A user may establish a reservation for content that is not currently available to the user via a group of sources, including broadcast, streaming, and/or download sources. For example the a user may establish a reservation to record a broadcast of specific content that is currently not scheduled for broadcast. As another example, the user may establish a reservation for the purpose of alerting the user once a new movie becomes available through a subscription streaming service. Based on a reservation, the service provider and/or the user's media playback device may monitor content availability data for one or more sources. When the content is indicated as available, the user may be so informed. The content may then be streamed or downloaded, or a recording of the content may be scheduled. Additionally, or alternatively, the content may be automatically scheduled for recording or download.
G06F 16/335 - Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
G06F 16/787 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
G06F 3/0482 - 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 interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
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 21/462 - 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
2.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING BRANDED VIDEO TAGS
A method and apparatus for displaying branded video tags. An advertiser provides additional content associated with broadcast advertising content to a service provider that downloads the additional content to a digital video recorder (DVR). The service provider inserts command tags into the content that are intercepted by the DVR and interpreted as commands that instruct the DVR to perform specific actions when the DVR receives the stream from a broadcaster. The DVR intercepts and translates any tags inserted into the content stream while the DVR is playing the content stream. Tags can cause the DVR to display a branded video tag to the user which is a displayed icon that requests an interaction by the user and has an advertiser's logo(s) displayed in its vicinity.
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
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
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/4227 - Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
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 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
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 21/4408 - 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 encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 21/4722 - 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 for requesting additional data associated with the content
H04N 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
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 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
Techniques, systems, and methods are disclosed to generate messaging to view content on media devices based on predictive factors. Information may be received to trigger one or more predictive factors and then generate a candidate set of offers to view content at a media device based on the information. Based on the one or more predictive factors, confidence values may be determined for each offer in the candidate set of offers. The candidate set of offers may be ranked based on the associated confidence values. Subsequently, presentation of at least one offer of the candidate set of offers may be caused to display in a user interface screen on the media device based on the ranking.
H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
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 21/258 - 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
In an embodiment, a flick motion is detected on a touch screen interface of a first device. In response to detecting the flick motion: data associated with the flick motion is identified and transmitted to a second device. The data may be automatically displayed in response to detecting the flick motion.
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
H04W 4/21 - Services signalling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel for social networking applications
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/4786 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application e-mailing
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
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
Techniques are described that allow DVR users to create program shortcuts to different types of media content from content providers. A program shortcut comprises a reference to another media content. A user may generate a shortcut so that the user may easily find and return to media content without performing a new search. In addition, techniques may be used to automatically generate program shortcuts for a user based at least in part to user-indicated preferences or actions. Shortcuts may be generated to media content that is related to a preferred genre or media type specified by a user. Shortcuts may also be generated to content that is determined to be similar to content that is often viewed or recorded by the user.
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 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
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 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
7.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND SHARING CUSTOMIZED MULTIMEDIA SEGMENTS
Multimedia content segment identified by users may be shared among media devices and media device users. Media content segment metadata is generated based on one or more identified media content item segments identified in one or more media content items. The media content segment metadata may include, but is not limited to, information indicating segment start and stop times, information about the particular media content item (e.g., title, actors, original air date), and other user-provided descriptive information. A link for the media content segment metadata may be posted for display on a webpage and which enables other users to access the media content segment metadata.
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
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 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
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 21/2743 - Video hosting of uploaded data from client
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
A client determines that a user is attempting to access media program recommendations. In response to the determination, the client attempts to collect media program recommendations to be presented to the user. Media program recommendations may be derived locally by the client, by the client and a multimedia device locally connected with the client, by the client and one or more additional devices, etc. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a query from the client, one or more recipient devices or servers identify media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories. The media program recommendations may be selected based at least in part on EPG data and audience research and measurement data. The media program recommendations collected by the client are presented to the user for further exploration. The client may be one of mobile phones, tablet computers, etc.
Techniques for real-time DVR programming employ secure instant message protocol in a DVR environment. An embodiment sends an instant message to the DVR which causes the DVR to open a new secure connection with the service provider for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. Another embodiment uses an already established connection with an instant message server for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider.
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 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
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 21/237 - Communication with additional data server
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 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
Tag data is created from in-band data in a media content item by a remote location while the media content item is being broadcasted by a content provider and received by the remote location. The tag data identifies locations in the media content item which enables media devices to accurately jump to particular locations in the media content item based on the tag data.
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 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/8352 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving content or source identification data, e.g. UMID [Unique Material Identifier]
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 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
G06F 16/901 - Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
G06F 16/70 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of video data
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 21/44 - 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 21/4545 - Input to filtering algorithms, e.g. filtering a region of the image
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
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
Enhanced trick-play modes for video content that is being streamed to a client from a server are described. In an embodiment, the enhanced trick-play modes are provided with relatively low latency and high quality using trick-play optimization techniques for a streaming environment, avoiding the need to stream the entire contents of the portions through which the viewer is fast forwarding. By employing sophisticated selection criteria of which parts of the content to download at what time, the quality of the playback experience is improved versus that which would conventionally be possible when using a simple sequential frame data download. The streaming client maintains a cache of nearby significant frames, such as nearby key frames, in forward and/or reverse directions of the current playback position, without having to download the entire portions of the video stream in which the significant frames reside. The trick-play modes utilize these frames.
A method and apparatus for secure transfer of previously broadcasted content enables the secure transfer of previously broadcasted content between DVRs on a computer network.
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
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 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
H04N 21/4722 - 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 for requesting additional data associated with the content
H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
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 21/4408 - 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 encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
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 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/4227 - Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
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
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
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
13.
REMOTELY CONFIGURING WINDOWS DISPLAYED ON A DISPLAY DEVICE
One or more window characteristics of at least one window displayed on a primary display device are displayed at a remote display device. User input is received at the remote display device to modify the one or more window characteristics of the at least one window displayed on the primary display device. The one or more modified window characteristics for the at least one window displayed on the primary display device are transmitted from the remote display device to the primary display device.
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 or an image, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
G06F 9/451 - Execution arrangements for user interfaces
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 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
A method for generating and maintaining hierarchical tags with community-based ratings is provided. Tags for media streams are organized into a hierarchical format. Users may select tags from the hierarchical tag database that describes a particular multimedia content. If the user is unable to locate a desired tag, the user may submit a new tag. Upon submission of the new tag, a librarian approves the tag before storing and placing the tag in the hierarchical tag database. Users are also able to rate the quality of the association between the tag and the multimedia content. If a tag is rated low, the tag may be removed from the hierarchical tag database. If the tag is rated highly, display of the tag in a list of tags becomes more prominent.
