Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing programs indicated by the associated program description to be audio-only programs, including the following. A respective program description for programs is received. Upon user selection of a program, a determination is made as to whether the selected program is an audio-only program. If the selected program is an audio-only program, then preprogrammed on-screen display information is displayed while the selected audio-only program is played to provide additional visual entertainment for users.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing an information signal stored on a first storage medium (4). The apparatus comprises a reading unit (2) for reading the information signal from the first storage medium, an output unit (6) for supplying the information signal to a display unit, an user controllable input unit (8) for receiving commands to enable an user to access the information signal. The user controllable input unit is adapted to receive a first command at an instant. The apparatus further comprises a unit (10) for controlling the reading unit to start reading the information signal from said storage medium at a second position in the information signal in response to said first command, the information signal at said second position having features showing a similarity with features of the information signal at a first position read at said instant of receiving said first command, or a features of an information signal read prior to said instant.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive broadcast television system. The system and method of the present invention may also be used for simulating an Internet home page on an interactive television system. The present invention thus supports hyperlinked web-like navigational capabilities in an interactive television system. According to the method of the present invention, the video delivery system provides or broadcasts one or more audio/video channels each comprising video content and also provides or broadcasts at least one still image channel comprising a plurality of still video images, preferably MPEG-2 compressed still images. The user or viewer can select options displayed on the television screen to view desired information.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating, transmitting and receiving a user interface for an interactive information distribution system. 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 within the subscriber equipment and on a system level within the head end. One embodiment of the user interface is an interactive program guide.

Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: Selecting from currently available television programs or other commercial broadcasts is enabled by clustering the broadcasts on the basis of program categories and by simultaneously displaying video information from all of the broadcasts. The channels through which the commercial broadcasts are received are monitored in order to detect any changes in program categorization. Thus, the clustering of the broadcasts is dynamic with respect to the number of broadcasts in the different clusters. Each broadcast is displayed as a reduced-scale presentation that is based upon the video information specific to the broadcasts. In one embodiment, at least one of the clusters can be split into sub-clusters, such as splitting a movie cluster or a sports cluster on the basis of genres. Optionally, the different reduced-scale presentations are continuously updated, other than during commercial times.

Abstract: The method for adapting the lateral and temporal resolution of a microscope image allows the detection of temporal changes in the image content, and switches over to another transmission mode on the basis of the result of the determination. The arrangement for adapting the lateral and temporal resolution of a microscope image comprises means for detecting the changes in the image content of a microscopic image. Also provided are electronic means for limiting the image content. Further means make it possible to switch over automatically to a suitable transmission mode. The means for detecting the change is an image data processing means (22) that ascertains salient image points and their positions within a defined image window. In addition, a comparison element (36) is provided and is connected to a switchover means (33).

Abstract: A method of generating a visual program summary is disclosed for a multiple source video feed. In the disclosed method, a computing device continuously captures frames from a set of available video feeds such as television channels. The computing device analyzes the captured video frames to remove redundant frames. The computing device then selects a set of frames to generate a visual program summary. The selected frames are composited together to generate a visual program summary.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.

Abstract: Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces. The program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes encoding a first set of slices for each of a plurality of graphics pages; and encoding a second set of slices for each of a plurality of video streams. The user interfaces are multi-functional and may be used for electronic commerce and other applications. A method of generating the user interface includes encoding a set of slices for each of a plurality of objects, each object being characterized by an identity, at least one attribute, and at least one operation. In one embodiment of this method, the plurality of objects include an electronic commerce object, where the electronic commerce object is attributed with a first hyper text markup language (HTML) page.

Abstract: Radio waves transmitted from the antenna of a broadcasting station are received by the antenna of a television receiver. The television receiver extracts an EPG from the received radio waves and transmits it to a remote controller via an infrared transmission/reception section. The remote controller displays the received EPG on an LCD and is then rendered in a state of waiting for selection of a program. If some program is selected and then a reserve button is manipulated, the remote controller transmits a control command for a recording reservation to a video tape recorder. The video tape recorder receives the control command with an infrared transmission/reception section, whereby the recording reservation of the designated program is set.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and transmitting both video and graphics portions of an interactive program guide (IPG). For an IPG that comprises a graphics portion and at least one video portion having audio associated with the video portion, the apparatus separately encodes the video and audio portion and the graphics portion. The video portion is slice-base encoded using a predictive encoder that produces a bitstream comprising intra-coded picture slices and predictive-coded picture slices. The graphics portion is separately slice-base encoded to produce encoded slices of the graphics image. To transmit an IPG, a transport stream is created containing the intra-coded and predicted picture streams as well as the encoded slices that comprise a graphics image that is to be included in the IPG. The receiver reassembles the components of the IPG into a comprehensive IPG.

