Interactive video distribution systems inventions

20090271812 - Method & system for sharing information through a mobile multimedia platform: In a wide area communications network such as the Internet, a public server and an associated database store and make available to a private server personal information relating to an individuals emotional or some other mental or physical state. The private server includes functionality to interpret the personal information it... Agent: Robert Schuler

20090271813 - Viewer data collection system and method for use in a direct broadcast satellite television network: A system and method for collecting viewership data. The inventive system (10) is adapted to receive a signal having multiple channels of program content and associated channel identification information. The system (10) is adapted to parse the program content and channel identification information from the received signal. The system (10)... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20090271814 - Method and system for activating a decoder device: Various embodiments of the invention provide a method for activating one or more secondary decoder devices in a home network. A head-end system activates a primary decoder device and initializes the secondary decoder devices. The primary decoder device activates the initialized secondary decoder device. The secondary decoder device is deactivated... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20090271815 - Method and tv receiver for storing contents associated to tv programs: In order to offer contents on demand services triggered by broadcasted TV programs in an efficient and effective way, notifications are received by a TV receiver, for example, a set-top box, on the availability of additional contents, such as, movie tracks, back stages, audio and/or video interviews, written articles, songs,... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20090271816 - Methods and systems relating to the import, manipulation and export of data using set-top boxes: Methods and devices for exporting and displaying video information are disclosed. For example, an exemplary set-top box specially configured to receive, manipulate and export video signals and television programming information is described. The set-top box includes a tuning device capable of receiving both television signals and programming signals relating to... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090271817 - Systems and methods for searching based on information in commercials: A set top box includes a processor configured to detect a commercial and analyze the commercial to identify an advertised video content. The processor is further configured to search an electronic programming guide for availability of the video content and record the video content in response to a user input.... Agent: At&t Legal Department - Lna Attn: Patent Docketing

20090271818 - Method and apparatus for delivering emergency alert system (eas) messages over a switched digital video (sdv) system: A switched digital video (SDV) system includes an SDV manager for coordinating SDV sessions requested by subscriber terminals associated with at least one service group. The SDV system also includes an input for receiving content to be delivered during the SDV sessions and at least one edge device for receiving... Agent: Motorola, Inc. Law Department

20090271819 - System and method for sending advertising data based on data associated with video data: A computer readable medium is disclosed containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, the method including but not limited to monitoring video data for advertising data keys; correlating the advertising data keys with penetration data for an end user; and selecting advertising data for... Agent: At&t Legal Department - Roebuck Attn: Patent Docketing

20090271821 - Method and apparatus for real-time viewer interaction with a media presentation: Real-time participation within a media presentation is disclosed. A participant overlay may be generated by preprocessing a media presentation to extract a time-variant metadata stream associated with one or more interactive regions depicted in the media presentation. The participant overlay includes simulated physics, which may include boundaries of the interactive... Agent: Joshua D. Isenberg Jdi Patent

20090271820 - Method of recommending broadcasting contents and recommending apparatus therefor in multimedia contents reproducing device: Provided are a method and apparatus for recommending broadcasting contents by using a multimedia contents reproducing device, the method including the operations of generating a user list about one or more second users related to a first user; displaying the user list on a screen of the multimedia contents reproducing... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20090271822 - Apparatus and method for processing image: Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method thereof. The image processing apparatus includes: an information reader which collects information related to a search word; and a controller which selects a favorite broadcast depending on a viewing pattern and provides the information reader with the search word... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090271823 - Method and apparatus to provide broadcasting program information on screen of broadcast receiver: Disclosed is a method of providing broadcasting program information, the method including obtaining electronic program guide (EPG) information, extracting first program information from the obtained EPG information, the first program information being program information with respect to all channels, generating second program information based on the first program information, the... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20090271824 - Image display apparatus and method for controlling the same: There is provided an image display apparatus that receives a broadcast program and displays video images relating to the broadcast program. The image display apparatus comprises, among other things, a communication interface for communicating with a rendering apparatus that is externally connected; an input unit that receives image data for... Agent: Cowan Liebowitz & Latman P.C. John J Torrente

