There is provided a recording medium having a program recorded thereon, the program causing a computer to function as: a learning section configured to learn an action model for deciding an action of an action body on a basis of environment information indicating a first environment, and action cost information indicating a cost when the action body takes an action in the first environment; and a decision section configured to decide the action of the action body in the first environment on a basis of the environment information and the action model.
Provided is an information processing device for enabling a plurality of content to be efficiently used on the same screen, the information processing device including: a manipulation detection unit configured to detect a manipulation by a user; and a control unit configured to control display on a screen according to the detection of the manipulation detection unit. The control unit performs control to cause, when the manipulation detection unit detects a manipulation for bringing at least two pieces of content displayed on the screen into contact with each other under control by the control unit, the at least two pieces of content to be displayed in alignment.
G06F 3/0481 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
G06F 3/0482 - Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
3.
Information processing device, information processing method, and computer program for side menus
To provide an information processing device for enabling a plurality of users to efficiently use content on the same screen. Provided is an information processing device including: a manipulation detection unit configured to detect a manipulation by a user; and a control unit configured to control display on a screen according to the detection of the manipulation detection unit. The control unit performs control to cause a first menu for selecting a content save source to be displayed along each side of the screen when the manipulation detection unit detects a first manipulation from each side toward a center of the screen with respect to at least two sides among sides of the screen, cause a second menu for selecting content to be displayed outside the first menu when the manipulation detection unit detects a second manipulation on the first menu, and cause content selected by a third manipulation to be displayed on the screen when the manipulation detection unit detects the third manipulation on the second menu.
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
G06F 3/0482 - Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
G06F 3/0481 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
4.
Systems and methods for transmitting data over lossy networks
An encoder/decoder system usable to decrease the probability of a failed transmission over a lossy wireless network. In one embodiment, data packets unsuccessfully sent over the wireless network may be retransmitted a particular number of times, depending on how important the data in the lost packet is. In another embodiment, when a number of transmission failures is determined to exceed a predetermined threshold, it may be signaled that multiple reference frames should be used for encoding predictions.
G08C 25/02 - Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements by signalling back from receiving station to transmitting station
H04L 1/14 - Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the signals are sent back to the transmitter to be checked
H03M 13/00 - Coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or error correction; Coding theory basic assumptions; Coding bounds; Error probability evaluation methods; Channel models; Simulation or testing of codes
H04L 1/18 - Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
H04L 1/00 - Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.
A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator.
A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset by a first scaling factor in a first direction and a second scaling factor in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first scaling factor is different from the second scaling factor. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.
An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that, are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
An image sensing device and image sensing method are described herein. By way of example, the imaging sensing device includes a two-dimensional array of light sensing elements, each light sensing element being configured to generate an output signal indicative of an intensity level of light impinging on the light sensing element, one or more analog-to-digital converters configured to digitize output signals read out from the array of light sensing elements to generate digital output pixel values, a control circuit configured to generate digital pixel reset values, and a compression module configured to receive the digital pixel reset values and to generate a compressed digital pixel reset value corresponding to each digital pixel reset value.
H04N 3/14 - Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
H04N 5/378 - Readout circuits, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] circuits, output amplifiers or A/D converters
H04N 5/357 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise
H04N 5/335 - Transforming light or analogous information into electric information using solid-state image sensors [SSIS]
Techniques for personalizing audio levels, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, provide different audio volumes to different locations in a room allowing for two of more users to enjoy the same audio content at different volumes. Differential level and delay compensation filtering based on a position of each of a plurality of speakers, the location of each user and the preferred relative audio volume of each user are utilized to produce different effective audio levels in localized regions of a room.
A network bridging adaptor and method for enabling nodes to access a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The network bridging adaptor is adapted to operate in an ad hoc network having access restricted to only wireless nodes that are provided from a common entity. According to one embodiment of the invention, the network bridging adaptor comprises a housing; one or more ports positioned along a side of the housing to receive data from an electronic device; a first radio logic unit contained within the housing and adapted to transmit and receive messages in order to detect a presence of the ad hoc network; and a second radio logic unit contained within the housing and adapted to operate as an access point by establishing communications with nodes that are provided by an entity different than the common entity. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
A content downloader system including a display for displaying a user interface enabling a user to select content to be downloaded and initiate downloading; a set-top-box coupled to the display for providing the user interface and for receiving an Indication of the content to be downloaded; and a content downloader coupled to and separate from the set-top-box, the content downloader for receiving the content. The content downloader has at least one memory component for storing content, at least one input/output connection for communicating to electronic devices, optionally including a removable memory card and optionally including an encryption/decryption unit. The content downloader may have an identification whereby its identity is authenticated by the content provider. The content downloader downloads the content selected by the user after successful authentication whereby the selection is made using the display and the set-top-box, and the content downloaded to the content downloader separate than the set-top-box.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/40 - Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of, or interaction with, content, e.g. STB [set-top-box]; Operations thereof
H04N 5/913 - Television signal processing therefor for scrambling
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 21/254 - Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server or rights management server
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4405 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving video stream decryption
H04N 21/4623 - Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message]
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/835 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
H04N 21/6547 - Transmission by server directed to the client comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
13.
