Interactive video distribution systems inventions 08/06

20060195856 - System and method for billing hotel guests for playing visual content: A system for billing hotel guests for playing visual content in a hotel room may be utilized by a hotel. The system may include a display system located in the hotel room. A computing system may be in communication with the display system and include a processor and memory. Software...

20060195857 - Methods and apparatus to monitor reception of programs and content by broadcast receivers: Methods and apparatus to monitor reception of programs and content by broadcast receivers are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to monitor reception of a broadcast program by a broadcast receiver located in a statistically selected site comprises retrieving an audience measurement data packet from the broadcast receiver in order...

20060195860 - Acting on known video entities detected utilizing fingerprinting: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method for detecting and acting on a known video entity within a video stream. The method includes receiving a video stream and continually creating statistical parameterized representations for windows of the video stream. The statistical parameterized representation windows are continually compared...

20060195859 - Detecting known video entities taking into account regions of disinterest: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method for specifying regions of interest for video event detection. The method includes receiving a video stream and identifying a region of interest in a video stream. The region of interest is a portion of at least one image of the...

20060195861 - Methods and apparatus for identifying audio/video content using temporal signal characteristics: Methods and apparatus for identifying audio/video content using temporal characteristics of a signal are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods detect a plurality of signal features of a media signal derived from audio/video content and calculate time intervals between a plurality of those signal features to generate signatures. The signatures...

20060195858 - Video object recognition device and recognition method, video annotation giving device and giving method, and program: Visual feature information which is information representing a numerical value of a visual feature of an object and additional information which is information added to the object are stored in association with each other. Partial image data which is image data of a partial area of a video image is...

20060195863 - Multi-market brodcast tracking, management and reporting method and system: A method of analyzing multi-market broadcasts of commercial advertisements, has unique identifiers are assigned to a plurality of expected commercial advertisements, information regarding the plurality of expected commercial advertisements and respective unique identifiers is recorded in a computer database, electronic detections of a plurality of actual market-broadcast instances of a...

20060195862 - Trap/filter verification system and method of use thereof: A trap verification system for verifying the existence, proper placement and functionality of a trap on a cable television transmission line is provided, wherein the system comprises a headend configured to transmit a inquiry signal to a particular trap and receive a response signal from the trap, the trap configured...

20060195864 - Portable media device interoperability: A method of adding content to a portable entertainment device, comprising identifying DRM capabilities of the portable entertainment device, defining a first set of content, defining a second set of content which is comprised of content selected by a user from the first content set, identifying content which is not...

20060195865 - Description document for a service offered by a server in a communication network and method of validating a multimedia document: A description document for a service offered by a server in a communication network comprises a first abstract part adapted to describe at least one message exchanged on the communication network when a service is implemented and a second concrete part adapted to describe the information relating to the transmission...

20060195866 - Television system targeted advertising: Television system targeted advertising is described. In an embodiment, a content provider monitors a real-time state of television-based systems for a power on/off state and a tuning configuration. The content provider delivers advertising content to one or more of the television-based systems when they are powered-on and configured to receive...

20060195867 - Information processing apparatus and method and computer program: If a situation in which it is difficult to make a decision about automatic processing without involving user intervention occurs, an inquiry is made to a user to clear such a situation and a response by the user to the inquiry is used as a decision criterion by which to...

20060195868 - Receivers for television signals: A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device (28). The receiver includes a processor (23) for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof...

20060195869 - Control of multi-user environments: A multi-user system, for interactively controlling the action of at least a first participant in an environment, comprising: a first device operable by a first user to dynamically control the action of the first participant in the environment; and a second device simultaneously operable by a second user to dynamically...

20060195870 - Mobile television receiver: The invention relates to the reproduction of a television signal on a distant reproduction device. The received television signal is encoded and transmitted in a digital data format over a communication link to the reproduction device. The reproduction device decodes the received video information for display on a display screen....

20060195871 - Radio signal distrubution device and reception system comprising said device: A DVD transport stream including a video and a sub-picture stream shall be transcoded to a broadcasting transport stream. For this a decoding-encoding-chain merging video and sub-picture into a single video bitstream to conserve the information of the sub-pictures although not in the broadcasting format reserved is provided. By performing...

20060195872 - System and method for providing a personal broadcasting service using a mobile communication terminal: A system and method for providing a personal broadcasting service using a mobile communication terminal with a multimedia broadcasting module are provided. A broadcasting service provider provides multimedia broadcasting content. A multimedia broadcasting terminal sends a channel selection signal to the broadcasting service provider, receives multimedia broadcasting content of a...

20060195873 - Mechanism for sharing control of a tuner amongst multiple video consuming entities: Automated sharing of control of a single tuner amongst multiple video consuming entities. One of the video consuming entities is assigned to be primary, thereby allowing seamless control over the channel tuned by the tuner. Another of the video consuming entities is assigned to be secondary, which prohibits the seamless...

20060195874 - Transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency apparatus: There is provided a highly reliable transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency apparatus which can achieve a high communication quality in a cable modem. A reception RF signal is input to a reception system block via an input/output terminal, converted to an intermediate-frequency signal, and output from a terminal. An output terminal of...

