Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a content metadata obtaining unit configured to obtain content metadata; a determination unit configured to determine the category of the content metadata; an editing unit configured to edit the content metadata so that, when text data of the content metadata is to be reproduced on the basis of the category of the content metadata determined by the determination unit, information on a predetermined link destination is displayed in response to a predetermined operation being performed on the reproduced text data; a reproduction unit configured to reproduce the text data of the content metadata in synchronization with the reproduction of the content; and a display unit configured to display the information on the link destination on the basis of the content metadata edited by the editing unit when the predetermined operation is performed on the text data of the content metadata reproduced by the reproduction unit.

Abstract: Extensible reconfigurable media appliance for security and entertainment captures images digitally for storage. Digital effects and filters are applied to incoming video stream on-the-fly or to video data stored in memory. Digital effects and filters are dynamically stored, modified, updated or deleted, providing extensible reconfigurable effects studio. Digital media appliance communicates wirelessly with other media appliances, computers, security systems, video storage, email, chat, cellular services or PDAs to provide seamless integration of captured video stream.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide multiple levels of digest streams for multimedia contents with small amount of additional storage using a multiple level digest segment information scheme. In the present invention, a multiple level digest segment information is contained in the content-based data area of the multimedia content by representing a level information of each digest segment by multiple levels in a content-based data area of a multimedia content, describing the digest level of the digest segment and the time range information of the digest segment in the digest segment information scheme, and outputting digest segments whose digest level is less than or equal to requested digest level by decoding, upon receipt of the digest level of the digest segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention provide layout structures and methods for user interfaces.

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.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a list of suggested scheduled television programs wherein television schedule guide data which comprises characteristics of scheduled programs and optionally relevancy of those characteristics is obtained from broadcast information. User profiles comprising characteristics of television programs previously viewed, the cumulative amount of time programs having those characteristics has been previously viewed, and optionally the relevancy of the previously viewed characteristics is stored. The user is allowed to manually adjust the weights assigned to characteristics so as to override the system assigned weight values. The system calculates the suggested program list from the schedules it receives from broadcast or other means, using the characteristic weights in the user profiles.

Abstract: A program information providing system includes: a genre selecting unit that selects a selected program genre from among a plurality of program genres contained in program information based on a selection criterion obtained from frequency information that indicates frequencies of each of the program genres during a predetermined time period; a preference model generating unit that generates a preference model describing a causal relationship between a cause leading to a viewing and a viewed result, based on the selected program genre and viewing history information of the viewer; and a recommended program list generating unit that generates a recommended program list by using the preference model generated by the preference model generating unit.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling information available at a network element located at a first hierarchical level in a content distribution network. A method includes determining a subset of content using content forecast information, comparing the determined subset of content to a subset of content available to the network element located at the first hierarchical level, generating a request adapted for modifying the available subset of content in response to a difference between the determined and available subsets of content, and propagating the request toward a network element at a second hierarchical level in the content distribution network, where the first and second hierarchical levels are different. The content may include any information adapted for being distributed from a server to a subscriber terminal (e.g.

Abstract: A system for generating viewership profiles to facilitate distributing promotions based on the profiles to one or more network devices, such as set top boxes. The system includes a promotion agent associated with each network device which collects viewing activity data of the network device. For example, the viewing activity data may include a channel the network device was tuned to, a time when the network device was tuned to the channel, and a time the network device was tuned away from the channel. The collected viewing activity data is then transmitted, for example, every twenty-four hours, to a life-cycle manager server, which also periodically receives a program schedule. The program schedule typically specifies the channel on which a particular program was displayed, as well as the time the program was shown. The life-cycle manager server correlates the viewing activity data with the program schedule to generate the viewership profile of the network device.

