Interactive video distribution systems inventions 05/08

20080127240 - System and method for selective recording of information: A system and method for selective recording of information uses sequential pattern matching of statistical vectors which characterize incoming time-based information to identify previously marked information within an incoming information stream. The system and method generate a signal to control a recording device to either elide the previously marked information... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20080127241 - Community program ratings: To store community program ratings, a rating for a program is received and an identification of whether the rating is a private rating for the user or is a rating that can be accessed by a plurality of other users is made. The rating and an indication of whether the... Agent: Lee & Hayes PLLC

20080127243 - Broadcast receiving apparatus: Disclosed is a broadcast receiving apparatus which blocks a broadcast content in accordance with a plurality of broadcast content blocking standards, including a storing section to store rating data of the plurality of broadcast content blocking standards, each piece of the rating data being corresponding with one of first rating... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080127242 - Program viewing control apparatus: A program viewing control apparatus includes: a detection unit for detecting rating information regarding a viewing lock level of contents, which is added to data of the contents; a storing unit for storing rating information regarding the viewing lock level; a control unit for locking the contents based on comparison... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080127244 - Detecting blocks of commercial content in video data: Systems and methods of detecting blocks of commercial content in video data are described. In one aspect, visual parameter values and audio parameter values are extracted from the video data. Visual boundary events, audio boundary events, and commercial content transition events are detected in the video data. Candidate commercial blocks... Agent: Hewlett Packard Company

20080127246 - Digital media recorder based advertising: The present invention provides a technique for broadcasters to deliver advertising messages in a more effective way to digital media recorder users, wherein the digital media recorders may be configured to record various types of audio or video programs having advertisements therein. When playback of a recorded program is requested,... Agent: Withrow & Terranova, P.l.l.c.

20080127248 - Information notification method and digital tv using the same: An information notification method is applied to a multimedia home platform (MHP) and a digital TV. First, receive at least one first broadcast data transmitted by television broadcaster. Following that, extract at least one effective data including a preset keyword from the first broadcast data in accordance with the preset... Agent: Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP

20080127247 - Method and system for playing media: A method for playing advertisement media and alternate media is disclosed. The method includes selecting the alternate media for playing, recognizing a beginning of playing of the advertisement media, and in response to the beginning of playing of the advertisement media, automatically beginning playing of the alternate media. The playing... Agent: Cantor Colburn LLP - IBM Rsw

20080127245 - On demand dynamic advertisement insertion in an internet protocol stream: A computer implemented method, computer program product, and data processing system for managing advertisements in an Internet Protocol (IP) streaming environment by defining a viewership threshold, monitoring the Internet Protocol streaming environment, and responsive to reaching the viewership threshold, programming alternate advertisements.... Agent: Duke W. Yee

20080127251 - Advertisements in an end-user controlled playback environment: This invention discloses a method for displaying advertisements transmitted to a user unit, the method includes receiving, at the user unit, at least one advertisement tagged with a delay tag indicating whether display of the at least one advertisement can be delayed and only if the delay tag allows delaying... Agent: Ladas & Parry

20080127252 - Grouping advertisement subavails: Method and system for creating one or more advertising avail sections (subavails) and thereupon aggregating the subavails to form one or more groups of subavails. The advertisement opportunities (avails) may be divided into sections (subavails) with each section being directed at a particular target audience (group). The subavails are then... Agent: Technology, Patents And Licensing, Inc./prime

20080127249 - System and method for encouraging advertisement viewing: In accordance with the invention, household-specific demographic data is entered onto a server. Digital advertisements are uploaded on the server, the digital advertisements being targeted to specific households as a function of the demographic data. Household target and time data is assigned to each specific advertisement. The advertisement is then... Agent: Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP

20080127250 - System and method for internet tv and broadcast advertisements: A system and method for providing targeted advertising messages to a user, in particular users viewing Internal TV or broadcast programs. Advertising data files from one or more advertising entities are stored in a centralized location, such as a server or similar platform. Data relating to the user is acquired... Agent: O'banion & Ritchey LLP/ Sony Electronics, Inc.

20080127253 - Methods and apparatus for detecting on-screen media sources: Methods and apparatus for detecting on-screen media sources are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring a region of interest of a video signal for a first image, comparing the first image to a stored image, and confirming the media device change when the stored image differs from the first image... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20080127255 - Multimedia subsystem control for internet protocol based television services: The present invention allows Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services to be provided to different types of subscriber devices over different types of networks via a multimedia subsystem, such as an IP multimedia subsystem. A given subscriber may have one subscription supporting IPTV services to different types of subscriber devices. Each... Agent: Withrow & Terranova, P.l.l.c.

20080127254 - Subscriber based tv operation: Methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for receiving, by a television set, from a wireless communication device proximally disposed within a communication and viewing distance from the television set, a subscriber identification associated with a subscriber of a wireless communication service provided through the wireless communication device, are described herein.... Agent: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C. Pacwest Center, Suite 1900

20080127256 - System and method for deploying a virtual dialogue: A system and method for deploying a virtual dialogue between a “virtual person” and an end user. A database is provided for containing a plurality of video segments. Each of the plurality of video segments contains a prerecorded portion of a conversation delivered by the virtual person. A graphical user... Agent: Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, P.A.

20080127259 - Broadcast transmitting apparatus, method of transmitting broadcast data, broadcast receiver, and method of receiving broadcast data: A broadcast transmitting apparatus, method of transmitting broadcast data, broadcast receiver, and method of receiving broadcaster data are disclosed. If data of a contents guide is updated, updated information of the contents guide is transmitted to the broadcast receiver. The broadcast receiver receives the updated information and can determine whether... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080127260 - Broadcast transmitting apparatus, method of transmitting broadcast data, broadcast receiver, and method of receiving broadcast data: A broadcast transmitting apparatus, method of transmitting broadcast data, broadcast receiver, and method of receiving broadcast data are disclosed. If data of a contents guide is updated, updated information of the contents guide is transmitted to the broadcast receiver. The broadcast receiver receives the updated information and can determine whether... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080127257 - System and method for viewing a tv program guide on a mobile device background: A system and methods for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) to a mobile device are disclosed. The system generally includes a network component which receives IPG data including program data, and a mobile device application component which receives program data from the network component and displays the program data... Agent: Verizon Patent Management Group