20060195875 - Method and equipment for distributing digital video products with a restriction of certain products in terms of the representation and reproduction rights thereof: A process for distributing digital video products with a restriction of at least certain rights of representation and reproduction, including an initial stage of forming a bank of original digital video sequences on a publicly inaccessible server for each request made by a user, and a stage of selection by...

20060195876 - Visualizing camera position in recorded video: Disclosed is an arrangement (100) for displaying video footage captured by a controllable camera (103), the arrangement comprising a memory (107) storing the captured footage, means for constructing a representation (505) of a field of view accessible by the camera (103), means for retrieving, from the memory (107), the stored...

20060195877 - Convergence system and method: One embodiment of a method may provide, through a convergence system, a browser having a first start page and a second start page. The method may present, through the convergence system, the first start page, in response to a viewer selection of (i) a first television channel and (ii) the...

20060195878 - Apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal. In this present invention, information identifying a product item, which is in a scene to be presented from a broadcast signal, is provided together with a broadcast signal, then a signal...

20060195879 - Apparatus for outputting content: In a content output apparatus which is connected to at least one content playback apparatus, lists of content which are respectively reproducible by the connected content playback apparatuses are acquired. When the acquired lists of the content are output in order for a user to select any of the listed...

20060195881 - Distributed statistical multiplexing of multi-media: A method of distributed statistical multiplexing of video data. The method includes generating a plurality of blocks forming a pre-processed video media corresponding to an original video media, the plurality of blocks including, for one or more sub-portions of the original video media, a plurality of interchangeable blocks that represent...

20060195882 - Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing multi-viewpoint media content services: A method, system, and computer program product for providing multi-viewpoint media content services is provided. The method includes receiving a feed of content from at least one communications device that is observing an event from a specified viewpoint and/or relaying the feed of content received from another communications device. The...

20060195880 - Service providing apparatus: A service providing apparatus in which a learning control unit performs control as to whether or not to perform learning of a first estimation unit based on an output of an environment decision unit for outputting information about environment of a user and outputs of the first estimation unit and...

20060195883 - Physical layer repeater with discrete time filter for all-digital detection and delay generation: A discrete time bandpass filter element (103) having multiple stages (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) for use in a time division duplex radio protocol communications system including an automatic gain control. Discrete time bandpass filter is used to generate delay and can replace SAW filters in a wireless frequency translating...

20060195884 - Interactive multichannel data distribution system: Multimedia distribution systems are disclosed in which servers communicate with clients via audio, video, overlay and/or control channels. In many instances, the audio, video and/or overlay information is transcoded prior to transmission. In many embodiments, the servers and/or clients can be updated. In several embodiments, the updates can be performed...

20060195885 - Transmitter and receiver for determing locale: A transmitter (110) which transmits a signal (120) for reception by a receiving device (130). The transmitter is arranged to insert into the signal an indication of a geographical region where the signal physically can be received. Preferably the geographical region is indicated in the signal using geometrical shapes. The...

20060195886 - Content identification for broadcast media: A method and apparatus for repeatedly embedding content identification information (identifiers) into a media data stream, such as an MPEG video data stream. The identifiers are embedded into the data stream using a hash function that binds an identifier with a rapidly varying property of the data stream so that...

20060195887 - Method and application for interactive video on demand: Method and apparatus for generation of interactive programming. An interactive programming server embeds interactive components into a video signal. The interactive programming server receives content from a content source and interactive components from an interactive component source and uses the content and interactive components to generate an interactive Video On...

20060190959 - Method of presenting a customized sequence of video segments: A method of navigating through an interactive multimedia program stored in a digital storage medium, including a plurality of tracks, includes the steps of presenting an interactive selection main menu to a viewer, presenting a first question to the viewer in response to a selection from the main menu, the...

20060190960 - System and method for incorporating video analytics in a monitoring network: A system and method for incorporating video analytics data in a monitoring network are provided. A processing server obtains video analytics device data from one or more monitoring devices. The processing server processes and stores the video analytics device data according to one or more unique identifiers. Utilizing decision logic,...

20060190961 - Method and system for capturing and calculating complex consumer ratings of goods and services: Method and system for capturing and calculating complex consumer ratings of goods and services, which in one embodiment comprises receiving from a user a request for a rating of goods or services; and presenting to the user a rating for the goods or services, the rating based on ratings provided...

20060190962 - A/v parental lock apparatus and method: Provided are an apparatus and method for restricting A/V listening and viewing using parental levels. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a parental level detected from a video signal is compared with a level set by a user, and previously buffered video and audio are repeatedly output if...

20060190963 - Remote task scheduling for a set top box: Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification...

20060190964 - Queue-based head-end advertisement scheduling method and apparatus: A method and apparatus for scheduling and inserting advertisements into a plurality of presentation channels in a communications network in which the presentation channels contain the same programming, but different advertisements. A single programming channel is split into a plurality of presentation channels. Different advertisements are inserted into the different...

20060190965 - Display method: Picture-on-picture technology is used in the present invention to divide a television screen into a main picture and suffix pictures. The main picture displays the selected channel. The three suffix pictures are used to display the favorite channels. Then, users can preview and browse the favorite channels....

20060190966 - Systems and methods for providing a program as a gift using an interactive application: A television message system is provided that allows users at user television equipment devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and...

