Rovi Guides, Inc.

Time Warner Interactive Group, Inc.

Other

United Video Properties, Inc.

Michael B Case

Walter R Klappert

Marvin Carlberg

Walter Richard Klappert

James A Bumgardner

Michael L La Joie

Orlando F Farach

Systems and methods describe presenting media to a user at a user device, determining a location relevant to the media, determining whether the user has visited a vicinity of the location by searching through information related to the user, and based on to determining that the user has visited the vicinity of the location searching through the user's personal collection of media in a time window corresponding to the user's visit to retrieve personal media related to the location, and generating for display, based on the searching, a list of personal media related to the location relevant to the media being presented at the user device.

Systems and methods for automatically generating supplemental content for a media asset based on a user's personal media collection

Methods and systems of providing a game in an interactive media application based on information stored in a database are provided. The game is provided in part by using a database to select a source individual and a destination individual. Based on the source individual and information stored in a database and associated therewith, a plurality of associated candidates are selected, each of which has a defined relationship with the source individual. Representations of the source individual, the destination individual, and the first plurality of candidates are provided on a display. Based on user input, one candidate of the first plurality of candidates is selected, and it is determined whether the database defines a relationship between the selected candidate and the destination individual. If such a relationship exists, a user is alerted. If no such relationship exists, then a new set of candidates is retrieved based on the selected candidate.

Systems and methods for implementing a degree of separation game in an interactive media application

A method and apparatus for ensuring that MIDI data stored in the subcode channel area of a compact disc is synchronized with the main channel audio of the compact disc. Synchronization problems have been created when transferring audio on a tape from an audio studio to a PCM 1630 tape which is to be used as a compact disc master resulting in a squashing or stretching of the audio data with respect to the MIDI data. One reason this can occur is because F-1 tape records and plays back at 29.97 frames per second while PCM 1630 tape records and plays back at 30 frames per second. The result is that even if the MIDI data and main channel audio data begin in sync, they lose sync during transfers and may drift apart linearly over time as well as be offset with respect to each other. The present invention corrects such synchronization problems by playback simulation, MIDI data/Main channel audio sync measurement and MIDI data adjustment.

Method and apparatus for synchronizing midi data stored in sub-channel

A system and method for use as an authoring system for the development of CD-ROM products containing interleaved digitized audio and graphic images and other information which may be read and displayed or played under control of a computer. The graphic images and other computer information are stored in a file on the CD-ROM such that when the CD-ROM is accessed by a user, the graphic images and other computer information are displayed and made available to the user synchronously with the playing of the audio information. Combinations of several streams of audio and graphic/computer information can be interleaved into the same file. The system enables an editor to combine various audio files in synchronization with multiple graphic images into a single file which can then be stored on a CD-ROM. Other computer information can also be interleaved with the graphics and audio to allow for control over the playback at runtime. The graphics and other computer information are referred to herein collectively as 'resources.' The system allows the temporal and spatial placement of the resources on a run time computer screen to be displayed at a time and position which is specified by the editor when authoring.

Method and apparatus for processing audio and graphic images to create

An apparatus and method for encoding data in a text format such as ASCII or EBCDIC on a laser disc or compact disc without affecting the digitized sound by utilizing what is known as the subcode channel of the laser disc or compact disc. By storing text data in the subcode channel region as described herein, it is possible to create subtitles for movies in a number of languages such that the language in which the subtitles appear is user selectable. In this manner, it is possible to create laser discs having subtitle information in, for example, ten languages thereby avoiding the necessity of creating ten separate laser discs, each having a different language used for subtitling.

Method and apparatus for storing text data in subcode packs

The installable headlight alarm system is a device that detects when the headlights of an automobile are on when the engine is not operating, using only the electrical signals present at the automobile's headlight connector. This method of detection allows the system to be easily installed on any automobile, by attaching it to the connectors of the automobile's headlights.

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Sherman Oaks, CA, United States of America

Michael B Case