A media content management system that enables users to manage media content collections is disclosed. A media device is configured to receive requests to create media content collections for particular media content and, in response, to retrieve information related to the media content, and to generate one or more interfaces displaying information about created media content collections. In an embodiment, retrieving information related to a media content may include determining, for one or more episodes of the media content, whether the episode is available from various content sources, including both broadcast and broadband content sources. By enabling a media device to automatically retrieve and present information related to the availability of media content episodes across any number of different broadcast and broadband sources, users can more easily interact with and view information about particular media content of interest to the users.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
Techniques for real-time audience measurement are provided. The techniques include instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time audience measurement data to modify the scheduled recording time of a media content in real-time, to bookmark in real-time, and to gather audience ratings on commercials and viewership in real-time.
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/436 - 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 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04H 60/31 - Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
H04H 60/46 - 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 recognising users' preferences
H04H 20/40 - Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
H04H 60/61 - Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups or
H04H 60/73 - Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using meta-information
A method and apparatus for performing an integrated search is provided. An interface is provided that allows users to search and select any data related to a searchable term. Searchable terms may comprise titles of content, actors, and tags. Upon receiving results from the initial search, the user progresses through the initial search by selecting a result from the initial search and conducting a further search of that selection. The search may progress through many layers of searching in order to find information useful to the user and the user may perform actions based upon results of the search. The search implements a display with two columns, the first column displaying selectable data, and the second column displaying results to the selected data. The search is further customizable based upon a privacy level selected by the user.
G06F 16/78 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
G06F 16/9537 - Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
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 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
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 21/6587 - Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands or viewpoint selection
H04N 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
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
18.
INTERRUPTING PRESENTATION OF CONTENT DATA TO PRESENT ADDITIONAL CONTENT IN RESPONSE TO REACHING A TIMEPOINT RELATING TO THE CONTENT DATA AND NOTIFYING A SERVER
A portable device includes solid-state memory, an Ethernet and/or wireless network connection, and an HDMI. The portable device receives content guide data from a first server and displays a content guide on a display. In response to a user's selection of a content item, the portable device requests the content item over the Internet from a second server. The portable device receives the content item, stores the content item in solid-state memory, generates display signals that represent the content item, and sends the display signals to a display. The second server may match the content item with relevant advertisements based on keywords associated with the content item and the advertisements. The second server may send selected advertisement URLs to the portable device. Using the URLs, the portable device may obtain the advertisements over the Internet and cause the display to display the advertisements in conjunction with the content item.
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
G06F 1/3203 - Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
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 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
19.
USER INTERFACE FOR VIEWING TARGETED SEGMENTS OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT BASED ON TIME-BASED METADATA SEARCH CRITERIA
A system and method for navigating digital media assets including a navigation system configured to receive a search query in response to a user input and process the search query by applying the search query to a search index of digital media asset conventional and time-based metadata and determining search results of titles of and start points in time within digital media assets that satisfy the search query. The navigation system may then display the search results to the user through the user interface. The search results may be displayed in a hierarchical format, wherein the title of the digital media asset is displayed and upon selecting the title of the digital media asset, the start points in time within that digital media asset are displayed or played as a video to the user through the user interface.
While a stream device is streaming a media program from a multimedia device to a client device, the streaming device may be configured to send a first portion of the media program to the client device, where the first portion is transcoded from a first format into a second different format and adapted for a first playing mode of the client device. The streaming device may be configured to receive an indication of a user command from the client device specifying a second different playing mode of the client device. The streaming device may be configured to send a second different portion of the media program to the client device, where the second portion is transcoded from the first format to the second format and adapted for the second playing mode of the client device.
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
G06F 21/62 - Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
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 21/254 - Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server or rights management server
21.
IDENTIFYING MULTIMEDIA ASSET SIMILARITY USING BLENDED SEMANTIC AND LATENT FEATURE ANALYSIS
Methods and system for determining a similarity relationship between a plurality of digital assets and a target digital asset comprises creating a normalized semantic feature vector associated with a search query, discovering the target asset based on the normalized semantic feature vector, generating a normalized latent feature vector associated with the target asset, comparing the normalized semantic feature vector with semantic feature vectors for each of the digital assets to generate a semantic comparison value, comparing the normalized target latent feature vector with latent feature vectors for each of the digital assets to generate a latent comparison value, blending the semantic comparison vector value with the latent feature comparison vector value to create a target comparison value for each of the digital assets, and reporting the digital assets having the highest target comparison values to the user or group of users.
A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
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 21/45 - 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 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
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 21/458 - 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 21/218 - Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
Voice-based input is used to operate a media device and/or to search for media content. Voice input is received by a media device via one or more audio input devices and is translated into a textual representation of the voice input. The textual representation of the voice input is used to search one or more cache mappings between input commands and one or more associated device actions and/or media content queries. One or more natural language processing techniques may be applied to the translated text and the resulting text may be transmitted as a query to a media search service. A media search service returns results comprising one or more content item listings and the results may be presented on a display to a user.
G06F 16/40 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data
In an embodiment, a flick motion is detected on a touch screen interface of a first device. In response to detecting the flick motion: data associated with the flick motion is identified and transmitted to a second device. The data may be automatically displayed in response to detecting the flick motion.
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
H04W 4/21 - Services signalling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel for social networking applications
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/4786 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application e-mailing
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
25.
MULTIMEDIA CONTENT SEARCH AND RECORDING SCHEDULING SYSTEM
Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.
G06F 16/955 - Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
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 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
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 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
G06F 16/78 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/6587 - Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands or viewpoint selection
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the 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 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
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
26.
IN-BAND DATA RECOGNITION AND SYNCHRONIZATION SYSTEM
A method and apparatus for recognizing and synchronizing to in-band data at a multimedia device is provided. A content stream includes in-band data. The in-band data is processed and in-band data pattern data associated with the content stream are created. Metadata are attached to the event identification data. The event identification data are provided to multimedia devices which receive broadcasted multimedia content streams containing video programs with in-band data. The in-band data are processed and compared to the event identification data. If a match occurs, the multimedia device uses the metadata to perform specified actions.
