Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

Sony Corportion

Toshiro Ozawa

Leo M Pedlow, Jr

Rolf Toft

Dang Van Tran

George Edward Williams

Xudong Yu

Brant L Candelore

Christopher Jensen Read

Robert Winston Blanchard

Praveen Kashyap

David Boyden

Hirotaka Oku

Christopher Gordon

Yuko Nishikawa

Seth Hill

David M Kimble

Fei Xie

Koichi Oyama

David Tao

Richard Whitney

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for captions data handling, conversion between formats, and presentation are described herein. Segments of a content item may contain captions data in different formats, where conversion between one format to another may be required when one format is not compatible with a computing device or presentation settings. The captions data may be converted to a compatible format(s). The embedded captions data may be converted on a segment-by-segment basis and/or in real-time for streaming content.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for captions data conversion

Embodiments of keyframe analysis and distribution from broadcast television are disclosed. For example, embodiments include methods and systems of sharing video frame data over a data network to provide features that may include improved program guides, parental or other monitoring of televisions or other video receivers, and sharing of user identified frames or scenes of video programs.

System and method for keyframe analysis and distribution from broadcast television

A wireless signal strength indication is displayed on a TV, representing the signal strength of a wireless link between the Internet and an Internet adapter module providing Internet video to the TV.

Communication signal strength display for TV internet adapter

A method of displaying content on a TV using over-the-top (OTT) processes where the viewer has a user experience similar to or identical with conventional TV usage. The viewer powers on the TV and the last channel or service that was watched is displayed wherein all the content is displayed using OTT and the viewer does not have to execute any other steps, such as going to an app menu and launching a TV app in order to watch OTT content. It is determined whether an input source for the TV is set to a virtual input source. A TV app that enables OTT viewing (viewing TV content via an IP network) is executed. Once the TV app launches, normal TV operations can be performed. The virtual input source of the TV is linked to the TV application.

Managing a TV application for over-the-top TV

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

Embodiments include systems and methods for user login to a multimedia system. In one embodiment, a method of logging in one or more user profiles on a multimedia system includes associating one or more actuation sequences of one or more buttons on a remote control device each with a user profile, each user profile having one or more characteristics for outputting multimedia content, the characteristics affecting multimedia content provided by a multimedia system to personalize the user's multimedia experience, communicating a first signal corresponding to one of the one or more actuation sequences from the remote control device to a multimedia system to identify a first user profile for login, logging in the first user profile as an active user profile on the multimedia system based on the first signal, and controlling multimedia content provided to an output system of the multimedia system based on the active user profile.

System and method for user login to a multimedia system using a remote control

Various disclosed embodiments included systems and methods which allow two persons in different locations to enjoy a synchronized and shared viewing experience of original content that has been edited differently for broadcast in each location. Closed captioning text data to identify synchronization points in the broadcasts and used to provide synchronization services between the two broadcasts.

System and method for real-time video content sharing with synchronization via closed-caption metadata

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 for facilitating use of OCAP (OpenCable&#x2122; Applications Platform) standard in a host cable television device, the host cable television device having a connector consistent with certain embodiments has a removable module. An OCAP engine resides on the removable module suitable for execution of Java&#x2122; code as specified by the OCAP specification. A module side connector is affixed to the removable module, the connector being suitable for mating with the connector of the host device. The module side connector has connections suitable for carrying graphics video data from the OCAP engine to the host device suitable presentation to a video display. The module side connector further has connections suitable for carrying Java&#x2122; code instructions to the OCAP engine for execution. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

OCAP engine module

A program distribution system enabling a user to easily buy a program includes a video server for storing a plurality of distributable programs, and a video on demand controller which receives a request for the distribution of a distributable program from an integrated receiver decoder. The distribution request is formed in a free-style text format described in the arbitrary style of the user of the receiver decoder. The controller compares a word described in the distribution request with each title of the distributable programs stored in the video server, and if a title that corresponds to the word described in the distribution request is found, the controller reads out the corresponding distributing program from the video server and distributes it to the receiver decoder.

Program distribution system, method of program distribution, transmitter and receiver

A method and apparatus for managing ATM formatted MPEG SI data in a television set-top box. A virtual channel indicator (VCI) is used to associate a segment of SI data with a virtual channel. An ATM processor receives a stream of ATM packets containing SI data from an out-of-band tuner. The ATM packets include the VCI in a header thereof. The ATM processor stores the SI data in a buffer memory associated with the VCI for retrieval by the ATM processor at the request of the STB system processor.

Data delivery in set-top box

A method and apparatus for controlling set-top box hardware and software functions. An HTTP microserver is used to intercept HTTP requests for access to local devices and software. When the HTTP microserver receives a URL from the TCP/IP network stack, it directs instructions to an appropriate interface module that in turn generates an API call for an appropriate middleware module. The middleware module may then appropriately control a lower level software module to effect a software function or to drive hardware.

Method and apparatus for controlling set-top box hardware and software functions

A receiver, such as that used in broadcasting, is provided with a simplified structure for storing and updating the receiver's control program and for preventing a loss of the control program because of a power outage during such updating. The structure includes a first storage means comprising an erasable, non-volatile memory and a second storage means comprising a volatile memory. The control program is stored in the first storage means and is executed to download and store a second program in the second storage means. The second program then is executed to download and store an updated version of the control program in the first storage means.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Toshiro Ozawa