Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Behram daCosta

Peter Rae Shintani

Brant L Candelore

Robert Hardacker

Steven Richman

Robert Winston Blanchard

Takaaki Ota

David Sony Corporation Of America Desch

The present embodiments provide methods and systems to access additional, enhanced and/or interactive content associated with a broadcast program received over a closed broadcast network. Some embodiments provide methods of enhancing broadcast content by receiving broadcast content from a broadcast content source over a closed network, receiving a request to tune in a broadcast program, tuning in the broadcast program from the broadcast content, extracting a program identification of the broadcast program from the broadcast content, and communicating the program identification to a remote network access device to allow access over a network to additional content associated with the broadcast program.

Methods, systems and apparatuses to enhance broadcast entertainment

A handheld wireless device for controlling an electronic device. Ambient noise is automatically detected using a microphone and user preference parameters (e.g., volume) are adjusted, compensating for the detected noise. Plurality of signals are sent and received, operable to determine the location of the remote control, thereby operable to automatically tune various user preference parameters (e.g., surround sound). The remote control may be used as a telephone. When receiving a call, the caller information may be displayed using a popup window (e.g., on a television set). A call may be answered and the program may be paused/recorded/muted. The electronic device is automatically configured by identifying the user. A reader may read information on a payment card in a contactless manner. In one embodiment a radio frequency signal is used to reduce interference with LCD wavelength. The remote control may respond to a user command in order to be located.

Applications for remote control devices with added functionalities

An interceptor detects command signals from a TV remote control and logs the signals. The signals can be correlated not just to channel number but also to programs by accessing a program/channel database. A log of channels/programs that have been viewed by, e.g., a child can thus be obtained and viewed by a parent.

TV remote control signal log

The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for use in identifying one or more sources of content by receiving a request to supply a listing of registered content providers; identifying a first registered content identifier (ID); evaluating a first metadata directly associated with the first registered content ID, and identifying multiple registered content providers; identifying, for each identified content providers, a cost to access the first content, and a link to access the corresponding content provider; generating a listing of content providers comprising a list of each of the identified content providers and their corresponding costs and links; and communicating over the distributed network the listing of content providers.

Method and apparatus for use in providing information to accessing content

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system and a method for maintaining a first history of strength of a first transmission path between a first wireless node and a second wireless node in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system, maintaining a second history of strength of a second transmission path between a third wireless node and the second wireless node in the MIMO communication system, performing a spatiotemporal correlation between the first history and the second history to determine if any changes in the strength of the first transmission path is observed, and predicting future changes to strength of the second transmission path between the third wireless node and the second wireless node based on the performed special correlation between the first history and the second history.

Predicting future changes to strengths of paths in MIMO systems

A method consistent with certain embodiments provides portable delivery of television programs to a portable wireless device (PWD) involves using the PWD to capture a sample of a program being played by a television; transmitting attributes of the captured sample to a service provider so that the service provider can identify the program being played by the television; and receiving the television program at the PWD from the service provider via a wireless transmission. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Identification of television programming using a portable wireless device

An encoder/decoder system usable to decrease the probability of a failed transmission over a lossy wireless network. In one embodiment, data packets unsuccessfully sent over the wireless network may be retransmitted a particular number of times, depending on how important the data in the lost packet is. In another embodiment, the probability of successful decoding at the client side may be done by signaling to the server side that multiple reference frames should be used for subsequent prediction operations.

Systems and methods for transmitting data over lossy networks

A wireless communication method consistent with certain embodiments involves, at a first portable wireless device (PWD), receiving a beacon indicating that the first PWD has entered a wireless network's communication range; the first PWD responding to the beacon with a request for authorization on wireless network; receiving authorization for the first PWD to communicate using the wireless network; sending a request for the first PWD to be associated with the wireless network; the first PWD receiving confirmation of association with the wireless network; the first PWD broadcasting a first announcement over the wireless network, the announcement comprising at least an identifier that notifies other PWDs associated with the wireless network of the identity of the first PWD; receiving at least one reply announcement broadcast from a second PWD associated with the wireless network that identifies the second PWD; and at the first PWD providing a first shared public folder with contents that can be accessed by the second PWD. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Proximity based wireless network

A method for providing portable delivery of television programs to a portable wireless device (PWD) consistent with certain embodiments involves transmitting a request from the PWD to a television receiver system, the request comprising a request for electronic program guide (EPG) information relating to a television program currently being received by the television receiver system; receiving a response from the television receiver system, wherein the response delivers EPG information to the PWD; identifying a source compatible with the PWD for receipt of the television program using identifying information from the EPG; transmitting an order for the television program from the PWD to the identified source; and receiving a wireless transmission of the television program from the source to the PWD. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Portable video programs

A method, apparatus, and system for use in providing wireless communication while reducing power consumption includes an in-band system and an out-of-band system, wherein the out-of-band system receives an out-of-band wireless communication and activates the in-band system causing the in-band system to transition from a sleep mode to an activate mode. The in-band system is maintained in the sleep mode. When an out-of-band communication is received, the out-of-band system activates the in-band system such that the in-band system transition from the sleep mode to the active mode. The out-of-band system can further verify the in-band system is an intended target of the out-of-band communication such that the in-band system is activated when the in-band system is verified as the intended target by transmitting an out-of-band identification request, and receiving an out-of-band reply containing an identification.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Behram daCosta