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/434 - 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 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
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 21/458 - 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 21/44 - 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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
H04H 20/31 - Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by a single channel using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
H04H 60/73 - Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using meta-information
INTERRUPTING PRESENTATION OF CONTENT DATA TO PRESENT ADDITIONAL CONTENT IN RESPONSE TO REACHING A TIMEPOINTRELATING TO THE CONTENT DATA AND NOTIFYING A SERVER OVER TEH INTERNET
A portable device includes solid-state memory, an Ethernet and/or wireless network connection, and an HDMI. The portable device receives content guide data from a first server and displays a content guide on a display. In response to a user's selection of a content item, the portable device requests the content item over the Internet from a second server. The portable device receives the content item, stores the content item in solid-state memory, generates display signals that represent the content item, and sends the display signals to a display. The second server may match the content item with relevant advertisements based on keywords associated with the content item and the advertisements. The second server may send selected advertisement URLs to the portable device. Using the URLs, the portable device may obtain the advertisements over the Internet and cause the display to display the advertisements in conjunction with the content item.
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
G06F 1/3203 - Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
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 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
28.
METHOD OF SHARING PERSONAL MEDIA USING A DIGITAL RECORDER
A method and apparatus for sharing personal media using a digital recorder allows a plurality of multimedia devices to view content stored on a DVR across a local network. The DVR records video content from broadcast signals and records video content downloaded via the Internet.
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/4786 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application e-mailing
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 21/462 - 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 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
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 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
A method and apparatus for an adaptive search user interface is provided. An interface is provided that returns search results upon receiving each alphanumeric character of a search query term. Correlations of prefixes of alphanumeric characters and search results selected from previous searches are stored in a correlation matrix. Based upon the correlations in the correlation matrix, relevance rankings for search results with respect to the prefixes of alphanumeric characters are updated. Search results may be grouped based upon one or more common traits. Relevance rankings are also updated based upon the rate of change of selections recorded for a search result.
G06F 3/0482 - 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 interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
30.
TIME-BASED METADATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL MEDIA
Managing metadata associated with a digital media asset includes selecting the digital media asset, displaying the digital media asset in a filmstrip format that presents one or more scenes from the digital media asset along a timeline, wherein each scene corresponds with an underlying point in time along the timeline, and wherein the digital media asset has a start time and an end time that define the timeline, displaying at least one track in timeline alignment with the film strip format wherein the at least one track corresponds with a type of metadata associated with the digital media asset, and displaying on the at least one track, one or more segments, wherein each segment has a start point and an end point along the timeline and wherein each respective segment represents a span of time in which the type of metadata occurs within the digital media asset.
A method and apparatus for secure transfer and playback of multimedia content enables the secure transfer of multimedia content from a digital video recorder (DVR) to a personal computer (PC) and further to a handheld device. A DVR determines which devices on a Local Area Network (LAN) are authorized to share and/or retrieve content from the DVR. The DVR receives a connection request from a PC on the LAN, authorizes the connection request and establishes a secure connection between the DVR and the PC. Once the secure connection is established, the DVR receives a request for multimedia content from the PC, prepares the multimedia content for transfer and transfers the multimedia content to the PC.
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
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
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
H04N 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
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 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
H04N 21/4722 - 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 for requesting additional data associated with the content
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
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 21/4408 - 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 encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
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 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/4227 - Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
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 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
H04N 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
H04N 9/83 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal
H04N 5/781 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on disks or drums
H04N 7/088 - Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval the inserted signal being digital
A media content pipeline architecture is described that enables media devices to efficiently receive, store, play, and stream media content. In general, a media content pipeline as described herein is configured to receive media content streams from one or more input sources, segment and store the media content streams into fixed-sized or variable-sized data buffers, encrypt the data stored in the buffers, and store the encrypted data in an in-memory buffer cache for further processing. The media content pipeline further may be configured to write the encrypted buffers stored in the in-memory buffer cache to a secondary storage device (e.g., a hard disk) in response to the occurrence of one or more defined operating conditions. The media content pipeline may enable a media device to efficiently receive and process media content data streams, write the media content data streams to storage, and stream the media content data to client devices.
G06F 21/85 - Protecting input, output or interconnection devices interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
G06F 12/14 - Protection against unauthorised use of memory
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
G06F 12/0866 - Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
A method for interpreting messages, user-defined alert conditions, voice commands and performing an action in response is described. A method for annotating media content is described. A method for presenting additional content associated with media content identified based on a fingerprint is described. A method for identifying that an advertisement portion of media content is being played based on a fingerprint derived from the media content is described. A method of one media device recording particular media content automatically in response to another media device recording the particular media content is described. A method of concurrently playing media content on multiple devices is described. A method of publishing information associated with recording of media content is described. A method of deriving fingerprints by media devices that meet an idleness criteria is described. A method of loading, modifying, and displaying a high definition frame from a frame buffer is described. A method of recording or playing media content identified based on fingerprints is described.
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
G06F 16/41 - Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
G06Q 50/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
H04N 21/4415 - Acquiring end-user identification using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 21/8358 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving watermark
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
H04M 3/493 - Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries
First media segments for a first media program are recorded. The first media program is scheduled to start at a first start time and end at a first end time, whereas a second media program is scheduled to start at a second start time and end at a second end time, the first end time being after the second start time. It is determined whether the first media program and the second media program are on a same channel. If so, one or more shared media segments, one of which is before all other shared media segments in the shared media segments and begins no later than the first time, are recorded. A first media program object is generated to represent a first recording of the first media program, and includes references to the first media segments and the shared media segments.
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 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/472 - 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 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
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 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 21/00 - Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
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
35.
Generated messaging to view content on media devices
Techniques, systems, and methods are disclosed to generate messaging to view content on media devices based on predictive factors. Information may be received to trigger one or more predictive factors and then generate a candidate set of offers to view content at a media device based on the information. Based on the one or more predictive factors, confidence values may be determined for each offer in the candidate set of offers. The candidate set of offers may be ranked based on the associated confidence values. Subsequently, presentation of at least one offer of the candidate set of offers may be caused to display in a user interface screen on the media device based on the ranking.
H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or 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 21/258 - 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 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
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 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
36.
Time-based metadata management system for digital media
Managing metadata associated with a digital media asset includes selecting the digital media asset, displaying the digital media asset in a filmstrip format that presents one or more scenes from the digital media asset along a timeline, wherein each scene corresponds with an underlying point in time along the timeline, and wherein the digital media asset has a start time and an end time that define the timeline, displaying at least one track in timeline alignment with the film strip format wherein the at least one track corresponds with a type of metadata associated with the digital media asset, and displaying on the at least one track, one or more segments, wherein each segment has a start point and an end point along the timeline and wherein each respective segment represents a span of time in which the type of metadata occurs within the digital media asset.