Client device, information processing system and associated methodology of accessing networked services
A system provides access to services from different servers via a common API. The system includes service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the service-offering servers, and an interchange server that acts as an intermediary when the client uses a service. The client communicates with the interchange server using a common API when the client uses service from the service-offering servers. The interchange server uses a unique API, which is unique to the service-offering server that offers the service being used by the client, to execute a processing sequence that is unique to the service-offering server. Thus client is able to use services offered by the service-offering servers with the use of a common API and without any need to use a different unique API for each service-offering server.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
14.
Method and apparatus for a wireless home mesh network with network topology visualizer
An apparatus and method for a wireless home mesh network with a network topology visualizer is described. In one embodiment, the method may include collecting node topology information by a node of a wireless home mesh network, where the node topology information includes a list of neighbor nodes for the node. Thereafter, a communication socket is opened, and a node topology packet, including a lust of neighbor nodes, is transmitted in order to produce a global network topology map. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
A digital data signal, such as a digital video signal, is intentionally pre-distorted before being sent over a network. In one embodiment, this pre-distortion may be performed in accordance with a pre-distortion pattern or algorithm which is shared with only intended receivers. The pre-distortion pattern may be used to vary the pre-distortion on a periodic basis, as frequently as on a symbol-by-symbol basis. The pre-distortion function may include distorting the phase and/or the amplitude of the digital signal's modulation.
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
H04N 7/167 - Systems rendering the television signal unintelligible and subsequently intelligible
H04N 21/2383 - Channel coding of digital bit-stream, e.g. modulation
H04N 21/438 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
H04L 25/08 - Modifications for reducing interference; Modifications for reducing effects due to line faults
A peer-to-peer (P2P) application which can be applied to TVs. The P2P application promotes a social networking aspect by allowing devices connecting to either the home mesh network and/or Internet to share contents and create common-interest channels. The P2P application does not require support from network infrastructure (e.g., no central servers), and consequently is extremely cost-effective and easy to deploy. The distributed nature of this system allows users to join or leave the network at will. It takes advantage of the local home mesh network connectivity, or existing Internet connections. A participant that tunes into a broadcast on an Internet channel is not only downloading a video stream, but also uploading it to other participants watching the program. Data mining systems capture user preferences and create personalized Internet channels on the TV using the P2P network.
H04N 7/16 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
Methods and apparatuses are described for organizing audio/visual content and prefetching selected audio/visual content configured to be displayed to a user. In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for presenting content identifies a preference corresponding to a user; detects a current display window; and prefetches at least one audio/visual content in response, in part, to the current display window and the preference.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
18.
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 from the user's device settings and/or identification, so that a targeted advertising message may be selected from one of the stored advertising data files. The content data is transmitted to the user, the data having a cue for insertion of the selected targeted advertising message prior to or after the content file has been transferred.
H04N 7/10 - Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
H04N 7/025 - Systems for transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame
H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
H04H 60/63 - Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups or for services of sales
H04N 7/16 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
H04N 21/2547 - Third party billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04H 20/10 - Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution
H04H 60/45 - Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying users
H04H 60/51 - Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying locations of receiving stations
An embodiment is a technique to collect network and device information. A request for local information is responded to. The request is sent by a remote node in an ad hoc home mesh network. A first node listed in a local route table is queried for node information of the first node. Querying is expanded to a second node in the ad hoc home mesh network using the node information. The second node is a neighbor of the first node.
A near field communication (NFC) sticker which stores a key is attached to a new client device. A remote commander in a home network reads the key using a NFC interface and IR-transmits it to a home network server. Once the client is connected to the network, it encrypts its own device information with the key and sends the encrypted information to the server, which decrypts the data with the key sent from the remote commander. In this way, client device registration is executed easily and securely.
An embodiment is a technique to perform network-based traffic recognition and packet classification. A port identifier in a transport layer header of a packet having a packet type associated with a priority level is extracted. The packet is transmitted from or to an application according to a network protocol in a multi-hop mesh network having a local node and a remote node. The port identifier includes a port number. The packet is classified into the packet type using the port identifier and one of a pre-defined port list, a dynamic port table, and an application header of the application.
A system and method for supporting content distribution in an electronic network includes a peer-to-peer network of electronic devices. The electronic devices are initially preloaded in a distributed manner with various content segments from corresponding content items. When a system user selects a particular content item on a corresponding electronic device, a download manager of the electronic device may automatically generate content segment requests to other appropriate electronic devices in the peer-to-peer network. The download manager may then download and automatically reassemble the content segments to produce the selected content item for utilization by the system user.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
23.