20090271825 - Method of storing and displaying broadcast contents and apparatus therefor: Provided are method of storing broadcast contents, a method of displaying stored broadcast contents and an apparatus therefor. In method of storing the broadcast contents by analyzing the received broadcast contents, grouping the contents that are similar to each other, and arranging the contents sequentially in time, the method includes... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090271826 - Method of recommending broadcasting contents and recommending apparatus therefor: A method for recommending broadcasting contents, is performed by a multimedia contents reproducing device of a first user. The method includes the operations of logging a broadcasting contents viewing behaviour pattern of the first user and generating a first user profile; transmitting the generated first user profile to an external... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20090271827 - Tv on/off timer feature for displaying user-selected non-tv tuner content: A TV viewer may select a wake-up or “on” time at which a TV is automatically energized. The viewer may also select a content source such as a music player, a disk player, a game console, and the like from which content is automatically presented on the TV at the... Agent: Rogitz & Associates

20090271828 - Method and system for single chip satellite set-top box system: A system for processing signals is disclosed and may include a single integrated circuit chip. The single integrated circuit chip (SICC) may include one or more processors coupled to a first satellite receiver demodulator and a second satellite receiver demodulator. The SICC may also include one or more video decoders... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090271829 - Terminals, servers, and methods that find a media server to replace a sensed broadcast program/movie: A wireless mobile terminal works with an identification server to automatically identify a broadcast program/movie and then identify and connect to a networked media server to receive the identified program/movie therefrom. The terminal generates data that characterizes content of a broadcast program/movie that is send by the terminal and is... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A.

20090271830 - Methods and apparatus to configure broadband-enabled entertainment systems: Methods and apparatus to configure broadband-enabled entertainment systems are disclosed. An example method comprises presenting a first user interface to enable a user to configure a communication service between a residential gateway and a service provider, detecting a set-top box communicatively coupled to the residential gateway, directing the set-top box... Agent: At&t Legal Department - Hfz Attn. Patent Docketing

20090271831 - Mobile instructional videos: The personal mobile trainer of the present invention provides a system and method for delivering a training video to an electronic device, including a cellular phone, personal digital assistant, micro PC, laptop computer, or desktop computer. The system and method facilitates convenient access to a broad range of training videos... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20090271832 - Video on demand transmission/reception method and system using divided transport system: Provided are a video on demand (VOD) transmission/reception method and system using a divided transport stream (TS). The VOD transmission method includes setting a division coefficient for dividing a TS; dividing the TS into a unicast segment and multicast segments according to the division coefficient; and transmitting the unicast segment... Agent: Occhiuti Rohlicek & Tsao, LLP

20090271833 - Method and apparatus with subscription quality of service in a video system: A method and apparatus for controlling access to a video system based on bandwidth consumption include processing that begins as the server monitors bandwidth utilization of connections within the video system. The processing continues when the server receives a request to access a video program via the connection from a... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20090271834 - Advanced set top terminal having a video call feature: A set top terminal equipped with a camera and microphone includes the capability to send and receive video calls through a cable television delivery system or other communications networks. In response to detection of the occurrence of a video call event or triggering event, a video program is automatically paused.... Agent: Banner & Witcoff , Ltd Attorneys For Client Number 007412

20090271835 - Set top box system parameter retrieval: A method, system and computer readable medium box is disclosed for determining a networked device connection status of an IP set top. A signal strength parameter request is generated associated with the networked device's operation. This request is transmitted to a specific point in a network system where it is... Agent: Thomson Licensing LLC

20090271836 - Testing catv networks with direct sequence spread spectrum signals: Use of direct sequence spread spectrum test signals injected at the same time and frequency of active network services to perform non-interfering measurements in the forward and reverse path of a CATV plant. Ideally, a plurality of transmitters, each transmitting a test signal with a unique spreading code, whereby multiple... Agent: Pequignot + Myers LLC

20090271837 - Apparatus and method for providing broadcast contents in internet broadcast system: A method and apparatus for providing content in a broadcast system is provided. Upon receipt of a request for synchronization from a mobile terminal, a set-top box creates a recommended content list based on user information received from the mobile terminal and delivers the recommended content list to the mobile... Agent: The Farrell Law Firm, LLP