According to one aspect, a DVR sends a user's contact information over a network to a third party. Upon determining that a television program or advertisement contains a special tag that is associated with a third party, the DVR displays, to the user, a prompt that invites the DVR user to allow the DVR to send the user's contact information to the third party. If the user gives permission for the DVR to send the contact information to the third party, then the DVR sends the contact information to the third party (e.g., over the Internet).
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
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 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
G11B 27/30 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on the same track as the main recording
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 21/4725 - 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 for requesting additional data associated with the content using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
Voice-based input is used to operate a media device and/or to search for media content. Voice input is received by a media device via one or more audio input devices and is translated into a textual representation of the voice input. The textual representation of the voice input is used to search one or more cache mappings between input commands and one or more associated device actions and/or media content queries. One or more natural language processing techniques may be applied to the translated text and the resulting text may be transmitted as a query to a media search service. A media search service returns results comprising one or more content item listings and the results may be presented on a display to a user.
Input media data with an input playing speed is received and divided into input media data subsets. A first rate of audio utterance is determined for a first input media data subset in the media data subsets. A second different rate of audio utterance is determined for a second input media data subset in the media data subsets. Audio output media data is generated with an output playing speed at which audio utterance in the audio output media data is played at a preferred rate of audio utterance. The audio output media data comprises (a) a first output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the first rate, and the first input media data subset and (b) a second output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the second rate, and the second input media data subset.
H04N 21/238 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
Techniques for real-time DVR programming employ secure instant message protocol in a DVR environment. An embodiment sends an instant message to the DVR which causes the DVR to open a new secure connection with the service provider for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. Another embodiment uses an already established connection with an instant message server for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider.
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 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
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 21/237 - Communication with additional data server
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 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
Techniques described herein enable a service to receive search requests from client systems and perform an integrated search across databases containing informational data for broadcast content and broadband content. The service receives the search request from the client device and formulates a query for at least one broadband database and at least one partner broadcast database. The service queries each broadband database with a compatible query that the service creates using information regarding the type of database queries each partner's database requires. Partners pay the service provider a fee for placing data in the database or for having their database searched by the service. The service formats the data received from the searches of the databases into a user interface screen that is presentable by the client device. The screen information instructs the client device on how it should respond to any key presses by the user.
G06F 16/78 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
G06F 16/9537 - Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
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 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
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 21/6587 - Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands or viewpoint selection
H04N 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
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
Techniques for real-time audience measurement are provided. The techniques include instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time audience measurement data to modify the scheduled recording time of a media content in real-time, to bookmark in real-time, and to gather audience ratings on commercials and viewership in real-time.
H04H 20/40 - Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
H04H 60/31 - Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04H 60/46 - 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 recognising users' preferences
H04H 60/61 - Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups or
H04H 60/73 - Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using meta-information
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
A method and apparatus for a digital video recorder (DVR) video editing system provides a user interface and video editing environment for content stored on a DVR's storage device. A visual progress indicator is displayed over the program content that the user has selected to edit. The user moves a position indicator within a cache bar in the visual progress indicator that indicates how much of the program content has been stored on the storage device. The user can delete sections of the program content. The user can also add other recorded program content into the program content. The deleted sections and added content are highlighted in the cache bar by colors that are different from the normal color used for the cache bar.
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
H04N 5/85 - Television signal recording using optical recording on discs or drums
H04N 9/83 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal
Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for allowing multiple distinct and diverse wireless services (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency for Consumer Electronics (RF4CE), ZigBee, etc.) to share common frequencies while utilizing a single set of antennas. Among other potential benefits, the techniques may permit the sharing of common frequencies amongst multiple services with reduced (or no) interference amongst the services relative to conventional designs, which, depending on the embodiment, may increase performance, improving manufacturability, save design and material cost, and so forth. According to one embodiment, a multi-input directional coupler printed circuit may be implemented for multiple wireless services. This device may include a single directional coupler with reduced or no loss, placed in series with two combiners that provide high isolation for wireless signals. The device may thus allow multiple wireless services with potentially different protocols to share the same or different frequency bands using a single antenna.
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
H04M 1/00 - Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
H04W 4/00 - Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
An analytics platform configured to create clusters of media content consumers and to automatically generate human-readable, text labels that describe each of the created clusters is disclosed. An analytics platform may use any of a number of clustering algorithms to group a population of media content consumers into a set of user clusters based on viewing history data, user profile data, and/or any other data associated with the consumers. Furthermore, the analytics platform may be configured to create, based on the viewing history data and/or other data associated with a selected sample of users from each cluster, a text label for each cluster. For example, if viewing history data for a population of users includes channel and genre identifiers associated with media content items accessed by users of the population, a generated text label may provide an indication of channels and/or genres popular with users of each particular cluster.
G06Q 30/00 - Commerce, e.g. shopping or e-commerce
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
Techniques for real-time audience measurement are provided. The techniques include instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time audience measurement data to modify the scheduled recording time of a media content in real-time, to bookmark in real-time, and to gather audience ratings on commercials and viewership in real-time.
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
Voice-based input is used to operate a media device and/or to search for media content. Voice input is received by a media device via one or more audio input devices and is translated into a textual representation of the voice input. The textual representation of the voice input is used to search one or more cache mappings between input commands and one or more associated device actions and/or media content queries. One or more natural language processing techniques may be applied to the translated text and the resulting text may be transmitted as a query to a media search service. A media search service returns results comprising one or more content item listings and the results may be presented on a display to a user.
A client determines that a user is attempting to access media program recommendations. In response to the determination, the client attempts to collect media program recommendations to be presented to the user. Media program recommendations may be derived locally by the client, by the client and a multimedia device locally connected with the client, by the client and one or more additional devices, etc. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a query from the client, one or more recipient devices or servers identify media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories. The media program recommendations may be selected based at least in part on EPG data and audience research and measurement data. The media program recommendations collected by the client are presented to the user for further exploration. The client may be one of mobile phones, tablet computers, etc.
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
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
Interactions between media devices and content distribution systems are enhanced by analyzing and/or optimizing the selection of which sources the media devices access for which content. Content consumption metrics are tracked for a user and/or device, such as which content items or channels are watched, amounts of time the channels or items are watched, which content items a user has expressed an interest in, and so forth. Subscription and/or license information may also be tracked. Content availability information is collected across, potentially, multiple content distribution systems, including information indicating what subscriptions or licenses are needed to view specific channels, services, or items of content from specific content distribution systems. Based on the content consumptions metrics, subscription information, and content availability information, various actions may be taken, such as displaying a subscription utilization report, suggesting alternative content consumption strategies, and so forth.
