Video Still Or Clip Patents (Class 725/41)
  • Patent number: 7917926
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mark T. Corl
  • Publication number: 20110072463
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a decoder. The method comprises receiving, on a first channel, an electronic program guide data stream comprising multiple video streams which have been encoded and multiplexed for transmission on the first channel, each video stream comprising a low resolution version of a high resolution video stream which is being simultaneously received on a separate channel; decoding the electronic program guide data stream into frames, each frame defining a mosaic-style image comprising image areas for images in the electronic program guide data stream corresponding to images from each of the multiple video streams; and displaying each of the frames on a display screen coupled to the decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: JLB Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Eduard Zaslavsky, Lev Olkha
  • Publication number: 20110072462
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining, at a set-top box device, first interaction data based on user interaction with a first portion of an electronic program guide that is displayable via the set-top box device. The computer-implemented method includes performing an analysis of the first interaction data and the first portion of the electronic program guide. The computer-implemented method also includes identifying a second portion of the electronic program guide based on the analysis. The computer-implemented method further includes modifying the electronic program guide to display the second portion of the electronic program guide adjacent to a location of the first portion of the electronic program guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott White, Ian Schmehl, Thomas Sauer
  • Publication number: 20110055872
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video-data reproduction apparatus is connected by a network to a sever that distributes moving-picture content in unit of programs. The apparatus has a browser and a monitor. The browser can reproduce moving-picture content in units of programs, each at a time on the entire screen of the monitor. The browser performs a process of switching the program being reproduced on the entire screen, to a program designated, in accordance with an instruction input at a remote controller while the apparatus remains in the full-screen reproduction mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi Narahara, Yasuhiro Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20110055870
    Abstract: An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The image display apparatus includes a display for displaying a selected screen, a tuner unit for receiving a broadcast signal of a selected channel or broadcast signals of previously stored channels, and a controller for, upon receipt of a number input, controlling display of a screen on the display, the screen including a list of channel numbers each including the input number among channel numbers of the previously stored channels on which the broadcast signals are received, and thumbnail images of channels having the channel numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Hyungsun YUM, Yongki Ahn, Suyeon Cho
  • Publication number: 20110047574
    Abstract: Strategies are described for adding a mark to media content at a source location in response to the activation of a marking mechanism, and then resuming the presentation of the media content at a second location based on the mark. The source location may be the same as the destination location, or the source location may differ from the destination location. In the latter case, the source location can correspond to a first room in a home that provides a first media processing mechanism, and the destination location can correspond to a second room in the home that provides a second media processing mechanism. The marking mechanism can correspond to a mark button provided by a remote control. Various user interface displays facilitate the adding of the mark and the resuming of the presentation, including various timelines displays, mark panel displays, thumbnail displays, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Tecot, Shannon C. Hegg, Laurie J. Vertelney, Michael J. Darnell
  • Publication number: 20110047573
    Abstract: Provided is a display device including a display mode controller for controlling a screen transition to a whole screen display mode for displaying an image in an entire screen of a display section, a multiple content display mode for displaying, on the screen, a plurality of thumbnail images related to contents, or a panel display mode for displaying, on the screen, a first panel on which information related to the contents is displayed, an information obtaining section for obtaining externally various information, and a panel display section for displaying the various information obtained in the whole screen display mode on a second panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Onogi, Koichi Tashiro, Naoya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20110047572
    Abstract: A user interface (UI) for an Internet enabled TV lists content genre such as photos, music, and video, and for each genre a sub-list of content is provided regardless of the source of the content, i.e., regardless of whether the content in the particular genre is stored locally or is sourced from the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: SETH HILL, TRACY HO BARNES
  • Publication number: 20110041152
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program, a program guide display, and a program guide video window. A viewer may use the program guide video window to browse video of programs shown on the program guide display while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The program guide display may display video on demand (VOD) programs, programs to be broadcast in the future, and programs currently being broadcast on other channels. The viewer may browse through programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to swap audio and video signals back and forth between programs shown in the video window and programs shown on the background screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Reynolds, David M. Rudnick, Joel G. Hassell, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 7890867
    Abstract: Video editing functions displayed in or near video sequences are described, including displaying a video window including a video sequence of a video presentation, receiving an input to enable an editing panel for performing an editing function for the video sequence, and displaying the editing panel using the video window in response to the receiving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Vlad Margulis
  • Patent number: 7890975