Distributed presentation software for multiple instantiations in home network
One and only instance of a video service model component (for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) model description) is executed in a home network gateway, with multiple instantiations of a view/controller module associated with the model module being generated, one for each display device seeking to simultaneously display the video service. In this way the functionality of a single video service model is shared in the network without requiring the underlying model module itself to be replicated.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
H04N 7/10 - Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
A display device is provided comprising a housing, a communication means within the housing configured to receive content from a local content source device external to the housing and to transmit messages to the local content source device, wherein the content comprises a static screen image, a storage means configured to store the content having been received from the content source device, wherein the storage means stores no more than a single static screen image and a display configured to display the content. A method for use with the display device is further provided.
A computer with multiple software applications has defined for it plural software profiles for selection of one of the profiles in response to a system and/or user signal. Each profile when selected enables a respective set of applications to run on the system.
Aggregated service and feature sharing is provided in a home network, in which users can freely enjoy not only the shared content, but also the unique features provided by each device anywhere in the network. The service sharing feature allows one device to control and use shared hardware or software functionalities provided by other devices in the network.
A system provides access to services from different servers via a common API. The system includes service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the service-offering servers, and an interchange server that acts as an intermediary when the client uses a service. The client communicates with the interchange server using a common API when the client uses service from the service-offering servers. The interchange server uses a unique API, which is unique to the service-offering server that offers the service being used by the client, to execute a processing sequence that is unique to the service-offering server. Thus client is able to use services offered by the service-offering servers with the use of a common API and without any need to use a different unique API for each service-offering server.
A receiver of network data dynamically filters packets by packet type from a network device CPU based on usage information, such as time, day, location, and feature (e.g., “video” or “application”) selection.
Hashes of metadata of digital photographs on, e.g., a removable camera memory are compared against values in a hash table representing previously stored photographs on an archive computer to ensure that only previously unstored photos are copied onto the archive computer.
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
G06F 11/14 - Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operation, e.g. by using different operation sequences leading to the same result
30.
Obtaining metadata program information during channel changes
An apparatus including a remote command receiver, a decode logic, and a database is described herein. The remote command receiver may detect a remote control command that selects a program. The decode logic may receive a video signal from an access device that is the target of the detected remote control command and separate from the apparatus. The decode logic may capture a video frame that is rendered by the apparatus based on the video signal from the access device, and may decode the captured video frame to generate metadata regarding the selected program. The apparatus may generate a user interface using the metadata stored in the database that is different from the user interface generated by the access device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
A client TV in a home entertainment network receives and buffers an audio/video stream from a server, before playing the stream. In the case of buffer underflow, the client TV requests the server to raise the transmission rate. If this causes an ensuing buffer overflow, the client TV requests the server to reset the transmission rate or stop transmitting altogether for a short time.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
Multiple segment identifiers associated with a single item of content and substitute content associated therewith can be utilized as a mechanism to provide content substitution using multiple content formats by utilizing a segment routing state machine. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/2362 - Generation or processing of SI [Service Information]
H04N 21/2365 - Multiplexing of several video streams
H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/6336 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client directed to decoder
A near field communication (NFC) sticker which stores a key is attached to a new client device. A remote commander in a home network reads the key using a NFC interface and IR-transmits it to a home network server. Once the client is connected to the network, it encrypts its own device information with the key and sends the encrypted information to the server, which decrypts the data with the key sent from the remote commander. In this way, client device registration is executed easily and securely.
An arrangement is provided where a media server temporarily stores a DRM license that is associated with downloaded media content prior to copying the DRM license to a physical archival medium such as an optical disc. When the media server confirms that the DRM license is successfully copied to the physical archival medium, it destroys the temporarily stored DRM license.
An apparatus and method for managing data for a wireless device, which includes a first memory for storing received data of a wireless device, a second memory for storing a network operational file, the operational file consisting of instructions for selecting a destination using a wireless module of the wireless device, and instruction steps for operating the network operational file for sending the received data using the wireless module to the selected destination.
A method and apparatus for transmitting a digitally encoded video image in real time wherein the video image is digitally encoded using a compression algorithm having a variable bit rate, e.g., JPEG2K, to provide an encoded data stream, the encoded data stream is fed into a buffer of known size, and the data is read from the buffer via a streamer with a controllable bit rate to provide a bit stream at a desired stream bit rate for transmission. The bit rate of the encoded data stream from the encoder is monitored by a predictor and predicts a future bit rate of the encoded data stream; and, the bit rate of at least one of the encoder and the streamer is adjusted to provide the desired streaming bit rate wherein the predicting of the future bit rate is carried out using a prediction model based on a smoothed bit rate vs. time curve of the encoded data stream.
H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
H04N 21/658 - Transmission by the client directed to the server
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
H04N 19/149 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by estimating the code amount by means of a model, e.g. mathematical model or statistical model
H04N 21/6377 - Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components directed to server
38.
