Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Agere Systems Inc.

At+t Corp.

Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings

American Telephone and Telegraph Company; At&t Information Systems

Thomas Licensing

Thomas Anthony Stahl

Izzat Hekmat Izzat

James Joseph Hartmann

John William Richardson

Steven Charles Rhoads

Darrel Wayne Randall

Robert Andrew Rhodes

Suresh Vishwanath Leley

Amit Kumar Chatterjee

Qingjiang Tian

Sanjeev Nagpal

Saban Kurugay

Kumar Ramaswamy

Paul Gothard Knutson

David J Duffield

Billy Wesley Beyers

Brian Albert Wittman

Eric Stephen Carlsgaard

Mike Arthur Derrenberger

Mary Lafuze Comer

David Emery Virag

Donald Marion Keen

Peter Polit

Robert Eugene Trzybinski

Donald R Means

Rodger Anthony Diemer

Thomas Patrick Newberry

John Arthur Karpicke

Douglas Strachota

Benoit Pol Menez

Roger Edward Holtz

Benjamin Vondersaar

Thanabalan Thavittupitchai Paul

Aaron Michael Smith

Theodore O Burger

David Jay Duffield

Saban Kurucay

A particular implementation for controlling single program transport streams during remultiplexing to a multiple program transport stream uses a series of leaky bucket buffers to minimize timing artifacts in the multi-program transport stream. Another implementation for controlling the remultiplexing process limits the number of consecutive packets to be transferred from each single program transport stream, or controls the multiplex frequency of each single program transport stream within the multi-program transport stream. An alternative implementation controls the remultiplexing process using multiple program clock reference values such that packets from each single program transport stream are released only after a previous program clock reference value is greater than the system time.

Method and apparatus for minimizing timing artifacts in remultiplexing

A method and apparatus are described for creating a multi-media stream (e.g., video, voice, audio, etc. . . . ) Super-MAC frame in a physical protocol data unit, including inserting a physical layer header into a channel time allocation and generating the multi-media stream SuperMAC frame further including, appending a media access control header after the physical layer header, calculating a header correction code, appending the header correction code after the media access control header, appending a media access control multi-media stream payload from a transmit queue, calculating a frame check sequence, appending the frame check sequence after the media access control multi-media stream payload and repeating the above acts, after inserting the physical layer header, until one of the channel time allocation is full or all transmit queues are empty.

Media access control protocol data unit aggregation in a time division multiple access media access control layer

Guide acquisition method and apparatus for receiving a satellite broadcast stream containing guide data, encapsulating said broadcast stream containing guide data in a network communication protocol, assigning a multicast address to said broadcast stream containing guide data, transmitting said broadcast stream containing guide data, receiving a request for said guide data wherein said request comprises a satellite network identifier and transmitting a said multicast address in response to said request.

Guide acquisition method in absence of guide update information on all transponders

A method and apparatus for wirelessly re-distributing multi-media streams, including receiving multi-media streams at a master device from a source, adaptively determining channel time allocations in response to status information for transmit queues and transmission channel conditions, constructing a superframe from said multi-media streams for insertion into said downstream channel time allocations and wireless transmitting the channel time allocations to effect re-distribution of said multi-media streams to a remote device, are described. Also described is a method for wirelessly receiving re-distributed a multi-media stream including receiving a beacon signal and a channel time allocation and receiving said re-distributed multi-media stream.

Adaptive time allocation in a TDMA MAC layer

A mobile content distribution system in an airplane, a train, or a bus is capable of receiving wireless broadcast channels from a wireless service provider. The system offers a user purchase of wireless services including one or more broadcast channels provided by the wireless service provider, receives information indicative of a route from an originating location to a destination location, and determines if the content distribution system is authorized to receive services from the wireless service provider according to the information; and if the content distribution system is not authorized to receive services from the wireless service provider according to the information, the system provide a refund to the user. If the system is within an authorized area, the system determines if the system is authorized to provide full service from the wireless service provider according to the information and if the system is not authorized to provide full service, the system provides a partial refund to the user.

System and method for managing out of coverage broadcasts

An apparatus and method for providing an electronic program guide (EPG) to an end user are provided. The includes a audio video streaming device, content scheduler, and program guide generator provide for includes providing a program guide, the program guide containing a start time and end time for the display of a first program, providing the first program for display at the start time, determining if the first program has been paused during the display of the first program, adjusting the end time for the display of the first program if the program has been paused, and providing an updated program guide containing the adjusted end time.

System and method for synchronizing an electronic program guide with paused programs

The present invention relates to electronic program guides. Program guide state information is stored in a remote control which generates and delivers a pseudo-interactive guide to end users with the system state information (guide information to channel mapping maintained in the remote control device.