20080127258 - Systems and methods for applications using channel switch frames: Techniques for video encoding and decoding a common guide media logic channel (MLC) to enable fast acquisition and re/synchronization of the video stream while preserving compression efficiency are provided. Systems and methods to process multimedia data using channel switch frames are presented. The system comprises an encoder operative to generate... Agent: Qualcomm Incorporated

20080127262 - Determining user interest based on guide navigation: An electronic program guide (EPG) application is configured to render a program listing, a currently indicated program, and additional data. The EPG application is further configured to automatically determine, based on user-submitted EPG navigation commands, whether or not the user is likely interested in the currently indicated program. If it... Agent: Lee & Hayes PLLC

20080127261 - Method and apparatus for maintaining a cache of previously viewed television shows: A system for maintaining a cache of previously viewed television content, includes a processor coupled to memory for receiving an input of information in addition to the content and related to the television content as well as from the cache and providing an on-screen menu to a viewer, the on-screen... Agent: Cantor Colburn LLP-ibm Poughkeepsie

20080127263 - Method and system for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080127264 - Method and system for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080127266 - System and method for displaying advertisements responsive to epg information: In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080127265 - System and method for displaying an electronic program guide: In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080127267 - Method for providing program guides and image display apparatus using the same: A method for providing program guides and an image display apparatus using the method, are provided where a displayed program guide screen is formed in a shape in which a program guide on a first channel surrounds the outer periphery of a program guide on a second channel according to... Agent: Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Goodman, L.L.P.

20080127268 - Custom content compilation using digital chapter marks: Digital marks are used to define segments that are sequenced in a custom content compilation that provides a virtual program. A system is configured to receive definitions of digital marks that locate segments within program content. The segments are scenes or other portions of programs that constitute less than the... Agent: Ronald P. Kananen Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080127269 - First run notification of a presentation: First run notification of a presentation. An indicator on the network guide or recorded programs list would allow a user to quickly distinguish between first run presentations that have never before been available at an earlier time in the program guide and presentations that have been previously shown. The first... Agent: Scientific-atlanta, Inc. Intellectual Property Department

20080127272 - Aggregation of multiple media streams to a user: A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing... Agent: Martin & Associates, LLC

20080127270 - Browsing video collections using hypervideo summaries derived from hierarchical clustering: The invention provides for quickly browsing through a large set of video clips to locate video clips of interest. In an embodiment of the present invention, hierarchical clustering of the video clips can be undertaken enabling the user to successively identify the subgroup of video clips of interest. This approach... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20080127273 - Electronic program guide service system and establishing and operating method thereof: The present invention discloses an establishing method of an electronic program guide and corresponding operation method, system and device thereof. The establishing method includes: grouping electronic program guide servers that have the same processing ability and/or the same service processing flow together, making the number of server group correspond to... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20080127271 - Intelligent internet protocol television switching: A system, method, and computer readable medium for intelligent Internet Protocol Television switching, comprises profiling a set of user preferences, receiving an electronic program guide, and sending a data stream control message based upon the profiled set of user preferences and the received electronic program guide.... Agent: Alcatel Lucent Intellectual Property & Standards

20080127274 - Information processing apparatus: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus comprising: a data acquisition unit that acquires contents data encrypted by a first encryption process; and a data processing unit that acquires and processes the contents data from the data acquisition unit; wherein the data acquisition unit is connectable to an IC... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080127276 - Apparatus and method for providing channel list of digital broadcasting in mobile terminal: A method and apparatus for changing a broadcasting channel list provided in a digital broadcasting service by a user are provided. The method of providing a channel list of digital broadcasting in a mobile terminal includes providing a setting screen of the channel list according to a request for setting... Agent: The Farrell Law Firm, P.C.

20080127275 - Method and related system capable of notifying and buffering predetermined events in a program: In a method capable of notifying and buffering predetermined events in a program, a first program is broadcast on a first channel. While broadcasting the first programs, it is determined whether a predetermined event occurs in a second program broadcast on a second channel. If the predetermined event occurs in... Agent: North America Intellectual Property Corporation

20080127277 - Networked digital tuners: A network bridging system, which receives RF (radio frequency) broadcast digital audio/video and encapsulates and routes selected broadcast content across a Local-Area-Network (LAN). The system includes multiple tuners that allow multiple client devices to access the broadcast content simultaneously through a network connection. It serves as a standalone Ethernet server... Agent: Dva/pioneer Research Center Usa, Inc.

20080127278 - Portable media player: The invention provides a portable media player of the type used in in-flight entertainment systems on flights and the like. The device includes a datastore configured to store the individual media items. The media items are separate into their audio and visual components, each being stored separately. The device provides... Agent: Alleman Hall Mccoy Russell & Tuttle LLP

20080127279 - Time authentication device, time authentication method, computer program, recording medium, integrated circuit, and time authentication system: The present invention aims to provide a time authentication device for distinguishing clocks that show a time falling within the predetermined permissible range as compared with a time shown by the time authentication device. In a time authentication device embodied as a distribution device 11, a time-relation information storage unit... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack L.L.P.

20080127280 - Method and system for ranking videos / movies or other objects, and inserting commercial advertisements in the objects: The present invention relates to method and system for ranking videos/movies, and inserting commercial advertisements in the videos/movies. When a user selects a movie or video from Internet, system will allow him to select advertisements, and insert the advertisements into the movie or video before or during broadcasting or downloading.... Agent: Shaobo Kuang

20080127281 - Aggregating content from multiple content delivery types in a discovery interface: A unified discovery interface that presents aggregated discovery data for media content available via multiple content delivery types is provided. In one implementation, the discovery data may be aggregated via a discovery data ingestion module to provide a compilation accessible by one or more client modules. The one or more... Agent: Microsoft Corporation

20080127282 - System and method for accessing entertainment media: A system and method for storage, management, transmission, and control of digital entertainment media includes a central remote server device and a plurality of individual user digital receivers. The method includes steps for licensing multiple forms of entertainment units for storage on the central remote server device, then receiving individual... Agent: James Ray & Associates

20080127283 - Program server and a receiver: A broadcast program is contiguously stored to a real-time storage means in a program server. The stored program is read from the real-time storage means and sent to a receiver when the receiver sends a request to the program server to send the stored program to the receiver so that... Agent: Rutan & Tucker, LLP.

