Interactive video distribution systems inventions 03/06

20060070095 - Apparatus and method for preventing switching from a channel during an advertisement display: An apparatus (270) and method is disclosed for preventing a viewer from switching from a channel when an advertisement is being displayed on the channel. The apparatus (270) and method comprises an advertisement controller (270) in a video playback device (150) that (1) prevents a viewer of a direct (non-recorded)...

20060070096 - Broadcasting receiving apparatus and broadcasting receiving method: A broadcasting receiving apparatus includes a tuner to receive a broadcasting signal and output a reception signal selected therefrom, a demodulation portion to output a video audio signal by demodulating the reception signal from the tuner, an encryption portion to output an encrypted video audio signal by encrypting the video...

20060070097 - Data distribution system and data distribution method: This invention provides a data distribution system and data distribution method that make it possible to watch the contents of a sports competition when desired, and to watch desired scenes of the sports competition. Scenario data containing basic data, pre-pitch data, pitch data and results data are distributed from a...

20060070098 - Broadcast data receiver and broadcast data receiving method thereof: When the EPG function key 251 is depressed, the operation judges whether or not an SD card 41 has been installed (Step S16). When an SD card 41 has been installed, the EPG screen is displayed which shows all the programs including copy controlled programs (Step S18). On the other...

20060070099 - Information processing system and method, information processing apparatus and method, and program: An information processing system includes a first information processing apparatus for transmitting a broadcast program and broadcast data; a second information processing apparatus for generating and outputting electronic program guide (EPG) information about the broadcast program transmitted from the first information processing apparatus; and a third information processing apparatus for...

20060070101 - Broadcast receiver: A main body of a broadcast receiver can receive a large amount of input information in a short time through a keyboard. The main body can discriminate through which an input operation has been performed a remote controller and the keyboard. The main body comprises a remote-controlled operation receiving unit...

20060070100 - Broadcasting reception system and method for indicating time: A digital television broadcasting reception device contained in a broadcasting reception system has a function for receiving selectively digital broadcasting by means of antennas and tuners, and a function for connecting external instruments through a variety of interfaces. A control section controls the whole system. A timer section of an...

20060070103 - Vehicle entertainment system: A vehicle entertainment system includes a video system having a video monitor which includes a touch screen panel. The system also includes a touch panel control system associated with the video system and touch screen panel for controlling the presentation of a graphical user interface control panel upon the video...

20060070102 - Vehicle entertainment system including a detachable functional module housed within a detachable video system: An automobile entertainment system includes a video system having a video monitor, a video source and an expansion slot, as well as a cradle secured within an automobile. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned for selectively receiving and securely holding the video system....

20060070104 - Video apparatus and video streaming method: A video apparatus comprises means for superimposing a graphic on an image, means for coding an output signal of the graphic superimposing means, and means for streaming the output signal of the coding means to an external information processing apparatus via a network....

20060070105 - Control of data distribution apparatus and data distribution system: Upon distributing data from a first terminal apparatus to a second terminal apparatus, whether the data is to be distributed is determined in accordance with an access situation of a client to the first terminal apparatus, and, on the basis of a determined result, the data is distributed to the...

20060070106 - Method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data: A method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data. The recording and playback apparatus is configured to record content data including a content and play back the content of...

20060070110 - Apparatus and method for remote camera operations: The present invention includes device, system, method of using and making a surveillance apparatus including a single image event activated detection module configured to collect data and a communication unit operably connected to the capture module to communicate with a remote central monitoring unit....

20060070111 - Image distribution system and the control method therefor: An image distribution system, which is connected via a network with a client for displaying an image picked up by an image sensing unit of a server, judges a communication status of the network. In addition, in accordance with a result of the judgment, the image distribution system changes a...

20060070108 - Wireless video surveillance system & method with digital input recorder interface and setup: A surveillance system and method with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching...

20060070109 - Wireless video surveillance system & method with rapid installation: A surveillance system and method for rapid set up and activating communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly...

