Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

David Boyden

Peter Rae Shintani

Thomas Patrick Dawson

Christopher Jensen Read

Rolf Toft

George Edward Williams

Brant L Candelore

Ryuichi Iwamura

Robert Hardacker

Leo M Pedlow, Jr

Djung N Nguyen

Kenichi Kawasaki

Robert Winston Blanchard

Behram Mario Dacosta

Leo Pedlow

Ludovic Etienne Douillet

Takaaki Ota

Edgar Allan Tu

Milton Massey Frazier

Priyan Gunatilake

David Alan Desch

Toshiro Ozawa

David H Bessel

Takashi Hironaka

Rajesh Rao

Mark Hanson

Ian Charles Matthews

Nicholas James Colsey

Xudong Yu

Paul Georgief

Jason R Meerbergen

Kevin Jones

Rafael Calderon

Koji Kawashima

Kenichiro Toyoshima

Duyet Pham

David Dykstra

Leo Mark Pedlow, Jr

Robert L Hardacker

Rajesh K Rao

George Williams

Mark A Hanson

A method of processing a boot sequence for a processor forming a part of a module apparatus involves interrogating a host television device to determine if the host television device requires use of an application execution engine residing on the module apparatus; receiving a reply to the interrogation; and responsive to the reply, establishing a mode of operation wherein the application execution engine is used to execute application code for the host television device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Multipurpose television module

A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed high definition content and Internet subscriber services. Such secure HDMI-USB interface also enables a selection of proprietary application modules to be attached. Downloadable user interface templates, much like XML style sheets, are rendered to a user interface displayed on the screen. These are associated with corresponding thumbnails and URI's that allow a user to surf through lists and catalogs of materials, and then to play them in the appropriate formats and provide the machine with a customized controller. A remote commander is simplified, yet expanded to control all the attached devices through interactions with the user interface. The functions of the remote commander's keys change depending on where the user is navigating and what device is being controlled, similar to so-called soft-keys.

Automatically reconfigurable multimedia system with interchangeable personality adapters

A switching module, system and method facilitate communications between one or more non-CEC enabled devices and a television of an audio/visual (A/V) system. The switching module is able to accommodate both Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) enabled and non-CEC enabled devices for communication with the television. In response to user control of a user interface of the switching module, when a non-CEC enabled device is coupled to the switching module, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) input port of the HDMI switching module is selected and a default HDMI device type and corresponding HDMI logic address is set for the non-CEC enabled device. This information is displayed for the user by the television.

HDMI switching technology for the coupling of consumer electronic control and/or non-consumer electronic control devices in an audio/visual environment

A method and system for authorizing a communication interface between a first and second module comprises detecting a coupling between a first module and a second module, certifying a first pairing certificate is valid between the first module and the second module, and issuing a first operating certificate and storing the first operating certificate on at least one of the first module and the second module.

Method and apparatus for authorizing a communication interface

A modular interface allows new functionalities to be added to a television receiver. A module can be added to the television receiver through the interface that will enable additional functionalities on the television. The interface allows copy protection of digital video and audio content by incorporating HDCP technology, thereby also allowing the manufacturer of the interface to control the access to the interface.

Hardware module for adding functionality to television

A system for communicating content streams (e.g., voice, video, data) between a content server connected to a network and a remote electronic device. In one implementation, the network is a power-line communication (PLC) network and the remote device is configured for ultra-wide band connectivity with an interface module. The interface module is a power-line communication/ultra-wide band (PLC/UWB) module preferably connected to a conventional power outlet on the network. The interface module converts the power-line signals from the server to ultra-wide band signals which are broadcast for reception by the wireless electronic device. Return communications with the server from the wireless electronic device are also preferably supported. The power-line communication and/or ultra-wide band signal can also be encrypted for improved security. The content server and interface module are preferably configured to communicate content streams only within the portions of the bandwidth allocated by a bus master, which may be a content server with programming for controlling bandwidth use on the physical power-line communications network. In another implementation, the content is sent to the remote device over a connection to the Internet.

Apparatus and system for delivering audio/video content to a remote receiver

An alpha wheel display, which is an image of a series of segmented concentric rings the segments of which indicate letters, is presented on a TV as a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be operated by a remote control point-and-click device for data input, e.g., to input a search term to an electronic program guide (EPG).

On screen display for alpha-numeric input

An external module for use with a host television device consistent with certain embodiments wherein the host television device receives at least one content service has a connector for attaching to the module. Java&#x2122; code is received from the content service being received by the host television device over the connector. An application execution engine residing on the external module carries out execution of the Java&#x2122; code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

An apparatus comprising a plurality of columns bound together, configured to display a single row of pixels scanned out from top to bottom. It also comprises a timing control unit to synchronize between the columns to allow all pixels of a single row to be lit at the same time.

Flat moldable HDTV display

A system for communicating content streams (i.e. voice, video, data) between a content server connected to a power-line communications network and a remote electronic device having ultra-wide band connectivity with an interface module. The interface module is a power-line communication/ultra-wide band (PLC/UWB) module preferably connected to a conventional power outlet upon the power-line network. The interface module converts the power-line signals from the server to ultra-wide band signals which are broadcast for reception by the wireless electronic device. Return communications with the server from the wireless electronic device are also preferably supported. The power-line communication and/or ultra-wide band signal can also be encrypted for improved security. The content server and interface module are preferably configured to communicate content streams only within the portions of the bandwidth allocated by a bus master, which may comprise a content server with programming for controlling bandwidth use on the physical power-line communications network.

Ultra-wide band wireless / power-line communication system for delivering audio/video content

Growing community of inventors

Escondido, CA, United States of America

David Boyden