General Instrument Corporation

Arris Enterprises LLC

Google Inc.

William John Garrison

Albert Fitzgerald Elcock

Charles R Hardt

Glen Peter Goffin, Ii

Thomas F Kister

David C Goodwin

A system and method is provided that enables a viewer to view all the available content on a mosaic display, even when advertisements would otherwise prevent a viewer from doing so. Whenever a channel is displaying non-program content, the mosaic may instead display pre-recorded content for the current program on that channel prior to the ad-period.

System and method for video mosaic

Techniques for enhancing a user's viewing experience include providing new opportunities for viewing information or manipulating data during the viewing experience. The user may take an action that has an intended purpose of changing a mode of play of content displayed at the client device. An event prompted by the user action, such as a pause or rewind of the displayed content, may be an event that triggers at least one extended option associated with the displayed content.

Maximum value displayed content feature

Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the generation of an interface showing content being consumed by a group of devices. A central device may gather secondary streams of content consumed by each device within the group of devices, and the secondary streams may be used to generate an interface comprising thumbnails showing content consumed by the device associated with the respective thumbnail. Secondary streams of content may be generated at the central device or may be retrieved by the central device from a client device serviced by the central device.

Consolidation and monitoring of consumed content

A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.

Method and apparatus for representing storage capacity allocation of an audio/video recording device

An arrangement for simulating a short depth of field in a captured videophone image is provided in which the background portion of the image is digitally segregated and blurred to render it indistinct. Thus, the displayed video of a user in the foreground is kept in focus while the background appears to be out of focus. Image tracking or fixed templates are used to segregate an area of interest that is kept in focus from the remaining captured video image. Image processing techniques are applied to groups of pixels in the remaining portion to blur that portion of the captured video image. Such techniques include the application of a filter that are alternatively selected from convolution filters in the spatial domain (e.g., mean, median, or Gaussian filters), or frequency filters in the frequency domain (e.g., low-pass or Gaussian filters). User-selectable control is optionally implemented for controlling the type of foreground/background segregation technique utilized (i.e., dynamic face-tracking or fixed template shape), degree of blurring applied to the background, and on/off control of the background blurring.

Simulating short depth of field to maximize privacy in videotelephony

A system and method for providing expanded functionality from a remote control handset, wherein multiple command functions are effected by the actuation of a single key or control surface. A remote control handset is programmed to recognize the actuation of keys or control surfaces associated with multiple-functionality. In response to a standard actuation (such as the momentary depression of that key) of a multiple-functionality key, a primary remote control signal is generated by the remote control handset for purposes of controlling a first remote system or component. The remote control handset is further adapted to test for and recognize a non-standard actuation (such as double-clicking or prolonged depression) of a multiple-functionality key, and responsively generate a second remote control signal. This second remote control signal can be generated for purposes of providing and alternate command to same system or component that is controlled by the primary remote control signal associated with the actuated key, or to an completely separate system or component.

Remote control having extended functionality

A method for monitoring motion of an entity within a predetermined boundary established using a location detection technology. Sensor data is acquired from a motion sensor that senses non-positional movement of the entity and is attachable to the entity. A learned movement pattern associated with the entity is accessed. Computing techniques are used to analyze the acquired sensor data in relationship to the learned movement pattern. A current movement pattern is identified based on the analysis. It is determined whether the current movement pattern is a reportable movement pattern, and if so, a predetermined action is performed.

Monitoring motions of entities within GPS-determined boundaries

A method and apparatus for transmitting packetized data objects in a system prone to the loss of individual data cells during transmission reduces the number of times a group of data cells must be re-transmitted. Failed attempts to transmit data cell groups upstream are buffered and individual, successfully transmitted cells are identified. After each failed transmission, all subsequent transmissions are reviewed to determine if, using all the failed transmissions together, a single complete data cell set can be obtained and the data object reassembled. Consequently, the data object is completely received and reassembled more quickly than if a single complete transmission of all cells in the group is required.

Growing community of inventors

Warminster, PA, United States of America

William John Garrison