20060070107 - Wireless video surveillance system and method with remote viewing: A surveillance system and method for remote viewing of inputs associated with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) monitoring a target environment, and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system and at least one user accessing the DIR or...

20060059503 - Control device, smart card reading activation device and associated products: The control device comprises means for communicating (11) with at least two smart card reading devices (SCR3, SCR4, SCR5), means for processing (12) information received from those reading devices and means for activating (13) at least one of those reading devices for a current communication. The activating means are intended...

20060059504 - Method for selecting a preview of a media work: In an embodiment of the invention, the method includes: providing metadata for a media work including a first entry that corresponds to a first preview of the media work and a second entry that corresponds to a second preview of the media work; accepting a first input from a user;...

20060059505 - Tuning apparatus and television receiver provided with the same: The invention provides a tuning apparatus capable of automatically setting a tuning operation efficiently with a simple construction, and a television receiver provided with the same. The microcomputer includes a CPU that performs an operation processing necessary for the control, a channel table that stores selected channel values for one...

20060059506 - Conditional access system for digital television content based on prepayment and optimisation of the bandwidth of the channel broadcasting said content: 7The invention relates to a novel method of introducing a pay digital television mechanism whereby the content broadcaster or operator does not require a subscriber management infrastructure. According to the invention, the user is not committed to the operator but instead freely acquires content access time credit by means of...

20060059507 - Method for storing and transmitting data generated by security module: The aim of this invention is to be able to recover specific information of a security module when it has been replaced by a new module in a user unit connected to a broadcasting network. This aim is reached by a method of storage and transmission of information generated by...

20060059508 - Apparatus for providing conditional access to a stream of data: A decoder decrypts data from the stream of data, using decryption control words. A secure device is coupled to the decoder to supply the control words. The secure device has a memory space for storing at least two items of entitlement information with associated authorization keys. The secure device has...

20060059509 - System and method for embedding commercial information in a video bitstream: Systems and methods for embedding commercial information in a multimedia bitstream to form a hybrid multimedia bitstream having data representing commercial information as well data representing a multimedia signal. The embedded commercial information may be extracted from the multimedia bitstream by an executable module to assist in playing, editing, or...

20060059510 - System and method for embedding scene change information in a video bitstream: Systems and methods for embedding scene change information in a multimedia bitstream to form a hybrid multimedia bitstream having data representing scene change information as well data representing a multimedia signal. The embedded scene change information may be extracted from the multimedia bitstream by an executable module to assist in...

20060059511 - System and method for media content distribution: A media and content distribution system and method are provided, wherein specific media and content, including advertising material, real time traffic, news, sports, weather, and financial stock and/or other like information is delivered via cellular or other wireless network technology to locally distributed display panels, such as large plasma and...

20060059512 - Methods for controlling apparatuses having an emergency alert function: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver provides an emergency alert function and an auxiliary information display function. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a tuner operative to tune signals including emergency alert signals associated with the emergency alert function. A processor is operative to enable a...

20060059513 - User interface with tiling of video sources, widescreen modes or calibration settings: A user interface for a television or receiver associated with the television includes a display of tiles representing options available to a user, and controls for selecting one of the displayed tiles to select a corresponding option....

20060059515 - Apparatus and method for displaying program listing: A program listing displaying apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain program information, a producing unit configured to produce an electronic program listing based on the obtained program information, a display unit configured to display a part of area of the produced electronic program listing, and a switching unit...

20060059514 - Method and apparatus for utilizing blank space on a high definition television screen: A method and system for displaying media in the otherwise blank spaces remaining when a standard television signal is viewed on a high definition television screen and vice versa. In one embodiment, two separate media are accessed by a set top box for a high definition television screen. A standard...

20060059518 - Content distribution and incremental feedback control apparatus and method: A system for authenticated content distribution and feedback control. Distribution and management of content or information from databases, or libraries of content, to a plurality of authenticated content users is controlled by a central computer processor operating a content distribution control module. Content users interface with the system through content...

20060059516 - Method of controlling the program selection at the receiver of a broadcast medium: An interactive television application with watch lists is provided. The user may add programs such as television programs, Internet web pages, e-commerce applications, e-mail applications, and music channels, to a watch list. The user may also select a program from the watch list to watch it or to perform some...