20060190967 - Multi-channel satellite signal receiving apparatus: A multi-channel satellite signal receiving apparatus is capable of simultaneously providing broadcast programs from a plurality of different sets of transponders in a satellite broadcast system. According to an exemplary embodiment, the multi-channel satellite signal receiving apparatus includes an input operative to receive input signals via a single cable from...

20060190968 - Sharing between shared audio devices: Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to obtaining an operational capacity for a shared audio device. At least one operational resource to perform a transformation of an audio information is estimated based at least in part on the obtaining the operational capacity. Certain aspects relate to providing a capability for...

20060190969 - Method of controlling portable media players speaker and video image: A removable vehicle entertainment system is provided. The system includes a video display screen for displaying entertainment to an occupant of the vehicle. The system can be removed from the docking bracket in the vehicle, and attached to an external docking station such that the system can be used independently...

20060190970 - Security enhanced tiered subscription broadcast system: A broadcast system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to provide multiple levels of subscription services. Subscribers have the option of listening to fewer (or no) commercials if they pay a higher fee, or listening to more commercials if they pay a lower (or no) fee. Commercials can be demographically...

20060190971 - Information-processing system, information-processing apparatus, and information-processing method: In an information-processing system shown in FIG. 1, a server (106) for delivering remote-operation control information in accordance with an audio/video instrument (110) and an information-processing apparatus (103) with a remote-operation screen display function for remote-controlling the audio/video instrument (110) based on control information acquired from this server (106) are...

20060190972 - Wireless redistribution system for terrestrial digital television broadcasting: A transmitter includes: frequency conversion means for collectively frequency-converting terrestrial digital TV broadcast signals inputted such that the frequency of terrestrial digital TV broadcast signals of a viewing desired channel inputted by viewing desired channel input means, among the terrestrial digital TV broadcast signals inputted, are converted to a frequency...

20060190974 - Home network system and method for transmitting contents thereof: Disclosed are a home network system and a contents transmission method for a home network system, wherein the home network system includes: a Video On Demand (VOD) server for providing a VOD contents service and converting the contents to be suited for at least one device at home; a home...

20060190973 - User-configurable multimedia presentation system: In one disclosed embodiment, multiple content sources are identified, and displays of content from those sources are positioned on a common display under user control. Content source selections and display preferences are persisted between user sessions, and fresh content is displayed each time the content is loaded. The user's customized...

20060190976 - Apparatus and method for searching start position of broadcasting program: Provided are an apparatus and method for searching a start position of a broadcast program. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a received broadcast program is recorded in a recording medium while being output as video and audio. If a new broadcast program is started, position information regarding...

20060190975 - Method and apparatus for providing video on-demand: The present invention is generally related to a method and a device for providing video on-demand. Our method consists of transferring a selected video over a broadcast signal to a user platform where it will be saved and played under user's control. The user will have the video available for...

20060190977 - Upgrading software of set-top box: In an apparatus and method to upgrade software of a set-top box, when a malfunction renders it impossible to receive software upgrade data through System Information (SI), the data is received through Program Specific Information (PSI). Accordingly, it is not only possible to upgrade the software when a malfunction occurs,...

20060190978 - Remotely accessing a set-top terminal: An Internet server is operatively coupled to a configurable set-top terminal (STT), thereby providing remote access to the configurable STT through the Internet server. The Internet server is configured to provide web-pages that preferably emulate the user interface for the configurable STT. In that regard, a subscriber can log into...

20060190979 - Data information display method of data broadcasting receiver and apparatus thereof: A data information display method and apparatus for a data broadcasting receiver are provided. The method includes tuning signals received through an antenna and detecting whether or not data information is received among the signals tuned by the tuner; displaying a general television picture when the data information is not...

20060190980 - Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program: Request information 3 is transmitted from a transmission means la of a communication device 1 to a server 2. Then, related information 4a corresponding to the request information 3 and an identification code 4b are obtained and transmitted to the communication device 1 by a transmission means 2c. The related...

20060190981 - Carousel technology for interactive television: A broadcast data stream is received on a device with a receiver and a processor. The system allows to broadcast multiple ITV applications (such as games). This system serially organizes the data on the broadcast stream which hosts several applications but are available in order, one at a time. The...

20060190982 - Method for identifying extender text table of electronic program guide in digital tv: A method for identifying extender text tables of an electronic program guide in a DTV is disclosed. In the present invention, the extender text tables are identified by processing an ETT section in the same manner as other tables using a value capable of identifying the extender text table sections....

20060190983 - Disk driver cluster management of time shift buffer with file allocation table structure: A file allocation system for a hard disk drive includes a memory with driver logic and a processor configured with the driver logic to receive a request to allocate hard disk space of a defined size for a buffer file. In some embodiments, the processor is configured with the driver...

20060184960 - Method and system for enabling commerce from broadcast content: The present invention is a method and system of allowing a user to receive additional information regarding broadcast content. A user's playback device is provided with an “Info Button” that can be clicked by the user to tag the content or sub-content while experiencing the content or sub-content. The user...

20060184961 - Signature-based program identification apparatus and methods for use with digital broadcast systems: Signature-based program identification apparatus and methods for use with digital audio and/or video systems are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods develop signatures of digital audio and/or video content from a digital data stream at two or more sites and compare the signatures to one another to identify the content....