20080127284 - Electronic movie title hire method, system & device therefor: A method of a movie rental vendor hiring one or more movie titles in electronic format to a movie renter includes connecting a portable personal storage device to a vendor computer system, and registering the storage device and one or more associated authorized users with the vendor computer system and... Agent: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

20080127285 - Media formatting: Media formatting wherein media available from a media source is formatted for use with a media terminal. The formatting may include formatting the media to corresponding with operating characteristics of the terminal. The formatting may also include formatting one or more transmission and allowing the terminal to select the transmission... Agent: Brooks Kushman P.C.

20080127286 - Method and dvb-h reception terminal for efficiently receiving broadcasting data: Disclosed is a method for efficiently receiving Electronic Service Guide (ESG) data in a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) reception terminal. After transmission information regarding containers carrying ESG data is received in advance, a determination is made as to whether the container is corrupted on the basis of the transmission information... Agent: The Farrell Law Firm, P.C.

20080127287 - Apparatus and method for embedding/detecting an auxiliary signal within a catv traffic stream: An apparatus for embedding/detecting an auxiliary signal within a cable television (CATV) traffic stream is configured for inclusion within a legacy CATV system configured for sending one or more CATV signals in respective one or more frequency bands. The apparatus includes a controller configured for receiving an input signal and... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20080127288 - Method and apparatus for providing virtual closed circuit television: A method and apparatus for providing a private broadcast channel service, e.g., a virtual closed circuit television service, on packet networks such as Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, a customer subscribes to the private broadcast channel service for a group having a plurality of confirmed... Agent: At&t Corp.

20080127289 - System and method for programmatic link generation with media delivery: a media file is electronically communicated by programmatically generating a link for an electronic communication, where the link identifies a media file that is stored on a given terminal of a user. Selection of the link at a remote terminal is detected, indicating that a recipient of the electronic communication... Agent: Shemwell Mahamedi LLP

20080127290 - Service guide fragmentation method, a server and a terminal for use in a radio communication network: m

20080127291 - Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving broadcasting service in digital broadcasting system: Provided is a method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a service in a digital broadcasting system. When a user desires to continue receiving a service in an Internet Protocol (IP) platform other than an IP platform to which the user belongs, a network provides service mapping information to a terminal. Thus,... Agent: The Farrell Law Firm, P.C.

20080120635 - Systems and methods for accessing media content using multiple user input devices: A system includes a media content processing subsystem and a plurality of user input devices each configured to transmit at least one command to the media content processing subsystem. Each of the user input devices also corresponds to a distinct user profile. When the media content processing subsystem receives a... Agent: Verizon Patent Management Group

20080120636 - Method and system for user customizable rating of audio/video data: A method and system allows a user to provide a customized list of user defined words which are used to provide a rating to audio/video data. The user provides the user defined words to an electronic device that stores the user defined words. The electronic device searches the audio/video content... Agent: Motorola, Inc. Law Department

20080120638 - Content injection system and methodology: A method, and an associated system, for sending to a first group of recipients only the content portions of a continuity source data-flow which takes the form of ordered, successive, alternating content and non-content segments. From a methodologic point of view, the invention involves, in a manner which utilizes content-segment... Agent: Robert D. Varitz, P.c.

20080120637 - Inserting metada for trick play in video transport stream: A video receiver system is conditioned for extracting trick play metadata, corresponding to video information, from a received transport stream. The video receiver system identifies the presence of such metadata in response to information present in the header of a transport packet. The video receiver after extracting metadata stores data... Agent: Joseph J. Laks Thomson Licensing Llc

20080120640 - Method of transmitting broadcast signal, method of processing broadcast signal and apparatus for the same: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080120641 - Method of transmitting broadcast signal, method of processing broadcast signal and apparatus for the same: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080120642 - Method of transmitting broadcast signal, method of processing broadcast signal and apparatus for the same: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080120643 - Method of transmitting broadcast signal, method of processing broadcast signal and apparatus for the same: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080120644 - Method of transmitting broadcast signal, method of processing broadcast signal and apparatus for the same: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080120645 - Method of transmitting broadcast signal, method of processing broadcast signal and apparatus for the same: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20080120639 - System and method of providing emergency information: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing emergency information. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a video emergency alert at a set-top box device from a video head-end. The method also includes receiving a command at the set-top box device to request information... Agent: Toler Law Group

20080120646 - Automatically associating relevant advertising with video content: A method and system are provided for automatically selecting advertisements for placement in media content segments such as video segments. The method utilizes a classification engine to analyze values of a feature set extracted from the video segment, and to select one or more categories of advertisements to place in... Agent: At&t Corp.

20080120647 - Audio/video apparatus and display method for audio/video apparatus: An audio/video (A/V) apparatus and a display method for the A/V apparatus are provided. The A/V apparatus includes a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying display information on a screen, and a controller for controlling the GUI to display a second graphic, which is generated by zooming a partial interval... Agent: Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Goodman, L.l.p.

20080120649 - Apparatus and method for providing digital multimedia broadcasting service in portable terminal: Provided are a method for providing DMB service in a portable terminal and an apparatus employing the method. The method includes receiving and analyzing ESG data or EPG data, and characteristics of broadcast contents of respective channels are checked when a DMB view request event occurs. Contents of the respective... Agent: The Farrell Law Firm, P.c.

20080120648 - System and method to change stations and start programming at beginning of segments: Provided is a method for caching a media stream such as a television channel or a radio station such that a viewer or listener may receive an entire programming segment regardless of when in the segment the stream is accessed. The beginning of a segment is recalled, or downloaded, to... Agent: Greg Goshorn, P.c.

20080120650 - Program information providing system: A program information providing system includes: a genre selecting unit that selects a selected program genre from among a plurality of program genres contained in program information based on a selection criterion obtained from frequency information that indicates frequencies of each of the program genres during a predetermined time period;... Agent: Amin, Turocy & Calvin, LLP

20080120651 - Method for scheduled-recording of program and image display apparatus using the same: A method for a scheduled-recording of a program and an image display apparatus using the same are provided. The method for a scheduled-recording of a program includes displaying a search menu for searching other programs related to a program being displayed, and scheduling the recording of at least one program... Agent: Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Goodman, L.l.p.

