Abstract: An apparatus having a method and computer-readable media thereof comprises a front end adapted to receive a television signal comprising a synchronization signal representing precise timing information derived from a satellite signal; and a synchronization unit adapted to obtain the precise timing information from the television signal, and further adapted to provide a clock correction signal based on the precise timing information.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to permit a network operator to capture transaction data relating to transactions between a subscriber and a service provider that are conducted via a communications network established by the network operator, such as a cable television network. In operation, the subscribers are provided with information relating to items offered by one or more service providers. The subscriber can transmit a purchase order. A headend of the communications network receives and analyzes the purchase order to capture transaction data. If the service provider is different than the network operator, the headend also relays a copy of the purchase order to the third party service provider such that the purchase order can be filled. Since the network operator has captured information relating to the purchase order, however, the network operator can charge the service provider and/or the subscriber for utilizing its network to facilitate the transaction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a videoconference terminal (1, 2) comprising image restoring means comprising a display (10, 20) arranged substantially horizontally, and preferably having the shape of a well seat closed at one of its end by the display (10, 20), thereby enabling a large number of users to distribute the space around the display, and to make the terminal an original and convivial communication equipment dedicated to informal communications between users distant from one another.

Abstract: An indexing method for allowing a viewer to control the mode of delivery of program material. By mapping from time to data position, data delivery can begin at any selected time in the program material. The indexing method also provides for controlling data delivery to begin at the beginning of a frame of data. A synchronizing method is provided to minimize a time offset between audio and vide data, particularly in environments using groups of pictures.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating electronic commerce. One implementation, described herein, is a standardized purchasing system for purchasing premium services over a broadcast feed from premium service providers. This implementation offers a standardized technique facilitating electronic commerce purchases. It employs a standardized offer-terms format that contains the information for creation of an official offer to a user. With one of the implementations, described here, changing or adding premium service providers does not necessitate any changes to the one or more components of the Integrated Receiver/Decoders (IRD) devices so as to effectuate purchases of premiums services from such premium service providers. That is because purchases are handled in a standardized manner using a standardized offer-terms format. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Provided is a method for constructing and transmitting guidance information for impulse pay-per-view (IPPV) broadcasting service, and a computer-readable recording medium for recording a program that implements the method. The method of the present research includes the step of: inserting an IPPV service descriptor, which is suggested as a standard data structure for transmitting IPPV service purchase guidance information, to an aggregate event information table; and transmitting the aggregate event information table.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus 5 for monitoring and controlling the provision of user pays products and/or services is provided. The apparatus may interface with a meter 6 of a supply network or supply channel and control the supply of user pays products and/or services. The apparatus receives communications from host system 7 including configuration data that is specific to a user of the product or service and/or specific to the user pays product or service.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording for multi-user personal video recorders having a multiplicity of registered users, each user having allocated storage space on the PVR which allocated storage space for each user includes storage space upon which shows are recorded and storage space upon which shows have not been recorded (free space), including recording for a borrower a show owned by the borrower, the show having a storage space requirement exceeding the borrower's free space by a deficit amount; selecting, in dependence upon the deficit amount, one or more lenders, wherein the lenders are users, registered on the PVR, having free space; and borrowing, in dependence upon the deficit amount, from the lenders for the borrower, at least one loan amount of storage space. Embodiments include returning from the borrower to the lender the deficit amount after displaying the show to the borrower or upon repossession by a lender.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording, including selecting a lender from among one or more lenders, in which the selecting is carried out in dependence upon a deficit amount, the lenders include at least one user having free storage space and at least one pool having free storage space. The method also includes borrowing, in dependence upon the deficit amount, from the selected lender for a borrower, at least one loan amount of storage space, the borrower having allocated storage space on the PVR optionally including free space, and recording a show for the borrower, the show having a storage space requirement exceeding the borrower's free space by the deficit amount. The borrower can be an individual user or a group comprised of more than one user.