System and method for effectively implementing a personal channel for interactive television
A system and method for effectively implementing a personal channel for interactive television comprises a personal channel manager that may include a configuration module, a search module, and a content packaging module. A system user may utilize the configuration module to perform a personal channel configuration procedure to specify personal channel configuration data for performing a content record search procedure. The search module may manage the content record search procedure according to one or more search parameters that may be defined during the personal channel configuration procedure. The search module finds content records from content databases during the foregoing content record search procedure. The content packaging module coordinates a content record sorting procedure according to user-specified sorting criteria.
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
39.
System and method for effectively performing enhanced mobile-device location procedures
A system and method for effectively performing enhanced device location procedures to determine the current physical location of a mobile device includes a plurality of satellites that wirelessly transmit satellite beacon signals, a plurality of base stations that wirelessly transmit pilot signals, and a plurality of access points that wirelessly transmit access-point beacon signals. A location detector of the mobile device coordinates a device location procedure by measuring the satellite beacon signals, the pilot signals, and the access-point beacon signals to generate corresponding satellite information, base station information, and access point information. The location detector analyzes the satellite information, the base station information, and the access point information to select an optimal system configuration from the most effective satellites, base stations, and access points. The location detector then utilizes the optimal system configuration to accurately calculate the current physical location of the mobile device.
G01S 19/09 - Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
G01S 19/48 - Determining position by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
40.
Client device and associated methodology of accessing networked services
A system makes it possible to use services offered by a plurality of servers different from one another is realized with the use of a common API. The system includes a plurality of service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers, and an interchange server that performs intermediary processing when the client uses a service. The client performs communication with the interchange server while using a common API when using any service among a plurality of services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers. The interchange server uses a unique API, which is unique to the service-offering server that offers the service selected by the client, to execute a processing sequence that is unique to the service-offering server. The client may use any service among services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers with the use of a common API without any need to use a unique API, which is unique to each of the plurality of service-offering servers.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
A system and method for identifying the player that leaked content encryption keys by loading a set of player keys into individual content players and determining the number of encryptions and the number of encryption keys to use in multiple encrypting critical content. The method produces copies of critical data content packets, each copy of which is separately encrypted using any one of a set of encryption keys that are related to one another through a mathematical algorithm. The related set of encryption keys and data describing key relationship and content player identity are transmitted to a previously determined license management agency. The transmitted encrypted content is written to a receiving device or file, or streamed to an individual player for non-synchronous playback. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
H04N 21/6334 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
A system and method for identifying the player that leaked content encryption keys by loading a set of player keys into individual content players and determining the number of encryptions and the number of encryption keys to use in multiple encrypting critical content. The method produces copies of critical data content packets, each copy of which is separately encrypted using any one of a set of encryption keys that are related to one another through a mathematical algorithm. The related set of encryption keys and data describing key relationship and content player identity are transmitted to a previously determined license management agency. The transmitted encrypted content is written to a receiving device or file, or streamed to an individual player for non-synchronous playback. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
H04N 7/167 - Systems rendering the television signal unintelligible and subsequently intelligible
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
H04N 21/6334 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
A television and camcorder combination include an acoustic echo canceller and a videoconference protocol stack in order to provide videoconferencing capabilities using only a television in combination with an attached camcorder. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
H04N 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
A method of generating a set of clear packets, involves receiving a selectively encrypted stream of data, detecting encrypted packets within the selectively encrypted stream of data, creating the set of clear packets by decrypting the encrypted packets detected within the selectively encrypted stream of data, and storing the set of clear packets as a computer file separate from the selectively encrypted stream of data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from the invention.
A client in a home entertainment network can communicate with other components, including the server, over both a wired and a wireless link, with the particular path being selected based a component preference, and/or a bandwidth capability, and/or an occupancy ratio. Both links may be simultaneously used.
Systems and methods are described for personal video recorders (PVRs) and other devices configured for recording and playing back media content from a data storage unit, preferably a random access unit such as a hard drive. A system is described having network connectivity, such as a power-line communications, with other PVRs or similar units, wherein media content can be automatically shifted from one unit to another over the network, such as in response to changes in available storage space. Content transfers and deletions within the system being intelligently performed based on content status, user preference settings, and user preference information such as received from a preference engine, toward optimizing the value to the user of the content which is retained network wide. An additional aspect provides content restoration after mistaken deletion by the user or automated deletion functions.
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
47.
System and method for providing content in two formats on one DRM disk
A DRM disk such as a Blu-ray stores content in a high resolution version for playing by a disk player. The disk also stores the same content in a lower resolution version for playing by a secondary device such as a Playstation Portable (PSP). The disk can be engaged with the disk player and the lower resolution format transferred to the secondary player through a mechanism such as a removable medium (e.g., a Sony Memory Stick®) or a USB connection or other means in accordance with DRM restrictions on the disk.
The return channel in a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication system is used to provide signal information on an individual-channel basis. In one embodiment, in a controlled factory environment, this information may be used to incrementing up or down the variable gain amplifier and/or the power amplifier of a MIMO transmitter and/or receiver so as to generate a default signal power offset to be used during normal operation. Thereafter, such signal information may similarly be provided via the return channel and used to further adjust the transmit parameters to account for location-specific signal conditions.