20090271838 - Method for transmitting scene data in a unidirectional data broadcast system: A plurality of scene data describing at least one scene are transmitted by a data carousel from a transmitter to at least one receiver of a unidirectional broadcast system. The data carousel is used to transmit an index file to the receiver, a temporal arrangement of the scene data file... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20090265729 - Audience detection: A technique is disclosed for identifying members of an audience tuned to a program broadcast by a programming signal source, comprising the steps of storing personal identification signals in a plurality of portable devices to be carried by members of the audience; periodically transmitting said identification signals from the portable... Agent: Cohen, Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane LLP

20090265730 - Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device: Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by a local media playback device, and determining that the local media playback device is in an internally generated... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090265731 - Extensible downloadable content advisory system: A region rating table includes a number of rating dimensions and a number of rating levels. The rating dimensions may be identified by an index. Also, one or more rating level tags are added to the rating levels. The rating level tags identify each rating level within a rating dimension... Agent: Trellis Intellectual Property Law Group, PC

20090265732 - Contents providing system, and contents providing method: A contents processing device for displaying contents is enabled to change the display format of a contents displaying display unit and to display not only the contents but also other information. As problem solving means, there is proposed a contents providing system, which includes a display unit for displaying the... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20090265733 - Method and apparatus for providing targeted advertising during the presentation of sdv programming: A method is provided for delivering a targeted advertisement to a user who is viewing a switched digital video (SDV) program. The method includes receiving over an access network a user input reflective of the user's advertising preferences. An advertisement is selected at least in part on the user input... Agent: Motorola, Inc. Law Department

20090265734 - System and/or methods for distributing advertisements from a central advertisement network to a peripheral device via a local advertisement server: Certain exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and/or methods for distributing advertisements from a central advertisement network to one or more peripheral devices at a location via a local advertisement server. In certain exemplary embodiments, the local advertisement server within a location receives advertisements from the central advertisement network... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20090265736 - Broadcast receiving apparatus and firmware upgrade method thereof: Provided are a broadcast receiving apparatus and a firmware upgrade method thereof The firmware upgrade method includes receiving firmware which is transmitted from headend equipment through an Ethernet and upgrading the firmware in the broadcast receiving apparatus. The determination whether to upgrade is based on product information transmitted from the... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090265735 - Method and apparatus for outputting media content: A mobile communication device comprises receiver circuitry operable to receive broadcast real-time media data over a communication interface, and signal processing logic operable to extract real-time media content from the broadcast real-time media data, and output the extracted real-time media content via a user interface of the mobile communication device.... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20090265737 - Publishing key frames of a video content item being viewed by a first user to one or more second users: Systems and methods for obtaining key frames of video content items being viewed by first users and publishing the key frames of the video content items to second users are provided. In general, either prior to playback of a video content item by a first user or during playback of... Agent: Withrow & Terranova Ct

20090265738 - Method for dynamically displaying auxiliary display data: A method for dynamically displaying an auxiliary display data on a screen includes the following steps: (a) receiving a message carrier, and storing at least a data transmitted via the message carrier into a storage device; (b) comparing a received data of the message carrier and a stored data in... Agent: North America Intellectual Property Corporation

20090265741 - Information processing apparatus and method, and recording media: An information processing apparatus includes: a program distribution schedule information receiver configured to receive program distribution schedule information; a program-associated information acquirer configured to acquire, for each program listed in the program distribution schedule information, information for identifying content associated with the program and program-associated information including information for identifying... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.