Abstract: A media distribution system receives program data describing on-demand media content available from multiple vendors. The media distribution system packages the program data as electronic program guide data and distributes the electronic program guide data to one or more client devices.

Abstract: It is described a method for managing the payment of goods and services is described, comprising at least the steps:

Abstract: A system and method for remote recording of programs using a broadcast without a direct internet connection including receiving preferences provided by a system user via cable service provider, using the preferences to determine broadcast media to be recorded, recording the determined broadcast media and presenting the recorded broadcast media to an end user. The system of the present invention utilizes the broadcast channel to directly send information to the user's audio/video recording system located at a different location. Since the cable service provider presently sends programming information to each household using the broadcast channel, additional information can also be added to this channel. Hence, a system user can access his audio/video recording system without actually having to directly communicate with his audio/video recording system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for the management of procurement and provisioning of video transmission services. The system includes a database containing information related to video transmission services provided by a video service provider for a plurality of video service providers, a routing engine operatively associated with the database for calculating at least one route for routing a video service between video service providers based on selectable criteria, a cost engine operatively associated with the database for calculating a cost associated with each of the routes calculated by the routing engine, an ordering module for entering the criteria and a video transmission coordination module for delivering a video transmission service from origin to destination.

Abstract: A PIP processing system and method of a monitor coupled to a computer main body, include a mouse coupled to the computer main body outputting a mouse signal and a mouse input processing part provided in the computer main body coupled to the mouse, converting the mouse signal into a PIP screen control signal to control a PIP function, and transmitting the PIP screen control signal to the monitor. A PIP processing part supports the PIP function displaying a main picture as a full screen and a PIP screen smaller than the main picture. A micro controller controls the PIP processing part based on the PIP screen control signal transmitted from the mouse input processing part, and adjusts a size or a position of the PIP screen.

Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes an entertainment source, and passenger displays connected to the entertainment source. A method for operating the in-flight entertainment system includes collecting information on passengers of the aircraft, and using the collected information for determining a respective pricing structure on available features of the in-flight entertainment system for each passenger. The method further includes determining a seating location of each passenger based upon an assigned passenger seating list, and displaying the respective pricing structure on an associated passenger display.

Abstract: An IP-based video-on-demand (VOD) system with anti-piracy capabilities. The invented system comprises at least one monitoring server and at least one billing server. The monitoring server comprises a data source monitor, a bandwidth monitor and a threshold comparator. The billing server comprises a normal pricing function and an alternative pricing function. The source of the data packets received by a client is monitored by the monitoring server. If the data packets come an unauthorized file source and the bandwidth between the client and the unauthorized file source is large, the software programs in the monitoring server and the billing generate a higher price for the client to discourage the client from downloading movie files from the authorized file source which is possibly a movie piracy website.

Abstract: An objective function and a constraint expression are established by a scheme of the invention as conditions for selecting advertisement information to be inserted into a slot in a content. The objective function is used to maximize a total of cost values held by the advertisements selected to be inserted into slots. The constraint expression is used to equalize totaled lengths of the selected advertisements with the length of the slots. The objective function and constraint expression making up the selection conditions are solved as a mathematical programming assignment problem, whereby advertisement information is selected for insertion into predetermined slots in a manner maximizing the benefits of the parties participating in the scheme. In a setup of moving picture streaming distribution, the scheme allows suitable advertisement information to be inserted selectively into slots of contents.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record a preselected program on a recording medium without fail.

Abstract: A method is provided for allocating bandwidth over a cable network to establish a packet-switched telephony connection between two endpoints. The method begins by authorizing and reserving an allocation of bandwidth at the time of a call origination sufficient to establish a voice-band data connection between the endpoints. Next, only a portion of the allocation of bandwidth is committed. This committed portion, which is sufficient to establish a compressed voice traffic connection between the endpoints, is a subset of the reserved allocation of bandwidth. The reserved but uncommitted portion of the allocation of bandwidth is released so that it is available for another connection if at least one of the endpoints determines that the connection is to support voice traffic and not voice-band data. This bandwidth portion may be released after a prescribed period of time has elapsed since the establishment of a full send/receive connection without the detection of voice-band data.