The return channel in a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication system is used to provide signal information on an individual-channel basis. In one embodiment, in a controlled factory environment, this information may be used to incrementing up or down the variable gain amplifier and/or the power amplifier of a MIMO transmitter and/or receiver so as to generate a default signal power offset to be used during normal operation. Thereafter, such signal information may similarly be provided via the return channel and used to further adjust the transmit parameters to account for location-specific signal conditions.
The present embodiments provide systems and methods for use in remote controlling devices including consumer electronic devices. Some embodiments provide a remote control system that comprises a processor, a touch screen display coupled with and receiving display control signals from the display driver such that the touch screen display displays one of a plurality of control views with a fixed number of function buttons displayed in each of the plurality of control views, and a wireless transmitter coupled with the processor that wirelessly transmits function signals in response to a detection of a selection of one of the function buttons.
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect a device; detect a status level corresponding to the device; receive content on the device based on the status level; and display the content on the device based on the status level.
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
G07F 17/16 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures, or the like
H04N 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
G06Q 20/12 - Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
52.
Powerline communicator (PLC) modem employing an analog magnetic transducer
A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.
H04B 1/38 - Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
53.
Method and apparatus for a wireless home mesh network with network topology visualizer
An apparatus and method for a wireless home mesh network with a network topology visualizer is described. In one embodiment, the method may include collecting node topology information by a node of a wireless home mesh network, where the node topology information includes a list of neighbor nodes for the node. Thereafter, a communication socket is opened, and a node topology packet, including a lust of neighbor nodes, is transmitted in order to produce a global network topology map. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
A method and apparatus for transmitting a digitally encoded video image in real time via a data network wherein the video image is digitally encoded using a compression algorithm having a variable bit rate, e.g., JPEG2K, to provide an encoded data stream, the encoded data stream is fed into a buffer of known size, and the data is read from the buffer via a streamer with a controllable bit rate to provide a bit stream at a desired stream bit rate for transmission via the network. The bit rate of the encoded data stream from the encoder is monitored by a predictor and predicts a future bit rate of the encoded data stream; and, the bit rate of at least one of the encoder and the streamer is adjusted to provide the desired streaming bit rate.
Configuration information is exchanged between a home entertainment system server and various wireless components by pushing a button on the server and a random button on a remote control device as it is pointed at the devices sought to be authenticated.
A near field communication (NFC) sticker which stores a key is attached to a new client device. A remote commander in a home network reads the key using a NFC interface and IR-transmits it to a home network server. Once the client is connected to the network, it encrypts its own device information with the key and sends the encrypted information to the server, which decrypts the data with the key sent from the remote commander. In this way, client device registration is executed easily and securely.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
A television demonstration method involves providing a television display and a camera; at a computer processor, receiving a video image from the camera, the computer processor capturing the video image from the camera to determine if the viewer makes a predetermined gesture; and retrieving and playing a specified video segment on the display associated with the gesture in response to determining that the viewer has made the predetermined gesture. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
A method of improving the computation speed of the sum of absolute transformed distances (SATD) for different intra-prediction modes is described. Determining the SATD quicker provides the benefits of better coding performance without suffering the drawbacks of longer computation times. The method of reducing intra-prediction and mode decision processes in a video encoder, implements Hadamard transforms with improvements. Hadamard transforms are performed on an original block and predicted blocks and calculations are only performed where coefficients are non-zero thus skipping the coefficients that are zero. Using such an approach, the calculations required for the Vertical Prediction, Horizontal Prediction and DC Prediction are reduced significantly. Thus, the best intra-prediction mode is able to be determined very efficiently.
H04B 1/66 - TRANSMISSION - Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission for improving efficiency of transmission
59.
Distributed presentation software for multiple instantiations in home network
One and only instance of a video service model component (for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) model description) is executed in a home network gateway, with multiple instantiations of a view/controller module associated with the model module being generated, one for each display device seeking to simultaneously display the video service. In this way the functionality of a single video service model is shared in the network without requiring the underlying model module itself to be replicated.
A two picture matching curve information is able to be used to determine precise object distance or relative object distance in a scene. Acquiring two images with different blur information in addition to the curve information enables a device to determine distance information of objects in a scene. The distance information is able to be used in image processing including generating a depth map which is then able to be used in many imaging applications.
Methods for operation and a remote control are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operation includes detecting an activity mode for the remote control, wherein the activity mode is based on user programming of the remote control to operate one or more devices for at least one type of communication provided by a communication interface of the remote control. The process may further include detecting a user selection of a user interface of the remote control, wherein the user selection is associated with a command for the one or more devices, and determining a communication setting based on the user selection and the activity mode. The command may be transmitted by the communication interface of the remote control to the one or more of the devices based on the communication setting, wherein transmission of the command is based on one or more communication types of the communication interface.