    Abstract: A system for providing a plurality of sets of broadcast data service transmitted as part of a broadcast signal, including a processor configured to periodically extract at least some of the plurality of sets of the broadcast data service from a broadcast carousel included in the broadcast signal, a memory configured to store the extracted plurality of sets of the broadcast data service, defining a plurality of digital-audio/video-data-sets including television clips, a first controller configured to allow selection from a list of the plurality of sets of the digital-audio/video-data-sets, and a second controller responsive to a user initiated selection signal to cause the memory to output a user selected one of the plurality of digital-audio/video-data-sets selected from the list, wherein the processor converts the digital-audio/video-data of the plurality of sets of the broadcast data service into real time audio/video data, and updates portions of data related to the stored extracted plurality of sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventor: Adrian Charles Paskins
  • Patent number: 7886327
    Abstract: A media content sharing concept wherein users are able to share highlights or other portions of content with friends. The concept may be used in any number of environments where electronic media, such as but not limited to audio, video, and multi-media, is transferable between a number of users. Bookmarks or other features may be used to facilitate accessing the video clips for subsequent viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Clarke Stevens
  • Patent number: 7882523
    Abstract: An image retrieval assisting apparatus and method for retrieving a desired image program from a number of image programs, such as broadcast contents in a broadcast-contents-recording/reproducing apparatus or a broadcast receiving set. A classification criterion information storage portion stores classification criterion for classifying broadcast contents into a plurality of categories. A program information acquisition portion acquires program information of the broadcast contents. A program information classification portion classifies the program information into the plurality of categories according to the stored classification criterion. An HDD stores the classified program information, and a display displays categories defined by the stored classification criterion horizontally on a monitor screen in a selectable manner and displays only the program information categorized in a selected category vertically on the monitor screen in a selectable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Utsuki, Keiichi Yoshioka, Hidetoshi Ichioka, Shinichi Wakai, Hiroshi Takagi, Yoshiaki Arishima, Ayako Nakayama, Koji Fujita, Shigeharu Kondo
  • Patent number: 7877770
    Abstract: There is provided according to an embodiment, a digital television (DTV) data stream containing a program and system information protocol (PSIP) table associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP table comprising a descriptor which comprises: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mark T. Corl
  • Patent number: 7877690
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting time data for audio and video clips. Operations for a data processing apparatus include obtaining video data, including multiple video clips, and presenting the video data in a user interface. The user interface can include a video display element to play video, a clip selection element to receive video clip selections, and a timeline element to present both chronological and durational information about the video clips on a defined time scale. The operations can include receiving a selection of one of the video clips through the clip selection element, and adjusting, in response to the selection, the defined time scale in the timeline element based on the one of the video clips selected. A view of a video clip can be replaced by the selected video clip, and the timeline element can be updated to present corresponding durational information within the defined time scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Vlad Margulis
  • Patent number: 7877771
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mark T. Corl
  • Patent number: 7877773
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mark T. Corl
  • Patent number: 7877769
    Abstract: Disclosed is a type of meta data structure that provides data and/or or a link to such data that is used by an EPG generator in a DTV receiver to display visually-compelling information about an event. Such information can include: an icon associated with the broadcaster of the event and/or the source of the event; a graphic representing a rating of potentially-objectionable content in the event; a still image representative of or having a relation to the event; a video excerpt of or having a relation to the event; an advertisement related to the event, its broadcaster and/or its source; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mark T. Corl
  • Patent number: 7877772
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Mark T. Corl
  • Publication number: 20110013086
    Abstract: It is an object to provide an audio visual device that can display a picked-up image on a screen for a user to easily recognize the image without imposing an excessive load in terms of a capacity or the like. An audio video device is provided to display a list of picked-up images so that a user can easily recognize them by making use of a cell to display a program table set in the audio visual device in advance. Further, an audio visual device is provided to display a list of Exif information contained in a picked-up image together with the picked-up image on a screen so that a user can easily recognize the image displayed on the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kinya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7873972
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a decoder. The method comprises receiving, on a first channel, an electronic program guide data stream comprising multiple video streams which have been encoded and multiplexed for transmission on the first channel, each video stream comprising a low resolution version of a high resolution video stream which is being simultaneously received on a separate channel; decoding the electronic program guide data stream into frames, each frame defining a mosaic-style image comprising image areas for images in the electronic program guide data stream corresponding to images from each of the multiple video streams; and displaying each of the frames on a display screen coupled to the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: JLB Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Eduard Zaslavsky, Lev Olkha
  • Patent number: 7870166
    Abstract: Methods and Apparatus related to generating representations of information. The information may include menu information for merchants such as restaurants. Referring to menus, methods may include receiving potential information for a first menu, and receiving indications of associations of the information with the first menu and/or any number of additional menus. Information and/or associations may later be updated by a desired set of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Howard W. Lutnick