20080120652 - Separation of content types on a portable media player device: A system and method for operating a portable device 36 includes storing a first video file on the portable device 36 with a first file format and, storing a second video file on the portable device 36 with a second file format different than the first format. The method further... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120655 - Integrated satellite master antenna television unit: A receiving unit 28 includes a plurality of tuner and processor circuit boards 104 that receives a plurality of satellite signals. The tuner and processor circuit boards 104 demodulate and decode the satellite signal to form a plurality of audio and video signals. The plurality of audio and video signals... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120654 - Method and apparatus for receiving dual band signals from a common orbital location with an outdoor unit using a frequency selective subreflector and additional antenna feed: A system 10 that includes a first satellite 14 at a first orbital slot B includes a first transponder 32 generating a first downlink signal at a first frequency and a second downlink signal at a second frequency. An outdoor unit 50 is directed toward the first satellite 14. The... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120653 - Method and apparatus for receiving dual band signals from an orbital location using an outdoor unit with a subreflector and additional antenna feed: A satellite system 10 having a first satellite 14 at a first orbital slot B has a first transponder 32 and a second generating a first downlink signal 44B at a first frequency and a second downlink signal 44C at a second frequency. An outdoor unit is directed toward the... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120656 - Method and system for targeted marketing to a portable media player device owner: A method and system includes a central location and a first set top box 28A in communication with the central location having a first interface 32. A second set top box 28B in communication with the central location 100 has a second interface 32. A portable device 36 in communication... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120657 - Multimedia client/server system with secure access data sharing and methods for use therewith: A multimedia client/server system, prior to transmitting multimedia data over an RF communication link, shares secure access data between the client module. The secure access data is used to securing communication between the server transceiver module and the client transceiver module over the RF communication link.... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080120658 - Transaction widgets: A content processing device is configured to receive data requested according to a specified parameter and also to receive an incoming video signal, and is further configured to receive a request to purchase at least one item after providing a data interface and at least a subset of the requested... Agent: Verizon Patent Management Group

20080120659 - Method and devices for processing and reestablishing multimedia streams: c

20080120660 - Television receiver: Disclosed is a television receiver including a presetting section to carry out presetting by assigning a frequency in a receiving band to each of a plurality of receiving channel positions as a preset channel including: a memory section to store telephone number information of a call center which responds to... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080120661 - Systems and methods for dynamic conversion of web content to an interactive walled garden program: Systems and methods to dynamically convert Web content to an interactive program for display on resource constrained television clients are described. In particular, a head-end server in a digital television entertainment system downloads the Web content from an external data source. The head-end server dynamically transcodes the downloaded content into... Agent: Lee & Hayes Pllc

20080120663 - Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet: A device for a LAN, containing an integrated adapter that converts digital data to and from analog video signals, allowing the use of analog video units in a digital data network or telephone line-based data networking system, eliminating the need for digital video units or external adapter. The device may... Agent: Browdy And Neimark, P.l.l.c. 624 Ninth Street, Nw

20080120662 - Television messaging vocal response generation: In a messaging system adapted to operate in a television environment, the invention teaches a method and apparatus for allowing a user to enter textual outgoing message, which is translated to speech by text to speech module. The speech is than delivered to a target server such as a voice... Agent: Lawson & Weitzen, LLP

20080120665 - Audio processing for media content access systems and methods: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content provider subsystem providing media content over a closed media network and a closed media network access device communicatively coupled to the media content provider subsystem by the closed media network. The closed media network access device is configured... Agent: Verizon Patent Management Group

20080120667 - Hybrid mpeg/ip digital cable gateway device and architecture associated therewith: A novel cable gateway system and architecture incorporating a hybrid digital video transceiver. The digital cable system architecture combines reception of legacy video such as MPEG-TS based DVB-C streams with that of original IP video over DOCSIS channels. The system comprises a hybrid DVB/IP cable gateway STB capable of receiving... Agent: Texas Instruments Incorporated

20080120668 - Integrated iptv display set and methods: An integrated IPTV display set, without the use of set-top-box or separate PC, is an interactive electronic display set to feature playback of IPTV programming using graphical user interface and network access to the internet or intranet via wired or wireless broadband connectivity to enable lean back TV viewing experience... Agent: Frank Yau

20080120664 - Interactive data widgets for video: A content processing device is configured to store a parameter indicative of a content preference of a system user, to request and receive data relating to the stored parameter, to receive an incoming video signal, and to provide to a video display at least a portion of the video signal... Agent: Verizon Patent Management Group

20080120666 - Method and system for securely providing content to a portable media player device: A method and system includes a central location 100 registering a portable device 36 with a central location 100 and generating a conditional access signal corresponding to the portable device 36 in response to registering and transmitting the conditional access signal to a storage device controller. A set top box... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120669 - System and method for provisioning a single physical broadband drop to accommodate multiple specific devices: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080120670 - System and method for tracking consumer activities within a digital magazine: The present disclosure provides a system and method for tracking usage of a digital magazine and using that and other information to customize the digital magazine experience. A customizable digital magazine server, according to the disclosure, includes a recipient database that stores records on a digital magazine's recipients. The server... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080120671 - Method and system for speeding up channel change in internet protocol television service and digital broadcasting environment: A method and system for speeding up channel change in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) service and digital broadcast service are provided. The system includes an extractor extracting a program association table (PAT) and a program map table (PMT), which include information for identifying elementary streams (ES) of a channel... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20080120672 - Methods and apparatus for weighted multicasting of data streams: A multicast table which associates data streams with recipients has more values than zero and one. By making this change in multicast tables, several interesting applications can be implemented. Applications include digital TV transmission, combined transmission of different bandwidth signals, video conferencing applications and mirror web server updating applications.... Agent: Gordon & Jacobson, P.c.

20080120673 - Multimedia client/server system with remote control signalling and methods for use therewith: A client module includes a client transceiver module that receives and demodulates a link signal from a multimedia server module over the communications link to produce a received encoded signal, the link signal including a multimedia signal from a multimedia device. A decoder module decodes the received encoded signal into... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080120674 - Video transmission method, video transmission system, and video processing apparatus: Disclosed herein is a video processing apparatus for generating video data capable of representing a color gamut beyond a first color gamut specified by a predetermined requirement. The video processing apparatus includes: a detector detecting, from the video data, a section corresponding to video of a color gamut beyond the... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080120675 - Home gateway for multiple units: A home gateway for a home media network. The home gateway comprises a number of input interfaces each configured for receiving encrypted & unencrypted data from a content source, a layout generation unit adapted to generate substantially simultaneously a number of different composite layout streams. Each one of the different... Agent: Martin D. Moynihan Prtsi, Inc.