Manufacturer registration of consumer electronic devices includes a registration server receiving purchaser-specific information from a user computer over a network, such as the Internet. This received purchaser-specific information may then be associated with a temporary short code, which is in turn provided back to the user computer over the network. The purchaser is then free to input the provided temporary short code into the consumer electronic device to be registered, after which both the short code and certain additional device-specific identification information may be provided directly by the consumer electronic device to the registration server over a network connection. The provided short code may then be matched to the previously-provided purchaser-specific information, and the manufacturer registration process completed using both the purchaser-specific information and the device-specific identification information.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
63.
Combined portable printer with touch sensitive sketch screen
A system uses services offered by a plurality of servers different from one another via a common API. The system includes a plurality of service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the service-offering servers, and an interchange server that intermediates when the client uses a service. The client communicates with the interchange server using a common API when using a service. The interchange server uses a unique API, unique to the service-offering server offering the service, to execute a process that is unique to the service-offering server. The client may use any service with the use of a common API without any need to use a unique API.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
65.
Automated social networking television profile configuration and processing
Content selected by a user of a web access television (TV) device is monitored via a profile controller associated with the web access TV device. Social network aspects of a web access TV user profile are automatically configured based upon the monitored content selected by the user. Social networking opportunities for the user are managed via the web access TV user profile. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
G06F 15/173 - Interprocessor communication using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star or snowflake
G06F 15/177 - Initialisation or configuration control
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
H04N 5/232 - Devices for controlling television cameras, e.g. remote control
66.
Compression method using adaptive field data selection
A compression method using adaptive field data selection is able to compress video or other data while retaining quality. By determining if pixels in a field are able to be predicted, the method is able to retain the information that is not able to be predicted and predict the other information. The method enables significant compression of the data which allows larger data such as high definition videos to be compressed and effectively used.
A digital camera can employ logic to delay capturing a still image after a person has operated the control button until such time as predetermined subject criteria are met, e.g., the subject is smiling with eyes open, three or more players are in the field of view to ensure a good action shot, etc.
A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic image manager device includes one or more input/output interfaces for bi-directionally communicating with various information sources to transfer content information that includes image data. The electronic image manager device also includes a memory device for archiving the content information, and an application program that manipulates the content information by performing various procedures such as downloading and uploading the content information, organizing and managing the content information, editing the content information, and displaying the content information.
A system makes it possible to use services offered by a plurality of servers different from one another is realized with the use of a common API. The system includes a plurality of service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers, and an interchange server that performs intermediary processing when the client uses a service. The client performs communication with the interchange server while using a common API when using any service among a plurality of services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers. The interchange server uses a unique API, which is unique to the service-offering server that offers the service selected by the client, to execute a processing sequence that is unique to the service-offering server. The client may use any service among services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers with the use of a common API without any need to use a unique API, which is unique to each of the plurality of service-offering servers.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
Block-based variational image processing provides improved image processing by utilizing portions of an image rather than the entire image. The image is divided into multiple smaller portions, and then iterations to determine a partial differential equation for an image processing application are performed on the smaller portions. After performing the iterations on a portion, the resulting information is able to be stored in an external memory. This results in a much lower bandwidth requirement for the data, enabling the method to be performed in hardware. Additionally, the block-based variational image processing utilizes only a small number of neighboring pixels for each iteration.
Aggregated service and feature sharing is provided in a home network, in which users can freely enjoy not only the shared content, but also the unique features provided by each device anywhere in the network. The service sharing feature allows one device to control and use shared hardware or software functionalities provided by other devices in the network.
Systems and methods for processing an image on a mobile device, including a mobile device with a camera for capturing a digital image, a display for displaying the captured image, and an image processing module configured to detect one or more types of information contained in said captured image. The image processing module is configured to overlay the detected information as a separate layer over the captured image for view on the display. The system further includes a wireless connection coupling the mobile device to the remote server such that the captured image and detected information may be uploaded to the remote server for further processing.
A method of deciding a target bit rate for wavelet-based image encoding based on the wavelet coefficients is described. The target bit rate is used for maintaining a high quality image. A minimum target bit rate and a maximum target bit rate are determined. A pseudo code length corresponding to the minimum target bit rate is calculated. The pseudo code length is calculated as a function of the wavelet coefficients. The corresponding pseudo code length is calculated for the maximum target bit rate. A curve between the pseudo code length and target bit rate is derived. Slope of the curve depends on buffer fullness. Using the curve, for a given pseudo code length, an appropriate target bit rate is derived. The derived target bit rate depends on the image content, and computing resources are able to be optimally used to attain similar quality for each image block of an image.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
74.