20060059517 - System and method for creating a play sequence for a radio or tv program: A system and a method are described for generating sequences of audio or video contents (A . . . I). Contents (A . . . I) are available in a stored or otherwise readable form. Additional data (for example, genre, type, time, date, play time, costs, etc.) are provided together...

20060059519 - Information providing apparatus, terminal apparatus, information providing system and information providing method: An information providing apparatus includes, a communication section configured to transmit and receive to and from the terminal apparatus, a command analysis section configured to specify a command from the terminal apparatus, a user specifying section configured to specify a user transmitting the command, a keyword system providing section configured...

20060059520 - Recorded program searching apparatus and recorded program searching method: There are provided connection units configured to connect a plurality of recording units, a selection unit configured to select a predetermined recording unit from the plurality of recording units connected to the connection units, a setting unit configured to set a plurality of types of searching conditions for searching a...

20060059521 - Method and system for integrating schedule management and broadcast program reservation in a terminal having functions of personal schedule management and broadcast program reservation: Disclosed are a method and a system for integrating schedule management and broadcast program reservation in a digital broadcasting hybrid terminal having functions of personal schedule management and broadcast program reservation. When a user inputs a schedule or a broadcast program reservation, all stored registrations are searched to inform the...

20060059522 - Reserve-recording program guiding system and method: The invention provides a reserve-recording program guiding system and method for providing a subscriber with a program to be recorded. The system includes a reservation server, an ordering server, a streaming server and a storing apparatus. When been recorded, the program is stored in the storing apparatus, which generates a...

20060059523 - Receiving and bridging broadband access signals for wired and wireless redistribution: A method for processing and redistributing multiple signals is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving an input data signal, wherein at least a portion of the input data signal contains data received from a broadband access antenna, analyzing the input data signal, bridging at least a portion of...

20060059524 - Audio and video storage broadcast media system: The main function of broadcast media AV system is a bridge to connect between PC (personal computer) and TV (television). This device can store the AV bit stream downloaded from Internet through PC to a storage device, HD (hard disk) and flash memory, in this broadcast media AV system. When...

20060059525 - Media services window configuration system: The invention may be viewed as a method for providing a user with information received by an interactive media services client device from a programmable media services server device. The method includes storing visual setting data in memory so that a plurality of applications can use the visual setting data...

20060059526 - Method and system for displaying portions of recorded media content instances: A method and system for displaying a number of portions of a number of recorded media content instances during a single viewing session. A number of entries are defined to each correspond to one of the number of portions of the number of recorded media content instances. Each of the...

20060059527 - Set top box having tv plaza function and method for applying tv plaza function to the set top box: The present invention relates to a set top box having TV plaza function and a method for applying TV plaza function to the set top box. The set top box according to the present invention comprises: a) a signal input interface which receives a TV plaza information signal as well...

20060059528 - Video display system and video display device: A display system provided with transportability and being accessible from a mobile information terminal, a wireless communication network connects between a server 101 and a display device 102 and between the display device 102 and other display devices in tandem. Each display device has an interface for connecting with a...

20060059530 - Distributed configuration of entertainment devices: Methods and systems for managing configuration settings on remote entertainment devices are described. The method may include: storing values for a first subset of configuration settings from the set of configuration settings, each of the values for the first subset having an associated precedence level; storing values for a second...

20060059529 - Systems and methods for providing security through sessions: Systems and methods are described for providing security through sessions. In an implementation, a method includes initiating a session, by an operating system, in which operating system services are executable and initiating another session, by the operating system, in which a user-interactive application is executable....

20060059531 - Information recording medium, information recording device and method, information reproduction device and method, information recording reproduction device and method, recording or reproduction control computer program, and data structure containing cont: An information recording medium includes a file for storing object data consisting of a plurality of packets and further includes a file for storing correspondence definition information for controlling reproduction of the object data. The object data is interleaved in an angle block. The head of the interleaved unit has...