  • Publication number: 20110004905
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and &program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program; and set a desired broadcast time for that program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 7865068
    Abstract: A device for recording records digitally encoded video information on a record carrier according to a predefined recording format, such as BD. The device has an input unit (91) for receiving a data stream comprising the video information and application data objects contained in messages, such as DVB-MHP. The device has a message unit (92, 94) for extracting the messages from the data stream. The messages are stored in a message file as a series of the messages for the program separate from the video information. The device also has a parsing unit (95) for generating application control information that includes accessing information for accessing the messages in the message file. The application control information is stored in a message info file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Jacobus Van Gestel, Declan Patrick Kelly, Philip Steven Newton
  • Patent number: 7861267
    Abstract: A method and system for presenting TV channels to a viewer is provided. One or more channel lists are generated based on selection criteria. The channel shuffle scanning is performed by presenting per channel content to a viewer from a channel list, for user viewing within a pre-selected period of time until the viewer picks a channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephane Haziza, Praveen Kashyap, Dang Van Tran
  • Patent number: 7853973
    Abstract: A broadcast signal includes an information table (EIT) or an application information table (AIT) which includes a descriptor. The descriptor includes image data representative of a thumbnail image to be displayed within an electronic program guide (EPG). A decoder decodes the EIT or AIT from a broadcast signal, and an application manager displays the thumbnail image within an EPG to indicate that a channel scheduled to carry a broadcast program is also scheduled to carry broadcast data simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young Tae Chung
  • Patent number: 7849481
    Abstract: A system may provide a video program or information associated with the video program on a video display device, and provide an interactive content icon on the video display device. The interactive content icon may indicate that interactive content is available for the video program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Hannah Y. Moon, D. Beau Morley
  • Publication number: 20100306800
    Abstract: A method for operating an image display apparatus includes providing input signals to the image display apparatus, displaying at least one image on a display based on the input signals, generating a plurality thumbnail images based on the input signals, and displaying a thumbnail-image list which includes a plurality of generated thumbnail images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Dae Young JUNG, Hae Jin Bae, Jae Kyung Lee, Kun Sik Lee, Gyu Seung Kim
  • Patent number: 7840979
    Abstract: A discovery interface facilitates the selection of available media content. Content-relevant graphical tiles are displayed in strips within the discovery interface. In this manner, a user can survey graphics associated with available content. When the discovery interface section (e.g., a row) is in focus, the graphical tiles are expanded as compared to the tiles in sections that are not in focus to provide easier viewing by the user. Furthermore, when an individual tile is in focus, then the tile expands further to be wider and taller than any of the other tiles in the associated tile strip. In one implementation, the focused tile is also highlighted, such as with a distinguishing border. In another implementation, metadata associated with the content of the focused tile is displayed in the proximity of the focused tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Poling, Jr., Frederic Azera, Jeffrey C. Fong, Michael W. Van Flandern, Christen Coomer, John Elsbree
  • Publication number: 20100293576
    Abstract: A method of recommending local and remote content, comprising: receiving, at a television apparatus, a first set of content items and linking information linking each of the content items of the first set to a respective subset of the first set; providing a second set of further content items, the content items of the second set being locally available at the television apparatus; and determining for each content item in a unified set including the first and second sets further linking information linking the content item to a further subset from the unified set; wherein for a certain content item of the first set, the further subset is determined by adding content items of the second set to the respective subset of the certain content item, the content items added being determined by comparing meta data associated with the certain content item with meta data respectively associated with all content items of the second set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Europe Limited
    Inventors: Ruediger HNYK, Frank Fritz Heider, Tassilo Volker Raesig, Jose Alexandre Simoes Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 7836467
    Abstract: A user interface for an interactive information distribution system comprising a graphics region, a video region and a mask/reveal layer. The user interface is generated in a head end of the system as a digital bitstream and transmitted to subscriber equipment for display. Operation of the user interface is facilitated by functions on both a local level with the subscriber equipment and on a system level within the head end. One embodiment of the user interface is an interactive program guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Donald F. Gordon, Edward A. Ludvig, Nathan W. Osborn, Jeremy S. Edmonds, Sadik Bayrakeri
  • Patent number: 7831987
    Abstract: A program selecting method includes the steps of: storing still pictures or motion pictures of specific scenes of a plurality of viewed programs selected in a predetermined period; presenting the pictures of the specific scenes corresponding to a plurality of programs viewed in the past, during operation of program selection; and selecting the viewed program corresponding to the picture selected by operation of selecting the pictures presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Shikata, Kazuna Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7827297
