, to the TV receiver, control signals to turn on the TV receiver before the TV application has been started. More particularly, the mobile device transmits the control signals to turn on the TV receiver while performing the process of starting the TV application. When the mobile device has started the TV application and then the TV receiver has been turned on in normal mode, a user can control the TV receiver by using the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Mori
  • Patent number: 8904468
    Abstract: A set-top box (STB) of a television system receives web-based content, such as a web page, from a wide area network such as the Internet. The web-based content is provided to the STB for display. In response to an instruction, the STB provides all or a portion of the web-based content to a printer for printing. The printer can be connected to the STB via a network or through a computer connected to the STB on the same network. By providing an option to print the web-based content, the usefulness of the content is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Ahmad C. Ansari, Pierre Costa
  • Patent number: 8904466
    Abstract: A digital media distribution device that includes an encoder, a decoder coupled to the encoder, and a transcoder coupled to the decoder. The encoder is configured to encode input data that is received by the digital media distribution device into a first data format. The decoder is configured to decode output data to be output by the digital media distribution device. The transcoder is configured to convert the encoded input data from the first data format into a second data format. The digital media distribution device is configured to be coupled to a computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Klamer, Ken Long, Arjun Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 8904420
    Abstract: A method for controlling the output of media content, particularly audio content, to a user in relation to an apparatus, such as a set-top-box, having an input, for receiving media content, and an output, for providing the media content to an output device such as a television or other display device. Media content is received at the input and then analysed using a media content recognition unit. The media content recognition unit undertakes the step of identifying portions of the received media content that contain undesired content, such as offensive language. The output of media content to a user is then controlled, based on any identified undesired content, to prevent the output of content when the identified undesired portions are to be output. A corresponding apparatus and computer program are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Eldon Technology Limited
    Inventor: Dale Llewelyn Mountain
  • Patent number: 8904467
    Abstract: To provide a television receiver, server, operation system for the television receiver, and operation program of the television receiver for enabling an operator to control the television receiver as intended without causing a conflict between user operation and operator operation without using a gateway, a television receiver 110 capable of being operated via a network has an operation instruction receiving section 112 that receives an operation instruction given via the network, an operation accepting section 111 that accepts operation that is directly given without via the network, a restriction determining section 113 that distinguishes between the operation based on the operation instruction received in the operation instruction receiving section 112 and the operation accepted in the operation accepting section 111 and that determines whether or not to restrict each operation, and a receiver-side control section 115 that executes control associated with the operation when the restriction determining sect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Konishi
  • Patent number: 8898699
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 8896764
    Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing a remote control configuration procedure includes a settop box that receives electronic programming from a program source and a television that is configured to reproduce the electronic programming. A remote control device controls various functionalities of the television over an RC-TV communications link. The remote control configuration procedure is coordinated by the television and a configuration server to allow the remote control device to also control various functionalities of the settop box over an RC-STB communication link. The television and the configuration server support a user-friendly interactive procedure to automatically determine and provide certain settop-box control information for adding appropriate settop-box control functions to the remote control device during the remote control configuration procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hardacker, Steven Richman
  • Patent number: 8898510
    Abstract: Systems, devices, software, hardware and networks adapted and arranged for monitoring and correcting faults in networked media player systems that include electronic displays are provided. After detection or notification of a fault in at least one networked media player in a network of at least two, or N, media players operationally connected to electronic displays, the invention provides an alternate source of signal to the affected display. In some preferred embodiments, the invention utilizes at least one additional, or N+1, media player as a backup to substitute for the failed media player. Reconfiguration of the faulted media player by means of the N+1 backup networked media player advantageously increases the reliability and efficiency of ongoing maintenance of digital visual systems operating in commercial and other environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: EK3 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Gerald Michaelson, Joseph Hishon
  • Patent number: 8898726
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus which can be used in first and second modes and to the manner in which the change in modes of operation can be achieved. In a first mode, the apparatus operates to receive data which is received typically from a television programme broadcast system and process the same and in the second mode the apparatus has the additional feature of a data storage device in which received data can be stored and be made available for subsequent retrieval. The data storage device can be provided as part of an assembly which can be mechanically and electrically connected to the apparatus housing and which allows the transfer of data between the assembly and the remainder of the apparatus. In one embodiment the assembly also includes cooling means which allow a cooling functionality to be provided to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pace Plc