20060059532 - Method and apparatus for recording a video program for user instruction: The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing the user instructional information describing the operation of their television receiving device system....

20060059533 - Method of and device for caching digital content data: The disclosure relates to a method of caching a part of digital content data from a content source (202), comprising the step of: acquiring the digital content data from the content source (202), wherein said part of the digital content data comprises interleaved segments (130; 131) of the acquired digital...

20060059534 - Method for capturing a media segment: In a first embodiment of the invention, the method includes: from a first source, receiving content data corresponding to a media work; receiving segment parameters from an input device; deriving data corresponding to a media segment of the media work based on the segment parameters; and sending the derived data...

20060059535 - Method and apparatus for playing content: A receiver such as in an automobile and/or wireless communication device is configured for a method of playing of live and recorded multimedia content. A desired genre of content is first defined. Both recorded and live content of that desired genre is identified and assembled into a playlist. Live content...

20060059536 - Information processing device preinstalled with a program that handles large-capacity data, and method of initializing the information processing device: An information processing device has a first storage area, a second storage area, a folder creating portion, and a mount processing portion. The first storage area stores an operating system and an application program, and the second storage area is different from the first storage area. The folder creating portion...

20060053436 - Wireless back channel for satellite television system: The present invention solves the above problems by attaching a cellular phone receiver to the set-top-box. This cellular phone receiver has a modem to transmit data between the subscriber's box and a cellular network. The cellular network may relay the data to the pay-television distributor. Other features and advantages of...

20060053437 - Secure method for providing, verifying, and clearing negotiable discount coupons utilizing a distributed processing network: A method for increasing security in the issuance of discount coupons to consumers includes providing a traceable, printable medium to remote users for the printing of discount offer data thereon in order to create negotiable discount coupons, each traceable, printable medium comprising at least one coupon shell including a prerecorded...

20060053439 - Object and resource security system: According to the invention, a method for securing a plaintext object within a content receiver is disclosed. In one step, a secure portion of a secure object and a plaintext remainder of the secure object are received. Which portion of the secure object is the secure portion is determined. The...

20060053438 - Signal processing device and method of controlling the same: A signal processing device comprises a trigger detecting means configured to detect that a predetermined trigger for registering a digital recording device connected to a network has been provided, a device search means configured to make a search for the digital recording device connected to the network via a connection...

20060053440 - Content access control from an information carrier player: The invention relates to a method of controlling a user access to a server content from an information carrier player (101), said server being intended to contain data associated with a rating level (RL), said method comprising; a) a parental control access step (104) based on a current parental control...

20060053441 - System and method for transporting video data through a dual-link hd-sdi connection: In accordance with the teachings the present invention, a system and method for transporting video data through a dual-link HD-SDI connection is provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the method includes coupling a digital video projector and a playback server with a dual-link HD-SDI connection, the dual-link...

20060053442 - Apparatus and method for insertion of material in broadcasting: A system, apparatus, and method for local insertion of analog or digital material into a television broadcast signal. A central insertion control unit controls the insertion of additional material while a remote insertion control unit locally controls the insertion of the additional material. The central insertion control unit contains a...

20060053443 - Methods and systems for efficient behavior generation in software application development tool: Methods, systems and computer product for allowing flexible definition of appearance and behavior states for an interactive application. A state table includes a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension configured to identify at least one programming element and the second dimension configured to identify a plurality of...

20060053444 - Pairing a remote control and a television: The present invention is a method for associating remote controls and televisions. More specifically, the present invention permits delivery of television programming to multiple televisions from a television converter device. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and...

20060053446 - Cable program receiver and method of processing service information for the same: A cable broadcast receiver includes a host device and a cable card which is detachably inserted into the host device. The cable card receives an OOB signal from the host device and parses a new SI table from the OOB signal. The new SI table contains a first CRC code....

20060053445 - Digital broadcast receiver and method of providing program guide using the digital broadcast receiver: Provided are a digital broadcast receiver and a method of providing a program guide, which enable a user to easily watch in real time or time-record a broadcast program of his or her interest. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reading unit which reads program guide information from a data...