    Abstract: A method for associating segments within various media such as text, audio and video is described. A system for navigating and presenting such media is presented. Additionally, a system for defining the segment locations and the associations between them is presented. A method for assisting the user when specifying the segment boundaries is described, which employs the output from automatic media analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Trausti Thor Kristjansson
  • Patent number: 7817301
    Abstract: Information relating to print contents is presented to the user in an easily understandable manner. A demultiplexer separates picture data, speech data and other data from received data. Such data include EPG data, data broadcast data, print contents data and supplementary information on the print contents data. A data stream process unit decodes the supplementary information on the print contents data and the print contents data. An image construction unit constructs an image signal of an image frame, providing a list display of transmission schedule and supplementary information of the print contents. The image signal is supplied through a display controller to an image display unit and displayed as an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ohno, Shuntaro Aratani, Katsuhiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7814421
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program, a program guide display, and a program guide video window. A viewer may use the program guide video window to browse video of programs shown on the program guide display while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The program guide display may display video on demand (VOD) programs, programs to be broadcast in the future, and programs currently being broadcast on other channels. The viewer may browse through programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to swap audio and video signals back and forth between programs shown in the video window and programs shown on the background screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J Reynolds, David M Rudnick, Joel G Hassell, Michael D Ellis
  • Publication number: 20100257561
    Abstract: A system for a viewer to navigate television programming using a control, the television programming being view-able on a display device having a screen, the system comprising a program guide module to manage program guide information for a plurality of program items for a plurality of channels, the program items including a plurality of current and future scheduled programs, the program guide information including a plurality of links to a plurality of program item representations associated with the program items, a navigation control module to receive program selection instructions from the viewer, via the control, in order for the viewer to surf among the program item representations of the current and future programs, and a program item display module to display a currently selected program item representation which occupies a majority of the screen of the display device. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: NDS Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Maissel, Ezra Darshan
  • Patent number: 7810118
    Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus has a receiver to receive electronic program guide (EPG) data containing video data and character data associated with TV programs and a display controller to process the EPG data to display an EPG with at least the character data on a screen, displaying of the video data being depending on duration of each TV program. The display controller controls displaying such that only the character data is displayed for TV programs having duration shorter than a predetermined time whereas both of the character data and the video data are displayed for TV programs having duration equal to or longer than the predetermined time by adjusting a size of the video data in a direction of height or width in the EPG as an integer multiple of a size of the character data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20100223642
    Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, David M. Rudnick, Michael D. Ellis, Daniel C. Hagenbuch, Joel G. Hassell, Robert A. Knee, Steven J. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7761795
    Abstract: A system for creating user defined advertisements. The system comprises a computer readable storage medium. The medium comprises a digitized film/video; an attribute database comprising predetermined attributes. Each attribute correlates to at least one scene of the film/video. An advertisement database is provided comprising predetermined advertisements of the film/video. A publication database is provided comprising critiques of the film/video. The medium also comprises selection instructions for the user to select, for viewing, one of the digitized film/video, the selected scene, the predetermined advertisements or the critiques. A machine capable of reading the computer readable storage medium implements the instructions for viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventors: Robert L. Davis, Benjamin J. Weinberger
  • Patent number: 7757252
    Abstract: The present invention provides a digital television system where access rights to a programme or channel are received analyzed by the decoder in determining whether to permit or prohibit full audio and visual access by the user to that programme or channel when displayed in respective windows of a mosaic formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Agasse
  • Patent number: 7757253
    Abstract: A video clip is captured from a television broadcast on each of a plurality of channels. The captured video clips are provided to a display interface, which successively displays the captured video clips within a focus area of a user interface in response to an initiating action by a user. The display interface then discontinues the successive display of video clips to show a particular video clip corresponding to a selected channel in response to a terminating action by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventors: Caryl Rappaport, Robert H. Tankersley, James A. Billmaier, John M. Kellum, Dewey Reid, Philip Rogan
  • Patent number: 7757172
    Abstract: An electronic equipment includes: a storage unit that stores a plurality of facial images extracted from video data and time stamp information indicating time points when the plurality of facial images appear in the video data; and a processor that operates, based on the time stamp information, to: arrange a plurality of facial image display areas in a two-dimensional display area in a grid layout having a given number of rows and a plurality of columns, each of the columns being assigned with respective time zones divided from a total time length of the video data; and display the facial images, which belong to each of the time zones assigned to the columns, in the facial image display areas included in the respective columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20100162311
