Echostar UK Holdings Limited

Echostar Technologies Corporation

Eldon Technology Limited

Echostar Technologies International Corporation

David John Robinson

Craig Avison-Fell

Robert Wadey

The application discusses a computer implemented method and apparatus for performing audio equalisation in an audio receiver device, such as an integrated receiver/decoder or set top box, or integrated TV, connected to one or more audio playback devices, such as a television unit, computer screen and speakers, amplifier or home theatre equipment. The method and apparatus use an equalisation process which compares audio signals received in different audio formats (e.g. MPEG-1 Layer II, AC-3 2.0, AC-3 5.1 and HE-AAC) with one another, allowing a correction gain factor to be determined for equalising the perceived loudness of the signals when played-back at a connected playback device. The correction gain factor is then applied in the audio receiver device before output.

Loudness level control for audio reception and decoding equipment

Systems and methods for generating domain-compliant image data. Domain-specific usage rights may be evaluated. The domain-specific usage rights may be associated with the transfer of particular encoded image data to a particular computing system other than the computing system. The domain-specific usage rights may specify maximum allowable spatial frequency content of the particular encoded image data. Domain-compliant image data may be generated by removing particular disallowable spatial frequency content from the encoded image data prior to transfer to the particular computing system.

Image domain compliance

Systems, methods, and apparatus for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management are disclosed. First input corresponding to a first set of sensors may be processed. A location of a first occupant of a home may be determined based on the first input. Second input corresponding to a second set of sensors may be processed. A first temperature in the location may be determined based on the second input corresponding to the second set of one or more sensors. A first state of the first occupant in the location may be determined based on third input corresponding to the first set of sensors or corresponding to a third set of sensors. An adjustment may be determined based on the location, the first temperature, and the first state of the first occupant. One or more components of the home may be caused to adjust based on the adjustment.

Personalized ambient temperature management

Various arrangements are presented for recording broadcast television programming. An electronic programming guide database may be accessed to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program. A timer may be defined to record the broadcast television program. The start time for the timer may be a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program and an end time for the timer may be a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program. The broadcast television program may be recorded, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer. One or more bookmarks that are based on the scheduled start time and/or scheduled end time of the broadcast television program may be created for the recorded television program.

Systems and methods for timing the recording and playback of television programming

Methods and systems are presented for configuring a remote control device to operate multiple devices. Functionality is provided to detect whether the remote control device has been configured to control one of the devices. If the remote control has not yet been configured to operate another device, the user is invited to configure the remote control accordingly. Detection may be based on additional codes transmitted with the remote control device that indicate the configuration status of the remote control. Detection may be additionally or alternately based on user behavior that is identified as consistent with operation of an un-configured remote control.

Method and system for configuring a remote control device

The application discusses a computer implemented method and apparatus for performing audio equalization in an audio receiver device, such as an integrated receiver/decoder or set top box, or integrated TV, connected to one or more audio playback devices, such as a television unit, computer screen and speakers, amplifier or home theater equipment. The method and apparatus use an equalization process which compares audio signals received in different audio formats (e.g. MPEG-1 Layer II, AC-3 2.0, AC-3 5.1 and HE-AAC) with one another, allowing a correction gain factor to be determined for equalizing the perceived loudness of the signals when played-back at a connected playback device. The correction gain factor is then applied in the audio receiver device before output.

Media content to be place shifted is received at the local user device along with a place shift enabled parameter that contains data associated with the received media content and that indicates whether the received media content is authorized to be place shifted. A user command to place shift the received media content to the remote user device is also received. It is then determined, by analyzing the place shift enabled parameter, whether the received media content is authorized to be place shifted and based on this determination the place shifting of the received content to a remote device is allowed or impaired.

Controlling placeshifted content

One embodiment described herein may take the form of a system or method for dynamically recognizing an Internet address within a video or audio component of a multimedia presentation on a distribution system or network such as, but not limited to, a satellite, cable or Internet network. In general, the embodiment may analyze the audio portion of the presentation or one or more frames of a video component to detect the presence of a web address within the one or more frames. In the embodiment where the audio portion is analyzed, the system may perform a voice recognition or a similar analysis on the audio portion to detect the utterance of a web address. Similarly, one embodiment analyzing the one or more frames of the video component may comprise performing an optical character recognition (OCR) of the frame.

Growing community of inventors

Skipton, United Kingdom

David John Robinson