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 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04L 12/24 - Arrangements for maintenance or administration
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
A DVR sends, over the Internet, to a server, information that indicates a set of programs. The information also may indicate a ranking of the programs in the set relative to each other. In response to receiving the information from the DVR, the server determines a “to do” list of programs that the DVR should record as those programs are broadcasted in the future. The “to do” list indicates recording times and channels for each program. The server sends the “to do” list back to the DVR over the Internet. The DVR receives the “to do” list over the Internet and stores the “to do” list. As the programs on the “to do” list are broadcasted, the DVR automatically records those programs at the list-specified times and on the list-specified channels. The DVR stores those programs on the DVR's hard disk drive for later viewing by the DVR user.
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 21/442 - 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 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
H04N 5/783 - Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
H04N 5/913 - Television signal processing therefor for scrambling
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
H04N 21/274 - Storing end-user specific content or additional data in response to end-user request
51.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMICALLY CREATING HYPERLINKS ASSOCIATED WITH RELEVANT MULTIMEDIA CONTENT
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for dynamically creating hyperlinks associated with relevant multimedia content in a computer network. A hyperlink generation module receives an electronic text file from a server. The module searches the text file to identify keywords present in the file. Once the keywords have been identified, a database is queried to identify multimedia content that is related to the keywords. Generally, multimedia content is associated with metadata to enable efficient searching of the multimedia content. Typically, the multimedia content is contextually relevant to both the identified keywords and text file. One or more hyperlinks corresponding to the keywords are then generated and inserted into the text file. The hyperlinks provide pointers to the identified multimedia content. After insertion into the text file, the hyperlinks may be clicked by a user or viewer of the file to retrieve and display the identified multimedia content.
A media content management system that enables users to manage media content collections is disclosed. A media device is configured to receive requests to create media content collections for particular media content and, in response, to retrieve information related to the media content, and to generate one or more interfaces displaying information about created media content collections. In an embodiment, retrieving information related to a media content may include determining, for one or more episodes of the media content, whether the episode is available from various content sources, including both broadcast and broadband content sources. By enabling a media device to automatically retrieve and present information related to the availability of media content episodes across any number of different broadcast and broadband sources, users can more easily interact with and view information about particular media content of interest to the users.
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
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 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
Techniques for real-time DVR usage and reporting enable using instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time DVR usage data and to report data reflecting such usage in real-time. An example of DVR usage data comprises data reflecting that a viewer is viewing a video program which is R-rated. Another example of DVR usage data comprises a viewer entering a password, such as a kids zone password, to exit kids zone operational mode.
H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/437 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
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
A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects which indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred programs. The preferred programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The viewer may request that certain programs be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those programs, or express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The invention correlates an input schedule that tracks the free and occupied time slots for each input source with a space schedule that tracks all currently recorded programs and the programs that have been scheduled to be recorded in the future, to schedule new programs to record and resolve recording conflicts. A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible. A background scheduler schedules each preferred program in turn until the list of preferred programs is exhausted or no further opportunity to record is available.
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
55.
Interrupting presentation of content data to present additional content in response to reaching a timepoint relating to the content data and notifiying a server over the internet
A portable device includes solid-state memory, an Ethernet and/or wireless network connection, and an HDMI. The portable device receives content guide data from a first server and displays a content guide on a display. In response to a user's selection of a content item, the portable device requests the content item over the Internet from a second server. The portable device receives the content item, stores the content item in solid-state memory, generates display signals that represent the content item, and sends the display signals to a display. The second server may match the content item with relevant advertisements based on keywords associated with the content item and the advertisements. The second server may send selected advertisement URLs to the portable device. Using the URLs, the portable device may obtain the advertisements over the Internet and cause the display to display the advertisements in conjunction with the content item.
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
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 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
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
Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
G06F 16/78 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
H04N 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
G06F 16/955 - Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
G06F 16/9537 - Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
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 21/472 - 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 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/6587 - Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands or viewpoint selection
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
58.
Automatic rate control for improved audio time scaling
Input media data with an input playing speed is received and divided into input media data subsets. A first rate of audio utterance is determined for a first input media data subset in the media data subsets. A second different rate of audio utterance is determined for a second input media data subset in the media data subsets. Audio output media data is generated with an output playing speed at which audio utterance in the audio output media data is played at a preferred rate of audio utterance. The audio output media data comprises (a) a first output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the first rate, and the first input media data subset and (b) a second output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the second rate, and the second input media data subset.
Input media data with an input playing speed is received. One or more user identities are identified based at least in part on biometric data collected from one or more users who correspond to the one or more user identities and to whom audio utterance derived from the input media data is to be played. A preferred rate of audio utterance is determined based at least in part on the one or more user identities. A rate of audio utterance is determined for a portion of the input media data. Based at least in part on the preferred rate of audio utterance and the rate of audio utterance, a portion of audio output media data is generated with an output playing speed at which audio utterance in the portion of audio output media data is rendered with the preferred rate of audio utterance.
A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
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
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 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
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 21/462 - 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 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
While a multimedia device is fast-forwarding content, the multimedia device reads “jump back” tags expressed in or derived from a closed-caption stream. When the multimedia device detects the presence of a “jump back” tag while fast-forwarding, the multimedia device enters a special state. While in this special state, if the multimedia device detects that the user has instructed the multimedia device to stop fast-forwarding, the multimedia device locates a specified temporal location in a recorded commercial break. This specified temporal location may be specified by the particular tag, for example. The multimedia device stops performing whatever activity in which the multimedia device was engaged, “jumps back” to the specified temporal location in the recorded commercial break, and resumes playing the recorded content stream at normal speed from the specified temporal location.
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
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
G11B 27/30 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on the same track as the main recording
Techniques for shared DVR programming via a web page enable using a DVR widget in a web page and DVR environment on a network to view DVR content from a publisher's DVR usage data and based on the viewed DVR content from the publisher's DVR, record or schedule to record particular content on the viewer's DVR.
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 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
A cloud-based media content management system for managing access to media content items is disclosed. Managing access to media content items by a cloud-based media content management system may include, for example, managing uploads of media content items from a population of media devices, reducing duplication of media content data stored in cloud-based storage, and providing user-controlled access to media content items stored in cloud-based storage across any number of user devices. In this context, a cloud-based media content management system and cloud-based storage system generally refer to hosted computing and data storage services that may be accessed by media devices and other devices over a digital network such as the Internet.