20060053447 - Method, system, and computer program product for managing controlled residential or non-residential environments: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as...

20060053448 - Interactive program guide with graphic program listings: Electronic program guides in which program listings may be graphically presented and in which sponsors and celebrities of those programs may be identified are provided. The electronic programs guides may be passive television program guides, interactive television program guides, and/or on-line television program guides. Television show text information, logos and/or...

20060053449 - Graded access to profile spaces: A method for generating a recommendation for video content to a viewer where the viewer has a user profile corresponding to a viewing history of the viewer. The method including: accessing at least one other user profile corresponding to a viewing history of another user (202); combining a portion of...

20060053450 - Mobile television electronic service guide delivery system: Methods and systems for transmitting electronic service guide (ESG) data to a mobile terminal are described. The method for delivery of ESG data comprises steps of receiving ESG data, encapsulating metadata associated with the ESG data to generate a new ESG object, replacing a current ESG object with the new...

20060053451 - Method and system for providing a cache guide: A method and system for providing a cache guide to a client. The cache guide containing a subset of available guide data. The available guide data being locally stored in a Mini-Headend unit and the subset being stored in the cache memory of a remote set-top box....

20060053452 - Wired/wireless broadcasting distribution apparatus having a home broadcasting distribution function and broadcasting channel formation/termination method using the same: The present invention relates to a wired/wireless broadcasting distribution apparatus having a home broadcasting distribution function and a broadcasting channel formation/termination method using the same. A wired/wireless broadcasting distribution apparatus according the present invention receives HD-grade multi-channel ground wave/satellite/cable broadcasting signals, and converts the received broadcasting signals into an IEEE1394...

20060053453 - Wireless redistribution system for terrestrial digital television broadcasting and receiving system for terrestrial digital television broadcasting: The present invention provides a wireless redistribution system for terrestrial digital TV broadcasting applied to a TV receiver capable of receiving signals of a VHF band in addition to signals of a UHF band as a frequency band of terrestrial digital TV broadcast signals. The system comprises: a transmitter, into...

20060053454 - Digital broadcast receiving device and method of providing vod content using the same: A method of providing VOD (Video On Demand) content using a digital broadcast receiving device, and a digital broadcast receiving device using the method, the method including receiving broadcast programs and the VOD content through at least one tuner; storing the VOD content received through the at least one tuner;...

20060053455 - Synchronization of signals: A method and system for synchronizing signals. First and second signals are sent (compressed or uncompressed) from a source to a receiving apparatus of a receiving system. The first signal has content of a first modality (e.g., audio) and the second signal has content of a second modality (e.g., video)....

20060053456 - Technique for delivering through a communications network content of entertainment programs, and video recordings provided by users: A user may utilize a “home video on demand (HVOD)” service to distribute a video recorded using, e.g., a conventional camcorder, to desired viewers who have access to a broadband communications network, e.g., a cable TV network. The inventive system providing the HVOD service may receive from the user the...

20060053457 - Module, system and method for processing digital signals: The invention relates to a digital signal-processing module (2) which can be connected to a host (1) for receiving at least one input transport stream of encoded digital data in a pre-determined compression format. The inventive module comprises means of decoding the digital signals contained in the input transport stream....

20060053458 - Worldwide television tuning system with country code based tuning: A worldwide television tuning system is configurable to the television standards and channel frequencies of multiple different countries based on a country's ITU long-distance country code. The tuning system maintains a country code table listing a plurality of countries according to their ITU codes. The tuning system also maintains multiple...

20060053459 - Networked digital security system and methods: A networked digital security system is disclosed that preferably includes a centralized administrator web server coupled via a communication network such as the Internet to a plurality of customer servers and-a plurality of customer work stations. The centralized web server advantageously provides a point of control and management of the...

20060053461 - Audio/video distribution system: An audio/video distribution system that is cost-effective, highly flexible, and capable of being used over an extended area and without the need for a centralized switching and distribution mechanism. The audio/video distribution system includes a distribution cable, at least one audio/video transmitter, at least one receiver, and a control director....

