Imagine Communications Corp.

Harmonic, Inc.

Rgb Networks, Inc.

Charlie Xiaolin Yang

Edward A Krause

Anesh Sharma

Methods and apparatus are provided for licensing service providers to process video, audio and/or multimedia content using a video processing device. A license key indicative of a license for an amount of bandwidth is generated. The license key is used at the video processing device to enforce the license based on whether there is sufficient licensed bandwidth available to accommodate a newly created output transport stream. If there is sufficient licensed bandwidth available, processing of the newly created output transport stream is allowed. If there is insufficient licensed bandwidth available, processing of the newly created output transport stream is denied. The service providers are charged a license fee to use the video processing equipment based on the licensed bandwidth.

Bandwidth based licensing scheme for video, audio and/or multimedia content

Approaches for operating a network personal video recorder operated by a content provider. The network personal video recorder may be located at a head-end of a digital content provider. A network personal video recorder receives, from a user, authentication credentials that provide the network personal video recorder access, via the Internet, to a storage medium belonging to or associated with the user. After the user instructs the network personal video recorder to record a video program, the network personal video recorder stores a copy of the video program on the user's storage medium using the user-provided authentication credentials. Thereafter, when the user wishes to view the video program, the user can instruct the network personal video recorder to read the copy of the video program from the storage medium and play the video program on a device of the user.

Network personal video recorder utilizing personal digital storage

Methods, apparatus, and systems for managing the insertion of overlay content into a video signal are provided. A video signal is received from a video source. In addition, overlay content is provided in one or more overlay content signals. A tag is appended to the video signal and/or the overlay content signals. The tag contains identifying information. Overlay content selected from one of the overlay content signals may then be inserted into the video signal in accordance with the identifying information to produce a modified video content. The identifying information may comprises various types of information identifying the source or subject matter of the overlay content or video signal, the destination of the overlay content or video signal, information identifying the geographic region where the overlay content is to be inserted, or key words or other information to enable matching of the overlay content with an appropriate video signal.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Charlie Xiaolin Yang