Abstract: Metadata for a programming event may be generated by receiving descriptive information and timing information for the programming event and analyzing this information to determine category goodness of fit scores for the programming event corresponding to categories of a classification hierarchy. The information is further analyzed to determine keywords associated with the programming event. The category goodness of fit scores and keywords may be stored along with time data and descriptive data for the programming event as metadata for the programming event. Goodness of fit scores may also be generated for the keywords. Related embodiments may pertain to a device implementing such processing. Keyword metadata may be generated using candidate keywords taken from descriptive data associated with the programming event. The candidate key words may be provided individually as inputs to a classification tool configured to generate goodness of fit scores for categories of a classification hierarchy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are discussed for providing guidance for Internet-delivered media. In some embodiments, information on available media on the Internet is gathered. The information is associated with existing media guidance data. The associations enable a media guidance application to identify relevant online media and to display listings in a user-friendly way. A user interface for an online media guidance application is also provided. The user interface allows a user to narrow down the large amount of Internet-delivered media in a systematic way according to criteria that interests a user.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for accessing data can display hierarchical information in an efficient organized layout that users may easily navigate. In one embodiment, subject headings are contained within cells that form a column. Information related to the subject headings is contained within cells which are formed in rows that are adjacent and orthogonal to the column. The information contained within the rows of cells is related to the closest subject heading in the column. One of the cells contained within the rows is a focus cell. The user may activate the focus cell to access a lower level within the hierarchy of information where the contents of the focus cell become a subject heading in the cell within the column. The user may browse the data by selecting a non-focus cell causing the contents within the rows of cells to appear to move from cell to cell.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for detecting topic shift boundaries in a multimedia stream. A computer implemented method for detecting topic shift boundaries in a multimedia stream includes receiving a multimedia stream, and performing multimodal analysis on the multimedia stream to locate a plurality of temporal positions within the multimedia stream at which topic changes have an increased likelihood of occurring to provide a sequence of multimedia portions. Characteristics for a sliding window for each multimedia portion in the sequence of multimedia portions are automatically determined, and topic shift boundaries are detected in each multimedia portion by applying a text-based topic shift detector over the media stream's text transcript using a sliding window, wherein the sliding window used with each multimedia portion has the characteristics determined from its respective multimedia portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for generating one or more channels for the organization of content items. A method according to one embodiment comprises selecting a content item and one or more items of metadata for the selected content item. A determination is made to determine if the selected content item should be associated with a given channel on the basis of the metadata. A channel is generated on the basis of the determination, with the selected content item organized in association with the channel.

Abstract: A content recommendation device is provided, including a selection engine selects content items from a content item pool and generates a selection list including the selected content items, wherein said selection engine selects the content items from a content item pool according to a user profile, and/or a receiving unit configured to receive a selection list selected from a content item pool according to a user profile, and a user profiling engine that a part of at least one previously generated selection. The user feedback includes explicit and implicit feedback so that a very simple explicit feedback, which gets refined by the corresponding implicit feedback, is possible.

Abstract: A method for distributing geographical restriction data in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed. The method includes accepting at an IPTV server, a request from an IPTV client for the geographical restriction data related to geographically restricted video data, determining at the server, a plurality of geographic restriction zones for the geographically restricted video data and sending from the server to the client a message containing the restriction data related to at least one of the restriction zones.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying program guide information from multiple sources, including second level information, in response to a first request for program guide information.

Abstract: A method for providing television advertising includes receiving user input for selecting an advertising parameter and providing a user with an advertisement corresponding to the advertising parameter.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes an EPG acquisition unit acquiring EPG information from a broadcast wave, a receiving unit receiving recommended program information, a comparison unit comparing the received recommended program information and the acquired EPG information, and a display unit displaying the EPG based on a comparison result in the comparison unit and the acquired EPG information.

Abstract: A personalized audio system and method that overcomes many of the broadcast-type disadvantages associated with conventional radio stations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for adjusting audio/video effect. The system comprises a tuner with demodulator, a DTV decoder, an audio/video mapping unit, and an audio/video processing unit. The method comprises the steps of receiving a digital TV signal; transmitting the service information signal in the digital TV signal to the audio/video mapping unit. Then, the mapping unit is used for comparing the service information signal with parameter tables to obtain at least one audio/video parameter value. Finally, the audio/video processing unit adjusts the digital TV signal based on the audio/video parameter value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of encouraging distribution, registration, and purchase of free copyable software and other digital information which is accessed on a User's System via a Programmer's Program. Software tools which can be incorporated into a Programmer's Program allow the User to access Advanced Features of the Programmer's Program only in the presence of a valid Password which is unique to a particular Target ID generated on an ID-Target such as the User's System. Advanced features will thus re-lock if the Password is copied to another ID-target. If a valid Password is not present, the User is invited to obtain one, and provided with the means of doing so, and of installing that Password in a place accessible to the User's System on subsequent occasions. The present invention also provides Programmers with means to invoke business operations as well as computational operations with their programs, and thus to automatically obtain payment from Users who elect to obtain passwords.

Abstract: A method of managing the storage of a broadcast program in a television receiver having a personal video recorder enables a more efficient use of the storage capacity of a personal video recorder (PVR) provided to the television receiver. The method includes steps of registering the stored broadcast program for automatic storage updating; extracting information for a newly received broadcast program; first determining whether the stored broadcast program is a broadcast program of a category corresponding to the newly received broadcast program, by comparing the extracted information to information of the stored broadcast program; and recording the newly received broadcast program in the personal video recorder according to the first determining and a second determination of whether a storage deletion condition is met for the stored broadcast program.