Remote control based interactive program guide

An apparatus and method is disclosed in which a buffer receives a first content stream carrying a content channel signal. The first content stream carries the content channel signal at a rate substantially greater than the streaming content playout rate, for initially loading the buffer. The buffer switches its reception of the content channel signal from the first content stream to a second content stream. The second content stream is at a rate substantially the same as the streaming content playout rate. Generally, this switch occurs when some predefined threshold of the content channel signal is buffered.

Method and apparatus for changing received streaming content channels

A data transfer network infrastructure device having a plurality of ingress ports for accepting data from a domain of a data network; and, a user interface for enabling a user to limit a rate at which data is accepted from the data network on at least one of the ingress ports, wherein the data transfer rate between the at least one of the ingress ports and a device coupled to the at least one of the ports is limited, whereby a bandwidth limit is implemented by the limit at which the data is accepted into the ingress port.

System and method for enhancing network quality of service

There are described apparatus and methods for adaptive forward error correction (FEC), one use being for video streaming over a wireless network. The apparatus includes an FEC encoder and an adaptive FEC device. The FEC encoder is for encoding k packets of source data into n packets, where n&#x3e;k, and the n packets include redundant packets. The adaptive FEC device is for adaptively determining a number of the redundant packets to transmit with the encoded k packets, based upon receiving one or more feedback messages. The one or more feedback messages indicate a condition of the wireless network over which the encoded video is to be transmitted.

Adaptive forward error correction

An apparatus for providing reserved connections between end stations, in a network, such as the Internet, capable of providing prioritized communications, comprises a switch in packet communications with end stations. The switch detects and forwards packets that contain prioritized data for priority processing, and packets that include requests for reserved connections according to a given reservation protocol. Output queues associated with egress ports of the switch correspond to different priorities associated with received priority packets. An additional output queue is associated with reserved connection data packets. In response to a reserved connection request, the switch determines if sufficient bandwidth exists in the switch to establish a reserved path within the network, and if so, allocates the and width for the reserved connection. In response to each received packet, the switch determines whether the packet is associated with the reserved connection and forwards those packets to the additional output queue on the egress port associated with the reserved connection path for transport to the intended destination.

Mechanism for providing quality of service in a network utilizing priority and reserved bandwidth protocols

An apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of electronic devices, such as consumer electronic devices, or the like, via a digital bus. In particular, the present invention provides for improved interoperability of such devices over the digital bus. In one embodiment, the present invention transfers identifying information from a peripheral device to a display device during a discovery mode for providing a device selection screen having a plurality of device icons displayed thereon. The device icons are generated by the display, or controlling device, in response to identifying information, such as keywords stored in a configuration ROM of the peripheral device.

Apparatus and method for improved device interoperability

An apparatus and a method for managing service traffic in a communications network capable of providing voice, data, and A/V services to a plurality of customers. In particular, the present invention is a digital subscriber line system (DSL), preferably based on ADSL, having a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPEs) coupled to voice, data and A/V services via network system equipment comprising a DSLAM, an ATM switch and a DSL terminator for connecting the system to the internet. The invention provides a network control system that includes a plurality of databases including a provisioning database and a real time database indicative of the actual bandwidth being utilized. A service control processor coupled to the plurality of databases and the network system equipment periodically polls the databases to determine the amount of bandwidth being used, and if the usage exceeds a predetermined level, throttles the internet data entering the system through the DSL terminator and/or the user data entering the system through the CPEs. Preferrably, throttling is performed using a leaky-bucket algorithm. By dynamically managing the traffic flow in the network, the present invention reduces the potential for dropped calls and similar service restrictions.

Dynamic traffic bandwidth management system and method for a communication network

Interoperability for exchanging on-screen display menus and associated control between common consumer electronic (CE) devices is provided. This interoperability is based on the IEEE 1394 serial bus for the physical and link layers and makes use of AV/C or CAL as the control language. This invention provides for transferring a bit-mapped on-screen display menu constructed by a target device (e.g., digital VCR) to display device (e.g., digital TV).

Device interoperability utilizing bit-mapped on-screen display menus

An apparatus and a method for controlling distribution of digital content from an device attached to a network to another device outside the network. The device receives a digital signal containing content, the digital signal having an authorization field indicative of a first transport mode authorizing the content for distribution outside the network, and of a second transport mode wherein the content is not authorized for transmission outside the network. The method comprises the steps of receiving location information of a router on the network for routing content to devices outside the network, receiving destination data indicative of location information associated with a destination device to which the device intends to distribute the content, determining whether the destination device is outside the network based on the router location information and the received destination data examining the authorization field and, inhibiting transmission of the content if the destination device is outside the network and the digital signal is in the inhibit mode.

Method and apparatus for controlling the distribution of digitally encoded data in a network

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Thomas Anthony Stahl