Abstract: A system for selling digital video information over a communications network such as the Internet basically includes a filtering server and a service administration system. The filtering server includes a commerce server, a streaming server and a world-wide web information server. The world-wide web information server provides customers with a list of available videos, the possibility to customize specific versions and a method for calculating the price for a specific version. The service administration system includes a management tool for the merchant to define price classes and payment schemes and a meta-data editing tool for the merchant to prepare the content for the filtering. The system will connect to external systems to have the payment information verified. If the payment transaction is accepted the system will pass the selected video through a sequence of service filters to generate the edition that the customer selected.

Abstract: A method for providing multimedia presentations on demand in a near on demand environment. The method comprises providing beginning segments for pre-recording by subscribers. Each beginning segment corresponds to ones of a plurality of multimedia presentations and each beginning segment has a duration at least as long as a predetermined time interval. Each one of the plurality of multimedia presentations are transmitted concurrently on a plurality of channels with identical presentations transmitted on different channels with start times of each transmission having a periodic interval not exceeding the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: The invention relates to video distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based recording, storage and playback system. Customers preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for only the video/audio content that is actually viewed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically updating a distribution list for each of a plurality of digital jukeboxes located at a venue. The method includes receiving at a server connected to the plurality of digital jukeboxes over a network feedback information from each of the plurality of digital jukeboxes, and automatically updating a distribution list previously stored at the server for each of the plurality of jukeboxes based on the received song play information. The received feedback information includes a value for each song stored in the jukeboxes. The values for each song are determined according to jukebox events. The jukebox events include songs played by the same user, songs played on the same jukebox at any given time, songs deleted by the venue owner or jukebox operator, and songs in the top ten of the venue where the jukebox is located.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing and collecting impulse pay-per-view (IPPV) data in smart card enabled digital television terminals are provided. A headend controller sends security information to the terminal for use by the smart card. Authentication data based on the security information is computed by the smart card. The controller polls the terminal to retrieve the authentication data and current IPPV data from the smart card. Current IPPV data is validated by the controller based on the authentication data. Upon validation of the current IPPV data, updated IPPV data is sent from the controller to the smart card via the terminal.

Abstract: A method and system is offered for creating program grids displaying programs with time as one axis and program preference along the other. Program preference information is used to create the grid. Program preference information is gathered from client devices which may be located in set-top boxes or on personal computers. Algorithms are used to determine the best placement of programs into the grid. Program preference information may also be used to direct users to other services that may be of interest.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to content, including preventing access to content that corresponds to a blacked out event, until at least one of a time criterion and payment criterion is met. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a method (200) of providing programs to consumers. The method can include sending electronic program guide information through a digital television network to a digital television receiver (220). The electronic program guide information can include at least one selectable program identifier for initiating a purchase transaction for an item associated with the selectable program identifier. The selectable program identifier can be presented (225), and responsive to a selection of the program identifier, a computer communications link between the digital television receiver and at least one remote server can be established (235). At least one potential purchase transaction for a sale of the item associated with the program identifier can be downloaded (245). The potential purchase transactions can be presented (250), and responsive to a selection (255) of one of the potential purchase transactions, the selected purchase transaction can be initiated (260).

Abstract: Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor unit, primarily including storage means for storing inter alia in digital form the visual and sound information to be used, and associated, through a number of interfaces, with display means for sound playback which provide a multimedia environment. The unit is controlled by a multitask operating system including a library of integrated tools and services in the storage means. The system is also associated, through an interface, with a telecommunications modem is connectable to an audiovisual information distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, the telecommunications functions also being managed by the multitask operating system.

Abstract: A system for authorizing reception, via multiple signal distribution mechanisms including: satellite, cable, internet, broadcast, etc. by a consumer at a first location, of programming content based upon numerous criteria, including a signal strength calculator, a distance from a point calculator, and a GIS boundary computer, the system including an authorization server making repetitive authorization determinations and providing a location specific authorized content list for the first location.