Abstract: In a system and method for enabling a user to simultaneously display a set of selectable categories, a set of channels related to a selected category, and individual content associated with a selected channel, of potential interest to the user. The system includes a graphical user interface which includes a set of selectable categories, sets of channels, each set of which includes channels which are relevant to each selectable category, and individual content, each of which is associated with a selectable channel and a selectable category. The graphical user interface uses hypertext markup language as the content description language, for enabling generation of guide information with links to related information and search functionality. The graphical user interface is further adapted to enable the selection of a category, a related channel, and associated individual content by the user. The internet websites and the internet content may be displayed in the same context as the video content.

Abstract: Based on a user profile, content that is predicted to be desired by the user, including past episodes of a series that may have been missed by the user, is downloaded to the user's home system during periods of low bandwidth usage in the home system. A determination is made dynamically as to whether to provide the content from a server or a peer-to-peer network based on network attributes, file size, etc.

Abstract: A digital television signal, a digital television receiver, and a method for processing a digital television signal are disclosed, which can solve problems encountered when only general broadcast programs are defined as events on a PSIP. The digital television receiver includes a tuner for receiving a digital television signal including an EIT carrying information for events on defined virtual channels, a demodulator arranged to demodulate the signal, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the EIT from the signal demodulated by the demodulator, a decoder for parsing the EIT, the parsed EIT including an event type field defining an actual event, a dummy event, wherein the dummy event corresponds to an undecided domain on an EPG, and a controller arranged to store the parsed EIT in a database.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a plurality of options for selection. Each option is organized into either a category or a sub-category that is associated with a category. The association between categories and sub-categories is independent of time. Categories are displayed along one axis and sub-categories are displayed simultaneously along another orthogonal axis. The axis chosen for categories may depend on the direction that text associated with the categories is written. Categories and sub-categories are available for immediate selection, without first having to highlight or select any option. To account for a large number of options, categories and sub-categories may scroll as needed. The appearance of categories and sub-categories may be distinguished in some way, such as through colors, fonts, or borders.

Abstract: In a content display system 100, a control unit 210 of a controller 200 performs a display control process. During the display control process, moreover, a reproduction monitoring process is performed, to thereby monitor whether or not content is displayed as scheduled. In the reproduction monitoring process, a pattern corresponding to the content is laid over the content in a display period corresponding to the display period of the content, and is used for the display performed by a display device 300. On the other hand, on a detection device 400, a pattern through the display performed by the display device 300 is detected. The detected pattern is compared with the pattern laid over the content by a comparison unit 240. The control unit 210 judges that the content is displayed as scheduled, if the both patterns match as a result of the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a decentralized, fraud-resistant ratings system for information content, such as World Wide Web or Internet content. The system includes an information content display module for displaying information content and an associated plurality of rating levels to users. The plurality of rating levels are configured for rating the information content by the users. The system includes a rating generation module, in communication with the information content display module, for receiving ratings assigned by the users to the information content in accordance with the plurality of rating levels, for assigning a weight to each user rating in accordance with a historical rating accuracy of each user, and for generating a weighted average consensus rating of the information content in accordance with the weighted user ratings.

Abstract: A method and terminal for receiving a digital broadcast and managing preferred channels are provided, by which preferred channel information may be set to a random number for registration according to a user's selection. The present invention includes displaying a menu for preferred channel management according to a signal provided via a signal input device, displaying a preferred channel registration menu in a table format including a plurality of cells if a menu for preferred channel registration is selected, and mapping a number indicated by a cell to which a pointer is moved by a user to currently viewed channel information and storing the mapped information in memory.

Abstract: An information acquiring unit acquires information relating to image contents possessed by a plurality of communication devices connected to a network, via a communication unit. A display management unit displays a calendar screen including a plurality of display areas configured in days onto a display unit, and displays information about each image content acquired by the information acquiring unit onto the calendar screen on the basis of recording dates and times of the image contents.

Abstract: An electronic equipment control system including a plurality of pieces of electric equipments connected with one another through a network. A piece of electric equipment among the plurality of pieces of electric equipments comprises: a setting and inputting unit to set and input broadcast content setting information regarding view of a broadcast content; a broadcast content setting information storage unit to store the content setting information; a transmission unit to transmit the content setting information set and input by the setting and inputting unit to another piece of electric equipment connected to the network; a reception unit to receive the content setting information transmitted from another piece of electric equipment connected to the network; and an update unit to update the content setting information stored in the content setting information storage unit based on the content setting information received by the reception unit.