    Inventors: Gary Burns, Chris Hughes
  • Patent number: 8892634
    Abstract: A web server receives from different client applications HTTP requests for the same webpage in which video content is to be embedded. The web server provides to each of the client applications an HTTP response to the HTTP request. The HTML or XHTML text included in the response references the video content solely in a manner that is specific to a single video player. The HTML or XHTML text returned in a response to a request may be different for different client applications, even though the different client applications all requested the same webpage or portion of webpage. The video file referenced by the HTML or XHTML text returned in a response may be different for different client applications, even though the video files encode the same video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Pierce, Mahua Chaudhuri, Parag Dharap
  • Patent number: 8893135
    Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver schedules the startup of its software on the basis of the number of data transfer channels and core processing units available to transfer the necessary programs into main storage and execute them, the execution priority order of the programs, the time required to transfer each necessary program into main storage, and the time required to initialize each program. If a snapshot startup option exists for a program, the initialization time is compared with the time required for transferring the snapshot of the program's working data and for further post-processing. Consideration of the data transfer times and initialization times as well as execution priority enables the shortest schedule to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Yukawa, Satoru Tokuyama, Kensuke Ueda, Satoko Miki
  • Publication number: 20140337912
    Abstract: An interconnection via a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable between a television receiver and a set-top box, embodying an invention feature, is obtained via an HDMI cable. In HDMI specifications 1.0 through 1.3a, pin 14 of the HDMI connector was defined to be a so-called no-connect pin which would prohibit it from being connected to ground or to a power supply. An ESD protection device is coupled to unused pin 14 that, advantageously, prevented soft failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: William John Testin, Ronald Gene Wolenty
  • Patent number: 8886007
    Abstract: A data transmission interface apparatus, communicating with another data transmission interface apparatus through a digital transmission means for transmitting multimedia data, includes a processor for processing multimedia data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the processor, for converting a plurality of first multimedia data sets generated from the processor into a plurality of second multimedia data sets; and for converting a plurality of first auxiliary data sets into a plurality of second auxiliary data sets. The first auxiliary data set and the second auxiliary data set include closed caption information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Kuan-Chou Chen, Hua Wu, Chih-Hao Hsiao, Chi-Chin Lien, Ting-Hsun Wei, Ching-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 8885823
    Abstract: A method for delivering encrypted content to a subscriber terminal on-demand through a communication network is provided. The method begins when SRM receives a request for content from the subscriber terminal. In response to the request, the SRM directs a video server to transmit the content as an unencrypted transport stream to an encryptor. The packets in the unencrypted transport stream include a header with a destination address associated with the subscriber terminal. The encryptor encrypts the content in the unencrypted transport stream to generate an encrypted transport stream. The encryptor also inserts in the packet headers of the packets in the encrypted transport stream the destination address associated with the subscriber terminal obtained from the packet headers in the unencrypted transport stream. Finally, the encrypted transport stream is transmitted to the subscriber terminal over the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Poli, Joseph M. Amorese, Robert Mack, Lawrence D. Vince, Charles A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140331271
    Abstract: A receiver includes: a broadcast contents acquisition unit configured to acquire contents from a broadcast signal; a determination unit configured to determine whether a received application is an application whose reference to the contents has been permitted; a recording unit configured to record, in a first storage area, an application whose reference to the contents has been determined to have been permitted by the determination unit, and record, in a second storage area, an application whose reference to the contents has been determined not to have been permitted by the determination unit; an execution unit configured to execute the application recorded in at least one of the first storage area and the second storage area; and a reference refusal unit configured to refuse reference to the contents acquired by the broadcast contents acquisition unit due to execution of an application other than the application recorded in the first storage area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON HOSO KYOKAI
    Inventors: Hisayuki Ohmata, Kazuhiro Otsuki, Keigo Majima, Go Ohtake, Yuki Hironaka, Yusuke Endo
  • Patent number: 8878994
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a first receiver, a screen transmitter, a second receiver and a controller. The first receiver receives first information associated with a display function of an external device. The screen transmitter generates an operation screen for operating the apparatus based on the first information, and transmits a video signal of the generated operation screen to the external device. The second receiver receives second information associated with content of an operation on the operation screen from the external device. The controller controls operation of the apparatus based on the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takahiro Arai, Eita Shuto