20060053460 - Transmission communications management: An interactive transmission system having a data management module that identifies at least one transmission characteristic of at least one transmitter module. The transmitter module transmits data over a transport medium. The data management module modifies its behavior based on the identified at least one transmission characteristic....

20060053462 - System and method to expand catv transmission spectrum using high frequency spectrum overlays: A system and method for the expansion of the spectrum by the generation and introduction of high frequency spectrum overlays is disclosed. In an electronic content distribution system a plurality of input stream are combined at a head end into two combined signals having separate frequency band ranges. The signals...

20060053463 - Image processing apparatus and method: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method capable of capturing, storing, and replaying incoming image data and outputting currently-incoming image data or the captured image data on a display apparatus such as a monitor and a TV set....

20060053465 - Apparatus and method for providing alert outputs: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver, radio and/or other device having an emergency alert function provides alert outputs in manner which increases the likelihood that users are promptly notified of emergency events. According to an exemplary embodiment, a television signal receiver includes a tuner operative to tune signals...

20060053464 - Method for detecting whether an apparatus having an emergency alert function has been relocated: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver includes an emergency alert function which, when activated, provides an alert output to notify users of an emergency event. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a tuner operative to tune signals including emergency alert signals capable of activating the emergency...

20060053466 - Television telephone system, communication terminal device, character information transmission method used therefor, and program: A communication terminal device for making a television telephone communication between communication terminal devices includes: an image processing unit for embedding character information inputted during the television telephone communication into image information transferred through the television telephone communication; and a sending unit for sending the image information into which the...

20060053467 - Broadcast receiver: A digital television broadcast receiver improves a convenience of a user by making a video recording reservation by using a function control mail and making the video recording reservation from a distance. The broadcast receiver has a mail receiving section, a mail type identification section to identify a normal mail...

20060053470 - Management and non-linear presentation of augmented broadcasted or streamed multimedia content: Methods and systems for presenting enhanced previously recorded broadcasted or streamed content are provided. Example embodiments provide an Enhanced Content Display System “ECDS,” which supports the management and presentation of prerecorded program content in a non-linear fashion. In one embodiment, the ECDS includes an Intelligent Media Data Server that generates...

20060053469 - Method of transmitting interactive television: A method (1) of transmitting interactive television, whereby interactive television applications are transmitted inside application-modules. These modules are transmitted in a broadcast stream. Recording systems cannot decide which modules are to be recorded. Therefore storage related information of said modules is signalled in the broadcast stream. Module identification information related...

20060053468 - Multi-medium data processing device capable of easily creating multi-medium content: A multimedia processing device implements a script haying a data structure that is formed of a drawing information describing portion where media data is chronologically described, and a user navigation information describing portion where correspondence between events and actions and implementation conditions are chronologically described. The multimedia processing device implements...

20060053471 - System and method for transporting an ancillary data packet in the active area of a video stream: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for transporting an ancillary data packet in the active area of a video stream are provided. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the method includes coupling a playback server and a digital video projector with a...

20060053472 - Receiving apparatus, receiving method, and transmitting receiving apparatus: A signal from a tuner 22a is outputted to a primary display 2. An analog signal from a tuner 22b is digitally compressed, subjected to an encrypting process, transmitted to a secondary display 3 by a wireless LAN, and displayed by an LCD 46 of the secondary display 3. An...

20060053473 - System and method of image distribution: The invention relates to a method of image distribution from a central distribution server (10) to at least one receiver device (20), in which, in response to a user request, at least one image is transmitted by a telecasting means, and an information message of image availability by telecasting is...

20060053474 - Radio frequency modulator: Disclosed herein is a Radio Frequency (RF) modulator. The RF modulator includes a Chrominance-to-Luminance (C/L) delay compensation unit for receiving a video signal and compensating for a time delay between the chrominance and luminance signals of the video signal, and a modulation unit for receiving the video signal, which is...

20060048178 - Interface for controlling service actions at a set top box from a remote control: A method is provided for controlling service actions at a set top box. When the method is executed, a first graphical user interface is displayed. The first graphical user interface includes a first set of soft keys. An arrangement of the first set of soft keys corresponds to an arrangement...