Abstract: Computing devices capable of internetworking and receiving, storing and viewing programmed (scheduled) television and multimedia content provide a platform for access to a combination of Internet and Television content and services. On this platform, a mix of pre-scripted and live interactive dialog (chat with offered responses) are broadcast by a connected server or servers to provide supplemental entertainment, information regarding programmed content, enhancements to scheduled television advertising, a community experience, and an interface to Internet applications and services. The dialog provides a “Social Interface” allowing fictional and non-fictional characters to interact with viewers. The fictional and non-fictional characters are each emblematic of a specific affinity group categorization, which a user personally identifies with and is drawn to. Selection of an affinity character also provides a filter for selecting internet and broadcast content associated with that character.

Abstract: A user can perform secure transactions via an interactive television ticker. While viewing an advertisement scrolling in the ticker, the user can select that advertisement to initiate an on-line transaction. That resulting transaction can be performed within the ticker. A visual indicator (such as an icon) can be displayed in the ticker to indicate to the viewer that the transaction is secure, so as to allow confidential information to be safely exchanged. Security can be provided by way of a security application integrated with software of the ticker or by way of another security component with which the ticker software communicates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for outputting digital broadcast data in a digital broadcast reception device, which includes setting at least two preferred channels in each of at least one broadcast reception mode; detecting when a request for outputting broadcast programs of the preferred channels is input by a user during the output of a digital broadcast program currently received in a specific broadcast reception mode, and outputting the current digital broadcast program to a main screen; generating sub-screens in a number corresponding to the number of the broadcast reception mode or modes in which the preferred channels have been set; receiving digital broadcast programs of the preferred channels set in each broadcast reception mode; and outputting the received digital broadcast programs to the corresponding sub-screens. The method enables the user to view digital broadcast programs of preferred channels while viewing a specific digital broadcast program.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a filtering interface that records and searches for broadcasting content is provided. A method for providing a filtering interface that records and searches for broadcasting content according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes analyzing user preferences for each property of the broadcasting content according to play history information of the recorded broadcasting content, generating a properties list by clustering the properties based on the user preferences, receiving a predetermined property from the properties list, extracting broadcasting content that correspond to the received properties from currently-aired or soon-to-be-aired broadcasting content, and providing a list of the extracted content.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer system comprises one or more content file servers having recorded thereon a plurality of digital content material items, and a plurality of digital graphical image files comprising graphical images associated with the content material items; wherein each of content material items comprises one or more data files of digitized electronic printed, audio, or video content material; one or more navigation page servers each comprising: one or more storage devices having recorded thereon a plurality of navigation page templates; a database comprising stored descriptive information about the content material items, including hierarchical and other relationships both between different content material items and between different subcomponents of content material items; logic encoded on the one or more storage devices and when executed operable to perform: receiving a request to view a particular navigation page, comprising a dynamically-generated electronic document; selecting one of the n

Abstract: A shopping ticker can be invoked when the viewer presses a BUY button on a remote control while a television program is being shown. The television program, which can be a commercial, may not necessarily have an interactive commerce opportunity originally associated with it. However, instead of ignoring a signal sent from the remote control when the BUY button is pressed, the signal is processed to invoke the shopping ticker. The shopping ticker can include advertisements, links to e-commerce opportunities (including merchant web sites), product information, or other information that may be potentially useful to help initiate a transaction with the viewer, including context-sensitive shopping information that is related to the subject matter of the television program. A commerce opportunity is thus created in a situation where there originally would not have been such an opportunity and where the viewer's remote control action would otherwise have been ignored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for expanded search functionality in an electronic program guide (EPG) for television is described. The expanded search function finds show titles that are the same or similar to the show title of the program data currently displayed by the EPG. The expanded search function also finds shows similar to the one currently displayed by the EPG by using additional search elements based on the descriptive part of the EPG program data, such as actors, director, genre, etc., as well as search parameters based on the show time, channel, etc. Rather than only finding exact matches, the expanded search function uses fuzzy logic to find near matches and prioritizes the results according to the search elements and parameters as specified by the viewer.

Abstract: A program transmitting/receiving system has a center device and a terminal device connected through a communication device to the center device. The center device has a program information memory, a program information transmitter, a broadcasting device, and a request program transmitter. The terminal device has a program information receiver, a program receiver, an image information generator, a program request signal transmitter, and a request program receiver. The memory stores a program information. The program information transmitter transmits the program information to the terminal device. The broadcasting device broadcasts the program to the terminal device in accordance with a schedule, and stores the program. The request program transmitter receives a request signal of the program from the terminal device, and transmits the program corresponding to the request signal to the terminal device. Then, the program information receiver receives the program information.