    Abstract: A system for providing a plurality of sets of broadcast data service transmitted as part of a broadcast signal, including a processor configured to periodically extract at least some of the plurality of sets of the broadcast data service from a broadcast carousel included in the broadcast signal, a memory configured to store the extracted plurality of sets of the broadcast data service, defining a plurality of digital-audio/video-data-sets including television clips, a first controller configured to allow selection from a list of the plurality of sets of the digital-audio/video-data-sets, and a second controller responsive to a user initiated selection signal to cause the memory to output a user selected one of the plurality of digital-audio/video-data-sets selected from the list, wherein the processor converts the digital-audio/video-data of the plurality of sets of the broadcast data service into real time audio/video data, and updates portions of data related to the stored extracted plurality of sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: SONY UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED
    Inventor: Adrian Charles PASKINS
  • Publication number: 20100154000
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide application is provided that displays real-time information to a user. The interactive television program guide application may display alerts for indicating to the user the availability of real-time information. The interactive television program guide application may also display program listings with real-time information. In response to the user selecting a program listing, the interactive television program guide application may provide the user with an indication that real-time content related to the selected listing is available. In some embodiments, the real-time content is not the program corresponding to the selected program listing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: United Video Properties Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Westberg, Thomas E. Ward
  • Publication number: 20100153987
    Abstract: A system for providing requested data sets of broadcast data service transmitted as part of a broadcast signal, including a broadcast headend configured to receive a data request from a receiver, and configured to broadcast requested data sets to the receiver in response to the data request from the receiver, a processor configured to periodically extract all of the requested data sets of the broadcast data service from a broadcast carousel included in the broadcast signal, a memory configured to store all of the requested data sets of the broadcast data service, defining a plurality of digital-audio/video-data-sets including television clips, a first controller configured to allow selection from a list of the plurality of sets of the digital-audio/video-data-sets, and a second controller responsive to a user initiated selection signal to cause the memory to output a user selected one of the plurality of digital-audio/video-data sets selected from the list, wherein the processor converts the digital-audio/vid
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SONY UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED
    Inventor: Adrian Charles PASKINS
  • Publication number: 20100146550
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal and an apparatus for receiving the broadcast signal. In the present invention, first program table information describing a broadcasting stream, and second program table information including additional service identifier information of the multiplexed stream and third program table information describing the additional service data for the, multiplexed stream are obtained. The additional service can be provided with the additional service data by using the third program table information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Ho Taek Hong, Jong Yeul Suh, Joon Hui Lee, Jae Hyung Song, Jin Pil Kim
  • Patent number: 7735103
    Abstract: A method of providing a broadcast, method of reproducing the same, terminal for the same, and system thereof are disclosed, by which recorded broadcast data can be summarized and reproduced according to contents or priority of the broadcast. The present invention includes a broadcasting station inserting a summary reproduction information in broadcast data, transmitting the broadcast data; and a broadcast terminal storing the broadcast data received from the broadcasting station, reproducing a summary of the broadcast data using the summary reproduction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Moon Hwang
  • Publication number: 20100125874
    Abstract: Disclosed a method and apparatus for providing received broadcast data in a digital broadcasting system. The apparatus for controlling a screen configuration in a digital broadcasting receiver includes: a data reception/conversion unit for receiving head-end-side data including configuration data of lattice-type moving picture contents sent through a broadcasting network, and converting the received data into content screen configuration data; and a content screen configuration unit for editing content screen configuration data converted by the data reception/conversion unit, disposing the content screen configuration data according to each category in a display means of a user terminal, and performing a control operation such that the first category and the last category among multiple categories displayed through the display means are cyclically connected and displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: ALTICAST CORP.
    Inventors: Tae-Min AHN, Hoon CHO, You-Jin LEE
  • Publication number: 20100122294
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing custom video mosaic pages are provided. The custom pages may be locally-generated, remotely-generated, or partially locally-generated and partially remotely-generated. The custom pages may include local content, such as content recorded to a digital video recorder (DVR), overlaid on a multi-video composite feed. A local compositing system may render the mosaic pages and dynamically customize the pages based on user profile data, user preferences, and active user monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Michael L. Craner
  • Patent number: 7716702
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for delivering data including graphical components to user terminals through a communications network, e.g., a cable TV network. In one embodiment, multiple versions of a graphical component of a program guide, each formatted for a respective aspect ratio of a user's TV, are generated. On the other hand, a single version of non-graphical program guide data may also be generated. A data stream containing the non-graphical data and the multiple versions of the graphical component is transmitted to set-top terminals in the network via a transmission channel. If a graphical component is desired, the set-top terminal retrieves from the data stream a selected version of the graphical component that is compatible with the aspect ratio of the TV to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, Inc.
    Inventor: William Helms