20090265740 - Media storefront for interactive media service device: A storefront for accessing digital media and services is provided. The storefront is installed on an interactive media service device. The storefront displays a list of digital media and services to a user based on the configuration of the interactive media service device and the user profile and preferences. The... Agent: Lester H. Birnbaum

20090265739 - Method and system for channel selection in a digital broadcast reception terminal: The present invention discloses a system and method for channel selection in a digital broadcast reception terminal. The system tunes to different frequencies and generates visual clips corresponding to a plurality of channels in a frequency band. Visual clips of multiple channels are simultaneously displayed on a display screen which... Agent: Hogan & Hartson LLP

20090265742 - Remote access to personal video profile: A system for providing a user-specific list of programs for online viewing based on a user profile stored in a DVR of a user, said system comprising: (a) a preference server linked to a wide area network and in communication with said DVR and at least one content server having... Agent: Banner & Witcoff , Ltd Attorneys For Client Number 007412

20090265743 - Video on demand control method, client device and switching control apparatus: The present invention discloses a VOD control method, a client device, and a switching control apparatus, relating to a media playing technology. The method includes: receiving VOD commands from a user; selecting and joining a multicast/broadcast channel with the playing time close to the playing start time of the video... Agent: Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd (for Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd)

20090265744 - System and method for wireless communication of video data having partial data compression: A system and method for wireless communication of video data are disclosed. One embodiment of the system transmits partially compressed video data from a transmitter to a receiver over a wireless channel. The transmitter is configured to send a plurality of groups of data bits over a wireless channel. The... Agent: Knobbe, Martens, Olson, & Bear, LLP

20090265745 - Reversible faceplate terminal adapter which changes signal flow direction: A directional terminal adapter has a housing and a reversible faceplate. Distribution cables of a cable network are connected to the housing and conduct downstream and upstream signals through the housing. Signals flow through the faceplate in a predetermined direction. Reversing the orientation of the faceplate with respect to the... Agent: John R Ley, LLC

20090265748 - Handheld multimedia receiving and sending devices: A handheld multimedia device connect to the internet to obtain internet content and transmits formatted content, including internet content, to a display, such as a television. Thus, users of the multimedia device have a platform for watching internet television or movies, listening to internet music, and otherwise experiencing internet content... Agent: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

20090265746 - Method and apparatus in a media player: A method and arrangement for switching between a common media stream and a selective media stream of a media session received in a media player including a media buffer entity. Media frames of either a common media stream or a selective media stream are received and buffered in the media... Agent: Ericsson Inc.

20090265747 - Systems and methods for providing web based self serviced video monitoring and security features for systems comprising ip video terminals and servers: m

20090265750 - Techniques and systems for supporting podcasting: Improved podcasts and techniques that facilitate their use are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to creating, publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, a client application can subscribe to podcasts and then automatically monitor the podcasts for updates to be downloaded. In the... Agent: Beyer Law Group LLP/apple Inc.

20090265749 - Wireless display system: A wireless display system includes at least one information providing unit and a display unit to perform wireless transmission between them through a wireless transmission module. The wireless display system further has an identification (ID) code generation unit in the information providing unit and an ID unit in the display... Agent: Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC

20090265751 - Reception of ancillary 8vsb signals controlled responsive to information signaling version of broadcast standard being used: Modifications to the system of broadcasting robustly coded ancillary transmissions to mobile and portable receivers of 8VSB digital television signals include version information as part of signal transmissions besides those made specifically to support an electronic service guide (ESG). This version information indicates what version of broadcast standard the signals... Agent: Allen Leroy Limberg, Esq.

20090260027 - Monitoring tv viewing with programs from cable/satellite providers: A technique is disclosed for monitoring viewership of programs being performed on reproduction equipment in response to a received broadcast signal. The technique comprises receiving the broadcast signal to provide a received output signal, adding a selected monitoring code to the received output signal to provide a combined output signal,... Agent: Cohen, Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane LLP

20090260028 - Video buffer for use in advertisement displays: A video buffer system and method for use with advertising display systems. Programming packets are stored at the video buffer and displayed in a continuous loop until the next programming packet has been received and stored. The video buffer system allows for displays to continuously display advertisements during data stream... Agent: Standley Law Group LLP

20090260029 - Multi-media target marketing (formerly viewer controlled television target marketing): A computer (software and/or hardware) controlled electronic device, either freestanding or device controlled, that allows a television viewer, internet user or cellular phone user to choose what kind of commercial or advertising content to allow into their home or onto their device.... Agent: Christopher A. Roosen

20090260030 - Dynamic advertisement stream replacement: Mechanisms are provided for replacing default advertisement streams in a media stream with replacement advertisement streams. User profile information is obtained for a particular user and/or device. A default advertisement stream is identified and replaced with advertisement streams selected using the user profile information. Timestamp information and sequence number information... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP

20090260033 - Apparatus and method for implementing iptv service: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing IPTV service are disclosed according to the present invention. In particular, a user equipment initiates an IPTV service request to an IPTV application subsystem in an IMS session. The IPTV application subsystem acquires content description from a service selection function entity according to the... Agent: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. C/o Darby & Darby P.C.