20080120676 - Integrated circuit, an encoder/decoder architecture, and a method for processing a media stream: An integrated circuit for pre-processing, encoding, decoding, transcoding, indexing, blending, post-processing and display of media streams, in accordance with a variety of compression algorithms, DRM schemes and related industry standards and recommendations such as OCAP, ISMA, DLNA, MPAA etc. The integrated circuit comprises an input interface configured for receiving the... Agent: Martin D. Moynihan Prtsi, Inc.

20080120677 - Method and system for ensuring continuous video services in a passive optical network: When an optical network terminal (ONT) is rebooted, for example, after being upgraded, the ONT may be not be ranged and provisioned for some time. This may disrupt services, such as video services provided to a customer. As such, a method and corresponding apparatus of ensuring continuous receipt of video... Agent: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.c.

20080120679 - Broadcasting signal receiving apparatus and control method thereof: A broadcasting signal receiving apparatus including a broadcasting signal tuning unit which receives a broadcasting signal; an input unit which receives a channel changing command; a memory which saves information regarding a representative channel corresponding to a major channel; and a controller which searches selectable channels corresponding to the major... Agent: Sughrue Mion, Pllc

20080120680 - Method of controlling temporary recording based on variable temporary record interval and broadcast receiving device adopting the same: A method of controlling a temporary recording based on a variable temporary record interval, and a broadcast receiving device adopting the same, are provided. The broadcast receiving device includes a broadcast receiving unit which receives a broadcast program; a storage unit which temporarily records the broadcast program being received through... Agent: Sughrue Mion, Pllc

20080120678 - Software rasp parser for a pvr-enabled set-top system: According to one aspect, there is provided a method for parsing RASP events in a number of packets in a PVR-enabled set-top system using a software RASP parser. The method includes retrieving a first SCID from a first packet, determining if the first SCID is on a SCIDList, and determining... Agent: Farjami & Farjami LLP

20080120681 - Portable device for use with digital over-the-air communication system for use with terrestrial broadcasting system: A system of distributing electronic content includes a network operations center generating a digital television broadcast signal and digital electronic content. The system also includes a base station receiving the digital television broadcast signal from the network operations center and forming a wireless local area network. The base station over-the-air... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080120682 - Tv-centric system: A TV has a TV processor and a display presenting a map showing the topology of the home network of which the TV is a part. A user can manipulate the user input device to navigate around the map and cause content to be transmitted from a source component shown... Agent: Rogitz & Associates

20080120683 - Tv-centric system: Home network resources and communication paths are managed using network path bandwidths, network storage capacities, and quality of service.... Agent: Rogitz & Associates

20080120684 - Method and system for upgrading distributed set top box and device thereof: A method for upgrading a distributed Set Top Box (STB) from a central node upgrade management device is disclosed by the present invention. The method includes the following steps: receiving an STB upgrade request sent by a user terminal; selecting a device upgrade address of an edge node; and sending... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20080115160 - Method, system and apparatus for offering and receiving event reminders using a trusted intermediary: A system and method for reminding people of upcoming events includes stored event information browsable by reminder receivers and potential reminder receivers. to become a receiver, people subscribe, entering contact information that is stored by the system. Event holders also subscribe to the system to be able to list events.... Agent: Shlesinger & Fitzsimmons

20080115161 - Delivering user-selected video advertisements: A user request to view a video is received, and at least two advertisement options are provided to the user. The user selects one of the at least two advertisement options. An advertisement associated with the advertisement option selected by the user is displayed and the video is displayed.... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.c.

20080115162 - Methods, systems, and computer products for implementing content conversion and presentation services: Methods, systems, and computer products for content conversion and presentation enabled services for television and Internet Protocol television applications. In exemplary embodiments, the system and method identify program content having embedded text, apply a conversion to the program content to extract voice data and play voice data in conjunction with... Agent: Cantor Colburn LLP - Bellsouth

20080115163 - System and method for providing advertisement based on speech recognition: This invention relates to a system and method for providing dedicated television advertisements based on speech recognition of telephone conversations. The home user makes telephone calls using a landline, cellular phone or VoIP phone. The user may also be watching TV. While doing so, the user is able to see... Agent: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

20080115164 - Program guide browser: A program guide browser (PGB) in accordance with embodiments of the invention may obtain program information items from an electronic program listing database and display the program information items on a user-interface display of a terminal, which may be a mobile terminal. The PGB may display program guide information for... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20080115165 - Broadcast receiving apparatus and method for displaying broadcast channel list for each region: A broadcast receiving apparatus for displaying a broadcast channel list for each of a plurality of regions and a method thereof are provided. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes a receiver which receives broadcast signals from a plurality of regions, a channel list generator which generates a broadcast channel list for... Agent: Sughrue Mion, Pllc

20080115169 - Client-server electronic program guide: A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080115166 - Digital video recorder processing system: A method and system are provided in which DVR viewer metrics are collected and saved in a “Watched Log” database including identifying titles and other features of recorded DVR programs. User viewing metrics on both “per user” and “per show” bases are saved and used to augment existing conflict resolution... Agent: Ibm Corporation (rvw)

20080115167 - Method and apparatus for controlling information available from content distribution points: The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling information available at a network element located at a first hierarchical level in a content distribution network. A method includes determining a subset of content using content forecast information, comparing the determined subset of content to a subset of content available... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, LLP/ Lucent Technologies, Inc

20080115168 - Method, system and apparatus for dynamically creating content channel based on end user wish lists: A system (10), apparatus (12) and method (40) for providing content channels to end users based on end user wish lists. The method includes a domain channel manager apparatus accessing a plurality of end user wish lists maintained at end user devices, such as end user residential gateways and home... Agent: Motorola, Inc. Law Department

20080115171 - Detecting interruptions in scheduled programs: In an embodiment, content is received between a scheduled start time and a scheduled stop time. A schedule specifies a planned transmission of a scheduled program between the scheduled start time and the scheduled stop time. The received content is recorded to a saved program. A determination is made that... Agent: Ibm Corporation Rochester Ip Law Dept. 917

20080115172 - Electronic devices for capturing media content and transmitting the media content to a network accessible media repository and methods of operating the same: A client device is operated by providing a media content record function, receiving a user invocation of the media content record function, recording media content responsive to the user invocation of the media content record function, obtaining a list of authorized recipients for the media content, receiving a user selection... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.a.