Abstract: An information-processing device receives and processes predetermined program data. The information-processing device includes an extracting unit for extracting image data and audio data of a program selected by a user, an obtaining unit for obtaining information related to the selected program, and a setting unit for setting a control parameter for controlling an image data display or an audio data output of the selected program in accordance with the related information.

Abstract: This invention discloses an entertainment system for providing entertainment to a user thereof, the system including an entertainment source for providing entertainment in a distributable form, entertainment distribution apparatus for distributing the entertainment and a plurality of entertainment delivery units, each entertainment delivery unit including receiving apparatus for receiving the entertainment from the entertainment source via the entertainment distribution apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of entertainment delivery units includes personalization apparatus adapted to receive a removable personalization element including personalization information, and the at least one of the plurality of entertainment units personalizes the entertainment based on the personalization information, and the personalization information includes at least one of the following: entertainment preference information; gaming information; and telecommunications information.

Abstract: Electronic television program guide information is downloaded, stored and searched by a local device. A plurality of linked lists are used to remove redundancy, increase search speed, and allow dynamic categories. When a new category is encountered a new head node for a link list data structure is created. When a first program guide object containing information related to that category is downloaded, a link is made (i.e., a pointer is stored) from the head node to the guide object. When subsequent program guide objects containing information related to that category are downloaded, links are added to the end of the list or inserted in alphabetical order. As guide objects expire the links are removed. When no links remain in a particular category the head node for that category is deleted.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a technique to navigate a user interface for program selection. Program information of a plurality of program cells is displayed in a visible window. The plurality of program cells is in an electronic program guide (EPG) grid. A visual indicator is moved in the visible window from a current position in a current row to a next position in response to a user command. The next position corresponds to a program cell is the plurality of program cells. The next position is in one of the current and a next row. The visual indicator is moved in response to a user command. The command is one of a move right and a move left command.

Abstract: A TV program selection support system selects only programs suiting viewer's preference or necessary for a viewer from a large number of programs to be broadcast and proposes the selected programs to the viewer. The TV program selection support system comprises a program receiver for receiving broadcast TV programs, an EPG receiver for receiving an electronic program table listing TV programs, an EPG storage device for storing an EPG received by the EPG receiver, an operating means to be operated by the viewer to select a program from the stored electronic program table, a program selection support program for determining viewer's view tendency by analyzing the operation made by the viewer, creating an electronic program table on the basis of the view tendency and displaying the created electronic program table.

Abstract: A method for efficiently transmitting several multimedia streams to one or more multimedia receivers is disclosed comprising: defining a minimum acceptable time for rendering a multimedia stream to a user when the user selects a particular stream; defining a packet size for packets containing data for each multimedia stream, the packet size defined based on one or more performance characteristics of mass storage devices on the one or more multimedia receivers; concurrently transmitting the packets for each multimedia stream to the one or more multimedia receivers; continually storing the multimedia streams on the mass storage devices; and playing back the multimedia content from the mass storage devices responsive to a user tuning to a particular multimedia stream when a delay greater than the minimum acceptable time would otherwise result waiting for a next packet containing data for the particular multimedia stream to arrive.

Abstract: A method for managing entertainment system data includes obtaining a record corresponding to a first entertainment selection that is selected. A selectable identifier corresponding to a first set of entertainment system data in the record is presented on a display device. A search for a second entertainment selection having a corresponding second set of entertainment system data related to the first set of entertainment system data is performed when the selectable identifier is selected. A result of the search is presented on the display device.

Abstract: A sequence of cards representing filters is displayed along a first axis of a user interface with a single card being displayed in a focus area. The card in the focus area defines a selected filter, which is applied to another sequence of available options. The filtered sequence is then displayed along another (perpendicular) axis of the user interface.

Abstract: To provide a system for processing program information in which the display structure of a program table can be freely changed in accordance with a requirement of or the taste of an audience, the system for processing program information is structured to include program information storage means 1 for storing program information, and program table display means 4 for two-dimensionally displaying a program table employing as the two axes, two attributes 102 and 103 selected from among all of the attributes that have been given to each piece of program information, to make the program table 101. For the audience, program tables of various constructions can be displayed on the display means at will and in respective program retrieval operations, a program table that is easy to use to search for a program can be obtained. An specific desired program can be found in a short time by selecting key word(s) related to each program and extracting them from the program or the like.