Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Sony Network Entertainment International LLC

Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Davender Agnihotri

Leo M Pedlow, Jr

True Xiong

Ling Jun Wong

Leo Pedlow

Lee Pedlow

Chunlan Yao

Sandeep Krishna

Apparatus and methods for using a second display with a network-enabled television. In one implementation, this feature allows the user to conveniently affiliate their IPTV devices with various service providers and manage such affiliations directly from a second display device instead of going to a separate affiliation website. The second display could be a smart phone that can often be found beside the user, a laptop or tablet PC, a desktop PC, or the like.

Device affiliation process from second display

Apparatus and methods to implement a technique for using a second display with a network-enabled television. In one implementation, this feature allows the user to conveniently register and manage their IPTV device directly from a second display device instead of going to a separate registration website. A typical current situation requires the user to either leave the living room for the PC which is inconvenient or perform the registration directly on the IPTV which often has a poor input interface. The second display could be a smart phone that can often be found beside the user, or a laptop or tablet PC, a desktop PC, or the like. After registration, certain convenient follow-up features can be implemented, such as directly selecting the device for browsing, or inheritance of configurations of other available devices for the newly-registered device.

Device registration process from second display

Apparatus and methods to implement a technique for using a second display with a network-enabled television. In one implementation, this feature allows the user to conveniently enter search terms and other commands for control of their IPTV device directly from a second display device using voice commands. Such is particularly convenient when the second display is a device such as a smart phone or tablet computer with limited display space for user data entry.

System and method for voice driven cross service search using second display

E-commerce techniques, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, provide an improved buying experience integrated with the television viewing experience. A multimedia system for implementing the e-commerce techniques includes a two way communication system such as a set top box, display device and remote controller. The set top box and display device are used to present enhanced content including one or more offerings to users. The users can use the remote control to complete a purchase transaction for one or more of the offerings.

Multimedia system based E-commerce

A method for determining transfer rate comprising selecting a first transfer rate of a plurality of transfer rates, transmitting a message at the first transfer rate over a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) line of a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) network, determining whether an acknowledgment to the message having been transmitted at the first transfer rate is received, storing, in the event the acknowledgment to the message having been transmitted at the first transfer rate is received, the first transfer rate and storing, in the event no acknowledgment is received, a default transfer rate of the plurality of transfer rates.

Consumer electronics control (CEC) line enhancement method for HDMI network that selects a transfer rate from a plurality of transfer rates

A method of storing digital video content to facilitate trick play consistent with certain embodiments involves storing inter-coded frames of the content in a first file and storing intra-coded frames of the content in a second file. A set of forward indices are used to address the intra coded frames in a forward direction such that playback of the second file in the order of the forward indices simulates a fast-forward playback. A set of reverse indices are used to address the intra-coded frames in a reverse direction such that playback of the second file in the order of the reverse indices simulates a fast-reverse playback. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Bi-directional indices for trick mode video-on-demand

An apparatus for default encryption of content for distribution, consistent with certain embodiments, has a conditional access system. A conditional access management system communicates with and manages the conditional access system. A memory stores default encryption information for use by transmission equipment containing content encryption capability to encrypt certain content upon a communication failure between the content encryption system and the conditional access management system controlling it. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from certain embodiments of the invention.

Default encryption and decryption

A method of processing content in a video on demand (VOD) system consistent with certain embodiments of the invention, wherein the content is identified by a first set of packet identifiers (PIDs), involves receiving content, the content having marked packets designating packets that are to be encrypted by a first encryption system by setting an encryption flag for all packets designated to be encrypted. Packets are selected in the content according to a selective encryption selection criterion to produce selected packets. The selected packets are duplicated to produce duplicate copies of the selected packets and these duplicate copies are identified using a second set of PIDs. The duplicate copies identified by the second set of PIDs are inserted into the content. All encryption flags in the content are cleared except for the selected packets having the first set of PIDs, so the encryption to follow is selective. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Preparation of content for multiple conditional access methods in video on demand

According to certain embodiments consistent with the present invention, a method of processing digital video content, wherein the digital video content comprises intra-coded frames and inter-coded frames, involves selecting a plurality of the intra-coded frames for encryption to produce selected frames; encrypting the selected frames under a first encryption algorithm to produce first encrypted frames; storing the inter-coded frames in a first file; and storing the intra-coded frames, whether encrypted under the first encryption algorithm or unencrypted, in a second file. For a multiple encryption embodiment consistent with the present invention, the method further involves duplicating the intra-coded frames; encrypting duplicates of the selected frames under a second encryption algorithm to produce second encrypted frames; storing the intra-coded frames, whether encrypted under the second encryption algorithm or unencrypted, in a third file. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Dynamic composition of pre-encrypted video on demand content

A Video On Demand (VOD) method consistent with certain embodiments involves processing content to be delivered in a VOD method by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted. The first and second portions are stored until receiving a request for delivery of the content, the request being from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method. The first portions are then bulk encrypted to produce encrypted first portions. The encrypted first portions are stored in a buffer. The second portions are queued for delivery to the terminal. A stream of selectively encrypted content is assembled from the encrypted first portions and the second portions. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Growing community of inventors

Murrieta, CA, United States of America

Davender Agnihotri