Method of detecting the existence of visually sensitive thin lines in a digital image
A method of detecting existence of visually thin lines in images is described herein. The method includes profile generation, profile analysis and deciding the existence of thin lines. The profile generation includes generating a profile in each direction of the input image. Multiple projection lines are projected along the direction and all of the pixel values along the projection lines are added and averaged to obtain a profile. The profile analysis includes determining presence of thin lines in the input image and also noticing if the direction of the thin lines is similar to that of the projection lines. At the third step, according to the analysis made, existence of thin lines in the image is decided.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
G06K 9/36 - Image preprocessing, i.e. processing the image information without deciding about the identity of the image
A display device is provided comprising a housing, a communication means within the housing configured to receive content from a local content source device external to the housing and to transmit messages to the local content source device, wherein the content comprises a static screen image, a storage means configured to store the content having been received from the content source device, wherein the storage means stores no more than a single static screen image and a display configured to display the content. A method for use with the display device is further provided.
A “Bokeh-Aji” image is one in which the region of interest is in focus and the background is out of focus. Detection of “Bokeh-Aji” type images and then isolation to the region of interest area in a low complexity way without any human intervention is beneficial. A set of tools for performing this task include SAD and high pass filtering based in-focus/out-of-focus area separation, in-focus/out-of-focus block distribution based “Bokeh-Aji” shot detection and region of interest isolation. By effectively integrating these tools together, the “Bokeh-Aji” images are successfully identified, and the region of interest area is successfully isolated.
Methods and apparatus for optical wireless communication. In one embodiment, a wireless optical video system in which video content (e.g., DVI or HDMI) is transmitted wirelessly between a digital video source and a display device. This wireless optical communication is accomplished using a laser, encoded with the digital video data, directed from an optical transmitter to an optical receiver. In another embodiment, the data to be communicated includes high-definition video content.
A TV in a HDMI home network discovers other components that can source a common UI such as a cross-media bar (XMB). The XMB generated by each component is dynamically changed to include UI source icons representing components in the network discovered to have the capability to source the XMB, so that the user can select the component that is to source the UI and then, regardless of what remote control device in the system is used to enter XMB commands to its particular component, the component receiving the commands forwards the commands via CEC to the component that has been selected to source the XMB, avoiding distracting unintentional overlaying of multiple XMBs on top of each other.
A cost function is stochastically optimized using, e.g., simulated annealing to render a neighborhood of entities based on which content recommendations can be provided to a user of a home entertainment system. The cost function represents a normalized sum of rating similarity scores from entities of the neighborhood that are related to content items viewed by the user.
In one implementation a method of authenticating the installation of a television receiver involves generating a fingerprint value as function of the television network characteristics at an authorized installation location, where the fingerprint is a function of at least one of a gain value of a variable gain amplifier and an equalizer coefficient of an adaptive equalizer of the television appliance; receiving a code that is a function of both a decryption key and the fingerprint value from a broadcast source; ascertaining a value of the decryption key by applying an inverse function to the code that produces the decryption key as an output; and carrying out a decryption process at the television receiver appliance using the decryption key. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
81.
Fast iterative motion estimation method on gradually changing images
A fast iterative motion estimation method enables motion estimation to take place with fewer computations. The motion estimation and error determination steps are combined, each position in the search area is monitored to determine whether error value reaches the minimum over iterations by keeping track of convergence status, a refinement search is applied (thus, a smaller search area than a conventional process), and the difference of the error value and the minimum error value is used for each position in the search area to decide whether to further calculate the error value for that position. Each of these modifications helps minimize the number of computations used in motion estimation.
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 5/14 - Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
Wireless computer mouse operation may be provided by receiving a user detection signal from a sensor of the wireless computer mouse to determine the presence of a user. In one embodiment, an operation mode of the wireless computer mouse may be determined by a controller based, at least in part, on the user detection signal. Thereafter, the controller can enable at least one of a short range wireless communication module and a global positioning receiver of the wireless computer mouse based on the operation mode determined by the controller.
To facilitate simultaneous PLC communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, frequency bands are dynamically assigned on demand to first and second PLC home networks that use the respective first and second PLC protocols.
A system and method for utilizing non-interactive communications with wireless networks for a mobile wireless device such as a telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop, or other mobile device configured for performing data transfers over a wireless network. By way of example, the invention allows a user to send and receive email as well as web updates and other data updates in physical areas and locations of limited signal coverage exists without the user periodically activating the device for updating data. The invention preferably comprises programming configured for awakening the processor in response to time thresholds or the detection of sufficient signal levels from available wireless networks and wireless network devices. The programming establishes a connection with appropriate wireless network devices and communicates selected data, for example data selected by the user, such as emails (to be sent/received), web sites to be refreshed, and other forms of non-interactive data.
Methods and systems for controlling the distribution of digital content are provided. A license holder acquires protected content and an original digital license to the protected content from a content provider system. The license holder in turn delegates all or part of the grants in that original license to other qualified devices or clients. The content remains in its original, protected or encrypted form while it is delivered from the license holder to the client along with a digital sublicense that the client receives from the original license holder, whereupon the content can then be rendered. The original digital license defines or governs the conditions under which such delegation occurs, and includes terms under which such delegation is permitted to continue in order to enforce the intent of the content provider.