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/2743 - Video hosting of uploaded data from client
H04N 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
65.
Cloud-based content collection and distribution system
A cloud-based media content management system for managing access to media content items is disclosed. Managing access to media content items by a cloud-based media content management system may include, for example, managing uploads of media content items from a population of media devices, reducing duplication of media content data stored in cloud-based storage, and providing user-controlled access to media content items stored in cloud-based storage across any number of user devices. In this context, a cloud-based media content management system and cloud-based storage system generally refer to hosted computing and data storage services that may be accessed by media devices and other devices over a digital network such as the Internet.
G06F 16/14 - File systems; File servers - Details of searching files based on file metadata
G06F 16/783 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using metadata automatically derived from the content
H04N 21/2743 - Video hosting of uploaded data from client
H04N 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
A method for generating and maintaining hierarchical tags with community-based ratings is provided. Tags for media streams are organized into a hierarchical format. Users may select tags from the hierarchical tag database that describes a particular multimedia content. If the user is unable to locate a desired tag, the user may submit a new tag. Upon submission of the new tag, a librarian approves the tag before storing and placing the tag in the hierarchical tag database. Users are also able to rate the quality of the association between the tag and the multimedia content. If a tag is rated low, the tag may be removed from the hierarchical tag database. If the tag is rated highly, display of the tag in a list of tags becomes more prominent.
A method includes detecting that a particular media device is communicatively coupled to one or more media devices in a set of media devices; in response to detecting that the particular media device is communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices: automatically sending one or more remote operating codes, for remotely controlling the particular media device, to a remote control device.
A method of deriving fingerprints for media content that is being watched by a user is described. For example, a user may select a particular show on an electronic programming guide displayed by a media device. The media device may then request the content stream, from the content source, that includes the particular show. The source may indicate whether a fingerprint is needed for the particular show requested by the media device. The indication may be a flag in the data received by the media device. If the particular show needs to be fingerprinted as indicated by the flag, the media device may decompress the corresponding video frames, load the decompressed video frames into memory and analyze the video frames to derive a fingerprint from the video frames.
H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
G06Q 50/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 21/8358 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving watermark
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
69.
Systems and methods for semantically classifying and normalizing shots in video
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for classifying videos based on video content. For a given video file including a plurality of frames, a subset of frames is extracted for processing. Frames that are too dark, blurry, or otherwise poor classification candidates are discarded from the subset. Generally, material classification scores that describe type of material content likely included in each frame are calculated for the remaining frames in the subset. The material classification scores are used to generate material arrangement vectors that represent the spatial arrangement of material content in each frame. The material arrangement vectors are subsequently classified to generate a scene classification score vector for each frame. The scene classification results are averaged (or otherwise processed) across all frames in the subset to associate the video file with one or more predefined scene categories related to overall types of scene content of the video file.
A multimedia program recording schedule manager for DVR systems is described. In a first embodiment, for example, a method implemented by one or more server computing devices, the method comprising: receiving input selecting a particular DVR system; receiving input selecting a particular multimedia program for the particular DVR system to record on a repeat basis; adding the particular multimedia program to a server-side instance of a repeat recording schedule for the particular DVR system; and synchronizing the server-side instance of the repeat recording schedule with another instance of a repeat recording schedule for the particular DVR system resulting in the addition of the particular multimedia program to the other instance of the repeat recording schedule. In one embodiment, the other instance of the repeat recording schedule for the particular DVR system is a data component of the particular DVR system.
H04N 7/10 - Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
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 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
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 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
A method for displaying multimedia content is described. The method includes causing playing of multimedia content on a first device; responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content: causing an action comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
G06Q 20/10 - Payment architectures specially adapted for home banking systems
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/472 - 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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
A method for displaying multimedia content is described. The method includes causing playing of multimedia content on a first device; responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content: causing an action comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
G06Q 20/10 - Payment architectures specially adapted for home banking systems
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/472 - 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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
73.
Method and apparatus for secure transfer and playback of multimedia content
A method and apparatus for secure transfer and playback of multimedia content enables the secure transfer of multimedia content from a digital video recorder (DVR) to a personal computer (PC) and further to a handheld device. A DVR determines which devices on a Local Area Network (LAN) are authorized to share and/or retrieve content from the DVR. The DVR receives a connection request from a PC on the LAN, authorizes the connection request and establishes a secure connection between the DVR and the PC. Once the secure connection is established, the DVR receives a request for multimedia content from the PC, prepares the multimedia content for transfer and transfers the multimedia content to the PC.
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
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
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/4227 - Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
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 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
H04N 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
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 21/4408 - 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 encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 21/4722 - 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 for requesting additional data associated with the content
H04N 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
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 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
H04N 5/781 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on disks or drums
H04N 7/088 - Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval the inserted signal being digital
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
H04N 9/83 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal
74.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MENU PLACEMENT ON A MEDIA PLAYBACK DEVICE
Methods and apparatuses for presenting menus to DVR users and users of other media playback devices are described. After a DVR (or other media device) has finished playing a recorded television program (or other content), or in response to other specified events, the DVR presents a screen which comprises a menu. In addition to or in alternative to “save” and “delete” options, the menu comprises one or more options. Each of these other options may correspond to a separate item. For example, a user's selection of such an option may cause the DVR to display or play certain content on the user's television set. Additionally, or alternatively, these other options, when selected by a user, may cause the DVR to display a user interface through which the user can actually interact with content, such as an item that was featured or referenced in the television program that the user was just watching.
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
A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.
H04H 60/32 - Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
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
A method and apparatus for programming a remote control is provided. Control data that identifies one or more mode codes is stored in a computing device that is operationally connected to a detector. A user presses a button on a source remote control to cause an input signal to be transmitted from the source remote control to be received by the detector. The detector decodes the input signal, and consults the control data to determine a particular IR code that is associated with the source remote control. The computing device may then display information identifying a particular mode code on a display to allow the user to manually program a target remote control with the particular mode code. Alternately, the computing device may transmit the particular mode code to the target remote control to allow the target remote control to automatically configure itself with the particular mode code.
Techniques described herein enable a service to receive search requests from client systems and perform an integrated search across databases containing informational data for broadcast content and broadband content. The service receives the search request from the client device and formulates a query for at least one broadband database and at least one partner broadcast database. The service queries each broadband database with a compatible query that the service creates using information regarding the type of database queries each partner's database requires. Partners pay the service provider a fee for placing data in the database or for having their database searched by the service. The service formats the data received from the searches of the databases into a user interface screen that is presentable by the client device. The screen information instructs the client device on how it should respond to any key presses by the user.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
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 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
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 21/6587 - Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands or viewpoint selection
H04N 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
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
A method and apparatus for secure transfer of previously broadcasted content enables the secure transfer of previously broadcasted content between DVRs on a computer network.