20080115170 - Methods and apparatus for recording and sharing broadcast media content on a wireless communication device: Methods and apparatus are presented for recording broadcast media content at a wireless communication device and, in some aspects, sharing the recorded broadcast media content with other wireless communication devices. The disclosed aspects capture broadcasted media content at predetermined times by implementing a clock function that launches the capture and... Agent: Qualcomm Incorporated

20080115173 - Systems and methods for using playlists: Systems and methods for automatically generating a playlist of series assets and systems and methods for grouping assets of a playlist in clusters are provided. In one embodiment, series assets may automatically be included into a playlist for that series. In another embodiment, an interactive media guidance application may group... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080115174 - System and method for collaborating emergency response efforts through multimedia data dissemination: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and associated method for the sharing and communication of video and other surveillance related multimedia data by streaming video and other data from an emergency response unit to a variety of devices and other emergency response units. Surveillance data obtained through a... Agent: Ladi O. Shogbamimu

20080115175 - System and method for signaling characteristics of pictures' interdependencies: Disclosed are systems and methods for signaling characteristics of picture interdependencies in a video signal in subscriber television systems. In this regard, a representative method comprises allocating auxiliary information at a transport layer of a video program as to determine whether a picture is one of the following: discardable picture,... Agent: Scientific-atlanta, Inc. Intellectual Property Department

20080115176 - Indicating picture usefulness for playback optimization: In one embodiment the invention provides a method for outputting auxiliary information for use in playing back a video sequence, the method comprising obtaining a measure of usefulness of a particular picture for playing back the video sequence, wherein the measure of usefulness indicates a performance of playing back the... Agent: Scientific-atlanta, Inc. Intellectual Property Department

20080115177 - Method and system for providing a file: A method and a system for providing a file. The method of providing a file by using at least one server linked with a plurality of terminals through a network, the method includes: determining whether there exists a destination terminal which stores a requested specific video-on-demand (VOD) file by searching... Agent: Ditthavong Mori & Steiner, P.c.

20080115178 - Customer configurable video rich navigation (vrn): A method and system of supporting customer configurable video rich navigation (CC-VRN). The CC-VRN associated with facilitating customer selection of video or other contents streams for simultaneous display within a user interface having a number of navigable features associated with navigating the user to other services.... Agent: Brooks Kushman P.c.

20080115179 - Audio/video component networking system and method: An audio/video (A/V) component networking system comprising a sink component configured to control presentation of A/V program data received from a source component on a presentation device and a sink interface configured to receive an input command from an input device and determine whether to direct the input command for... Agent: Hewlett Packard Company

20080115180 - Mobile receiver solutions for accessing directv broadband video-on-demand services: A communication system (10) includes a controller (10, 160) for communicating a selection list to a wireless device (28, 36). The wireless device includes a user interface (280) for selecting a selection from a selection list (452). The wireless device generates a selection signal in response to selecting and wirelessly... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080115181 - Live broadcast interview conducted between studio booth and interviewer at remote location: A method for providing a portal for an individual to access a web site for establishing personal relationships. The method includes the step of providing a portal booth to photograph the individual while the individual is in said booth to produce a photographic record of the individual, correlate selected demographic... Agent: Tod R Nissle

20080115183 - Audio/video component networking system and method: An audio/video (A/V) component networking system, comprising a presentation device and a sink component configured to simultaneously present on the presentation device A/V program data received from at least two different source components.... Agent: Hewlett Packard Company

20080115182 - Method and apparatus for reducing delays due to channel changes: The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing programs to a client device. The method includes providing a first video program stream over a first channel where the first video program stream conveys a first video program having a first quality level, and providing a plurality of second video... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, LLP/ Lucent Technologies, Inc

20080115184 - Apparatus and method for providing digital broadcasting services: A method for providing a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service to a terminal communicable with different communication networks. The DMB service method includes receiving a broadcasting program over a DMB network; receiving the broadcasting program over a Wireless Broadband (WiBro) network upon failure to receive the broadcasting program signal from... Agent: Docket Clerk

20080115185 - Dynamic modification of video properties: Aspects of the present invention are directed at improving the quality of a video stream that is transmitted between networked computers. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that dynamically modifies the properties of a video stream based on network conditions. In this regard, the method includes collecting... Agent: Christensen, O'connor, Johnson, Kindness, Pllc

20080115186 - Display apparatus, set-top box and display system and display method thereof: A display apparatus includes a display; a communication part which receives an image signal and information corresponding to a first image to be displayed on an external display apparatus and transmits a control signal to adjust the first image; an image processing part which performs image processing to display an... Agent: Sughrue Mion, Pllc

20080115187 - Passive display unit and system and method of use: A device for displaying messages includes a passive display unit having a display screen, a receiver that receives downloaded information and a processor for processing and storing the downloaded information and providing control to the passive display unit. The display system may include a computer which stores information and a... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20080115188 - Mobile communication terminal and method for displaying broadcast storage information therein: A mobile communication terminal and method for displaying broadcast storage information. The present invention includes receiving at least a portion of a broadcast stream, storing the portion of the broadcast stream that is received, and distinguishably displaying first information related to a stored portion of the broadcast stream and second... Agent: Lee, Hong, Degerman, Kang & Schmadeka

20080115189 - Tv-centric system: A network includes a server such as a TV and one or more client components. The server and client component automatically detect each other and automatically determine that the client component possesses at least one unconsummated capability. Software necessary for the client component to execute the capability is downloaded from... Agent: Rogitz & Associates

20080109838 - System and method of multimedia access: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of multimedia access. In an embodiment, an authorization signal can be received from a multimedia distribution system at a multimedia receiver having a peripheral device interface. The authorization signal can authorize data transfer via the peripheral device interface.... Agent: Toler Law Group

