Visible World, Inc.

Tivo Corporation

Sedna Patent Services, LLC

Richard L Booth

Seth M Haberman

Gerrit Niemeijer

Alex Jansen

Michael-Dennis Biemans

Charles Chuanming Wang

Whitney Blackmon

James Parnell

Christopher Coonan

A system and method for stitching separately encoded MPEG video fragments, each representing a different rectangular area of the screen together into one single full-screen MPEG encoded video fragment.

System and method for optimized encoding and transmission of a plurality of substantially similar video fragments

A method of preparing data streams to facilitate seamless switching between such streams by a switching device to produce an output data stream without any switching artifacts. Bi-directional switching between any plurality of data streams is supported. The data streams are divided into segments, wherein the segments include synchronized starting points and end points. The data rate is increased before an end point of a segment, to create switch gaps between the segments. Increasing the data rate can include increasing a bandwidth of the plurality of data streams, for example by multiplexing, or compressing the data. The present invention can be used, for example, with MPEG or AC-3 encoded audio and MPEG encoded video segments that are multiplexed into MPEG-2 transport streams. Also included are specific methods for preparing MPEG video streams and multiplexing MPEG video with MPEG or AC-3 audio streams to allow a receiver to create seamless transitions between individually encoded segments.

System and method for seamless switching through buffering

A system and method for masking/reducing the switch time from an analog or digital television channel to another digital television channel and back. Various optimizations which may be used individually or in combination to minimize the potential disruption to the viewer. This optimization is especially important when the channel switch is made automatically by the receiver, such as the case where the presentation of one television program is temporarily continued on another channel.

System and method for optimized channel switching in digital television broadcasting

A terminal is coupled to a video distribution network headend, and transmits upstream packets to the headend. Each upstream packet has a transmission power. The terminal receives a downstream packet from the headend, indicating a change in power. The terminal calculates an adjusted transmission power, based on the change in power specified in the downstream packet, and sets the transmission power of the upstream packets to the adjusted transmission power. The headend can be coupled to one or more terminals. The headend receives upstream packets from the terminal. The headend senses a received transmission power of each packet, and calculates a weighted average transmission power based on the received transmission powers. The headend calculates a change in transmission power based on the weighted average and a predetermined set point. The headend transmits a downstream packet to the terminal, indicating the change in power.

Real-time autoleveling system

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Bensalem, PA, United States of America

Richard L Booth