Abstract: A method and system that allows a user to, with a single button press on a remote control, quickly navigate within a program guide to an established reference point, such as the program information associated with the last viewed channel and the current time. The establishment of a reference point provides a subscriber with a known position within program information that may cover weeks of time, thousands of channels, and a variety of categories or sorting methods. The subscriber that has advanced through many hours and channels of program information is provided with a method of easily navigating to a known reference within the program information.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver, referring to program information obtained by a program information acquiring section (9), identifies icons associated with programs, and displays the icons on a user interface screen with establishing correspondence with the arrangement of a ten-digit keypad (21) of a remote control (13).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to display multi picture-in-guide information. The method includes displaying electronic program guide (EPG) background screen having a main PIG screen and a plurality of sub PIG screens if an EPG mode for a current channel is requested; detecting EPG information on the current channel to display in texts on the EPG background screen, displaying tuned moving pictures of the current channel on the main PIG screen, while sequentially detecting EPG information for other channels, capturing pictures from the other channels, and displaying the detected EPG information in texts on the EPG background screen and displaying the captured pictures as still pictures on the sub PIG screens; and whenever a channel is selected among the displayed EPG information, tuning the channel as the current channel and updating the main PIG screen and the sub PIG screens.

Abstract: A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to select targeted advertisements for insertion into a program being rendered on a rendering device in a home area network. The selection of the advertisement may be based on a profile associated with that particular rendering device. In other embodiments, the profile associated with a rendering device in a home area network is updated based on an identification that the rendering device is active and based on the program being rendered on the active rendering device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus retrieves and interactively displays program guide information by analyzing the program information screen images from the video source provider on a dedicated service channel; with the unilateral processing at the viewer end alone. Also, the present invention provides a method to supply additional program information with special image patterns in selected screen areas. The present invention further provides the ability for the viewer to select programs for future viewing or recording.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for presenting program guide content in an audio format is disclosed. The program guide content is presented by receiving a program guide and a program having an audio component, aurally presenting the audio component at one of at least two audio output devices, and aurally presenting the program guide at an other one of the at least two audio output devices concurrently with the aural presentation of the audio component.

Abstract: A method of displaying rating information comprises the step of tuning in to a designated channel when a program selecting operation is performed and acquiring rating information, and the step of displaying the acquired rating information, together with a program image obtained by the tuning, on a display device.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment system has a program provider which distributes video content programs to multiple subscribers over a distribution network. Each subscriber has a user interface unit which receives the digital video program and converts it for display on a television, monitor, or other display unit. The user interface unit has a processor and memory. An electronic programming guide (EPG) resides in the memory and is executable on the processor to organize programming information that is descriptive of the programs supplied over the interactive entertainment system. The EPG supports a user interface (UI) which visually correlates programs titles to scheduled viewing times. A hyperlink browser also resides in memory and is executable on the processor. One or more hyperlinks, which reference target resources containing interactive content related to the video programs, are integrated as part of the EPG UI.

Abstract: A program guide system is provided that supports a program guide application and multiple non-guide applications. The program guide system has a program guide application interface that allows the non-guide applications to use both device resources and program guide resources. The application interface maintains a list of registered applications and directs control requests from various applications to the current primary application. The application interface also has a user interface input director that directs keystrokes and other user input commands to the appropriate application. If a keystroke for the program guide application is detected while a non-guide application is running, the program guide application is invoked.

Abstract: An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

Abstract: A program guide in which a video layer includes a plurality of video objects including title objects, each title object having associated with it a channel and at least one time slot, the video layer being formed in response to a received video stream; and a graphics layer comprising a plurality of graphics objects including title overlay objects, each of the title overlay objects selectively imparting at least a visual de-emphasis to a respective title object in the video layer, the visual de-emphasis being imparted to title objects not being associated with a desired time slot.

Abstract: A settop box system for capturing and controlling live and recorded audio and video content. The system records digital and analog data from video and audio content, such as in a home entertainment center. The system records data from the content as specified and the data may be sequenced into clips that can be searched and indexed. A user may create comparison programs that allow searches of either pre-recorded or incoming content to be performed. In addition, the program allows editing of recorded programs, such as filtering of audio content or overlaying a video program with a different audio background. Multiple audio and video feeds may be handled simultaneously and the program's functions may be executed without viewing of the content being manipulated. The recorded content may also be indexed and even clips of the content may be indexed.