20090260031 - Method and apparatus for reproducing content: A content reproducing method and apparatus that can provide an Internet protocol television (IPTV) based on electronic program guide (EPG) data. The content reproducing method includes detecting information of a program that a user is currently viewing or that the user has recently viewed from electronic program guide (EPG) data,... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090260032 - Method and system for discovering streaming services, and service discovery apparatus: The present disclosure provides a method and system for discovering streaming services, and a service discovery apparatus. The method includes steps as follows: The IMS network side generates streaming service information, and sends the information to a UE according to the information of the UE accessing the IMS network. The... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20090260036 - Multiple database, user-choice-compiled program and event guide: An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20090260035 - System and method for displaying and navigating a graphical two-dimensional array of a plurality of available channels: The subject application is directed to a system and method for displaying and navigating a graphical two-dimensional array of a plurality of available channels on an associated display unit. A two-dimensional array of channel boxes is first generated on an associated display. Input signals are then received corresponding to a... Agent: Tucker Ellis & West LLP

20090260034 - Tv user interface for viewing selected sub-groups of channels: Intuitive user interfaces are disclosed for a TV showing a favorites channel pane that can transition to a channel history pane, etc. in response to remote control commands.... Agent: Rogitz & Associates

20090260037 - Apparatus and method for constrained selection of favorite channels: An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20090260038 - Merging electronic program guide information: Techniques are disclosed herein for merging EPG data associated with a variety of program sources. In one aspect, EPG data is accessed for different program sources and rules are selected that define how entries in the EPG data are to be merged. The rules may be selected based on whether... Agent: Vierra Magen/microsoft Corporation

20090260039 - Method, system and device for template replacement: The present invention discloses a method for template replacement, including: transmitting, by a user terminal, a template replacement request to a central node management device; and controlling, by the central node management device, an edge node device to replace the template for the user terminal. The present invention further discloses... Agent: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. C/o Darby & Darby P.C.

20090260040 - Providing multiple television channel previewing of commercial free content: A system for capturing commercial free video samples. In response to receiving multiplexed channels input from a television service provider, channel preferences and general preferences are applied. A channel number is selected based on the channel preferences and general preferences. Channel guide information is collected for the selected channel number.... Agent: Ibm Corp (ya) C/o Yee & Associates PC

20090260041 - Transmitting and receiving control information for use with multimedia streams: First control information, generated according to a first protocol version, for configuring an audiovisual device to present a multimedia stream, may be generated. A first data structure specifying that the first control information is of the first protocol version may be generated. A plurality of packets, including a multimedia stream,... Agent: Meyertons, Hood, Kivlin, Kowert & Goetzel, P.C.

20090260042 - Upnp/dlna compliant mr-dvr: A method for operably connecting MR-DVR legacy systems with DLNA/UPnP compliant devices. An embodiment comprises an MR-DVR server translating DLNA/UPnP compliant protocols/data format to legacy protocols/data format used by MR-DVR legacy client devices.... Agent: Merchant & Gould Scientific Atlanta, A Cisco Company

20090260043 - Wireless transmission system for wirelessly connecting signal source apparatus and signal sink apparatus: An adapter apparatus wirelessly transmits a TMDS signal to an adapter apparatus using a first radio channel, wirelessly transmits a DDC downstream signal and a CEC downstream signal to an adapter apparatus using a second radio channel, and receives a radio signal including a DDC upstream signal and a CEC... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack L.L.P.