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

Abstract: A video on demand (VOD) gateway allows multiple incompatible and non-interoperable VOD systems to function as a single unified VOD system. A VOD gateway system includes a VOD asset gateway, a VOD session gateway, a VOD transaction gateway and a generic VOD client software program. The generic VOD client software resides in a CATV set-top box. The VOD asset gateway at the headend aggregates video inventory from multiple VOD vendor's equipment. The VOD session gateway at the headend translates a subscriber request in a generic protocol for VOD program into the proprietary protocol for a specific VOD system. The VOD transaction gateway at the headend aggregates transactions from multiple VOD vendor's equipment. In an alternate embodiment, a VOD gateway permits operators of multiple CATV systems to use multiple incompatible and non-interoperable VOD systems in each of a plurality of separate CATV systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses in which two or more types of attributes from an information stream are identified. Each of the identified attributes from the information stream is encoded. A time ordered indication is assigned with each of the identified attributes. Each of the identified attributes shares a common time reference measurement. A time ordered index of the identified attributes is generated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing broadcast media advertising including methods and apparatus for communicating the timing of ad broadcasts to advertising clients prior to broadcast, including using the output of a traffic and billing program; for catching errors in a scheduling program and for assessing the effectiveness of execution for scheduling purposes.

Abstract: A system for selling digital video information over a communications network such as the Internet basically includes a filtering server and a service administration system. The filtering server includes a commerce server, a streaming server and a world-wide web information server. The world-wide web information server provides customers with a list of available videos, the possibility to customize specific versions and a method for calculating the price for a specific version. The service administration system includes a management tool for the merchant to define price classes and payment schemes and a meta-data editing tool for the merchant to prepare the content for the filtering. The system will connect to external systems to have the payment information verified. If the payment transaction is accepted the system will pass the selected video through a sequence of service filters to generate the edition that the customer selected.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system is disclosed. The system includes a server computer, a transmission medium coupled to the server computer and a client computer coupled to the transmission medium. The client computer includes a security component that has exclusive access to a log stored at the client computer.

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

Abstract: For each of the customers of a broadcast service, server software can predict the content that the customer's client software is expected to acquire from the servers on behalf of the customer. This is based on (1) billing information for the customer received from the customer's client software and that describes previously broadcast content acquired by the client software on behalf of the customer, and (2) a description of available content that will be available for broadcast by the service and that can be acquired by the customer's client software. One application includes deriving a broadcast schedule for the service based on such predicted content for the customers.

Abstract: Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor device associated with a payment device primarily including means for storing, inter alia, in digital format the visual and sound information to be used. The system is associated through interfaces with display means and sound playback means for providing a multimedia environment. The system is controlled by a multitask operating system including a tool and service library integrated into the storage means. The system, which is also associated through an interface with a telecommunications modem, is optionally connected to an audiovisual data distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, said telecommunications function also being controlled by said multitask operating system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an expiration date monitoring system capable of monitoring an expiration date of a terminal by an effective method. According to an expiration date monitoring system comprising a terminal and a server for monitoring an expiration date of this terminal, the server monitors the expiration date for each terminal, for each function of the terminal and for each content. The terminal receives a renewal command of the expiration date from the server and stores the renewed expiration date of each function. Then, the terminal can activate the terminal itself, each function of the terminal and the access to the content when the current date (current time) is within the expiration date thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for purchasing Pay Per View (“PPV”) television events by using a wireless communications device such as a cellular phone having Wireless Application Protocol Technology. The system and method of the present invention allows a subscriber, when away from home, to purchase PPV events for the subscriber's television system by using a WAP-enabled cellular phone or PDA and accessing a database on a server wherein the database is also WAP-enabled. The present invention uses a wireless Internet connection to facilitate a wireless purchase of a PPV event thus resulting in immediate processing, billing and accounting. The subscriber can view PPV event schedules and purchase PPV events by selecting the desired event directly from the display screen on the subscriber's cellular telephone. A reminder message can be sent to the subscriber's cellular telephone minutes before the start of the event.