Abstract: A method and system (100) for conveying a video message is disclosed. Video data comprising at least image data and associated audio data is captured and a video message structure (401) is created. A link is established between the structure (401) and the video data to create a structured video message. The structured video message is characterized by a video message structure (401) that provides an originator (103), of the message, enhanced manipulation capabilities for the video data by manipulating the structure (401). The structured video message can be conveyed to a recipient for viewing and/or for providing the recipient substantially the same enhanced manipulation capabilities.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for guiding broadcasting information of a TV is disclosed, in which various and detailed information is provided to permit a user to easily identify a program and fulfill the user's visual desire.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using an interactive television program guide to display video for a user on a display on which program listings information is displayed. Program listings information is displayed using the interactive television program guide. A complete video is simultaneously displayed in a reduced size video window using the interactive television program guide. In some embodiments, the complete video may be associated with a television program that is currently available for viewing by the user. In some embodiments, the complete video may be associated with a television program that will be available for viewing by the user at a future time. In some embodiments, the program listings information and the complete video may be displayed simultaneously with video for a given television program. In some embodiments, the program listings information and the complete video may be displayed simultaneously with promotional information.

Abstract: A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement.

Abstract: A method extracts an intensity of motion activity from shots in a compressed video. The method then uses the intensity of motion activity to segment the video into easy and difficult segments to summarize. Easy to summarize segments are represented by any frames selected from the easy to summarize segments, while a color based summarization process extracts generates sequences of frames from each difficult to summarize segment. The selected and generated frames of each segment in each shot are combined to form the summary of the compressed video.

Abstract: A television system comprises an electronic program guide (EPG) including a picture-in-picture (PIP) window and means for returning to a last channel viewed full screen (LCF) in a television viewing mode prior to entering the guide mode. The EPG displays a program list including a listing for the LCF and text identifying it as such. This last channel listing is positioned at the top of a program list area in the guide. The viewer returns directly to the LCF in the television viewing mode by setting a cursor to the last channel listing prior to exiting the guide mode. In guides including listings for future programs, the last channel listing remains in a designated position of the program list area.

Abstract: The present invention is a digital message rated by a propriety scheme having two or more propriety levels. The digital message can be played on a playback device in accordance with two or more propriety levels by association of a code with the playback device. The digital message might be selected from moving pictures, still pictures, music, music videos, games, audible stories, written stories, and news. The invention also includes the medium on which such a message is stored, including a computer-readable medium. The propriety schemes include, but are not limited to those schemes from the Motion Picture Industry Association (U.S.

Abstract: At a starting of a summer time, an indication “D.S.T.” is displayed on an EPG screen with a deleted time zone in a different background color from other time zones. The deleted time zone is displayed in a flashed manner, and “D.S.T.START” is indicated at a start time of the summer time. At an end of the summer time, a time indicating a repeated time zone is displayed in a flashed manner on an EPG screen, and “D.S.T.END” is indicated at an end time of the summer time. When a user makes a reservation in a deleted time or repeated time zone, it is displayed that the reservation is invalid on the EPG screen.

Abstract: The moving images under reproduction are displayed in a main screen and a plurality of thumbnail images that serve as indexes by which to search for a desired scene are displayed. Moreover, the thus displayed thumbnail images are updated at a predetermined timing according as the moving images progress.

Abstract: The data stream constituting an electronic programme guide EPG containing video and/or audio previews is intended to be downloaded into a digital services decoder for television receiver. It comprises first header data blocks (DD,MC,SD) containing a directory of the data blocks of the stream, a routine intended for the decoder for the loading into memory and the running of the electronic programme guide in the decoder, and screen display parameters, and second data blocks (PD1,PD2,PD3) each containing a video and/or audio preview. The first header data blocks (DD,MC,SC) are repeated in the stream between the second data blocks (PD1,PD2,PD3) so as to improve the convenience of use of the EPG service.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and transmitting both video and graphics portions of an interactive program guide (IPG). For an IPG that comprises a graphics portion and at least one video portion, the inventive system separately encodes the video portion and the graphics portion. The video portion is slice-base encoded using a predictive encoder, e.g., an MPEG encoder, that produces a bitstream comprising intra-coded picture slices and predictive-coded picture slices. The graphics portion is separately slice-base encoded to produce encoded slices of the graphics image. The encoded slices of the graphics portion can be stored in a database and recalled as needed for transmission. To transmit an IPG, a transport stream is created containing the intra-coded and predicted picture streams as well as the encoded slices that comprise a graphics image that is to be included in the IPG. The receiver reassembles the components of the IPG into a comprehensive IPG.