20060048179 - Method and system to access pc-based services from non-pc hardware: An authentication protocol interface is described that allows a user to authenticate into, or login to, a PC based environment using a non-pc device. It also provides the user with a transparent method of “programming” the interface so that the interface behaves the way a user wants the next time...

20060048180 - Methods for controlling apparatuses having an emergency alert function: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver, radio or other device provides an emergency alert function. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a tuner for tuning a plurality of frequency channels associated with the emergency alert function. A processor identifies one of the frequency channels having higher...

20060048181 - Method and device for initializing cable card and channel list using reset menu on osd screen: An apparatus and method are provided for initializing a cable card and a channel list using a reset menu on an OSD screen. The initialization of a cable card is achieved by receiving a cable card reset request through the reset menu on the OSD screen; and according to the...

20060048182 - Display device for displaying compensated program guide and method thereof: A display device for displaying a program guide and a method thereof are provided. The display device includes: a tuner to select a first channel to receive a broadcasting signal; a signal processing unit to extract time information and EPG information from the broadcasting signal; a central processing unit to...

20060048183 - Device and method for updating function in digital broadcasting signal receiver: A device and a method of updating a function in a digital broadcasting signal receiver. The device includes a storage section storing data for executing various functions provided to a digital broadcasting receiving section; a program specific information/service information (PSI/SI) extraction section extracting PSI/SI from a received digital broadcasting signal;...

20060048185 - Method and apparatus for storing and accessing videos: A method and apparatus that includes a central repository for a plurality of videos, which are associated with a category. Once the video is uploaded or stored at the central repository, it is reviewed to determine whether what type of access, if any, should associated with the video. A tracking...

20060048186 - Method and apparatus for storing and accessing videos from a remote location: A method and apparatus that enables a remote application platform the ability to allow any Internet website to receive and play video contributions from its users. The application platform provides websites with a number of functions related to uploaded videos that requires only that websites place relevant code on their...

20060048184 - Method and system for use in displaying multimedia content and status: The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for use in controlling the display of information relative to the playback of programming content and displaying programming guide data. Some embodiments provide a method for use in controlling the display of an electronic programming guide. The method receives programming guide data,...

20060048190 - Device, system and computer program product for retrieving information: An information-retrieval system is provided with a schedule storing system that stores schedule information regarding a schedule of a user, a service information storing system that stores pieces of service information respectively corresponding to types of services; and a searching system that searches the pieces of service information for at...

20060048189 - Method and apparatus for proactive recording and displaying of preferred television program by user's eye gaze: A method and apparatus for proactive recording and displaying of a preferred television (TV) program, determined based on a user's eye gaze, are provided. The method includes extracting a parameter used to estimate a preference of the user for a currently broadcast TV program from information on the user's eye...

20060048187 - Method for drawing up a list of contents in a device connected to a domestic network and device associated with said method: The invention relates to a method for drawing up a list of contents in a controller device connected to a domestic network, said list enumerating the contents provided by various devices connected to the domestic network. The inventive method consists in transmitting a command specifying a filtering criterion from the...

20060048188 - Methods and systems for logging a user off of a set-top box: A set-top box includes a processor and a receiver for communicating with a remote control unit. The processor is configured to receive a command from the remote control unit to automatically log a user off of the set-top box. The user is automatically logged off in response to receipt of...

20060048191 - Method and apparatus for use in video searching: The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use in searching and/or retrieving video data. Some embodiments provide method for use in searching video data, that extract a spatiotemporal representation of at least a portion of a query sequence of video data, produce a query slice image from the spatiotemporal...

20060048192 - Dvd-entertainment interactive internet shopping system - deiiss: The current invention is a system/method that allows a user purchases products featured in the DVD content via the Internet. This invention utilizes a TV, a DVD player with its remote controller through an Internet communicating with a service provider. By using the combination of several keys of the remote...