A method of transmitting a Video-on-Demand (VOD) program involves at a service provider head-end, separating VOD program data into first and second parts; transmitting the first part over a communication network to a recipient receiver for storage at a storage device as cached speculative data, where the transmitting is carried out as a data push when the communication network has available bandwidth to permit such transmitting and without regard for any order having been received for the VOD program to be sent to the receiver; receiving an order for the VOD program to be sent to the receiver; and streaming the second part to the receiver for reassembly into the VOD program at the receiver by combining the second part as it is streamed with the cached speculative data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
Content adaptive detection of images having stand-out objects involves block variance-based detection and determining if an object includes a stand-out object. The images with a stand-out object are further processed to isolate an object of interest. The images without a detected stand-out object are further processed with a transition map-based detection method which includes generating a transition map. If an object portrait is determined from the transition map, then the image is further processed to isolate the object of interest.
The present embodiments provide systems and methods for implementing and controlling local power line communication (PLC) networks. Some embodiments include a central controller communicationally coupled with a PLC power line, a sensor adaptor coupled between the PLC power line and a consumer product, with the sensor adaptor comprising a current detector that detects a current usage level passed through the sensor adaptor, a PLC interface through which the current usage level is communicated over the PLC power line to the central controller, and an adaptor switch that interrupts current flow to the consumer product in response to a command received over the PLC power line from the central controller when the current usage through the sensor adaptor has a predetermined relationship to a first threshold.
A system and method for distributing reminder information in an electronic network includes an information service that is configured to provide information distribution services through said information distribution network. User devices are provided for device users to communicate with the information service for receiving the information distribution services. A transport structure communicates with network entities in the information distribution network for collecting appropriate types of metadata. A transport server then performs a metadata analysis procedure upon the various types of metadata to responsively generate the reminder information.
A deviation from an expected wireless link status between a wireless display device and a local wireless media transmission device is detected via the wireless display device. The local wireless media transmission device is located proximate to the wireless display device. It is determined that an expected wireless signal is not incident upon a first wireless receiver of the wireless display device based upon the detected deviation from the expected wireless link status. A problem is identified that causes the detected deviation from the expected wireless link status. A wireless status indicator is displayed via the display. The wireless status indicator indicates that the expected wireless signal is not incident upon the first wireless receiver and indicates the identified problem that causes the detected deviation from the expected wireless link status. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
A method and apparatus for forming a demosaiced image from a color-filter-array (“CFA”) image is provided. The CFA image comprises a first set of pixels colored according to a first (e.g., a green) color channel, a second set of pixels colored according to a second (e.g., a red) color channel and a third set of pixels colored according to a third (e.g., blue) color channel. The method may include obtaining an orientation map, which includes, for each pixel of the color-filter-array image, an indicator of orientation of an edge bounding such pixel. The method may further include interpolating the first color channel at the second and third sets of pixels as a function of the orientation map so as to form a fourth set of pixels. The method may also include interpolating the second color channel at the first and third sets of pixels as a function of the orientation map and the fourth set of pixels; and interpolating the third color channel at the first and second sets of pixels as a function of the orientation map and the fourth set of pixels.
H04N 3/14 - Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
95.
Method and apparatus for forming super resolution images from raw data representative of color filter array images
A method and apparatus for generating a super-resolution image are provided. The method may include obtaining a first set of RAW data representing a first image captured at a first resolution and obtaining, from the first set of RAW data, at least one first sample of data associated with the first image. The method may also include obtaining a second set of RAW data representing a second image captured at the first resolution, and performing image registration as a function of the first set of RAW data and the second set of RAW data so as to obtain at least one second sample of data associated with the second image. The first set of RAW data is used as a reference for the second set of RAW data. The method further includes combining the at least one first sample of data with at least one second sample of data to form a collection of samples, and interpolating the collection of samples to form the super-resolution image.
A digital picture frame has a frame bounding a touch screen that presents a user interface having first and second arcs of selector elements. The first arc of selector elements is manipulable to establish an input genre root, and the second arc is manipulable to select an input branching from a genre root selected using an element in the first group. The arcs are rotatable to reveal previously unpresented selector elements when a person moves a hand along the respective arc.
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
H04N 1/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details thereof
G06F 3/0482 - Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
97.
Method and apparatus for hierarchical bi-directional intra-prediction in a video encoder
Method and apparatus for hierarchical bi-directional intra-prediction in a video encoder is described. In some examples, initial reference blocks are selected in an image. Sets of blocks in the image are predicted successively over a plurality of stages based on a respectively plurality of templates, each of the plurality of templates including reference blocks selected from at least one of: the initial reference blocks; or previously encoded and reconstructed blocks of the image. The image is encoded in the video encoder using the initial reference blocks and the sets of blocks as predicted.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
Generation of secret keys is carried out in a smartcard for use by a receiver device's main processor, or alternatively, decryption processing for selectively encrypted content is carried out in the smartcard itself in order to thwart hacking and pirating of protected video content. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
A graphical power meter involving a device for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device; and a device for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring device to a consumer.
An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.