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
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
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/4227 - Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
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 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
H04N 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
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 21/4408 - 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 encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 21/4722 - 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 for requesting additional data associated with the content
H04N 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
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 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
H04N 5/781 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on disks or drums
H04N 7/088 - Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval the inserted signal being digital
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
H04N 9/83 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal
Techniques for real-time DVR usage and reporting enable using instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time DVR usage data and to report data reflecting such usage in real-time. An example of DVR usage data comprises data reflecting that a viewer is viewing a video program which is R-rated. Another example of DVR usage data comprises a viewer entering a password, such as a kids zone password, to exit kids zone operational mode.
H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
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 21/437 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
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
A system for using metadata from a video signal to associate advertisements therewith, comprising (i) a segmentation system to divide the video signal into video clips, (ii) a digitizing system for digitizing the video clips, (iii) a feature extraction system for extracting audio and video features from each video clip, associating each audio feature with respective video clips, associating each video feature with respective video clips, and saving the audio and video features into an associated metadata file, (iv) a web interface to the feature extraction system for receiving the video clips, and (v) a database, wherein video signals and associated metadata files are stored and indexed, wherein the associated metadata file is provided when a video player requests the corresponding video signal, enabling selection of a relevant advertisement for presentment in conjunction with respective video clips based on the associated audio and video features of the respective video clip.
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 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/254 - Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server or rights management server
A method is provided for performing distributed backup and retrieval of data. Data is sent by a plurality of client devices to be processed by a server and then stored in a database. A subset of the processed data stored in the database is backed up to each of the plurality of client devices. For the one or more particular client devices owned by a user, the subset of processed data stored on the one or more particular client devices is the subset of processed data that is associated with the user. The server and client device is updated to maintain the same state of processed data in the database and the backup. In the event of failure of either the database or a client device, processed data may be restored using the processed data stored on the database or the backup stored on the plurality of client devices.
G06F 7/00 - Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
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
82.
Correlation of media metadata gathered from diverse sources
A DVR, server, or other agent correlates media metadata from diverse sources, like an EPG data provider and multiple video-on-demand (VOD) service providers. Metadata sets from different sources are compared in order to attempt to identify identical programs to which the metadata sets pertain. From at least one metadata set, information about the program that the other metadata set lacks is selected. A “canonical” data structure instance for the program is created. The information that is lacking from at least one of the metadata sources is inserted into that instance. For each source from which a program is available, the DVR stores the identity of that source on the DVR's persistent storage device in association with the canonical data structure instance for that program. The DVR receives search criteria from a user and then searches the stored canonical data structure instance for programs that satisfy the criteria.
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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
H04N 21/23 - Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
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
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/472 - 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
Techniques are described that allow DVR users to create program shortcuts to different types of media content from content providers. A program shortcut comprises a reference to another media content. A user may generate a shortcut so that the user may easily find and return to media content without performing a new search. In addition, techniques may be used to automatically generate program shortcuts for a user based at least in part to user-indicated preferences or actions. Shortcuts may be generated to media content that is related to a preferred genre or media type specified by a user. Shortcuts may also be generated to content that is determined to be similar to content that is often viewed or recorded by the user.
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
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 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
84.
Multi source and destination media discovery and management platform
A platform allows viewing and sorting digital media from multiple content sources across multiple devices by title, category, series, or other sorting desired. Available content from providers may be co-mixed to display as if from a single provider. Listings may be restricted to specific providers or sets of providers, such as removing providers with paid content which the user will not access. Alternatively, listings may be prioritized based on business rules programmed into the system. Listings may be limited to those available on the current device, on another set of devices, or on all devices. Control of access to content, including playback and queuing, may be done through the interface regardless of the consumption device. This allows access to all content across all devices in a fashion desirable to the user, merging providers and devices into a seamless interface tailored for the user instead of the content or device manufacturer.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
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
First media segments for a first media program are recorded. The first media program is scheduled to start at a first start time and end at a first end time, whereas a second media program is scheduled to start at a second start time and end at a second end time, the first end time being after the second start time. It is determined whether the first media program and the second media program are on a same channel. If so, one or more shared media segments, one of which is before all other shared media segments in the shared media segments and begins no later than the first time, are recorded. A first media program object is generated to represent a first recording of the first media program, and includes references to the first media segments and the shared media segments.
H04N 5/85 - Television signal recording using optical recording on discs or drums
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 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/472 - 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 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
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 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 21/00 - Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
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
Techniques described herein enable a service to receive search requests from client systems and perform an integrated search across databases containing informational data for broadcast content and broadband content. The service receives the search request from the client device and formulates a query for at least one broadband database and at least one partner broadcast database. The service queries each broadband database with a compatible query that the service creates using information regarding the type of database queries each partner's database requires. Partners pay the service provider a fee for placing data in the database or for having their database searched by the service. The service formats the data received from the searches of the databases into a user interface screen that is presentable by the client device. The screen information instructs the client device on how it should respond to any key presses by the user.
A DVR sends, over the Internet, to a server, information that indicates a set of programs. The information also may indicate a ranking of the programs in the set relative to each other. In response to receiving the information from the DVR, the server determines a “to do” list of programs that the DVR should record as those programs are broadcasted in the future. The “to do” list indicates recording times and channels for each program. The server sends the “to do” list back to the DVR over the Internet. The DVR receives the “to do” list over the Internet and stores the “to do” list. As the programs on the “to do” list are broadcasted, the DVR automatically records those programs at the list-specified times and on the list-specified channels. The DVR stores those programs on the DVR's hard disk drive for later viewing by the DVR user.
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 21/442 - 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 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
H04N 5/783 - Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
H04N 5/913 - Television signal processing therefor for scrambling
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
H04N 21/274 - Storing end-user specific content or additional data in response to end-user request
A client device, such as a digital video recorder, provides a phrase-based communication system in which users are presented with a dynamic messaging interface of selectable phrases and other elements. At least some of the phrases may be selected using algorithms that identify phrases that are likely to be useful to the particular user and/or the context in which the user is creating a message. In this manner, a user is able to generate useful messages quickly, without being limited to stale and fixed canned messages. Popular phrases may be identified by, for example, a server that relays based on messages exchanged between users. These popular phrases may then be harvested for use in the dynamic messaging interface. Moreover, context-sensitive metadata elements may be added to the dynamic messaging interface based on, for example, content that the user is currently viewing or about which the user is currently accessing information.