20060184962 - 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 processor operative to detect a first condition wherein signal strength on a selected channel frequency associated with the emergency alert function exceeds a predetermined...

20060184963 - Method and apparatus for similar video content hopping: An apparatus for playing video content includes a play means (100) for playing video content. The video content includes overlapping scenes (621, 622, 641, 642, 661, 662, 681, 682), with each scene having an associated scene signature. A scene hopping selector (44) is operative while the play means (100) is...

20060184964 - Image reproducing apparatus for channel map updating and method thereof: Disclosed is an image reproducing apparatus for updating a channel map, and a method thereof. The image reproducing apparatus includes an identification (ID) detector for detecting the ID of a broadcast information card when a broadcast information card is mounted, a comparing unit for comparing the ID of the broadcast...

20060184965 - Method for providing electronic program guide for digital broadcasting: Disclosed is a method for providing an electronic program guide (EPG) for digital broadcasting. The method includes the steps of analyzing motion picture experts group (MPEG)-2 transport stream for the digital broadcasting by a digital broadcasting receiver of a digital broadcasting subscriber as the digital broadcasting subscriber executes an electronic...

20060184966 - Methods and systems for enhancing television applications using 3d pointing: Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a control framework for organizing, selecting and launching media items including graphical user interfaces coupled with an optional 3D control device for collection of the basic control primitives of point, click, scroll, hover and zoom which permit for easy and rapid...

20060184967 - Technique for identifying favorite program channels for receiving entertainment programming content over a communications network: A favorites list of program channels which a cable TV user likely prefers is generated automatically, from which the user may select a program channel to watch. Each program channel in the favorites list is identified based on a measure of the duration in which the program channel is continuously...

20060184968 - Automatic content update for a target device: Channel configuration information is sent to a content service, and the content service determines content to be provided in each channel of a set of channels using the channel configuration information. A first target device receives and stores content for the channels. The first target device may transmit at least...

20060184970 - Digital televisions and electronic devices with program alert function, and methods thereof: A digital TV comprises a processor, a communication unit, an output unit, a memory, and a clock. The communication unit receives an electronic program guide (EPG) with program titles corresponding to showtimes. The memory stores selected information corresponding to a selected program title in the EPG data. When the clock...

20060184969 - On-vehicle recording/reproduction device, recording/reproduction device, recording/reproduction system, and recording/reproduction method: An in-vehicle recording/reproduction device (121) records in a recording device a program which the user starts watching, and reads and reproduces the data when watching is permitted, such as, for example, when a vehicle is stopped. The in-vehicle recording/reproduction device (121) transmits recording information about recording, such as a program,...

20060184971 - Apparatus and method for interfacing between set-top box and point of deployment for pay-per-view service: A method for providing pay-per-view service while observing an OpenCable standard in realization of bi-directional digital cable broadcasting includes a method for interfacing between a set-top box and a point of deployment (POD), the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at the set-top box, an arbitrary program event purchase-related instruction...

20060184974 - Information-processing system, information-processing apparatus, and information-processing method: In an information-processing system shown in FIG. 1, a server (106) for delivering remote-operation control information in accordance with an audio/video instrument (110) and an information-processing apparatus (103) with a remote-operation screen display function for remote-controlling the audio/video instrument (110) based on control information acquired from this server (106) are...

20060184972 - Method and apparatus for content selection in a home media environment: A system for media content selection. In one embodiment, a home entertainment system for accessing content includes a processor for executing instructions adapted for: (i) receiving a request from a user input for selecting a content title; (ii) displaying formats of the content title, with one format stored in a...

20060184973 - Tunerless media presentation unit and methods of use: A tunerless media presentation unit is described which dispenses with the use of traditional analog television tuners. In its place, the media presentation unit provides a pseudo-tuner which can selectively access streaming digital media information from a multicast and/or unicast network source, and/or a local source. In one implementation, the...

20060184976 - Optical network for bi-directional wireless communication: A wireless transceiving system capable of processing multi-channel broadcast signals and Ethernet signals from an Ethernet PON (Passive Optical Network), the wireless transceiving system includes a wireless STB (Set-top Box) transmitter for wirelessly transmitting broadcast signals which are multi-channel image signals and Ethernet signals; and at least one wireless STB...

20060184975 - Wireless digital video recorder: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for receiving and recording video content on a wireless phone. Merely by way of example, one set of embodiments provides a wireless phone with the capability to receive a broadcast video signal and to decode, digitize and record the broadcast video...

20060184977 - Method and apparatus for broadcast communications: An interactive broadcasting system is arranged to receive and respond to user inputs in relation to broadcast material. A scheduler (1200) polls continuously for new user inputs and adjusts its scheduling appropriately, in accordance with algorithms. This might be for example to insert content from user inputs into a live...

20060184978 - Mobile device base station for enhanced signal strength for on-demand media services: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for capturing on-demand media content for use with portable media devices, including wireless phones, using a based station to provide for enhanced signal strength capture. These embodiments provide for the reception/distribution of on-demand media content, which can include, among other things,...