Abstract: Both a received program video and an electronic program guide can be simultaneously displayed in one screen of a monitor by a scaler/OSD circuit, and a user can change the ratio of the display areas of the program video and the electronic program guide to a desired ratio by operating a remote control transmitter. A CPU controls a tuner and a demultiplexer in synchronization with the change in the ratio of the display areas of the program video and the electronic program guide, to select a target channel of acquisition of program information for producing the electronic program guide.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment system has a program provider which distributes video content programs to multiple subscribers over a distribution network. Each subscriber has a user interface unit which receives the digital video program and converts it for display on a television, monitor, or other display unit. The user interface unit has a processor and memory. An electronic programming guide (EPG) resides in the memory and is executable on the processor to organize programming information that is descriptive of the programs supplied over the interactive entertainment system. The EPG supports a user interface (UI) which visually correlates programs titles to scheduled viewing times. A hyperlink browser also resides in memory and is executable on the processor. One or more hyperlinks, which reference target resources containing interactive content related to the video programs, are integrated as part of the EPG UI.

Abstract: A first signal representing a reduced size video program is transmitted from a central location to a plurality of user terminals in a television signal. A second signal representative of an EPG is generated at one of the user terminals. The first and second signals are linearly combined and applied to a display monitor to display the reduced size video program and the EPG on the screen of the monitor simultaneously in a PIG format. In one embodiment a plurality of reduced size video programs are transmitted in the television signal and one of them is selected for display in a PIG format by marking the program listing in the EPG corresponding to the selected reduced size video program with a cursor.

Abstract: A thumbnail display apparatus for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of movies, includes: a data storing unit for storing a plurality of movie data units corresponding to the movies; a thumbnail image creating unit for creating a plurality of thumbnail still images respectively corresponding to the movie data units stored in the data storing unit; and a displaying unit for simultaneously displaying the thumbnail still images created by the thumbnail image creating unit at different positions on a display screen for allowing any of the thumbnail still images to be selected, wherein the thumbnail image crating unit acquires a thumbnail movie obtained by making movie data corresponding to the selected thumbnail still image thumbnail, and the displaying unit displays the thumbnail movie at a position at which the selected thumbnail still image was arranged and displays other thumbnail still images that were not selected at different positions on the display screen simultaneously.

Abstract: An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing a plurality of video sequences, where each sequence has information that is common with other video sequences. The invention ensemble encodes the video sequences into an MPEG compliant transport stream using less predicted frame information than separately encoding each video sequence. One illustrative application of the invention is efficiently encoding and transmitting a user interface such as a program guide, interactive program guide, electronic program guide, navigator and the like. The user interface is illustratively embodied in an interactive program guide (IPG).

Abstract: A graphic interface device and method in a digital TV. The graphic interface device includes: a transmitting side for coding various forms of user graphic environment which can be selected by an end user, assigning specific packet identification (PID), and multiplexing the assigned PID with video information, audio information and additional information; and a receiving side for parsing and decoding the various forms of graphic environment data of the specific PID transmitted from the transmitting side to be displayed on a screen, thereby being selected by the end user and for parsing and decoding once again the corresponding graphic environment selected by the end user to be displayed on the screen. Thus, the end user can select the graphic environment satisfying his own preference, for example, a dynamic program guide pattern or menu icon.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting multimedia content segments, such as electronic clips or “eClips,” from a source of video or other multimedia content. The extraction is based on individual preferences such as key terms and/or phrases as well as content source, which a user may identify in a profile. User profiles can be stored in a service platform and continually checked against new content in the system. When matches are found between a user profile and the content, the service platform can alert the user that segments have been identified and extracted. The user may then view/play these automatically provided segments (eClips). In addition, the eClips service is capable of stitching the clips of diverse sources together, providing an automatically generated multimedia experience that revolves around the user's provided profile.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses enabling a subscriber to access video corresponding to multiple channels within a very short period of time. A dedicated transmission channel transmits a data stream generated by a content provider, where the data stream includes data representing a plurality of video pictures associated with a plurality of television channels. Populating one data stream with data corresponding to multiple channels enables a Home Communication Terminal (HCT), in communication with a display device, to display multiple channels in a Composite Presentation to the subscriber. The Composite Presentation allows a subscriber to view a plurality of television channels on one channel, obviating the time consuming requirement that a subscriber re-tune to a separate television channel each time the subscriber wishes to view a video picture associated with a different television channel.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.