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 or an image, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
G06F 3/0482 - 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 interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
G06F 17/27 - Automatic analysis, e.g. parsing, orthograph correction
G06Q 50/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
Techniques for generating customized rating systems for use in a DVR are described. According to one technique, a user submits a rating system definition that comprises two or more different ratings of the user's choosing. The rating system definition is stored. The rating system definition defines a customized ratings system. That system's creator and other users may then associate various entities, such as channels, series, and episodes, with ratings from the customized rating system. DVRs may use these associations between entities and ratings for various purposes. For example, DVRs may use these associations to allow a user to search for entities that satisfy specified rating criteria. For another example, DVRs may use these associations to restricting which entities and information about those entities can be displayed or recorded when the DVR is in a restricted mode of operation. Customized rating systems may be modified by multiple users in collaboration.
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
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 21/45 - 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
A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
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 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
A user may establish a reservation for content that is not currently available to the user via a group of sources, including broadcast, streaming, and/or download sources. For example the a user may establish a reservation to record a broadcast of specific content that is currently not scheduled for broadcast. As another example, the user may establish a reservation for the purpose of alerting the user once a new movie becomes available through a subscription streaming service. Based on a reservation, the service provider and/or the user's media playback device may monitor content availability data for one or more sources. When the content is indicated as available, the user may be so informed. The content may then be streamed or downloaded, or a recording of the content may be scheduled. Additionally, or alternatively, the content may be automatically scheduled for recording or download.
G06F 16/78 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
G06F 16/787 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
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 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
G06F 3/0482 - 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 interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
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
92.
Systems and methods for semantically classifying and normalizing shots in video
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for classifying videos based on video content. For a given video file including a plurality of frames, a subset of frames is extracted for processing. Frames that are too dark, blurry, or otherwise poor classification candidates are discarded from the subset. Generally, material classification scores that describe type of material content likely included in each frame are calculated for the remaining frames in the subset. The material classification scores are used to generate material arrangement vectors that represent the spatial arrangement of material content in each frame. The material arrangement vectors are subsequently classified to generate a scene classification score vector for each frame. The scene classification results are averaged (or otherwise processed) across all frames in the subset to associate the video file with one or more predefined scene categories related to overall types of scene content of the video file.
A method and apparatus for recognizing and synchronizing to in-band data at a multimedia device is provided. A content stream includes in-band data. The in-band data is processed and in-band data pattern data associated with the content stream are created. Metadata are attached to the event identification data. The event identification data are provided to multimedia devices which receive broadcasted multimedia content streams containing video programs with in-band data. The in-band data are processed and compared to the event identification data. If a match occurs, the multimedia device uses the metadata to perform specified actions.
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
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
H04H 20/31 - Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by a single channel using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
H04H 60/73 - Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using meta-information
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
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 21/458 - 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 21/472 - 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 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04H 60/13 - Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
H04H 60/27 - Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 5/85 - Television signal recording using optical recording on discs or drums
H04N 5/907 - Television signal recording using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
A cloud-based media content management system for managing access to media content items is disclosed. Managing access to media content items by a cloud-based media content management system may include, for example, managing uploads of media content items from a population of media devices, reducing duplication of media content data stored in cloud-based storage, and providing user-controlled access to media content items stored in cloud-based storage across any number of user devices. In this context, a cloud-based media content management system and cloud-based storage system generally refer to hosted computing and data storage services that may be accessed by media devices and other devices over a digital network such as the Internet.
G06F 16/14 - File systems; File servers - Details of searching files based on file metadata
G06F 16/783 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using metadata automatically derived from the content
H04N 21/2743 - Video hosting of uploaded data from client
H04N 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
Techniques for real-time DVR programming employ secure instant message protocol in a DVR environment. An embodiment sends an instant message to the DVR which causes the DVR to open a new secure connection with the service provider for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. Another embodiment uses an already established connection with an instant message server for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider.
H04N 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
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 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
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 21/237 - Communication with additional data server
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 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
96.
System for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior
A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
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
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 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
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 21/462 - 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
Techniques described herein automatically identify, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.
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 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
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 21/472 - 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 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
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 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
H04N 5/781 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on disks or drums
H04N 5/85 - Television signal recording using optical recording on discs or drums
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
A smart broadcast program recording padding and scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a predetermined start and end broadcast time and resolving any conflicts arising from conflicting scheduled program recordings. An on screen program guide is displayed to the viewer via a monitor or television that lists the predetermined scheduled broadcast times and channels of a plurality of broadcast programs. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record and the invention schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The viewer adjusts the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a specific program or series of programs by specifying the time increment (padding) to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times and the invention adjusts the recording schedule for the program(s) using the padding values. Conflicts that arise from adjusted recording schedules are resolved using a priority scheme. Conflicting padding values and start and end recording times are adjusted using threshold values or by elimination. Broadcast programs are recorded onto a persistent storage device when the recording schedule indicates that it is time to do so.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
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
A portable device includes solid-state memory, an Ethernet and/or wireless network connection, and an HDMI. The portable device receives content guide data from a first server and displays a content guide on a display. In response to a user's selection of a content item, the portable device requests the content item over the Internet from a second server. The portable device receives the content item, stores the content item in solid-state memory, generates display signals that represent the content item, and sends the display signals to a display. The second server may match the content item with relevant advertisements based on keywords associated with the content item and the advertisements. The second server may send selected advertisement URLs to the portable device. Using the URLs, the portable device may obtain the advertisements over the Internet and cause the display to display the advertisements in conjunction with the content item.
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing, e.g. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards; Price estimation or determination
Techniques for making content available to a DVR are described. Content encoded in any encoding format may be automatically transcoded, on a computer, into an encoding format that a DVR is configured to decode. The transcoded content is automatically sent over a LAN from the computer to the DVR. The DVR receives the transcoded content, stores the transcoded content, and indicates, through a user interface, that the content is available for viewing. A transcoding agent executing on the computer may automatically and periodically transcode, into an encoding format that the DVR is configured to decode, content that is contained in one folder, and move the transcoded content from that folder into another folder. The computer may send, to the DVR, instructions which cause the DVR to request transcoded content that is in the latter folder. The computer sends transcoded content to the DVR in response to such a request.
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
H04N 21/4402 - 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 reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
H04N 9/804 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
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
patents