20060184979 - System and method for delivery of short-time duration video segments: A system and method for efficient delivery of video segments. One embodiment relates to the delivery of short-time duration video segments. The video segments may be delivered as part of a media-rich interactive program guide (IPG) or for some other application. The system and method provides a viewer with access...

20060184981 - Image display delay time shortening apparatus during channel change, method thereof and broadcasting receiving apparatus thereof: An image display delay time shortening apparatus during channel change, a method thereof and a broadcasting receiving apparatus thereof are disclosed. The broadcasting receiving apparatus extracts a sequence header from a video stream of the received broadcasting signal if a broadcasting signal of each channel is received. Henceforth, the broadcasting...

20060184980 - Method of enabling an application program running on an electronic device to provide media manipulation capabilities: Conventionally, media manipulation tools, such as tools for editing video, are an integral part of a video editing application. But with the present invention, these tools can be shared by any application that can generate a video window in which video can be played back Hence, a conventional media player...

20060184982 - Selection compression: A method of generating a compressed video stream, comprising: providing a plurality of display commands which represents a display; generating a plurality of quantized transform coefficients from said display commands, wherein said quantization is different for different display commands; and creating a compressed video stream utilization said coefficients....

20060184984 - Method and system for intelligent indexing of recordable event identifiers: A method and a system for intelligent indexing of recordable event identifiers that improve user satisfaction in searching for recordable events or recorded events. Intelligent indexing of recordable event identifiers permits the indexing of recordable event identifiers based on the most likely methods that any of a plurality of users...

20060184983 - Wireless digital video recorder manager: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for managing the reception and/or recording of video content on a wireless digital video recorder. In certain embodiments, the wireless digital video recorder comprises a wireless phone with video reception and video recording capabilities. One set of embodiments provides a reception...

20060184985 - Adaptive and progressive system and method for the secure distribution of wavelet-coded still images: A process for secured distribution of digital fixed pictures in the form of streams comprising sequences of data each containing a part of information of the picture comprising: modifying the original stream by modifying at least a part of the data sequences to produces a stream modified in the same...

20060184987 - Intelligent dma in a mobile multimedia processor supporting multiple display formats: Methods and systems for processing video data are disclosed herein and may include determining a first video format associated with video data to be displayed on a first video display communicatively coupled to a single mobile multiple media processor that supports a plurality of display formats. The single mobile multiple...

20060184986 - Multimedia device: Multimedia device, suitable for reproducing or recording multimedia data, having a means for connection to an external display apparatus, where the multimedia device has at least one combined input and display means which is set up for displaying a graphical user interface or for reproducing multimedia data....

20060184988 - Method and apparatus for real time testing of dtv antenna transmitting systems in time domain under full power: A real time apparatus for testing a DTV antenna transmitting system, wherein the DTV antenna transmitting system transmits an original signal from a DTV transmitter to a DTV transmitting antenna, is disclosed that includes a probe, wherein the probe is connected in series with the DTV antenna transmitting system, and...

20060184989 - Interacting with internet applications via a broadband network on electronic input/output devices: A system and method for interacting with internet applications by way of a broadband network that includes one, or a combination, of cable television, satellite television, internet protocol television, cellular network, or digital subscriber line network. The system and method allow a user to execute at an end user device,...

20060184990 - Hybrid-fiber coaxial network-based high-speed qos transmission system for internet protocol broadcasting service: Disclosed herein is a Hybrid Coaxial Fiber (HCF) network-based high-speed Quality of Service (QoS) transmission system for IP broadcasting service. In the system, a L3 switch unit, a CMTS and a coupler are provided on an ISP side, and an optical distributor, a cable modem, and IP set-top box are...

20060184991 - System and method of providing television content: A method of providing television content includes receiving a channel selection at a television and determining whether the selected channel is provided within a user-defined multi-channel analog stream from a set top box. The multi-channel analog stream can include one hundred and twenty five user selected channels. Further, the user-defined...

20060184992 - Automatic switching between high definition and standard definition ip television signals: A user interface receives a user selection of a video content item. The video content item is available in a high definition (HD) format and a non-HD format via a broadband network access line. A format selector automatically selects which format of the video content item from the HD format...

20060184993 - Method and system for collecting and using data: The present invention provides at least a method and system for collecting and using data with a computing device for a smart closet. With respect to the present invention, a computing device processes information from the interaction of a user with an interactive device such as a mirror or display....

20060184994 - Digital closed caption transport in standalone stream: A method and system for digital closed caption transport are provided. In one example, the method involves receiving closed caption data and a program feed having video content, embedding the closed caption data into a standard video syntax, and encoding the video content into the standard video syntax as a...

20060174259 - Communication method between set-top box and smart card and interface module used for the same: Disclosed herein is a communication method between a set-top box and a smart card and interface module used for the same. In the communication method of the present invention, a Set-Top Box (STB) communicates with a smart card through a Recommended Standard (RS)-232C serial interface when providing information to the...

20060174260 - Recommender having display of visual cues to aid a user during a feedback process: A method for generating recommendations, the method including: prompting a user for feedback on at least one preference for generating a recommendation, the at least one preference having two or more categories associated therewith; displaying at least one visual cue corresponding to each of the two or more categories; selecting...