20090260044 - Integration system of digital content and services: An integration system of the digital content and services includes a home server and a digital media player terminal. The home server is configured to provide media content. The home server includes a favorite content recording engine for collecting favorite content. The home server is capable of receiving updated content... Agent: PCe Industry, Inc. Att. Steven Reiss

20090260045 - Network optimized distribution: A content server is configured to buffer and transmit numerous live media streams to individual devices. The content server analyzes characteristics associated with the live media streams to determine timing and sequence number information. Other characteristics such as network congestion metrics, device buffer usage metrics, etc., can also be evaluated.... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP

20090260046 - Method, apparatus, and system for redundancy backup of video services: A method, apparatus and system for redundancy backup of video services are provided. The method includes: receiving a data stream from a video server; stopping delivering the data stream to an Internet Protocol (IP) network if determining that the data stream is abnormal; and triggering the IP network to change... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20090260047 - Blade center kvm distribution: A system and method for providing redundant video signals from a server blade in a blade center. A blade center is described that includes a capture system for capturing a video stream off a PCI-x bus in a server blade and delivering the pair of video streams to a midplane... Agent: Hoffman Warnick LLC

20090260048 - Method of providing content and content providing apparatus, and method of reproducing content and content reproducing apparatus: A method of providing content and a content providing apparatus, and a method of reproducing content and a content reproducing apparatus by which content reconstruction information for adjusting a content reproduction time according to a content reproduction environment is generated, and the generated content reconstruction information and the content are... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090260049 - Automatic drop/house return termination system: The device provides for a detector and switch which allows a signal to be transmitted from the subscriber to the head-end provider, but, in all other circumstances, the device does not allow other signals or ingress to enter the CATV system from the subscriber's house.... Agent: Karl D. Kovach, Esq. Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions, Inc.

20090254930 - Systems and methods for distributing and redeeming credits on a broadcast system: Methods and systems enable receiving on mobile devices credits, tokens or coupons from mobile TV broadcast service providers. Credits may be delivered via direct unicast messages such as SMS or e-mail, or via broadcast provisioning messages. Subscription response messages may be used to deliver credits to mobile devises which transmit... Agent: Qualcomm Incorporated

20090254931 - Systems and methods of interactive production marketing: A viewer of broadcast media requests or receives programming content including advertising over the Internet. The production system manipulates the programming content including the advertising with one or more computer processors to create a video broadcast based on input received over the Internet. The programming content promotes products or services... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090254932 - Inserting advertisements in a television program: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for broadcasting television programs, in particular to a method and apparatus for inserting an advertisement into a broadcast television program. An object of the invention is to provide a method for inserting an advertisement segment into a television program of an... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090254934 - Listener contributed content and real-time data collection with ranking service: A computing device includes a processor and memory. The memory encodes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to create: a first module programmed to allow consumers to push content into a distribution channel and share feedback of broadcasted media by voting and sharing feedback; a second... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20090254933 - Media detection using acoustic recognition: A method and system for detecting certain types of content, such as advertisements, using acoustical means from a media stream. The method uses two matching processes to detect and identify repeated content, the starting and end boundaries of which are then found. This content is used as the basis to... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20090254935 - Method and apparatus for collecting and providing viewer feedback to a broadcast: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast,... Agent: Intel Corporation C/o Cpa Global

20090254936 - Set top box with firewall: A set top box with a firewall is disclosed. The set top box uses two separate ports to communicate with two respective communications networks. The first port communicates with the first network to receive programming information and the second port communicates with the second network to receive information. A firewall,... Agent: At&t Legal Department - Cc Attn: Patent Docketing

20090254937 - Conditional access system and smartcard for use in conditional access system: Embodiments of the invention include a conditional access system comprising a terminal and a smartcard, wherein the terminal comprises a user interface for interaction with an end-user, comprising an output for displaying first user interaction data and an input for generating second user interaction data in response to the first... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20090254938 - Direct marketing on television over internet: Systems and methods for effectively and non-intrusively directly marketing a manufacturer's consumer electronic products on the screen of a television over a TCP/IP or other communication link. In a television that preferably includes a screen, an OSD controller, a video display system coupled to the screen and OSD controller, a... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20090254939 - Content delivery system, repeater, terminal device, content delivery method, program and recording medium: A content delivery system according to the present invention includes a repeater for relaying content and a user terminal for transferring the relayed content to a TV receiver. The repeater includes: a data obtaining unit that mounts a first port for obtaining video data from a video server via an... Agent: Nec Corporation Of America