20080109840 - System and method for advertisement skipping: An Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Set Top Box (STB) provides an option to skip one or more advertisements in an IPTV video broadcast, and receives input from a subscriber relating to the option. The IPTV STB transmits the input to an IPTV server, and then receives back from the IPTV... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080109839 - System and method of message notification and access via a video distribution network: Methods and systems of message notification and access via a video distribution network are disclosed. A method may include receiving, via an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, a data stream including video content. The method may also include receiving, via the IPTV network, a notification of a message directed to... Agent: Toler Law Group

20080109841 - Product information display and product linking: An interactive video player includes the capturing of one or more frames of active video. While the active video is displayed in a first or primary display, a captured frame may be displayed in a secondary display. In response to user input, one or more elements within the frame may... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080109844 - Playing video content with advertisement: Playing video content together with an advertisement is disclosed. A first message is sent to a video player server indicating a video content. A video player is instantiated to play the video content. A second message is initiated from the video player to an advertisement server. One or more advertisements... Agent: Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

20080109845 - System and method for generating advertisements for use in broadcast media: This document describes, among other things, systems and methods for generating advertisements for use in broadcast media. A method comprises receiving an advertisement script at an online system; receiving a selection indicating a voice characteristic; and converting the advertisement script to an audio track using the selected voice characteristic.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080109846 - System and method for audiovisual content playback: A method of playing back audiovisual content with an electronic device that has a keypad with a plurality of user operable keys includes associating respective items of audiovisual content with one or more of the keys. Operation of a key that has an associated item of audiovisual content is detected... Agent: Warren A. Sklar (soer) Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080109847 - Method and device for displaying program information of broadcasting: A method of displaying an EPG and a device thereof. According to one aspect of embodiment of the present invention, the method of displaying the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) in a broadcasting electronic device displays an EPG default mode screen having a channel field and an event field in accordance... Agent: Ked & Associates, LLP

20080109850 - Customized interface based on viewed programming: In one embodiment, a system generates a customized interface based on viewed programming. The system stores a program that a user viewed through a media device; searches through a network for information related to the viewed program; and extracts data associated with the information related to the viewed program. A... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080109849 - Viewer profiles for configuring set top terminals: A set top terminal is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications network and a decoder for decoding the programming content provided by the receiver/tuner. The set top terminal also includes a database capable of storing a plurality of viewer profiles each containing at... Agent: Motorola, Inc. Law Department

20080109851 - Method and system for providing interactive video: A method and system are described for providing an interactive video player. The method may include, responsive to a first user input, generating a secondary display from a primary display, wherein the primary display is an active video and the secondary display is a frame captured from the primary display.... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080109853 - Media channel management: A method of managing a unicast-based media session is disclosed. A user terminal (100) having access to channel identifiers of media channels (400, 410) available at a media server compiles a SIP-based channel request comprising a channel identifier of one of the available media channels (400, 410) and a port... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, Pc

20080109852 - Super share: A method and apparatus for sharing media content between electronic equipment includes transferring session data from a first electronic equipment to a second electronic equipment, said session data including a queue of media content executing or executable on the first electronic equipment, and transferring media content identified in the session... Agent: Warren A. Sklar (soer) Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080109856 - System and method for content planning in electronic displays: Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for presenting media content, which may include visual content and audio content, on a display network. A computing server and a plurality of electronic displays at a variety of display locations and in communication with the computing server are provided. A plurality... Agent: Trask Britt

20080109858 - Method and system for movie distribution: A method and an associated system for distributing movie contents among the public, comprising the steps of: (a) freely distributing a plurality of first movie contents via a service provider connected to a distribution net; (b) distributing, upon payment of a fee, a plurality of second movie contents via said... Agent: Leffert Jay & Polglaze, P.a.

20080109860 - Method and system of video on demand dating: Method and system of video on demand (VOD) dating. The method and system permitting a user to select video personals for on demand view. The video personal include recordings of individual interviews or other activities which may be used to introduce the individual to the user and/or to otherwise facilitate... Agent: Brooks Kushman P.c.

20080109857 - Time-shifted broadcast delivery: The present invention provides a network based time-shifting architecture where broadcast content is replicated and delivered toward subscribers at different times in different content streams. In operation, a content source delivers unshifted content over a network to a media server, which replicates the unshifted content to provide multiple content blocks.... Agent: Withrow & Terranova, P.l.l.c.

20080109859 - Video on demand system for providing graceful degradation and fault tolerance and method thereof: A video on demand system for providing graceful degradation and fault tolerance comprises a plurality of media storage ends, a first level network device, and a plurality of video trunk combiners. Each of the media storage ends respectively stores a plurality of video files, and provides a plurality of frequency... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, Pllc

20080109842 - Advertisements in an end-user controlled playback environment: This invention discloses a method for displaying advertisements transmitted to a user unit, the method includes receiving, at the user unit, at least one advertisement tagged with a delay tag indicating whether display of the at least one advertisement can be delayed and only if the delay tag allows delaying... Agent: Ladas & Parry

20080109843 - Methods and systems for securing content played on mobile devices: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for managing content, including advertising content, delivered to various network-connected devices, including screens, mobile devices, computers, televisions, radios, and the like, based on usage profiles associated with device-specific identifiers for mobile devices, short-distance wireless technologies for transmission of content and detection of proximity, and... Agent: Strategic Patents P.c..

20080109848 - Summarization of football video content: Summarization of video content including football.... Agent: Kevin L. Russell Chernoff, Vilhauer, Mcclung & Stenzel LLP

20080109855 - Control method and control equipment: In order to easily download a program obtained from the outside onto a connected device while a device on which a program is to be downloaded is being properly selected, when a second device connected to a first device is controlled by executing a first program inputted to the first... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080109854 - Satellite television ip bitstream generator receiving unit: A receiving unit 28 includes a tuner circuit board 100 that receives a first signal that may include a satellite signal. The tuner circuit board 100 demodulates the satellite signal to form a second signal. The second signal is provided to an internet protocol (IP) and control module circuit board... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20080109861 - Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving service variation information in digital broadcasting system: Provided are a method and apparatus for indicating service variation in a Convergence of Broadcasting and Mobile Service (CBMS) system. A network entity aggregates information about a first service that can be provided by a current network and information about a second service of associated another network in order to... Agent: The Farrell Law Firm, P.c.