20060174261 - Method and system for quantifying viewer awareness of advertising images in a video source: Methods and media are provided for quantifying viewer awareness of advertising images in a video source is provided. According to one embodiment, a media source is segmented into a set of frames, which are annotated with attributes based on the images that appear within each frame. The attribute data is...

20060174262 - Method for transmitting a user-specific program: A method for transmitting a user-specific program to the user of a program content transmission system (1) is described, in which first a part of the program contents (P) of the program is transmitted to a first terminal unit (A) of the user and the program transmission to the fist...

20060174263 - Methods, apparatus, and program products for presenting replacement content instead of a portion of a recorded content: Apparatus, methods, and program products that present replacement/additional content in conjunction with an experiential data stream by maintaining a first playback position in the experiential data stream. Detecting proximity of the first playback position to an insertion coordinate associated with the replacement/additional content, and presenting from the replacement/additional content at...

20060174264 - Content personalization for digital conent: A method of providing personalized content to a user is disclosed. In particular, the method relates to receiving incoming content that includes primary content being content originally intended for use in a program and personalized replacement content being content for replacing the primary content in the program. If the personalized...

20060174265 - Method and apparatus for detecting radio content: A central database provides a location for creating and storing samples of known television commercials. The database of commercial samples is downloaded to a set-top box via a communicate link. The set-top box incorporates a processor for comparing a television signal with the database of known commercial messages to detect...

20060174266 - Methods and systems for interactive television: An interactive TV device is configured to receive and process multiple broadband input streams simultaneously. The device includes functionality to perform as a Web browser, HF, cable and satellite TV receiver, a digital PVR, an interactive TV set-top box, an advanced central processing unit and a videoconferencing device, thanks to...

20060174268 - Media device and enhancing use of media device: A media device, a network server and a method of enhancing the use of a media device are provided. The media device is configured to receive a broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system. Program guide information on at least one broadcast media stream is received over a radio...

20060174267 - Method and apparatus for processing two or more initially decoded audio signals received or replayed from a bitstream: In the MPEG-4 standard ISO/IEC 14496:2001 several audio objects that can be coded with different MPEG-4 format coding types can together form a composed audio system representing a single soundtrack from the several audio substreams. In a receiver the multiple audio objects are decoded separately, but not directly played back...

20060174269 - Method and system for providing an electronic program guide: In a method for providing a program guide in a program receiver, program schedule data is received, wherein the program schedule data associates programs with time slots on a particular channel of a plurality of channels. For a first time slot of a virtual channel, and using the program schedule...

20060174271 - Methods and apparatus for providing program guide state information to a device: Methods and apparatus for providing guide state information to a device. A method is provided for updating a program guide that comprises one or more sections. The method includes determining that a selected section of the program guide has changed, and generating a program guide state notification message that identifies...

20060174270 - Systems and methods for providing approximated information in an interactive television program guide: An interactive television program guide application on an interactive television system that determines approximated information using historical content is provided. The interactive television program guide application may retain and store interactive television program guide information. Using the available information, the interactive television program guide application may determine approximated information when...

20060174272 - Video processing apparatus: A video processing apparatus including a memory to store a plurality of character strings corresponding a plurality of channels in predetermined sequence, a display part to display the character string to be superposed on a picture of the corresponding channel, a signal receiver to receive a forward or backward change...

20060174273 - Method of displaying service in dmb, and method and apparatus for managing preferred service: A method and an apparatus are provided for displaying ensembles and services provided by digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) so that a user can search for and select a desired service, and can determine, register, and manage a preferred service according to the user's inclination for watching TV. The method relates...

20060174274 - Methods of receiving movie previews and wireless communication devices configured for the same: Methods of providing movie information are provided. Movie previews are broadcast in an order customized according to priority information associated with a movie provider. Related wireless communication devices are also discussed....

20060174276 - Customer associated profile for accessing audio and video media objects: A method is disclosed for transferring a received media object to remote devices in accordance to attributes in a user profile. The profile information additionally determinates the versions of the media object that are available to such remote devices and whether the media object may be stored in such remote...

20060174275 - Generation of television recommendations via non-categorical information: A method for generating recommendations, the method including: entering non-categorical information as feedback for generating a recommendation; generating preference information corresponding to the non-categorical information; and generating the recommendation based at least in part on the generated preference information. Preferably, the method further includes prompting the user for feedback on...

20060174277 - Networked video devices: A collaborative information system....

20060174278 - Program searching in digital multimedia terminal: A digital multimedia terminal comprises a receiving unit to receive a broadcasting signal. The digital multimedia terminal also comprises an input unit adapted to receive input associated with a user preferred program characteristic. The digital multimedia terminal also comprises a controller, operatively coupled to the receiving unit and the input...

20060174280 - Computer system and method for storing tv signals therein: A computer comprises: a central processing unit (CPU) driving an operating system (OS); a television (TV) receiver part for receiving external television signals; a storage unit for storing the television signals therein; a reserve-recording set-up part for setting up reserve-recording conditions for the television signals; a record-controlling part for storing...

20060174279 - System and method for managing television tuners: A method for managing a first television tuner and a second television tuner is provided. The method includes detecting when a channel request is received at the first television coupled to the first television tuner and detecting whether a recording is scheduled for the first television tuner. Thereafter, a user...