20060048193 - I-picture insertion on request: A consumer entertainment system includes a video sender-box (10) configured to provide independent video frame insertion on request from one or more receivers (16) capable of requesting independent frame insertion or requesting the avoidance of the usage of lost pictures as reference frames. A network (14) connects the receivers to...

20060048194 - Network remote control: A network of devices with remote control includes a network interconnecting two or more networked devices and a wireless remote control unit for communicating with one or more of the networked devices. The remote control unit stores an interface for one or more of the networked devices so that the...

20060048195 - Synchronizing a media center on a correct channel: A media center and an audio visual (AV) unit may be remotely synchronized on the same remodulation channel. A system may include a media center connected to an audio visual (AV) unit; and a remote control unit to activate the media center. The remote control unit may receive signals from...

20060048196 - Wireless interactive entertainment and information display network systems: A wireless interactive entertainment and information display network systems capable in deliver digital content to a group or groups of wireless interactive display apparatus for playback in real-time or on-demand and methods for timely and efficiently streaming, uploading, or transferring digital content from external media sources over wireless links to...

20060048197 - Method and device for band translation: A band translation method and device for selecting two or more desired frequency bands of data and bandstacking the two or more desired frequency bands of data into a single output....

20060048198 - Establishing remote connections: A remote network resource is contacted to acquire connection data. The connection data is associated with connecting a viewer to one or more senders. In response to the connection data, one or more connections are established between the viewer and the one or more senders. Graphical data is received over...

20060048199 - Integrated digital camera and handset for an a/v telecommunication device: An information appliance including a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection, and a video processor connected to the network connection may further include a digital camera connected to said video processor....

20060048200 - System and method for testing the upstream channel of a cable network: A system and method for testing a portion of a cable network provides a pattern generator, addresser, forward error corrector, and comparator. The system and method is particularly adapted to testing the upstream channel in a cable network. The pattern generator generates a test signal. The addresser addresses the signal...

20060048201 - Program selection system for accessing streamed media content: The disclosure relates to computer based systems and methods for selecting streamed media signals of interest. In one embodiment, the invention can include a program selection system including a user interface such as a remote control to provide interaction between a viewer and a terminal. The terminal can be in...

20060048202 - Method and apparatus for providing access to data at a consumer location: A method (500) for providing access to data at a consumer location (23). The consumer location (23) has a central consumer device (202) operable to access a data recording medium (402), a QAM interface (422) arranged for communication with a first remote consumer device (214), and a packet data interface...

20060048203 - Method and device for the bi-directional transmission of electronic data in a television data cable network: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bidirectional transmission of electronic data in a television data cable network having segments which each comprise two or more user interfaces, with each of the segments being connected via a cable connection to a feed point in the television data...

20060048204 - Method of storing a stream of audiovisual data in a memory: The invention relates to a method of splitting up (220) a stream of audiovisual data into a stream of audio data and a stream of video data and of storing (225) at least the audio data when the content of the stream of audiovisual data matches (210) at least one...

20060048205 - Methods and systems for securing access to recorded video programs: A video recorder for recording audiovisual programming includes: a storage device for recording audiovisual programming and a list of users; a processor for controlling the storage device; and a user interface. The processor is configured to selectively grant access to a particular audiovisual recording based on a list of authorized...

20060048206 - Method and computer system for triggering an action on digital communication data: The invention concerns a digital processing system fed by at least one filter having three possible states resulting from one or more conditions on one or more protocol attributes, specified for a semantic stream. Each protocol attribute is specified by an ordered sequence of protocol names used in the semantic...

20060048207 - Voice-operated television with telephone, digital video recording and weather alert functions: The present invention is a television set that is operated by voice commands without the use of a remote control as is typical in the art. The device also is multifunctional in combining television viewing capabilities, with voice telephone sending and receiving capabilities, digital video recording capabilities and weather alert...

20060048208 - Method for delivering cable channels to handheld devices: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to broadcast premium video programming. Thus, once premium video programming is received, it is encoded into the vertical blanking interval and unused/non-interfering Active lines found in a typical television broadcast. However, the encoded information is completely transparent to the pre-existing/typical...