20080109862 - Method and apparatus for predicting failures in set-top boxes and other devices to enable preventative steps to be taken to prevent service disruption: A method and apparatus are provided for predicting failures of hard disk drive systems in set-top boxes (STBs) to enable preventative steps to be taken to prevent a disruption of services to the subscriber. One or more conditions in a STB, such as, for example, ambient temperature, available disk drive... Agent: Motorola, Inc. Law Department

20080109863 - Video apparatus and signal processing method thereof: A video apparatus including a processing unit, a tuner, a video processor, a network unit and an information-converting module is provided. The tuner receives a video signal. The information-converting module includes a download module, an analysis module and a graphics module. The download module downloads a web page with internet... Agent: Rabin & Berdo, Pc

20080109864 - System and method for detecting and reporting cable modems with duplicate media access control addresses: The detection of devices with duplicate media access controller (MAC) addresses in a cable network may be accomplished by reference to a value indicative of a DOCSIS version supported by the device or by reference to a having a MAC address/giaddr pair. Where a version value is used, the detection... Agent: Roberts, Mardula & Wertheim, Llc

20080109865 - Dynamic adjustments of video streams: A method and apparatus for the dynamic adjustments of video streams sent from a server to a client is provided. Using both short term and long term thinning mechanisms, the server reduces its data transfer rate when bandwidth is reduced and increases its data transfer rate when bandwidth is available.... Agent: Hickman Palermo Truong & Becker LLP/apple Inc.

20080109866 - Context based secure sharing and voice and video communication on a television: A system is disclosed for providing context-based sharing of TV input data over a secure communications link via the Internet. Data, such as image, music and video files and metadata, related directly to the media currently displayed on the television set by way of a broadcast medium may be captured... Agent: Kevin L. Russell Chernoff, Vilhauer, Mcclung & Stenzel LLP

20080104624 - Method and system for selection and scheduling of content outliers: A content recommendation system (100) to schedule a delivery of diverse content when a user is more receptive to the recommendation is provided. The system can include an outlier scheduling module (120) for scheduling an insertion of an outlier (224) in a recommended content based on a schedule model (125)... Agent: Motorola, Inc.

20080104625 - Channel control techniques: Techniques involving the reception of content are disclosed. For example, an apparatus may include a tuning detection module, a channel selection module, and a remote tuning module. The tuning detection module determines a local tuning of a user device. This determination may be made from a leakage signal (e.g., local... Agent: Kacvinsky LLC C/o Intellevate

20080104626 - System and method for ranking media: A system and method for ranking media. Embodiments enable presenting media in a first venue, obtaining feedback from at least one user and providing an indication whether to present the media in a second venue. The media may be audio, video, and/or text or any combination thereof. The first venue... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.C.

20080104627 - System and method for ranking media: A system and method for ranking media. Embodiments enable presenting media in a first venue, obtaining feedback from at least one user and providing an indication whether to present the media in a second venue. The media may be audio, video, and/or text or any combination thereof. The first venue... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.C.

20080104628 - Television broadcasting receiving apparatus: Disclosed is a television broadcasting receiving apparatus which carries out a parental control including a receiving unit to receive the television broadcasting wave, a storage unit to store a rating table which corresponds to the rating information so as to correspond to a version of the rating table, a rating... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080104629 - Television broadcasting receiving apparatus: Disclosed is a television broadcasting receiving apparatus which carries out a parental control based on rating information in a video/audio data included in a television broadcasting wave including a receiving unit to receive the television broadcasting wave, an auto preset unit to orderly tune channels in which a video/audio data... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080104630 - System and method of providing voice communication: A method is presented of providing voice communication, including receiving at a set-top box device a selection of a first contact, receiving data indicating that a first call has been placed to a phone associated with the first contact, and sending data to a display device coupled to the set-top... Agent: Toler Law Group

20080104631 - Method and apparatus for emergency map display system: A method and system for delivering emergency directions is provided. The disclosure includes the government delivering a warning message for potential evacuees on a gas station pump or automated teller machine point of service display screen. The method includes receiving an emergency alert from a government entity, constructing a warning... Agent: Fay Sharpe/lucent

20080104634 - Product placement: A device may include a receiver to receive a data stream. The device may also include logic to insert a product placement into the data stream based at least one of a location of the device or information associated with a user of the device.... Agent: Harrity Snyder, L.L.P.

20080104636 - Digital broadcast channel selection apparatus, digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and digital broadcast channel selection method: According to one embodiment, A digital broadcast channel selection apparatus comprises first and second tuners each receive digital broadcast signals, select a channel and provide program data containing video data and audio data of the channel selected, a selection unit which selects one of the first and second tuners and... Agent: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

20080104635 - Television channel selection: A receiver apparatus, having a receiver unit selectively configured to receive a television signal of any one of a plurality of channels, provides a display of a channel listing comprising an array of representations of channels arranged in two dimensions. Responsive to navigational user inputs a cursor marking a representation... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080104638 - Method and apparatus for storing broadcast program: A method and apparatus for storing a broadcast program are provided. The apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a broadcast program, a user input unit that receives a folder selection signal for selecting a folder in which the broadcast program is to be stored, and a controller that controls... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080104640 - Information receiving apparatus and control method thereof: A channel selection order to receive, from each channel, program data corresponding to a designated partial period is determined based on the start timing of the reception and the receiving timing of each of N program data received for each channel. A channel is selected in accordance with the determined... Agent: Cowan Liebowitz & Latman P.C. John J Torrente

20080104639 - Method for displaying broadcast-related information in mobile terminal capable of broadcast reception and mobile terminal implementing the same: A method for displaying broadcast-related information and a mobile terminal capable of receiving broadcasting implementing the same, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method for displaying broadcast-related information, in a mobile terminal capable of being operated in a broadcast receiving mode and a normal mode comprises: checking broadcast-related information... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080104633 - Data referencing system: This application describes a method of referencing content in an application. The method comprises, for a content element, creating a reference to the content element and associating that reference with the content element. This enables the content element (for example, text or images) to be dissociated from other features related... Agent: Osha Liang L.L.P.

20080104632 - Method of controlling reproduction in broadcast recording device: A method