Abstract: A system and method for recording purchased programming by a recording device which communicates instructions back and forth with an order processor. The order processor communicates with the user recording device as well as with a program source device to automatically ensure recording of purchased programming by a user pursuant to a user's order. The program delivery may occur at a time different from when the user views the program. The system may verify that the user recording device is capable of recording the program and may reschedule the delivery of the purchased program if the user device is unable to record the program.

Abstract: In order to purchase television programs, it is necessary to establish a communication between the television decoder of the subscriber and a management center. There are known transmission means such as a modem or a cable link to dialogue with the management center.

Abstract: A system and methods of providing a globally accessible media exchange, whereby media creators, media rights holders, and agents can offer media and media rights to a world-wide market. Media users and publishers can find and preview the media that they need or want and purchase media ownership or license media rights through the media exchange. The media exchange can store digital graphics, audio, and video. The media exchange can also manage the transfer of media and media rights for physical media. In some embodiments, the media exchange can establish a dynamic fair market value based on matching asking prices and bids. Some embodiments could be limited to a single media type such as just audio media.

Abstract: In a reproduction device 1, a content element selecting unit 101 selects a content and a background video material, a foreground video material and a sound material via a dialogue with a user, and sends the selected content and materials to a distribution device 2 via a sending and receiving unit 103. A content controlling unit 102 performs a request and controls of content data such as a sending request, a receiving control management, a time control, a display control of a video material, and an output control of video data, based on scene description data which is sent from the distribution device 2. A content displaying device 104 and a content sound outputting unit 105 reproduce video data and sound data which are outputted from the content controlling unit 102.

Abstract: An enterprise or business system is disclosed that provides content and services to customers over an infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of business application modules and associated databases, and further includes a bus, such as an enterprise application integration (EAI) bus, for interconnecting the plurality of business application modules, the associated databases and customer equipment. The EAI provides an inter-application module and customer equipment messaging function and message/data translation capability. In the preferred embodiment at least one of the plurality of business application modules is a customer billing application module that cooperates with others of the plurality of business application modules and the customer equipment through the EAI for generating, for individual ones of the customers, a bill that contains a unified accounting of all of the content and services received by the customer through the infrastructure.

Abstract: A plurality of live video streams are generated by video cameras associated with terminals in a network. In one embodiment, the live video streams are received and cached by a first terminal. In addition, the live video streams are simultaneously displayed on the first terminal in one of various formats, such as a grid format or a ticker format. In response to a user selecting one of the live video streams being displayed, an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream is retrieved and displayed to the user.

Abstract: A content distribution system, content distribution control apparatus, content distribution control method, content distribution control program and content distribution control program storage medium realizes the distribution of content to much more clients.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating home networking communications signals over telephone lines to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a television device. A three port adapter has a phone line port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the phone line port through a low pass filter and wideband balun adapted to pass home networking communications signals while being adapted to reject television signals. The first coaxial cable port is also coupled to the second coaxial port through a high pass filter while being adapted to reject home networking communications signals. The phone line port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port to the television device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for indicating when changes to values of data fields in a document have occurred. In one embodiment of the invention, two objects are created upon the loading of an HTML form on an HTML page in a web browser. One object stores the initial values of the data in the HTML form, while the other object is subsequently updated so that the current values of the data in the HTML form are stored therein. When the data in the HTML form is submitted to a server, the data in the two objects are compared to determine which data fields of the HTML form are “dirty”; i.e., which data fields have current values different from their initial values. A record identifying which data fields are “dirty” is created and is submitted to the server along with the data in the HTML page.

Abstract: An information network, such as an interactive set-top box, is provided to a subscriber. Through interaction with the set-top box, a subscriber may indicate his or her interest in a specific television or video program to be offered by a service provider and the price he or she would be willing to pay for it. This information is communicated to the service provider over a communications link, such as the Internet. The service provider uses the information to determine the offer price of the television or video program.