20060174281 - Video apparatus and method for controlling the same: A video apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, by which a channel selection via an external device is enabled in a manner of controlling the video apparatus by unifying to manage all channel information selectable by the external device in controlling the external device provided with...

20060174282 - Bi-directional signal coupler: This invention is a signal coupler that works with, but is not restricted to multi-satellite, multi-receiver systems using one cable with a multi-slot transponder selector. The invention solves the difficulty of connecting a multi-output signal coupler to multiple receivers, where each receiver exhibits the characteristics of a master as specified...

20060174283 - Integrated tuner for satellite and terrestrial broadcast reception: A satellite and terrestrial broadcast reception integrated tuner of the invention includes a satellite broadcast reception tuner circuit and a terrestrial broadcast reception tuner circuit. The satellite broadcast reception tuner circuit includes a filter circuit that attenuates a signal having a frequency lower than the satellite broadcast reception band and...

20060174284 - Apparatus and method for outputting multimedia: An apparatus for outputting multimedia from a telematics terminal within a vehicle includes a selection device for selecting a first multimedia signal and a second multimedia signal from at least one multimedia source. The apparatus includes a first display unit for displaying an image based upon the first multimedia signal...

20060174285 - In-flight entertainment system with hand-out passenger terminals: An in-flight entertainment system with hand-out terminals is described. An embodiment of the invention comprises a server having digital content, which is communicatively linked to a communications network, a connector located proximate to each passenger seat of an aircraft, each connector being communicatively linked to the network, and hand-out terminals....

20060174287 - Data transmitter, program product, and data transmission system: A data transmitter for executing stream-type data transmission of stream data having a predetermined data composition unit to a data receiver includes: a data supply section that supplies the stream data; a buffer for temporarily storing the stream data supplied from the data supply section; and a communication section for...

20060174286 - Device management method and device management system: This invention is a method of managing a device, which performs a hot-plug function in the device (peripheral device) in a non-event-driven OS (Operating System). A hot-plug script hotplug is called by a core driver usbcore of a kernel when the device is connected or disconnected. When called, the hot-plug...

20060174288 - Technique for video broadcasting in wireless lan: A wireless Local Area Network provides data service through a data LAN and also provides video broadcast service through a video LAN. A wireless LAN subscriber accesses the video LAN through one of a plurality of Video Access Points (VAPs) that broadcast multiple video programs on a channel having a...

20060174289 - System for enabling video-based interactive applications: A system and method for delivering interactive program guides includes encoding a plurality of different user interface screens of an interactive application into a series of short video segments. The video segments have associated metadata files that uniquely describe each segment, wherein the segment metadata enables the ingestion of the...

20060174290 - Enhanced program viewing method: A user is provided with the capability to view only those segments of TV broadcast programs and/or pre-recorded digital programs that are identified by the user (or other persons, e.g., parents) as acceptable. Preferences for the types of material that is desired for viewing are provided. The provider analyzes a...

20060174291 - Playback apparatus and method: The present invention provides a playback apparatus including a receiving unit for receiving entered instruction information for content to be played back; a storage unit for storing the instruction information received through the receiving unit; and a processing unit for reflecting a process corresponding to the instruction information stored in...

20060174294 - Digital broadcasting receiver for receiving analog broadcasting and a method thereof: A broadcasting receiver of a display receiver and method thereof receives a digital broadcasting signal and an analog broadcasting signal. A tuning unit selectively receives the digital and analog broadcasting signals. A processing unit processes the digital and analog broadcasting signals in accordance with the selection by said tuning unit,...

20060174293 - Method and apparatus for associating commentary audio with a position in an experiential data stream: Apparatus, methods, and program products for determining where to position received transitory audio within a experiential data stream so as to provide minimal disruption to the experiential data stream....

20060174295 - Method of selecting an element from a list by moving a graphics distinction and device implementing the method: The invention makes it possible to select an element from a list of elements represented by icons. A first element is selected by affixing a graphics distinction on its icon. When the user activates and holds a command, said graphics distinction moves from the first icon to a second icon....

20060174292 - Methods, apparatus, and program products for controlling presentation of an experiential data stream responsive to conversations in a shared social space: Apparatus, methods, and program products that enable a presentation device to automatically accommodate conversations in a social space....

20060174296 - System and method for evaluating predictive video decoders: Embodiments can include the steps of 1) predicting a test frame or region from a plain frame or region, such as a gray frame or region, using the compressions tools, or features under test, that are to be tested by a test bitstream, and 2) predicting from the test frame...

20060174299 - Antenna unit equipped with a tuner portion: An antenna unit equipped with a satellite radio tuner and a tuner-unequipped head unit are connected to each other through a serial bus cable. Equipped in the antenna unit, the satellite radio tuner has a tuner portion, a digital demodulating portion, an interface portion, and a CPU. The interface portion...

20060174298 - Apparatus and related method for sharing address and data pins of a cryptocard module and external memory: A digital television (DTV) system has a front-end circuit comprising a DTV demodulator and a back-end circuit. The back-end circuit includes a DTV demultiplexer, a cryptocard module controller, and an external memory controller. The DTV system also includes an external memory coupled to the back-end circuit, an address bus and...