20090254940 - Systems and methods for directing customers toward helpful information: Systems and methods direct a customer using an appliance coupled to a display toward received information. An input is received from the customer at the appliance, and a period of relative non-use is identified. In response to the period of relative non-use, the appliance is tuned to an informational channel... Agent: Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C. (es)

20090254941 - Lineup detection: The technology is a system and method for selecting a television lineup. The available television lineups capable of being viewed on a digital device are identified. One of the tuner positions is selected and the television channel designated in each available television lineup identified. If any of the television channels... Agent: Vierra Magen/microsoft Corporation

20090254942 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, broadcast system, storage medium, and computer program: An information processing apparatus has the capability of making a registration for timer-controlled automatic viewing/recording not only in units of programs but also in units of sub-programs. The information processing apparatus includes a display control unit for displaying information on a display on the basis of the program information data... Agent: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto

20090254943 - 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... Agent: The Marbury Law Group, PLLC

20090254944 - alert management apparatus and a method of alert managment therefor: An alert management apparatus (100) comprises a presentation item data store (107) providing first description data associated with a plurality of presentation items, such as audio clips. The alert management apparatus (100) further comprises an alert data store (103) storing second description data associated with an alert, such as an... Agent: Motorola, Inc.

20090254946 - Click-through television advertising: An indicator appears on a TV screen when additional information is available about items in the scene being viewed. If the viewer presses an “info” button the action freezes and an overlay appears on the picture highlighting one or more products for which additional advertising is available. If the viewer... Agent: Peter Vogel

20090254945 - Playback apparatus, playback method, program, recording medium, server, and server method: A playback apparatus that communicates with a server and plays back data of a content item in accordance with a control file sent from the server includes a medium-information obtaining unit that obtains medium specifying information specifying a recording medium inserted into the medium-information obtaining unit; a playback-mode specifying unit... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20090254947 - Method for providing interactive menus upon request to terminals coupled to a communication network: A method is dedicated to providing interactive menus upon the request of a user communication terminal (T1), via a two-way communication network (R1). This method consists, when a terminal (T1, T′) is distributing a piece of content transmitted by the network (R1) on a one-way channel, of i) activating a... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090254948 - System and method for streaming video over a wireless network: A system and method are described for streaming video to a wireless device. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for providing a multimedia stream to a wireless device over a wireless network comprises: receiving a request for a video stream from a wireless device; requesting the video stream... Agent: Microsoft Corporation

20090254949 - Method and system for arbitrating recording requests from multiple receiving units in a network to receive the same content: A method and system for providing content includes a network having a plurality of receiving units generating a plurality of recording or tuning requests for content and communicating the recording or tuning requests through the network. The system includes a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units that... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20090254950 - Home media network: According to one embodiment, a method is described. The method includes receiving a request at a control module from a first remote device to access media data from a storage management module and determining that a first user is requesting access to the data based upon a first remote identification... Agent: Patent Department Macrovision Corporation

20090254951 - Method and system for allowing multiple receiving units in a network to record the same content while minimizing network resource use: A method and system for providing content includes a network having a plurality of receiving units generating a plurality of recording requests for content and communicating the recording requests through the network. The system also includes a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units that is selected by... Agent: The Directv Group, Inc. Patent Docket Administration

20090254952 - Iptv network with d-server controller, vod-server controller and policy server that implement diagnostic tools: A D-server controller, a VoD-server controller and a policy server are described herein which implement diagnostic tools that proactively detect and prevent potential problems with different components and services in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network.... Agent: Law Office Of William J. Tucker

20090254953 - Wireless video and audio broadcasting device: A broadcasting device includes a video and audio transmitter, several video and audio receivers to wirelessly receive signals from the video and audio transmitter, and a remote control; the video and audio transmitter is connected to a multimedia broadcasting device such as computers, MP3, MP4, CD and DVD players; the... Agent: Rosenberg, Klein & Lee

20090254956 - Communication signal characteristic measurement system: A communication signal characteristic measurement system comprising: detecting a quiet line including: storing a specific characteristic data, detecting a vertical synchronization pulse in the specific characteristic data, and applying an eight line delay in the specific characteristic data; and displaying a data set showing the quiet line relative to the... Agent: Law Offices Of Mikio Ishimaru

20090254955 - Low noise block converter feedhorn: A circuit, electrical device or other apparatus for band stacking and/or band translating multiple transmissions. Such transmissions may be satellite transmissions, terrestrial transmissions, signals carried across a wired network such as a cable network, and so forth. Two sets of left-hand polarized and right-hand polarized signals may be accepted by... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP On Behalf Of Echostar Technologies, L.L.C.

20090254954 - Method and apparatus for requesting service using multi-dimensional code: The present invention is directed to a method for requesting a service, using a multi-dimensional code. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a user terminal recognizes a multi-dimensional code displayed with information or advertisement in any of information delivery media (e.g., television, newspaper, magazine, etc.), and receives and... Agent: Hyun Jong Park Park & AssociatesIPLaw LLC

20090254957 - System and method for presenting location data for broadcasted media: System and method for providing location data associated with broadcasted media to a display device. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving broadcasted media data over a communication network connection, displaying the received media data on a display device and receiving location data associated with the broadcasted media data.... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20090254958 - Video system: A network node apparatus is disclosed for the capture, storage and replay of video data at separate respective nodes of a communications network arranged to operably couple the node apparatus. The node apparatus may include a video capture node operable to capture video data and to transmit captured data via... Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP

20090254959 - Distribution of ambience and content: A system for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network comprises a content provider (100) for distributing a program; a metadata provider (102) for distributing metadata, the metadata including a content reference identifier of the program and data relating to ambience complementing the program. The system further comprises a... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090254960 - Method for a clustered centralized streaming system: Methods and systems for providing centralized video accounts where videos are received over a communication network from video sources associated with a plurality of accounts and the videos or processed versions thereof are transmitted over a communication network to corresponding users of the plurality of accounts. In another aspect of... Agent: Browdy And Neimark, P.l.l.c. 624 Ninth Street, Nw

20090254961 - Method for controlling a receiver system and receiver system, in particular for wireless ip datacast networks: The invention relates to a method for controlling a receiver system (1), in particular for wireless IP datacast networks, the receiver system (1) comprising a receiver component (2) with an antenna (13), and a host component (5) with a player unit (8) having a buffer (10), the method comprising the... Agent: Nxp, B.v. Nxp Intellectual Property & Licensing

20090254962 - Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system: An apparatus and a method provide optimum packaging of programs for delivery over a television program delivery system. The apparatus includes a central processor unit (CPU) that is used to select program categories and identify external and internal programs. For packaging. The CPU includes advanced features to weight programs according... Agent: Banner & Witcoff , Ltd Attorneys For Client Number 007412

20090254963 - Method and apparatus for providing a virtual channel service: A method and an apparatus for providing a virtual channel service are disclosed. The method includes maintaining a contents list recorded in a personal video recorder and a virtual channel information, determining a playback order of recorded contents included in the list in accordance with a preset algorithm, and playing... Agent: Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP

20090254965 - Method and system for enhancing display functionality in a set-top environment: Methods and systems for enhancing the storage and display of video data and other digital content in a set-top box or other television environment so that such data is securely stored and displayed are provided. Example embodiments provide an enhanced display controller (EDC) that executes in an electronic device, such... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP/seattle

20090254964 - Method for providing record information in a digital broadcast receiver and a digital broadcast receiver for providing record information: A method for providing record information in a digital broadcast receiver and a digital broadcast receiver for providing record information are disclosed. A reception unit receives a broadcast signal including a data broadcast-associated application. A storage medium stores records. And a controller manages the application, receives an information request for... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20090254966 - Methods and apparatus for upgrading set top box devices without the loss of stored content: Methods and apparatus for smoothly and efficiently upgrading set top boxes, e.g., personal video recorders, which have customer selected content stored thereon are described. The described methods allow content stored on a set top box to be uploaded to a network storage device, e.g., automatically at a predetermined time prior... Agent: Straub & Pokotylo