20060174297 - Electronic handheld audio/video receiver and listening/viewing device: A handheld device in connection with an audio/video system receives and processes video and/or audio signals and displays images to a user or produces sound audible to user. The handheld device may provide for capturing and storing images or continuous video. The handheld also may provide for enhanced viewing of...

20060174300 - Updating compressed read-only memory file system (cramfs) images: Systems and methods for CRAMFS file system differencing and updating are provided that include portion-level differencing and block-level updating of blocks of an original image. The differencing and updating split CRAMFS images into portions using CRAMFS file system structure information and block information and perform dependency analysis using hint/list files...

20060174301 - Video clip display device: A video clip display device is provided capable of providing a viewer with a method of comfortably using a video clip irrespectively of a video clip generation method or distribution method. To achieve this, the video clip display device displays a video clip of a program on a display unit...

20060174302 - Automated remote monitoring system for construction sites: The present invention relates generally to automated remote monitoring of construction projects. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for providing worldwide access to high-resolution images of construction projects, where the images are archived through the life of the project and can be accessed through secure connections...

20060174303 - Moving picture encoding or decoding processing system and mobin g picture encoding or decoding processing method: This invention is aimed at providing a motion picture encoding or decoding system and a motion picture encoding or decoding method which economize the electric power consumption efficiently as compared with the conventional technique. They are provided with at least one failure avoiding means adapted to calculate a necessary volume...

20060174304 - A/v stream-forwarding system and method for forwarding a/v streams from data network to ieee1394 network: An A/V stream-forwarding system forwarding A/V streams of a data network to an IEEE 1394 network and a method therefor. The A/V stream-forwarding system has a media server having an interface with the data network and providing the A/V streams; a transcoder receiving the A/V streams provided by the media...

20060174305 - Picture transmission/reception system, picture receiver apparatus and printer: A picture transmission/reception system includes: an information supply apparatus that supplies, sequentially in time, combined information including picture information and counterpart-picture location information representative of a location of counterpart-picture information that is information about a picture related to the same subject-of-display but different in processability attribute from the picture information;...

20060174307 - Broadcast terminal and method for multi-tasking: A broadcast terminal and method for multitasking are disclosed. The broadcast terminal for multitasking includes a module unit for executing a plurality of tasks; a multitask unit for managing a plurality of executed tasks as a first task group and a second task group; a controller for providing a control...

20060174306 - Video apparatus having software upgrade capability and method for controlling the same: Disclosed herein are a video apparatus with a software upgrade function and a method for controlling the same, wherein software of the video apparatus can be downloaded through the use of a broadcast signal and the existing software of the video apparatus can be upgraded with the downloaded software, and...

20060174308 - Direct access to media playback: In response to a user instruction to initiate media playback, which instruction may come from a dedicated media playback hardware button or from a user interface on a display screen, a computer operating system activates a predesignated media playback user account. The account may be limited to access of media...

20060174309 - System and method of managing set top box memory: A method of managing recorded content at a set top box memory device for use by a digital video recorder is provided. The method includes dividing a total memory capacity of the set top memory device into a plurality of memory portions. Further, the method includes assigning a unique user...

20060174310 - Extended metadata and adaptive program service providing system and method for providing digital broadcast program service: The present invention relates to extend metadata for providing a digital broadcast program service to diverse kinds of terminals, and a system and method for providing an adaptive program service to the terminals by using the extended metadata. The system and method performs integrated management of resource information suitable for...

20060174313 - Method for providing commentary audio and additional or replacement video content: A computerized business method that provides content to supplement a presentation of an experiential data stream. The method includes a step of receiving a request for content configured to be included in said presentation of the experiential data stream. The method also determines content parameters from the request that are...

20060174311 - Method, apparatus, and program products for socially synchronizing an experiential data stream: Apparatus, methods, and program products that synchronize the presentation of an experiential data stream at a local device with the presentation of a similar experiential data stream using a playback position received over a control link....

20060174314 - Methods and apparatus for hybrid multimedia presentations: System for providing hierarchical services in a data network. A method is provided for rendering hybrid presentations. The method includes caching one or more content items, and detecting a presentation event associated with a real-time service. The method also includes retrieving a selected content item from the one or more...

20060174312 - Methods, apparatus, and program products to support a shared viewing experience from remote locations: Systems, apparatus, methods, and program products that create a shared social space that enables a local audience member and a remote audience member to simultaneously experience a recorded experiential data stream....

20060174315 - System and method for providing sign language video data in a broadcasting-communication convergence system: A system having a transmitter and a receiver provides sign language video data in a broadcasting-communication convergence system. A transmitter extracts data, to which a sign language is to be applied, from the multimedia data, converts the extracted data into motion data, converts the motion data into an avatar motion...

20060174316 - Method and distribution channel for creating ancillary revenue streams from related media content: A method for creating revenue for content related to a broadcast program and a related subscription distribution channel and web page. The method includes providing a subscription distribution channel that is accessible by a user, obtaining the content related to the broadcast program, and making the content available to the...

20060174317 - Broadcast reception apparatus receiving broadcast by using directional antenna: A broadcast reception apparatus is connected to a directional antenna capable of changing an airwave reception direction. The broadcast reception apparatus includes a tuner selecting a frequency of airwave received by the directional antenna. When a prescribed condition is satisfied, power is supplied to the tuner, and thereafter power is...