| GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120030436 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHING PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER CONTENT WITH STORAGE SPACE OPTIMIZATION - A device is provided for use with a content provider that is operable to provide content, which includes a plurality of content components. The device includes a communication portion, a memory portion, a parsing portion, a counting portion and a processing portion. The communication portion can receive the content from the content provider. The parsing portion can parse the content into the plurality of content components and can store the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. The counting portion can provide a counter for each of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion, respectively. The processing portion can retrieve and process one of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. The counting portion can further increment the counter associated with the retrieved one of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120011571 | Method And Apparatus For Cross DRM Domain Registration - A content moving device may provide content to plurality of different user devices using a plurality of different DRM systems. The content moving device provides for registration of the DRM systems associated with the user devices. The content moving device may verify a user device by a DRM ID associated with the user device. A domain size may be used to limit the number of content user devices that may be approved for access. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011266 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A REAL TIME STREAMING PROTOCOL SESSION - The present disclosure describes a methods and apparatuses for providing a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) media streaming session to a target device. In particular, the present disclosure describes methods and apparatuses for using a client to transfer or share a particular media streaming session to a target device. The present disclosure also describes a client initiated request to modify a RTSP streaming media session and a server initiated setup message for modifying a RTSP session. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20110321113 | LOCATION-BASED SERVICE GROUP DISCOVERY FOR SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO - A broadcast system and method that includes a video content network that connects a video server, a discovery server, a switched digital video service, a switched video manager, and a set-top box. The set-top box receives and stores an assigned location identifier, and receives a mapping from the discovery server, where the mapping includes records, each record associating a location identifier and a service group. The set-top box matches the assigned location identifier to the mapping to determine an assigned service group for the set-top box. The set-top box receives an address from the discovery server that identifies the switched video manager that is associated with the assigned service group. The set-top box operates in the broadcast system by communicating with the switched digital video service, and the switched video manager. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110321077 | VIEWING IMPRESSION REPORT COLLECTION, STORAGE, AND REPORTBACK OF INSERTED CONTENT WITH DVR PLAYBACK - A method and system that computes viewing statistics for a digital video content stream received at a set-top box. The digital video content stream includes a first segment of video content, a second segment of video content, a third segment of video content, a first timing mark that indicates a transition from the first segment to the second segment, and a second timing mark that indicates a transition from the second segment to the third segment. The method initiates a transmission of the digital video content stream at the set-top box, monitors the transmission of the digital video content stream relative to the first timing mark and the second timing mark, and computes view data for the second segment based on the monitoring of the transmission. The method stores the view data at the set-top box. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110310981 | CARRIAGE SYSTEMS ENCODING OR DECODING JPEG 2000 VIDEO - A system configured to decode video data in a packetized elementary stream (PES) including frames of image data. The system includes a processor configured to receive a transport stream including control information associated with the image data including video metadata parameters associated with application specific functions applicable to the image data. The processor is also configured to receive the PES including the frames of image data in video access units. The processor is configured to retrieve and decode the retrieved video access units using the control information to form a signal including the frames of image data. The system also includes a storage device configured to store the frames of image data and the control information. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110299582 | Method and Apparatus for Performing Channel Equalization on a MIMO Signal - A method is provided for performing channel equalization on a wireless signal. The method includes: (i) formulating an equalizer associated with sub-carriers of the wireless signal, wherein the equalizer is a function of a quantity relating to signal quality ( | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110289592 | DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT WITH IRREGULAR NETWORK ACCESS - There is a performing of digital rights management (DRM), operable in an offline mode with respect to a communications network. The performing includes identifying a stored rights object associated with a stored asset. The stored rights object includes reporting duration information associated with the stored asset. The performing also includes determining, utilizing a processor, whether a transmission of an early status message is a successful communication based on an early status message determination. If a failure in communicating the early status message is determined, utilizing the stored asset. The performing may also include transmitting an early status message and/or later status message after identifying the stored rights object. There is also a performing of digital rights management (DRM) associated with a DRM system and operable in an offline mode with respect to a communications network. There are also client devices, communicating systems, computer readable mediums and protocols. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110274176 | PATHWAY INDEXING IN FLEXIBLE PARTITIONING - There is a processing of an incoming video signal into a compressed video bitstream. The processing includes determining indexed pathways of blocks in the incoming video signal. The processing also includes determining flexible partitioning of the blocks utilizing partitioning lines. The partitioning lines are based on index units in the determined indexed pathways. The processing also includes generating PIFP information associated with the determined flexible partitioning and encoding the generated PIFP information associated with the PIFP encoded video. Also, there is a processing of received PIFP encoded video utilizing received encoded PIFP information associated with the received PIFP encoded video. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110273534 | Program Guide Graphics and Video in Window for 3DTV - Video data is received in 2D or 3D format from different channels as a user scrolls through an electronic guide. The video data may be displayed in a portion of the on screen display along with graphic and text associated with the EPG data. The received video data may be converted to a suitable format to be displayed with Electronic Program Guide (EPG). The video data may be converted from a 3D to a 2D format to be displayed with the EPG data. The video data may be converted from a 2D format to a 3D format, while the EPG data displays in a 2D format. The video data may be converted from one 3D format to another 3D format for display with the EPG data. The selection of converting the received video data can be based on a display format of a previously viewed channel prior to requesting the EPG to be displayed. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110258685 | ONLINE SECURE DEVICE PROVISIONING FRAMEWORK - A method for updating network-enabled devices with new identity data includes generating a plurality of new identity data records and loading the new identity data records onto an update server. A request is received at the update server for new identity data from at least one network-enabled device having a previously assigned identity linked to an identifier. The previously assigned identifier is linked to a new identifier that is linked to one of the new identity data records. One or more new identity data records are securely delivered to the network-enabled device. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110258572 | Service of Controllable Devices through a Control Point - In one embodiment, a method determines a virtual kit identifier for a plurality of devices associated with a plurality of entities. The plurality of devices include a control point device and one or more controllable devices. Device profile information for the plurality of devices is stored in a database. The virtual kit identifier is received in a request for service. The method determines device profile information stored in the database for a controllable device. At least a portion of the device profile information including configuration information and graphical user interface display information is sent to a user interface. The user interface uses the graphical user interface display information to cause display of a page using the configuration information. The method connects to the control point device in the plurality of devices to coordinate performing of the service with the controllable device based on information outputted on the page. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110258454 | CROSS-DOMAIN IDENTITY MANAGEMENT FOR A WHITELIST-BASED ONLINE SECURE DEVICE PROVISIONING FRAMEWORK - A method for managing identifiers associated with network-enabled devices and used in an identity data system provisioning the network-enabled devices with identity data includes receiving a first set data that includes a previously assigned identifier for one or more of the network-enabled devices that are authorized to be provisioned with new identity data. If identity data is currently installed on the one or more network-enabled devices, each of the previously assigned identifiers in the first set of data is associated with a corresponding identifier linked to the identity data currently installed on the one or more network-enabled devices to establish a second set of data. New identity data is bound to each of the one or more network-enabled devices by assigning a new identifier linked with the new identity data to each of the one or more network-enabled devices to establish a whitelist. The whitelist specifies, for each of the one or more network-enabled devices, its previously assigned identifier, its corresponding identifier and its new identifier that is linked with the new identity data. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110258434 | ONLINE SECURE DEVICE PROVISIONING WITH UPDATED OFFLINE IDENTITY DATA GENERATION AND OFFLINE DEVICE BINDING - A system for generating new identity data for network-enabled devices includes a whitelist reader configured to extract attributes from a whitelist. The whitelist includes, for each device specified in the whitelist, a previously assigned identifier of the first type. The previously assigned identifiers of the first type are linked to identity data previously provisioned in each of the respective devices. A data retrieval module is configured to receive the identifiers of the first type from the whitelist reader and, based on each of the identifiers, retrieve each of the previously provisioned identity data records linked thereto. A new data generation module is configured to (i) obtain a cryptographic key associated with the identity data previously provisioned in the devices specified on the whitelist and the corresponding identifiers of the first type, (ii) generate new identity data records each linked to a new identifier and (iii) encrypt each of the new identity data records with one of the cryptographic keys and link each new identity data record to the identifier of the first type corresponding to each respective cryptographic key. A data output module is configured to load onto an external source the encrypted new identity data records along with their respective new identifiers and their respective previously assigned identifiers of the first type. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110254917 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF 3D TELEVISION PROGRAM MATERIALS - Method, apparatus and computer readable media for receiving a multiprogram program transport service that includes one or more compressed video services and one or more 3D-2D conversion options, generating an uncompressed video signal by performing a decoding portion of a transcoding operation for one of the one or more of the video services, determining from the 3D-2D conversion option whether a 3D-2D conversion is to be performed, performing a scale conversion on the uncompressed video according to a specified type of 3D-2D conversion, generating a compressed video service by performing an encoding portion of a transcoding operation on the uncompressed video that has been scale converted, and generating a second multiprogram program transport service that includes the compressed video signal that has been 3D-2D converted. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110246646 | Locating Network Resources for an Entity based on its Digital Certificate - A method and apparatus are provided for locating network resources over a communication network. The method includes receiving a digital certificate identifying a first entity and extracting information from at least one predetermined field of the digital certificate. The extracted information is used as input to a location generation function to create a resource locator (e.g., a URL). The network resource is contacted over the communication network in accordance with a communication protocol using the resource locator to obtain requested information concerning the first entity. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110235991 | MOVING CONTENT BETWEEN SET TOP BOX AND END DEVICES IN HOME - A content moving device which enables providing content stored on a first user device, such as a DVR, in a first format and resolution to be provided to a second user device, such as a portable media player (PMP) in a second format and resolution. The content moving device identifies content on the first user device as candidate content which may be desired by the PMP and receives the candidate content from the DVR. The content moving device transcodes the candidate content at times independent of a request from the PMP for the content. The content moving device may provide a list of available transcoded content to the PMP for selection, and provide selected content to the PMP. The content moving device may also provide information relating to any protection schemes of the content provided to the PMP, such as DRM rights and decryption keys. The content moving device performs the often computationally intense and time consuming transcoding of user content to enable the user to move content between different user devices in a convenient manner. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110235801 | SECURE TRANSCODING OF CONTENT - A source device determines content rights for encrypted content in the first encoding standard using a first rights data file. The source device creates a second rights data file for transcoded content in the second encoding standard. The source device performs a key management operation including communicating a decryption key for the encrypted content in the first encoding standard to a transcoder. The source device transfers the encrypted content in the first encoding standard to the transcoder. The transcoder decrypts the encrypted content, transcodes the content from the first encoding standard to the content in the second encoding standard, and re-encrypts the content in the second encoding standard using a second encryption key. The transcoder then transfers the encrypted content in the second encoding standard to an indicated device. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110216164 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING TWO-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR INSERTION INTO THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO CONTENT - A method and apparatus is provided that converts video content from a first format type into a second format type so that the video content can be viewed with other video content that has the second video format type. The method includes determining a first format of a first stream of video content ( | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110213969 | DYNAMIC CRYPTOGRAPHIC SUBSCRIBER-DEVICE IDENTITY BINDING FOR SUBSCRIBER MOBILITY - A method of authentication and authorization over a communication system is provided. The method performs a first authentication of a device based on a set of device identity and credentials. The first authentication includes creation of a first set of keying material. The method also includes performing a second authentication of a subscriber based on a set of subscriber identity and credentials. The second authentication includes creation of a second set of keying material. A set of compound key material is created with a key derivation mechanism that uses the first set of keying material and the second set of keying material. A binding token is created by cryptographically signing at least the device identity authenticated in the first authentication and the subscriber identity authenticated in the second authentication using the set of compound keying material. The signed binding token is exchanged for verification with an authenticating and authorizing party. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110213957 | LAYERED PROTECTION AND VALIDATION OF IDENTITY DATA DELIVERED ONLINE VIA MULTIPLE INTERMEDIATE CLIENTS - A method is provided for securely delivering identity data units over a communications network to a client device. The method includes receiving a selection from a customer identifying a final zipped package to be unpacked. The final zipped package is unpacked to obtain a common package and a digital signature file signed by an entity generating identity data requested by the customer. The digital signature in the digital signature file is verified and the common package is unpacked to obtain a plurality of outer packages and an encrypted symmetric key. The symmetric key is decrypted with a private key associated with the customer and each of the outer packages is decrypted with the symmetric key to obtain a plurality of identity data units. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110213856 | Network attached DVR storage - A host device, which may include a DVR, selects to record content on the host device DVR or in a network attached storage (NAS) unit. The recorded content remains bound to the host device from a DRM perspective when it is recorded on the host DVR and on the remotely located NAS. A client device can obtain access to content recorded on the NAS by negotiating DRM rights with the host device instead of the NAS. When access rights are approved, the host device provides access information to the client device so that the content is streamed directly to the client device from the NAS. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110197077 | SOFTWARE FEATURE AUTHORIZATION THROUGH DELEGATED AGENTS - A method enables selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device with a license delivered from a licensing provider to a service provider of the end user electronic device. The method includes requesting at least one license to authorize a first service provider. An encrypted installation key uniquely associated with the first service provider is received as well as an authorization agent module for installation on one or more authorization agent devices associated with the first service provider. The encrypted installation key and the authorization agent module are installed on the authorization agent devices. A device-unique identifier (DUID) is generated for each authorization agent device based on hardware characteristics of the respective authorization agent devices. The DUID and the encrypted installation key are sent from the authorization agent device to a licensing provider to obtain the requested license. The requested license is received by the authorization agent devices if the DUID and the encrypted installation key are validated by the licensing provider. The license on authorization agent device authorizes and enables the selected features of the software product on an end user electronic device. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110197061 | CONFIGURABLE ONLINE PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE (PKI) MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK - A method and apparatus is provided for establishing a process for provisioning a digital certificate service delivered by a PKI system. The method includes receiving a request for a digital certificate service and receiving data specifying a project that includes at least one product to be provisioned with a digital certificate. Data specifying an identification of an owner organization of the project and at least one participant organization participating in the project is also received. Attributes with which PKI data to be included in the digital certificates is to comply is received from the owner organization. Based on the received data and attributes, an account is established for each of the organizations associated with the project through which users associated with each of the organizations can respectively request digital certificates for the at least one product in accordance with the attributes received from the owner organization. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110196793 | GENERIC FEATURE LICENSING FRAMEWORK - A system enables customers to provision devices with feature licenses that enable specified features in the devices. The system includes a feature definition module configured to store product feature information associated with different products available from a plurality of different manufacturers. The system also includes a feature license management module configured to generate, update and revoke feature licenses. The feature licenses that are generated all have a common format. The system further includes a feature credit management module configured to monitor and account for feature credits available to customer organization units. A user management module is also provided in the system, which is configured to authenticate users of the system. A user interface is accessible over a communications network through which authenticated users can request and receive feature licenses. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110176616 | FULL RESOLUTION 3D VIDEO WITH 2D BACKWARD COMPATIBLE SIGNAL - Items are used to encode or in encoding a stereoscopic video signal. The signal includes first view frames based on a first view associated with a first eye perspective and second view frames based on a second view associated with a second eye perspective. The encoding includes receiving the stereoscopic video signal and determining the first view frames and the second view frames. The encoding also includes encoding the first view frames based on the first view and encoding the second view frames based on the second view and also the first view. In the encoding, a plurality of the encoded second view frames reference at least one first view frame for predictive coding information. Items are also used to decode the encoded stereoscopic video signal. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110176600 | STATISTICAL MULTIPLEXING USING A PLURALITY OF TWO-PASS ENCODERS - A plurality of programs are statistically multiplexed using a plurality of two-pass encoders. Pictures in the plurality of programs are encoded in a first encoding pass using a plurality of first encoding modules. R | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110176562 | STATISTICAL MULTIPLEXING USING A PLURALITY OF ENCODERS - A plurality of programs are statistically multiplexed using a statistical multiplexing (stat mux) system. R | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110175988 | 3D VIDEO GRAPHICS OVERLAY - Preparing a three dimensional (3D) video graphical overlay based on a two dimensional (2D) graphical image in a decoded stereoscopic video signal. This includes receiving the 2D graphical image and receiving 3D information associated with the 3D video graphical overlay. This also includes reproducing, using a processor, the 2D graphical image to form a first view graphical image and a second view graphical image in a graphics window. This also includes mapping the first and second view graphical images, using the 3D information, to frames in the 3D video to form a 3D video graphical overlay of a 3D video stream. This also includes blending the 3D video graphical overlay and the 3D video stream. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110161663 | INTELLIGENT CACHING FOR OCSP SERVICE OPTIMIZATION - An online certificate status checking protocol (OCSP) system is provided for use with a first device, an end device and a certificate authority. The first device can provide a certificate. The end device can provide an OCSP request based on the certificate and process an OCSP response. The certificate authority can provide a CRL update. The certificate has a validity period. The OCSP system includes an OCSP responder, and OCSP proxy and a cache. The OCSP responder can provide the OCSP response. The OCSP proxy can receive the OCSP request from the end device, can send the OCSP request to the OCSP responder, can receive the OCSP response from the OCSP responder and can send the OCSP response to the end device. The cache can store information based on the OCSP response. The OCSP proxy can further store, in the cache, information based on the OCSP response and can send a proactive OCSP request to the OCSP responder based on a predetermined policy. The OCSP responder can further send a proactive OCSP response to the OCSP proxy in response to the proactive OCSP request. The OCSP proxy can further update the information in the cache based on the proactive OCSP response. The OCSP proxy can additionally provide, using the updated information in the cache, a second OCSP response to the end device in response to a subsequent request from the end device related to information of the certificate. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161661 | ENHANCED AUTHORIZATION PROCESS USING DIGITAL SIGNATURES - A method is provided for enhancing security of a communication session between first and second endpoints which employs a key management protocol. The method includes sending a first message to a first end point over a communications network requesting a secure communication session therewith. The message includes an identity of a second end point requesting the authenticated communication session. A digital certificate is received from the first endpoint over the communications network. The digital certificate is issued by a certifying source verifying information contained in the digital certificate. The digital certificate includes a plurality of fields, one or more of which are transformed in accordance with a transformation algorithm. A reverse transform is applied to the one or more transformed fields to obtain the one or more fields. The digital certificate is validated and a second message is sent to the first endpoint indicating that validation is complete. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161660 | TEMPORARY REGISTRATION OF DEVICES - In a method of temporarily registering a second device with a first device, in which the first device includes a temporary registration mode, the temporary registration mode in the first device is activated, a temporary registration operation in the first device is initiated from the second device, a determination as to whether the second device is authorized to register with the first device is made, and the second device is temporarily registered with the first device in response to a determination that the second device is authorized to register with the first device, in which the temporary registration requires that at least one of the second device and the first device delete information required for the temporary registration following at least one of a determination of a network connection between the first device and the second device and a powering off of at least one of the first device and the second device. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161645 | CONTENT SECURING SYSTEM - In a method for securing content in a system containing a security processor configured to control access to the content by a main processor, in which main processor being configured to send heartbeats to the security processor, a determination as to whether at least one heartbeat was received within a predicted time interval is made and in response to a determination that at least one heartbeat was not received with the predicted time interval, access to the content by the main processor is ceased. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158656 | HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE APD OPTICAL RECEIVER FOR ANALOG APPLICATIONS - An optical receiver includes a light receiving element such as an avalanche photodiode (APD) for converting an optical signal to an electrical photocurrent amplified by a first current gain value and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the light receiving element. The optical receiver also includes a control unit configured to control a bias voltage applied to the light receiving element such that the first gain value is adjusted to a second gain value based at least in part on a predetermined relationship between the current gain, the temperature and the applied bias voltage. The second current gain value is based at least in part on one or more parameters characteristic of the optical receiver and a system in which the optical receiver is employed. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158411 | REGISTERING CLIENT DEVICES WITH A REGISTRATION SERVER - In a method of registering a plurality of client devices with a device registration server for secure data communications, a unique symmetric key is generated for each of the client devices using a cryptographic function on a private key of the device registration server and a respective public key of each of the client devices, and a broadcast message containing the public key of the device registration server is sent to the client devices, in which the client devices are configured to generate a respective unique symmetric key from the public key of the device registration server and its own private key using a cryptographic function, and in which the unique symmetric key generated by each client device matches the respective unique symmetric key generated by the device registration server for the respective client device. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110154389 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADDING CONTENT DURING DATA STREAM ACQUISITION - A device is provided for use with extended content data on a first data stream and second content data on a second data stream. The device includes a processing portion, an acquisition portion and a buffer. The acquisition portion is in communication with the processing portion. The acquisition portion can acquire the first data stream, can transition to the second data stream to receive the second content data and can provide the second content data to the processing portion. The buffer can receive the extended content data. The processing portion can instruct the acquisition portion to transition from the first data stream to the second data stream to receive the second content data. The buffer can further provide the extended content data to the processing portion based on the acquisition portion transitioning from the first data stream to the second data stream. The processing portion can further process the extended content data portion as received from the buffer. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150484 | Method and Apparatus for Improved SBS Suppression in Optical Fiber Communication Systems - Methods of transmitting an optical signal through optical fiber in a manner suppressing stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) are provided. A light beam emitted from a light source is modulated by driving either the light source or a separate phase modulator or both simultaneously with a separate high frequency signal dithered by one or more low frequency dithering signals of a frequency or frequencies lower than that of the high frequency signal. Thereafter, the light beam is further modulated externally with an RF information-carrying signal. The high frequency signal is at least twice a highest frequency of the RF information-carrying signal. The light beam modulated with the RF information-carrying signal is coupled into optical fiber. The high frequency signal dithered by the one or more low frequency dithering signals spreads the optical power of the light beam in a wider spectral range thereby raising the SBS threshold power level for purposes of suppressing SBS while the undesired induced spurious frequency component level is controlled. The form of the spread spectrum is also controlled and adjusted. An optical transmitter is also disclosed. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150214 | COORDINATED VIEWING EXPERIENCE AMONG REMOTELY LOCATED USERS - A method of viewing a content item is provided. The method includes receiving an encrypted content item and a network address of a key management system from a primary client device over a communications network. A session key is obtained over the communications network and the primary client device is notified that the session key has been obtained. An encrypted version of a content key is received over the communication network to decrypt the content item and content rights that determine access to the content item. The content rights restrict the content item from being rendered unless it is rendered in coordination with the rendering of the content item by the primary client device. The encrypted version of a content key is decrypted with the session key. The content item is rendered in accordance with the content rights by decrypting the content item with the content key. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150094 | RATE CONTROL FOR TWO-PASS ENCODER - Rate control is provided in a two-pass encoder. A first encoding pass is performed to encode an input video sequence. Coding statistics for the first encoding pass are collected. Target coding parameters for a second encoding pass are calculated based on the coding statistics for the first encoding pass. The second encoding pass is performed to encode the input video sequence at a constant bit rate (CBR) using the target coding parameters to form a second pass encoded stream. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150076 | RATE CONTROL FOR TWO-PASS ENCODER USING ADAPTIVE QUANTIZATION PARAMETERS - A two-pass encoder determines a quantization parameter (QP) value to control an actual number of bits consumed in a second encoding pass. The two-pass encoder includes a first encoding module, a rate control module and a second encoding module. The first encoding module includes a circuit configured to perform a first encoding pass to encode input video sequences. The rate control module is configured to determine R, a target bit rate for a picture in the second encoding pass, and α, a variable dependent on a QP value range, a picture type, and complexity. Q, a QP value for the picture or an MB of the picture in the second encoding pass, is also determined based on R and α. The second encoding module is configured to use Q to encode the picture or the MB of the picture in the input video sequence in the second encoding pass to form an output bitstream. The rate control module is further configured to update α to encode a next picture or a next MB of the picture in the second encoding pass. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150074 | TWO-PASS ENCODER - A two-pass encoder includes a first encoding module and a second encoding module. The first encoding module is configured to encode an input video sequence in a first pass, and to determine coding decisions from the first pass. The second encoding module is configured to encode the input video sequence using the coding decisions from the first encoding module in a second pass, and to output a second pass encoded stream. At least one of the first encoding module and the second encoding module is a partial encoding module. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150073 | SCALABLE VIDEO TRANSCODING DEVICE - A transcoding device is configured to transcode a scalable video coded stream to a single layer encoded video stream for a receiving device. The transcoding device includes an interface connecting the receiving device to the transcoding device, and a transcoder. The transcoder receives the scalable video coded stream via the interface from the receiving device in response to the receiving device determining the encoded video stream includes the scalable video coded stream. The transcoder generates a single layer encoded video stream from the scalable video coded stream based on coding parameters describing a single layer encoded video stream to be generated by the transcoder. The transcoding device sends the single layer encoded video stream to the receiving device via the interface. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110149026 | 3D VIDEO TRANSFORMING DEVICE - A 3D video conversion device is operable to convert a first MPEG stream to a second MPEG stream. The 3D video conversion device includes an input module operable to receive a multiple-view stream, a conversion module operable to convert the multiple-view stream. The conversion module includes a decoding module operable to decode the multiple-view stream, a reformatting module operable to generate 3D views from decoded information, and an encoding module operable to re-encode the 3D views to an STB format stream, and an output module operable to output a reformatted stream. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110145562 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURELY TRANSFERING CONTENT FROM SET-TOP BOX TO PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - A media player is provided for receiving session data from a security socket layer. The session data includes encrypted content data, a content key and digital rights data, wherein the content key and the digital rights data have been encrypted with a SSL session key. The said media player includes a first processor portion and a second processor portion. The first processor portion is arranged to receive the session data, has a second key. The first processor portion and can generate the SSL session key and can decrypt the session data with the SSL session key. The first processor portion can further re-encrypt the decrypted content key with the second key and can output the re-encrypted content key and digital rights data. The second processor portion is arranged to receive the re-encrypted content key and digital rights data. The first processor portion can further decrypt the content, and is externally inaccessible. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110142427 | METHOD TO SEAMLESSLY INSERT AUDIO CLIPS INTO A COMPRESSED BROADCAST AUDIO STREAM - A method and computing system for seamlessly inserting a local audio clip into a primary audio stream. The method sends the primary audio stream to an audio output port, and determines main parameters for the primary audio stream. The method receives a request to insert an encoded local audio clip, locates an insertion point in the primary audio stream that coincides with an end of a frame boundary, and identifies a best matching encoded local audio clip for the main parameters. The method receives and sends the best matching encoded local audio clip to the audio output port, stores the primary audio stream in a buffer while sending the best matching encoded local audio clip, and resumes the sending of the primary audio stream when the sending of the best matching encoded local audio clip is complete. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110142129 | MPEG VIDEO RESOLUTION REDUCTION SYSTEM - An MPEG video resolution reduction system includes an MPEG decoder, a down-sampler, and a partial MPEG re-encoder. The MPEG decoder decodes an input resolution MPEG stream to an input resolution baseband, and determines coding information from decoding the input resolution MPEG stream. The down-sampler down-samples the input resolution baseband to a reduced resolution baseband. The partial MPEG re-encoder uses the coding information to encode the reduced resolution baseband to a reduced resolution MPEG stream. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110141321 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORMING A LENS-DISTORTED IMAGE TO A PERSPECTIVE IMAGE IN BAYER SPACE - A method and apparatus is provided for rendering an image. The method includes capturing a distorted input image using a color filter array to obtain an input image pattern having a single color channel per pixel. The input image is transformed to an input image signal. At least a portion of the input image signal is dewarped to obtain an undistorted image signal by (i) identifying selected coordinate points in the input signal that correspond to coordinate points in the undistorted image signal and (ii) determining a first color channel value for at least one of the selected coordinate points with a color correlation-adjusted interpolation technique using at least one nearest neighbor pixel having a color channel different from the first color channel. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110138436 | RETURN FEED FORWARD - Provided is a device for use with a headend, a household and an amplifier. The headend is able to provide signals within a high-frequency band f | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110138435 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACHIEVING BROADBAND MATCHING OF NARROW-BAND RESONATOR FILTER IMPEDANCES TO LOADS AND SOURCES | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110138434 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DIGITAL TV CONVERTER WITH IPTV CAPABILITIES - A video content system and method that includes a video server connected to a public communication network and a video content network, and a computing device connected to the video content network and a video display device. The computing device establishes a communication channel between the computing device and the video server. The computing device receives a digital video stream on the communication channel, where the digital video stream includes video data and message data, and the message data includes at least one request to perform a service. The computing device performs the service and sends data on the communication channel, where the data is a response to each request to perform the service. The computing device processes the video data to prepare it for transmission to the video display device. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110138177 | ONLINE PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE (PKI) SYSTEM - A method is provided for updating network-enabled devices with new identity data. The method includes requesting new identity data for a plurality of network-enabled devices and receiving notification that the new identity data is ready to be delivered to the plurality of network-enabled devices. A software object is delivered to the plurality of network-enabled devices over a first communications network. Each of the software objects is configured to cause the network-enabled devices to download the new identity data to the respective network-enabled device over a second communications network and install the new identity data at a time based at least in part on information included with the software object. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110135010 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AV SYNCHRONIZATION OF ENCODER DATA - A device is provided for use with an encoder, source video data and a source video clock. The encoder can encode video data at a timebase corrected video clock and can encode audio data at a timebase corrected audio clock. The source video data includes a video data portion and an audio data portion. The device includes a video processing portion, an audio processing portion and a clock generating portion. The video processing portion is arranged to receive the source video data based on the source video clock. The audio processing portion is arranged to receive the source video data based on the source video clock. The clock generating portion can generate the timebase corrected video clock and can generate the timebase corrected audio clock. The video processing portion can provide, to the encoder, the video data portion of the source video data based on the timebase corrected video clock. The audio processing portion can provide, to the encoder, the audio data portion of the source video data based on the timebase corrected audio clock. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110134991 | GENERATION AND DETECTION OF PRIVATE METADATA IN AN ENCODED VIDEO TRANSPORT STREAM - A method of processing a video transport stream includes receiving a video transport stream and identifying at least one portion of the video transport stream that is not to undergo modification when processed by a rate shaping device. An indicator is inserted into the video transport stream. The indicator is used to signal the statistical multiplexer that the at least one portion of the video transport stream is not to be modified when the video transport stream is processed by the rate shaping device. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110129199 | FACILITATING PLAYBACK OF RECORDED CONTENT CONTAINING A SERVICE TRANSITION - A method for facilitating playback of recorded content having a service transition point is provided. The method includes recording content containing a pre-transition service and a post-transition service, in which the pre-transition service occurs prior to the service transition point and the post-transition service occurs after the service transition point. The method also includes generating a content change file having content change records associated with the pre-transition service, the service transition point, and the post-transition service, and communicating the content and the content change file to a playback device configured to play the recorded content. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110129087 | System and Method for Encrypting and Decrypting Data - A method is provided for creating an encrypted data file from a data file having a sample entry box and a media data box. The sample entry box has description information therein. The media data box includes media data therein. The method includes: receiving the data file; encrypting the media data within the media data box with an encryption key; replacing the sample entry box with an encoded box; creating a sinf box within the encoded box; creating a form a box within the sinf box; and creating an schm box within the sinf box. The schm box indicates the type of formatting of the encrypted media data. The encoded box does not include an initial counter that may be used to decrypt the encrypted media data. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110123007 | Customer Premises Equipment Telephone Device Providing Advanced Media Features - A customer premises equipment (CPE) device, such as a telephone, connected to a local communications line existing on the premises is capable of receiving incoming telephone or like communication calls. The device has an interface which connects the device to the local communications line on the premises and enables the device to receive an alternating voltage analog ring signal corresponding to a notification of an incoming telephone call. The device also includes a demodulator for decoding and processing the ring signal including additional media data which is of low amplitude relative to that of the alternating voltage analog ring signal and which is modulated on the alternating voltage analog ring signal. Further, the device includes an input/output (I/O) component providing a means for audible and/or visual output of media from the device. The media output from the device directly corresponds to the media data modulated on the ring signal. CPE telephone systems and methods are also provided. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110122314 | SYSTEM FOR GENERATING CLOSED CAPTIONING COMPATIBLE WITH LEGACY AND NEWER SET-TOP BOXES - A caption formatting method and computing system that receives an input video stream that includes a sequence of input transport stream packets. The method locates user data in the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the user data includes input caption data compliant with an input caption data format. The method extracts EIA-608 captions and EIA-708 captions from the input caption data, and formats the EIA-608 captions as caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format. The method creates a sequence of output transport stream packets based on the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the sequence of output transport stream packets include the caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format and the input caption data. The method sends an output video stream from the computing device, where the output video stream includes the sequence of output transport stream packets. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110122225 | Depth Coding as an Additional Channel to Video Sequence - A 3D video coding apparatus and method which selectively codes video data from a plurality of video sources to include depth information. Coding may be performed by combining depth information with view information, such as RGB, YCrCb, or YUV, and coded together with the view information as, RGBD, YCrCbD or YUVD. An apparatus may selectively code the depth information based on a depth format flag to include no depth information (e.g. a 2D format) or include depth information as a chroma channel. The depth information may be coded separately or together with YCrCb based on a coding cost or rate distortion estimate to encode the video information to obtain the highest quality. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110119743 | COMMUNICATION OF CONTENT TO EVENT ATTENDEES - A method is provided for enrolling and authenticating an attendee of an event or activity so that content can be delivered to a mobile device associated with the attendee. The method includes receiving an identifier of a mobile communication device associated with an authorized attendee while the attendee and the mobile communication device are in a venue at which the event or activity takes place. The mobile communication device is registered by storing the identifier in a database of authorized attendees who have entered the venue. Entitlement credentials are communicated to the mobile device that are to be further communicated from the mobile device to a content server when requesting event or activity related content therefrom. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110119739 | SECURE CONSUMER PROGRAMMING DEVICE - A method is provided for operating a consumer programming device that provisions consumer electronic devices. The method includes receiving over a communication link a first enable message that authorizes the consumer programming device to make available one or more resources which enable it to provide services to consumer electronic devices. Services are provided to consumer electronic devices up until all the resources have been exhausted. Additional consumer electronic devices are provided with services only if a second enable message is received over the communication link. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110119703 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING SDV UNICAST PROGRAMMING WITH TARGETED ADVERTISING ON A BANDWIDTH-AVAILABLE BASIS - A switched digital video (SDV) system includes an SDV manager for coordinating a SDV session requested by a subscriber terminal. The system also includes a plurality of edge devices for receiving a transport stream that includes programming content and transmitting the transport stream over an access network to the subscriber terminal on one of a plurality of SDV channels. The SDV manager is configured to monitor bandwidth and cause the edge device to deliver the SDV session to the subscriber terminal in a SDV unicast stream when sufficient unused bandwidth is available or as a SDV multicast stream when sufficient unused bandwidth is not available. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110119064 | AUDIO DATA BIT RATE DETECTOR - A detector for determining an audio data bit rate of a pre-compressed audio elementary stream (AES), in which the pre-compressed AES includes a plurality of preamble length fields is provided. The detector includes an analyzer module configured to determine one or more candidate audio data bit rates of the AES from the plurality of preamble length fields, a detector module configured to determine whether one or more of the candidate audio data bit rates are correct, and a selector module configured to select one of the one or more candidate audio data bit rates determined to be correct as the audio data bit rate of the pre-compressed AES. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116607 | Detecting Foreign Voltage Faults in Telephone Customer Premise Equipment - In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a digital network to telephone interface device having a controller capable of detecting foreign voltage faults without interrupting telephone service. Upon detection of a foreign voltage fault the controller can deactivate the telephone service and initiate a test sequence to confirm the foreign voltage fault. If the fault is confirmed the telephone service remains deactivated and an operator of the digital network is notified. The device will improve the quality of service and save the cost of sending some one to investigate the fault. The operator can take proactive action once the device provides fault analysis and information remotely. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116540 | Multimedia Content Handling in a Home-Network System - A method of handling multimedia digital content in a network that interconnects diverse electronic devices is provided. Multimedia digital content with associated metadata is acquired by a device on the network from a source, and characteristics of a target device on which the multimedia digital content is to be played are obtained. At least one or both of the metadata of the multimedia digital content and the characteristics of the target device are analyzed for determining rules or parameters for encoding the source multimedia digital content. After the analyzing and determining steps, the source multimedia digital content is encoded with the determined rules or parameters and the encoded multimedia digital content is transmitted to the target device. Accordingly, the encoding step produces a content adaptation that is specifically optimized for playback on the target device. A Media Interoperability Unit (MIU) and a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) system are also provided. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110110415 | MONITORING INSTABILITY AND RESETTING AN EQUALIZER - Instability resulting from non-linear impairments is detected and an equalizer of an end device is reset. An equalization instability threshold is retrieved from a data storage device. An equalization parameter for the end device is monitored and, if the equalization parameter exceeds the equalization instability threshold, the equalizer is reset. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110099600 | Increased Cable Television Tap Bandwidth Utilizing Existing Tap Housings - In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a resonance restricting material in communication with a bypass line of a cable television tap. The bypass line generates resonances at a defined frequency in response to RF parameters in the tap and the resonances increase insertion losses at the defined frequency and precludes bandwidth of the tap being increased above the defined frequency. The resonance restricting material may attenuate the resonances generated by the bypass line at the defined frequency (e.g., approximately 1.2 GHz) and reduce insertion losses at the defined frequency and enable the bandwidth of the tap to be increased (e.g., from 1.0 GHz to 1.5 GHz). | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110096720 | Method and System for Managing Information Within a Network - A method and system for managing information using a gateway ( | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110093905 | ADAPTIVE MEDIA CACHING FOR VIDEO ON DEMAND - A method and on-demand computing system for hierarchical caching of content in an on-demand computing device. The method receives, at the on-demand computing device, a request to send media content to a playback device, where the media content is stored in a media library of a content server. The method retrieves the media content from a hierarchical cache for the on-demand computing device, and sends the media content to the playback device. The hierarchical cache includes a first cache, a second cache, and the content library, where the first cache has a length based on an age of the second cache. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110085600 | Decoding Apparatus for a Set-Top Box - A decoding apparatus includes at least one data input terminal receiving a program transport stream from an external set-top box. A decoder decodes the program transport stream and a data output terminal outputs the decoded content to an external device. The program transport stream is the same transport stream received by the external set-top box from a service provider. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110085593 | Macroblock Level Adaptive Frame/Field Coding for Digital Video Content - A method and system of encoding and decoding digital video content. The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures which can each be intra, predicted, or bi-predicted pictures. Each of the pictures comprises macroblocks that can be further divided into smaller blocks. The method entails encoding and decoding each of the smaller blocks in each picture in said stream of pictures in either frame mode or in field mode. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110078757 | PROVISIONING A SET-TOP BOX - A method of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a provisioning server is disclosed. In the method, a provisioning request is received from a STB, where the provisioning request includes a provisioning stream identifier, an authorization server identifier, and a STB address. The provisioning server requests a provisioning system generate a configuration for the STB, where the configuration includes a channel map and basic code. The provisioning server receives the configuration from the provisioning system. The provisioning server prepares provisioning information, including the configuration for the STB and sends the provisioning information to the STB using the identifier for the STB. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110078002 | ALTERNATIVE ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT IN RECORDED CONTENT STREAMS - A set top box includes a tuner for receiving a switched digital video (SDV) stream from an SDV source, in which the SDV stream contains content and a default advertisement. The set top box also includes a memory for storing the SDV stream and a controller for generating and outputting an ad catalog to at least one of an ad server and an SDV manager, in which the ad catalog contains information useable by the ad server in identifying one or more alternative advertisements to be played by the set top box during play of the SDV stream in place of the default advertisement, and in which the controller is configured to receive the one or more alternative advertisements and to replace the default advertisement in the SDV stream. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110075841 | DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT PROTECTION FOR CONTENT IDENTIFIED USING A SOCIAL TV SERVICE - A method is provided for viewing a bookmarked video clip. The method includes establishing communication over a broadband network with a first network element on which at least one bookmark resides. The bookmark includes metadata identifying a bookmarked video clip of a video program and specifies a network address at which the bookmarked video clip is located. Upon user request, metadata associated with a specified bookmark is received. Communication is established with a second network element on which the specified bookmarked video clip is located using the network address of the specified bookmarked video clip provided in the metadata. The bookmarked video clip is received from the second network element. The bookmarked video clip is encrypted in accordance with a digital rights management scheme. The bookmarked video clip is decrypted and rendered. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110075738 | TRANSCODER FROM FIRST MPEG STREAM TO SECOND MPEG STREAM - A system is configured to transcode a first MPEG stream to a second MPEG stream. The system includes a first MPEG decoder capable of decoding the first MPEG stream and a second MPEG encoder capable of producing the second MPEG stream. The second MPEG encoder is configured to maintain a decoded picture type of I, P, or B. The second MPEG encoder is also configured to maintain a decoded picture structure of frame or field, identify a metadata per each macroblock (MB) of an MB pair of the first MPEG stream, and determine whether to re-encode the MB into the second MPEG stream using one of the frame or the field mode based on the identified metadata. The second MPEG encoder is further configured to re-encode the MB pair into the second MPEG stream using one of the frame or the field mode based on the identified metadata. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110072480 | Method and Apparatus for Forwarding Television Channel Video Image Snapshots to an Auxiliary Display Device - A method of processing television content metadata in a communications system. The system includes a consumer device (e.g., a set-top box and/or television) in communication with an auxiliary display device (e.g., webpad). A broadcast television channel video image signal and the metadata are received by the consumer device. A single video image frame of the broadcast television channel video image signal is captured when a predefined indicator is detected in the metadata. The metadata is modified by changing the predefined indicator to an image identifier associated with the single video image frame. The single video image frame is converted to a well-known format, and the consumer device sends the modified metadata and the converted single video image frame to the auxiliary display device for display thereon. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110069745 | USING EQUALIZATION COEFFICIENTS OF END DEVICES IN A CABLE TELEVISION NETWORK TO DETERMINE AND DIAGNOSE IMPAIRMENTS IN UPSTREAM CHANNELS - A system estimates impairment contributions for upstream communications in a cable television system. The system receives equalization coefficients used by end devices in the cable television system. The equalization coefficients are used by equalizers to mitigate distortion in upstream channels for the end devices. The system analyzes the coefficients based on impairment thresholds to determine whether impairment problems exist and to identify the types of impairment problems that exist. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110066858 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IPSec LINK CONFIGURATION - A method for configuring Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) protocol. The method includes configuring IPsec phase 1 Security Associations (SA) lifetimes and soft phase 2 SA lifetimes in a manner enabling efficient Dead Peer Detection recovery of secure communication between client and server in the event of a communication disruption and thereby preventing undesirable sustained periods of non-communication between client and server. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110066744 | Transitioning between Multiple Services in an MPEG Stream - In a method for transitioning between multiple services in an MPEG stream, the MPEG stream including a pre-transition service and a post-transition service is received. In addition, a service transition point that identifies a location in the MPEG stream where the MPEG stream transitions from the pre-transition service having a first set of packet identifiers (PIDs) to the post-transition service having a second set of PIDs is detected for the MPEG stream and the second set of PIDs is mapped to have the same values as the first set of PIDs. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110064141 | Picture Level Adaptive Frame/Field Coding for Digital Video Content - A method and system of encoding and decoding digital video content. The digital video content comprises a stream of pictures which can each be intra, predicted, or bi-predicted pictures. Each of the pictures comprises macroblocks that can be further divided into smaller blocks. The method entails encoding and decoding each picture in said stream of pictures in either frame mode or in field mode. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110055879 | PROCESSING, HANDLING, AND FORWARDING CONDITIONAL ACCESS MESSAGES TO DEVICES - A computer-implemented method and system that configures a first DSG capable computing device that is connected to a home network, and includes a conditional access system that communicates data with the home network, and commits the first DSG capable computing device as a DSG proxy server. The method advertises DSG services to a second DSG capable computing device connected to the home network. The method establishes a tunnel for the second DSG capable computing device to filter DSG data for the second DSG capable computing device from the data, and forwards the DSG data to the second DSG capable computing device via the tunnel. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110047374 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A CONFIGURABLE ONLINE PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE (PKI) MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method and apparatus are provided for generating identity data to be provisioned in product devices that are a part of a project. The method includes establishing a template associated with each CA in a hierarchical chain of CAs having a root CA at a highest level in the chain and a signing CA at a lowest level in the chain. The template associated with the signing CA inherits mandatory attribute fields specified in the root CA and any intermediate CA in the hierarchical chain. The mandatory attribute fields are user-specifiable fields to be populated with PKI data. A configuration file is generated upon receipt of an order for digital certificates using PKI data provided by a user to populate the mandatory attribute fields of the template associated with the signing CA. The digital certificates requested in the order are generated using the PKI data in the configuration file. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110030069 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORISED USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA - A method for protecting digital media content from unauthorised use on a client, is described. The method comprising the steps of receiving from a server on the client a list of processes, instructions, activity descriptions or data types that must not be active simultaneously with playback of the digital media content (“the blacklist”). The method further comprising checking, on the client, for the presence of any items on the list; and continuing interaction with the server, key management and playback of protected content only if no items on the list are detected on the client. A system is also described. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110030019 | IP VIDEO DELIVERY USING FLEXIBLE CHANNEL BONDING - An IP video delivery system and method that allocates a first number of video streams for delivery on a number of channels that, provides a number of bonding groups, where each bonding group bonds at least one of the channels, and allocates a second number of video streams for delivery on the bonding groups. In one aspect, the method delivers the first video streams as unbonded on the channels. The bonding groups utilize bandwidth unused by the first video streams. In one aspect, the method utilizes bandwidth unused by the first or second video streams for high speed data. The method provides instantaneous load balancing to spread the first and second video streams across all available bandwidth in the channels, and delivers those video streams using a variable bit rate with no additional statistical multiplexing rate shaping to fit video streams into the channels. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110029653 | NETMANAGER AND NETMODULE GENERAL UPNP EXTENSIONS FOR OCAP HNEXT - A computer-implemented method for a home network registers an application with a NetManager, and provides a handler to the NetManager to control discovery of desired devices or services for the application. In one aspect of the present invention, the home network is an OpenCable Application Platform home network, and the desired devices or services are Universal Plug and Play devices or services. The method receives an event notification from the NetManager when the NetManager discovers a device or service that is one of the desired devices or services, creates an object instance of NetModule for the device or service, and accesses a standard interface for the device or service through the object instance of NetModule. The method accesses the standard interface by posting an XML document to the device or service using an interface of the object instance of NetModule. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110026639 | SPATIAL MAPPING OF AN OFDM SIGNAL TO REDUCE ATTENUATION FROM AN INDIVIDUAL TRANSMIT ANTENNA IN A MIMO TRANSMITTER - A method is provided for transmitting a digital signal. The method includes generating a plurality of spatial streams from a digital signal and transforming the spatial streams into a plurality of space-time streams. Each of the space-time streams are cycled in the frequency domain among each of a plurality of transmit antennas. The space-time streams are wirelessly transmitted from the plurality of transmit antennas. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110026608 | METHOD OF ENCODING VIDEO CONTENT - In a method of encoding video content, bits of a first view and a second view of a three-dimensional (3D) video content are manipulated to occupy a first slice of video and a second slice of video, wherein a boundary is configured to be formed between the first and second slices. In addition, the bits of each of the first slice and the second slice are encoded separately from each other to form a first independently compressed video slice and a second independently compressed video slice. The first and second independently compressed video slices are then multiplexed to form at least one transport stream operable to be processed to render at least one of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D video. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110025857 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING VIDEO STREAM - A method is disclosed of analyzing a video stream using a video analyzer. The video stream includes image frame data corresponding to an integer N number of image frames, respectively. The video analyzer includes a controller and a frame processor. The method includes setting a problem threshold value corresponding to a parameter of the image frame data, receiving first image frame data corresponding to a first image frame, analyzing the parameter of a portion of the received first image frame data and generating an analyzed value and determining whether there is a problem based on the analyzed value and the problem threshold value. The portion of the analyzed portion of the received first image frame data is less than the total received first image frame data. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110022690 | COMMUNICATING DATA FROM A SOURCE DEVICE TO A TERMINAL - In a method for receiving data from a source device in a terminal having a terminal identifier, a code section lookup table is received from the source device, in which the code section lookup table contains a correlation between terminal labels and specific code sections. In addition, a determination as to whether the terminal identifier of the terminal matches a terminal label listed in the code section lookup table is made, and if there is a match, the specific code section corresponding to the matching terminal label is identified and downloaded from the source device. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110012992 | SIMULCAST OF STEREOVIEWS FOR 3D TV - A three-dimensional (3D) video encoder includes a first encoder, a second encoder, and a multiplexer. The first encoder is configured to encode a base view to form a first independently compressed video stream associated with video content. The second encoder is configured to encode a nonbase view to form a second independently compressed video stream associated with the video content. The multiplexer is configured to multiplex the first and second independently compressed video streams associated with the video content to form a transport stream. The transport stream is operable to be processed to render a 3D video using the base and nonbase views. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110002325 | MULTIMEDIA TERMINAL DEVICE HAVING INTEGRATED TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND USER INTERFACE METHOD - Customer premise equipment provides a communication gateway with a network of a service provider and includes a multimedia terminal device for installation on the customer's premises typically at an out-of-the-way location. The multimedia terminal device includes a modem having an embedded media terminal adaptor and an integrated telephone base station, for instance, to provide both Internet connectivity and Voice-over-Internet-Protocol telephone service to the customer premises. A portable cordless telephone handset communicates via wireless communication signals with the telephone base station thereby providing telephone service to the premises. The handset is also capable of transmitting commands to the telephone base station for purposes of providing a user interface for the components of the multimedia terminal device. For example, as a result of a sent command, status or other information can be forwarded to the handset, the modem can be instructed to reboot, a test can be initiated on the multimedia terminal device, or a set up operation can be accomplished. The display screen of the handset can be used to provide the customer with the requested information or results. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100329340 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING ENCODING DELAY WHEN A TELECINE SOURCE MATERIAL IS DETECTED - A video encoder includes an inverse telecine detector for receiving video frames and generating a telecine detection signal identifying repeated frames and an encoder pipeline buffer for storing unrepeated video frames received from the inverse telecine detector. The video encoder also includes an encoder engine for encoding the unrepeated video frames received from the encoder pipeline buffer, a pre-encoded frame storage medium for storing pre-encoded frames, and a processor. The processor is configured to cause the encoder engine to replace selected frames that have been identified as repeating frames by the inverse telecine detector with a pre-encoded frame accessed from the pre-encoded frame storage medium. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100325658 | TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS USING AN EDGE QAM - An edge quadrature amplitude modulator (QAM) including an input module configured to receive a switched digital video (SDV) stream containing at least one ad opportunity, at least one ad stream containing a plurality of alternative advertisements, and an ad playlist that contains a list of one or more of the plurality of alternative advertisements to be inserted into the SDV stream. The edge QAM also includes an ad insertion module configured to detect the at least one ad opportunity in the SDV stream and to insert one or more of the plurality of alternative advertisements in the at least one ad stream based upon the ad playlist into the SDV stream at the at least one ad opportunity and an output module configured to send the SDV stream and the one or more alternative advertisements to at least one STB. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100325657 | INSERTION OF RECORDED SECONDARY DIGITAL VIDEO CONTENT DURING PLAYBACK OF PRIMARY DIGITAL VIDEO CONTENT - A method of operating a digital video service set top box system is provided. The set top box system accommodates playback of locally stored recorded secondary digital video content. The method begins by initiating playback of a primary digital video program. Insertion points associated with the primary digital video program are detected; these insertion points indicate frame-accurate transition points in the primary digital video program. During playback of the primary digital video program, the recorded secondary digital video program is inserted at any appropriate insertion point in a frame-accurate manner. The termination of the secondary digital video program is likewise marked and triggers a return to the primary digital video program, at the original insertion point or any other desired insertion point which may exist in the primary digital video program. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100325654 | COMMUNICATING A DEVICE DESCRIPTOR BETWEEN TWO DEVICES WHEN REGISTERING ONTO A NETWORK - A method for registering a first device with a second device over a wireless network includes receiving a registration request from the first device and sending one or more user input choices to the first device. The user input choices each specify a user input action available though a user interface associated with the second device. A device description describing the second device is sent to the first device in a manner that allows it to be presented to the user by the first device. At least one of the user input actions are sequentially received through the user interface in response to instructions provided to the user by the first device. The first device is registered with the second device if the user input actions received by the second device correctly reflect the instructions provided to the user by the first device. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100318791 | CERTIFICATE STATUS INFORMATION PROTOCOL (CSIP) PROXY AND RESPONDER - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing certificate status information about a certificate includes receiving, at a Certificate Status Information Protocol (CSIP) proxy device the certificate identity information about the certificate of the second device. Then determining, using the CSIP proxy device, whether the certificate status information is stored in a CSIP proxy device memory. If the certificate status information is not stored in the CSIP proxy device memory, creating a CSIP request based on the certificate identity information and sending the CSIP request, including the certificate identity information, to a CSIP responder computer outside the local network domain. If the certificate status information is stored in the CSIP proxy device memory, sending the certificate status information to the first device. Also, a system and method are disclosed for using a CSIP responder computer. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100316382 | Ramen Backpumped Near-Zero Dispersion CWDM System and Method - A system includes an optical transmitter portion, an optical fiber, an optical receiver portion, a laser portion and a combiner portion. Optical signals may be launched by the optical transmitter portion at very low power levels to avoid Raman-induced interactions between the co-propagating signals along the optical fiber. The laser portion and the combiner portion may apply a back-pumped laser signal to the optical fiber. The back-pumped laser signal provides a Raman gain that amplifies the co-propagating signals to a minimum power level such that the optical receiver portion can detect the co-propagating signals within a predetermined acceptable carrier-to-noise ratio. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100313014 | DOWNLOADABLE SECURITY BASED ON CERTIFICATE STATUS - A conditional access system (CAS) computer in a downloadable CAS receives a downloadable management certificate (DMC) and determines, using the DMC, security information including a DMC key size and an expiration time of a DMC subordinate certificate authority (sub-CA) certificate, for the client device. The CAS computer then determines whether the DMC is valid based on the expiration time of the DMC sub-CA certificate. If the DMC is determined to be valid, the CAS server sends a cryptographic identity for the client device and a CAS client to the client device protected using the DMC. At a later time, if the DMC key size is considered to be still sufficiently secure, the validity of the DMC is extended by issuing a new DMC sub-CA certificate with the same public key as the original DMC sub-CA certificate. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100303471 | BURST MODE LASER TRANSMITTER HAVING AN EXTREMELY FAST RESPONSE TIME WHEN TRIGGERED FROM A TOTALLY OFF STATE - A burst mode laser transmitter includes a burst mode laser diode and a controller having an input for receiving an RF data signal. The controller includes a triggering arrangement and a modulation arrangement. The triggering arrangement is configured to bias the laser diode to an on-state bias level when an RF data signal is present at the input to the controller and to an off-state bias level when no RF data signal is present at the input to the controller. The modulation arrangement is configured to modulate the on-state bias level at which the laser diode is biased with the RF data signal only when the RF data signal is present at the input of the controller. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100303021 | SIMULTANEOUS DELIVERY OF A TELEPHONY CALL OVER A BROADBAND ACCESS NETWORK AND A CIRCUIT-SWITCHED NETWORK - A call processing module includes a first network interface configured to communicate over a packet-switched network and a second network interface configured to communicate with a local subscriber over a broadband access network employing RF modulation. A call manager is provided which includes a database associating a local subscriber telephone number with an address of a client device associated with the local subscriber for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive telephony service. A frequency handler is provided for allocating to the client device a receive frequency and a transmit frequency to be used by the client device over the broadband access network during a telephony call. The call processing module also includes a session manager configured to generate and receive signaling messages for establishing the telephony call between the local subscriber and a remote subscriber over the broadband access network and the packet-switched network as well as over the broadband access network, the packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network in communication with the packet-switched network. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100272419 | DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER RECORDING AND RENDERING PROGRAMS FORMED FROM SPLICED SEGMENTS - A method and apparatus is provided for recording a program. The method includes storing, in response to a use request, at least one content file that includes first and second program segments that are spliced to form a single program. At least one index file is created and stored. The file index includes program specific information associated with the first and second program segments. The index file also includes an identification of a splice point denoting a transition between the first and second program segments. In addition, a splice index is created and stored. The splice index includes timing information specifying a time at which the splice point occurs. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100265404 | SYSTEM FOR REDUCING NOISE IN VIDEO PROCESSING - A system includes a data storage configured to store a model human visual system, an input module configured to receive an original picture in a video sequence and to receive a reference picture, and a processor. The processor is configured to create a pixel map of the original picture using the model human visual system. A first layer is determined from the pixel map. A weighting map is determined from a motion compensated difference between the original picture and the reference picture. A processed picture is then determined from the original picture using the weighting map and the first layer. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100264936 | Connector Fitting Test Tool - A compact and easy to use female connector testing tool includes an outer housing containing a movable plunger. A male connection end is attached to one end of the movable plunger. A predetermined resistive force is provided between the outer housing and the plunger to provide adequate resistance against movement between them. As the tool is pulled away from the female connector, in which the male connection end is inserted, the plunger moves with respect to the outer housing. An indicator indicates if the female connector has passed (and is good) or has failed. The indicator may be used to provide measurements of the pullout or push-in force required to remove or insert the male connector from the female connector. The indicator may include a pass/fail indicator, a graded scale, an electronic display or audible display. A mechanical pullout mechanism may be used to provide a fast test of the holding resistance of the female connector. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100217964 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ENABLEMENT OF JTAG INTERFACE - A method, device and system for controlling JTAG interface enablement within a communication device. The JTAG interface can be selectively enabled based on the receipt of an encrypted access token generated by an access token server. The access token server generates the access token in response to an end user providing appropriate device-specific information. The access token includes appropriate information that, upon appropriate authentication and decryption, can temporarily device bind the boot code image of the device in a manner that enables the JTAG interface. Alternatively, the access token includes appropriate information that instructs the general purpose processor to choose between JTAG interface enablement information and JTAG interface disablement information for use with the boot code image of the device. The access token can include expiration information that causes an enabled JTAG interface to revert back to its disabled status upon expiration of the access token. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100215171 | TRANSPORT PACKET DECRYPTION TESTING IN A CLIENT DEVICE - In a method for testing a transport packet decrypting module of a client device, a first decryption operation of the transport packet decrypting module is implemented on a test encrypted control word using a content decryption key ladder to derive a test control word, a second decryption operation of the transport packet decrypting module is implemented on one or more test transport packets using the test control word via a predetermined content decryption algorithm, the KIV is derived from the decrypted transport packets, and the derived KIV is compared with a value stored in the client device to verify whether the transport packet decrypting module of the client device is functioning properly. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100188581 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING VIDEO PROGRAM MATERIAL - A method of distributing video program material includes encoding the program material in accordance with a first distribution constraint (CBR) to produce a first stream (A), encoding the program material in accordance with a second distribution constraint, which is more relaxed that the first distribution constraint, to produce a second stream (B), and employing the first and second streams to produce a third stream (C) representing differences between the first and second streams. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100169932 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING VIA NETWORK GENERATED OVERLAYS - In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is used to enable interactive functions via network generated overlays. This invention enables network operators to launch interactive functionality without requiring changes to existing equipment that exists in the field on the client end. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100169919 | ACQUIRING CABLE CHANNEL MAP INFORMATION IN A CABLE RECEIVER - The present invention is a method, system, and computer-readable medium for acquiring a channel map in a cable receiver. The channel map associates physical analog and digital channels in an RF spectrum to channel identification data, where the channel identification data includes physical RF channel numbers, modulation type, virtual channels, and channel names. The method obtains a list of available channels from an electronic program guide service provider, and initializes the channel map based on the list of available channels. The method performs a channel scan to detect clear channels, and collect identification information for each detected clear channel. Based on the identification information, the method updates the channel map for each detected channel. The method receives changes to the channel map from a user of the cable receiver device, updates the channel map based on the changes to the channel map from the user, and uploads the channel map to the electronic program guide service provider. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100169646 | SECURE AND EFFICIENT DOMAIN KEY DISTRIBUTION FOR DEVICE REGISTRATION - A domain key is securely distributed from a device in an existing network to a device outside the network. Each device generates the session key on its own using the first random number, the second random number, the Personal Identification Number, and the same key generation function. The device in the existing network sends the domain key encrypted with the session key to the other device. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100169399 | PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN) GENERATION BETWEEN TWO DEVICES IN A NETWORK - A method of generating a Personal Identification Number (PIN) between a first device and a second device in a network is provided. The method includes securely receiving information of input choices of the second device and random numbers assigned to the input choices at the first device. At the first device, the PIN is generated from the random numbers, and instructions are provided directing an entry of the input choices on the second device. At the second device, the input choices are entered. The second device is operable to generate the PIN from the input choices and the random numbers if the input choices are entered as instructed. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100167656 | MULTI-MODE DEVICE REGISTRATION - A device configured to communicate with a second device may register a second device using one of multiple registration modes including a domain-registration mode, a device-registration mode, and a no-registration mode. The domain-registration mode allows the second device to register with the device and at least one other device registered with the device, the device-registration mode allows the second device to register with the device and with no other devices, and the no-registration mode does not allow any device to register with the device. The device receives a selection of one of the multiple registration modes and places the device in the selected registration mode. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100166054 | HYBRID VIDEO ENCODER INCLUDING REAL-TIME AND OFF-LINE VIDEO ENCODERS - A method and apparatus is provided for encoding a video signal stream. The method includes receiving a video signal stream, identifying a plurality of individual segments within the video signal stream and encoding, off-line, recurring ones of the individual segments that recur with at least a first frequency to produce encoded recurring segments. The video signal stream is also encoded in real-time to generate a real-time encoded video stream. Segments in the real-time encoded video stream are replaced with their corresponding encoded recurring segments to thereby produce an encoded video output stream that includes some segments encoded in real-time and other segments encoded off-line. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100165214 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF CABLE AND OFF-AIR SIGNALS IN A DUAL OR HIGHER TUNER SET-TOP TERMINAL - Systems and methods are provided for minimizing cable and off-air signal detection on separate cable and off-air input jacks in a set-top terminal with two or more tuners. The systems and methods employ logic to progress through different scan configurations with different input jack/signal detection assignments to minimize signal detection delay. Tuners are pooled for a given input jack/signal assignment, scanned frequencies are queued and carried to the next scan configuration, and user input is employed, whenever possible. The systems and methods are of particular value for retail applications, where users may install cable, off-air, or both sources incorrectly to their set-top terminal's cable and off-air input jacks. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100165196 | AV PRESENTATION SYSTEM INCLUDING AN RCU FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE AV PRESENTATION DEVICE - An AV presentation device that may be installed as part of an AV presentation system including a television display device includes an RCU for emitting a user signal in response to user actuation and a base unit for connection to the television display device. The base unit includes an input element for receiving the user signal and, responsive thereto, launching a browser application that runs on the base unit and generates a signal for displaying a browser window on the television display device. The base unit also includes a memory storing a file which, when opened by the browser application, displays in the browser window a document including instructions pertaining to the RCU. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100165194 | CAPTURE BUFFER CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR CAPTION CARRIAGE SWITCH - A system, method, and computer readable medium for avoiding underflow of a caption buffer in a digital video encoding device. The method receives a sequence of digital video frames, and captions that correspond to the digital video frames in the sequence. The method receives first captions in a first caption carriage, and encodes the first captions, and the corresponding digital video frames, in a compressed video format. The method detects a switch from the first caption carriage to a second caption carriage, and stores second captions in the capture buffer, where each second caption is received in the second caption carriage and corresponds to one of the digital video frames in the sequence. The method examines the capture buffer and the second captions to determine whether underflow of the capture buffer is present or absent. When underflow is absent, the method encodes the second captions, and the corresponding digital video frames, in the compressed video format. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100165070 | VIDEO TELEPHONY DEVICE HAVING FUNCTIONALITY TO MUTE INCOMING MESSAGES THAT ARE BEING RECORDED - A method of responding to an incoming call includes receiving the incoming call from a caller. The incoming call includes caller ID information having image data associated with the caller included therein. The image data is displayed on a video telephony device display while audibly announcing receipt of the incoming call. A communication session is established with the caller by presenting a pre-recorded announcement to the caller. In response to the pre-recorded announcement, a message from the caller is received and recorded. The message is rendered while it is being recorded only if a user-selectable mute setting option has not been activated. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100164693 | METHOD OF TARGETED DISCOVERY OF DEVICES IN A NETWORK - A targeted discovery between a first device and a second device in a network, in particular, a WHDI network, provides discovery for an identified device or a group of identified devices. The targeted discovery determines an identifier for a second device or a group of devices that the second device belongs to, and sends a device discovery message to the second device using the identifier for the second device when the second device is configured to respond to the device discovery message if the device discovery message includes the identifier for the second device. The first device receives a response to the device discovery message from the second device and can start further communication with the second device. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100162414 | Digital Rights Management for Differing Domain-Size Restrictions - A digital rights management system includes a domain authority controller that manages different domain-size restrictions for different content sources. A subdomain is created for each content source and has a corresponding domain-size restriction. Different domain-size restrictions for the content sources are stored along with the number of devices registered for each subdomain. A domain authority controller is operable to register a device with a subdomain if the corresponding domain-size restriction is not violated. A device is allowed to use content from a content source if it is registered with the subdomain for the content source. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100162321 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING INDIVIDUALIZED SUBSCRIPTION PLANS IN A SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SYSTEM - A content delivery system headend is provided which includes a Switched Digital Video (SDV) manager for coordinating SDV sessions requested by subscribers over an access network. The headend also includes an input for receiving content to be broadcast during the SDV sessions and a subscriber control unit. The subscriber control unit is configured to compare channel change requests received by the SDV manager from subscribers to a current subscription plan that specifies a pre-established set of channels to which the subscriber has previously subscribed. In this way tuning information for accessing channels specified in the channel change requests is only supplied if the channel change requests request channels included in the current subscription plan. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100162293 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING A BLACKED OUT PROGRAM IN A SEAMLESS MANNER - A method is provided for delivering alternative programming to subscribers. The method includes receiving from a satellite an RF signal in which a first program to be blacked out is carried on a first channel. The method also includes tuning to the first channel and extracting therefrom a first digital transport stream. A replacement program is received in a second digital transport stream. The first and second digital transport streams are decoded to produce first and second video outputs, respectively. The first video output is delivered to subscriber terminals over a content distribution system. When the first program is to be blacked out, the second video output is delivered to the subscriber terminals over the content distribution system instead of the first video output. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100162289 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUBSCRIBER INCENTIVES TO VIEW ADVERTISING THAT ACCOMPANIES PROGRAMMING CONTENT DELIVERED OVER A CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM - A method is provided for incentivizing a viewer to view advertisements presented during programming delivered over a content delivery system. The method includes receiving over a content delivery system a program and one or more advertisements associated therewith. At least a portion of the program and at least one of the advertisements associated therewith is rendered. A first video segment is received over the content delivery system. The first video segment prompts the viewer to provide user input indicating that the viewer has viewed at least one of the advertisements. The prompt is presented to the viewer. The user input is received in response to presentation of the prompt. The viewer is rewarded after at least one predetermined criterion is met. The predetermined criterion includes a determination that the user input is a proper response to the prompt. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100161716 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STREAMING MULTIPLE SCALABLE CODED VIDEO CONTENT TO CLIENT DEVICES AT DIFFERENT ENCODING RATES - A method of delivering content to a client device over a network includes establishing communication with a first client device over a network. A first message is received over the network that indicates the content rendering capabilities of the first client device. Based on the first message, content is transmitted to the first client device over the network in a format that is fully decodable by the first client device in accordance with its content rendering capabilities. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100161664 | Method and System of Authenticating the Identity of a User of a Public Computer Terminal - Methods for accessing private and public data via a public terminal are disclosed. With respect to accessing private content, a method for authenticating the identity of a user of the public terminal is disclosed. Unique identifiers are transmitted in a pre-defined area adjacent or nearby the public terminal and are monitored by a receiver. This information is utilized to electronically compile and update in real-time a list of identifiers that have recently been monitored by the receiver, and the list of identifiers is used to electronically create and update in real-time a temporary database including identity verification data corresponding only for identifiers in the list of identifiers. Identity verification data input into the public terminal by the user is compared with the set of identity verification data contained in the temporary database to determine whether or not there is a match of identity verification data. Access to private content via the public terminal is granted to the user if a match is found during the comparison. A method for displaying public data and a system by which these methods can be implemented are also disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100158209 | Access to Network Based on Automatic Speech-Recognition - A device for accessing a network based on automatic speech-recognition includes an audio port configured to communicate audio signals with a customer premise equipment (CPE) device and a data packet port configured to communicate data packets with the network. The device also includes a processor configured to convert the audio signals into the data packets and vice versa, detect in the audio signals from the CPE device a verbal command to dial a telephone number, and enable a dialing of the telephone number through the network. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100158120 | Reference Picture Selection for Sub-Pixel Motion Estimation - A video coding system includes a prediction module configured to perform multi-reference picture sub-pixel motion estimation. Reference pictures are selected for the sub-pixel motion estimation based on full-pixel motion estimation. A cost function is used to select the reference pictures from one or more groups of reference pictures for a block in a macroblock. The cost is based on full-pixel motion estimation errors and a predicted motion vector for the block. The selected reference pictures are used for sub-pixel motion estimation to get the final motion vector for each block. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100158093 | Methods and System for Determining a Dominant Impairment of an Impaired Communication Channel - Methods are described for identifying a dominant impairment on a communication channel impaired by an interference issue. The methods include systematic examination of total power loading, systematic examination of signal power reduction, statistical examination of communication channel noise power, and systematic examination of interleaver effectiveness. Each relates to automatically diagnosing and characterizing distortion-based interference issues by monitoring the performance of a communication channel during a testing procedure. These methods enable a technician or engineer to remotely diagnose distortion-based interference issues relatively quickly without having to use external test equipment and without having to deploy technicians to various locations within the cable plant. A system by which these methods can be implemented is also disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100158049 | SYSTEM FOR STACKING SIGNALS IN AN EXPANDED FREQUENCY RANGE - A device for stacking signals in an expanded frequency range includes an upconverter and a multiplexer. The upconverter is configured to receive upstream signals that are in a first frequency range, upconvert some of the upstream signals that are in a first frequency sub-range of the first frequency range and pass some of the upstream signals that are in a second frequency sub-range of the first frequency range. The multiplexer is configured to stack the upconverted upstream signals and the upstream signals in the second frequency sub-range and output the stacked upstream signals. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100157824 | Methods and System for Determining a Dominant Impairment of an Impaired Communication Channel - Methods are described for identifying a dominant impairment on a communication channel impaired by an interference issue. The methods include systematic examination of total power loading, systematic examination of signal power reduction, statistical examination of communication channel noise power, and systematic examination of interleaver effectiveness. Each relates to automatically diagnosing and characterizing distortion-based interference issues by monitoring the performance of a communication channel during a testing procedure. These methods enable a technician or engineer to remotely diagnose distortion-based interference issues relatively quickly without having to use external test equipment and without having to deploy technicians to various locations within the cable plant. A system by which these methods can be implemented is also disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100154009 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOWNLOADING SOFTWARE IMAGES TO A MOBILE DEVICE AND TO A HOME NETWORKED DEVICE TO IMPLEMENT COMPATIBLE SERVICES - A method is provided for downloading software to first and second devices. A request is received for a service that is to be implemented on the first and second devices and which is to be interoperable between the first and second devices. An identification of the first and second devices is received. Based in part on the identifications that are received, a first software image is identified for implementing the service on the first device and at least a second software image is identified for implementing the service on the second device such that the first and second images implement the services on their respective devices in a manner that is interoperable with one another. The first software image is provided to a first download server configured to download software images to the first device over a first communications network. The second software image is provided to a second download server configured to download software images to the second device over a second communications network distinct from the first communications network. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100138903 | Ticket-Based Implementation of Content Leasing - The present invention is a method and system for accessing digital content stored on a computing device. An agreement between a subscriber and a content provider allows the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider, and download the digital content from a content server operated by the content provider. The method retrieves a service ticket for the computing device, and retrieves content rights for the digital content. The service ticket includes authorization data, and a session key, where the authorization data include authorized subscription services for the computing device. The content rights include required subscription services for the digital content and are delivered authenticated with the session key. The method allows access to the digital content when the authorized subscription services included with the authorization data match the required subscription services included with the content rights. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100138900 | REMOTE ACCESS OF PROTECTED INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP)-BASED CONTENT OVER AN IP MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM (IMS)-BASED NETWORK - A service control method, device and system for allowing secure, remote access of protected IP-based content delivered over an IMS-based network to one or more devices within a home network. The method involves a remote access device transmitting a remote access request to a service control application in the IMS-based network, the service control application authorizing the remote access request based on a number of criteria, and forwarding the remote access request to the home network. The forwarded remote access request includes information that allows protected content requested by the remote access request to be transmitted from a home network device in the home network to the remote access device upon appropriate verification of the remote access device by the home network device using home network device DRM schemes. Remote access of the protected content can be allowed by relaxing proximity restriction requirements of the home network. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100128800 | Method and Apparatus for Closed Caption Transcoding - Caption data incorporated in an input coded bit stream conveying a video service is processed by recovering the caption data from the input coded bit stream, decoding the input coded bit stream to form a digital video signal composed of a sequence of frames, embedding the caption data in an ancillary data space of the digital video signal, and encoding the digital video signal to produce an output coded bit stream incorporating the caption data. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100125879 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURCHASING A SOUNDTRACK WHEN VIEWING A MOVIE OR OTHER PROGRAM DELIVERED BY A CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM - A method is provided for offering for purchase supplemental content associated with a multimedia program. The method includes receiving over a content delivery system a multimedia program and supplemental content associated with the program. While the program is being rendered, an option is presented to a user to acquire the supplemental content. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100124902 | Secure Data Exchange with Identity Information Exchange - Systems and methods for authenticating authorized users of electronic communication devices, such mobile communication devices, for a secure data exchange between the devices. The authentication of authorized users include multiple levels of user authentication wherein identity profiles of the users are exchanged for user authentication based on identity information obtained or observed from the users. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100124278 | Motion Compensation in Video Coding - A video coding system includes a decoder configured to decode an encoded reference picture, a primary memory, and a secondary memory configured to store the decoded reference picture. The video coding system also includes a logic device configured to extract motion vectors for generating a predicted picture of the reference picture and to store the extracted motion vectors in memory bins. The reference picture includes a plurality of predefined regions and each memory bin stores motion vectors for a particular region of the plurality of predefined regions. For each of the plurality of predefined regions of the reference picture, the logic device is configured to use the memory bin corresponding to a reference region to read the reference region from the secondary memory and write the reference region into the primary memory. The written reference region and the motion vectors of the corresponding memory bin are used to spatially translate the written reference region into the predicted picture. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100123822 | Method for Converting Between Display Information Scales | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100118697 | MULTI-RATE STATISTICAL MULTIPLEXING - A multi-rate statistical multiplexing system is configured to determine whether a subscriber-line is in a congested-state. The subscriber-line provides one or more channels requested by a subscriber. The system selects a version among different versions of each requested channel based on the level of congestion and an indicator of perceived quality of viewing experience of each requested channel. The system switches to the selected version of each channel and the perceived quality of viewing experience is maintained after switching. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100115574 | DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER HAVING LIVE-OFF-DISK BUFFER FOR RECEIVING MISSING PORTIONS OF BUFFERED EVENTS - In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method of receiving content over a content delivery system is provided. The method includes receiving a user request to initiate a rewind operation on content locally available in a live-off-disk (LOD) buffer. The content is associated with an event received over a content delivery system. If all of the event is not available in the LOD buffer, a message is communicated over the content delivery system to a headend requesting remaining content associated with an unreceived portion of the event. In response to the message, the remaining content is received from the headend over the content delivery system. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100107197 | Method and System for Updating Media Content Event Listings - A system including a provider module configured to generate search keys for events in a list of events for distribution to a plurality of consumer premises equipment, where the events represent media content accessible by one or more of the plurality of consumer premises equipment. The system also includes an update module configured to generate an update message corresponding to a change in the list of events. The update message includes a search key mask defining one or more search keys to which the change relates and an update command configured to instruct the plurality of consumer premises equipment to update the respective distributed list of events. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100098034 | Wi-Fi ENABLED ROUTER HAVING UPLINK BANDWITH SHARING CAPABILITY - A method and apparatus is provided for forwarding data traffic to a broadband network. The method includes receiving at a local broadband wireless router data traffic to be forwarded to a broadband network and acquiring over a wireless communications link current bandwidth utilization rates for one or more neighboring broadband wireless routers. Based at least in part on the current bandwidth utilization rate of the local router and the current bandwidth utilization rate acquired from the one or more neighboring wireless routers, the data traffic is forwarded to the broadband network over a broadband interface of the local router or to a selected one of the neighboring routers over a wireless interface of the local router. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100091888 | Multi-Rate Encoder with GOP Alignment - A multi-rate encoder includes one or more encoder sets. Each encoder set includes multiple encoders receiving a same video source stream. The encoder sets are configured to transmit multiple encoded streams of the same video source stream at different bit-rates. The streams are aligned and transmitted from the multi-rate encoder. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100091796 | Selecting An Adaptor Mode and Communicating Data Based on the Selected Adaptor Mode - A device selects a mode and communicates data based on the selected mode. The device comprises at least one interface circuit configured to monitor analog audio signals from a customer premise equipment device and a processor circuit. The processor circuit assigns a first band mode for converting the analog audio signals to data packets if the analog audio signals do not have frequency components outside the first band of frequencies and assigns a second band mode for the conversion otherwise. The assignment of the second band mode for the conversion enables the output circuit to use a larger bandwidth of the communication channel to a network. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100088292 | Collaborative Transcoding - A method of collaborative transcoding includes discovering capabilities of devices within a network; exchanging information about content stored within the network; anticipating a request for a content item in a target format; identifying a location of the content item by referencing the information about content stored within the network; and, if the content item is not in the target format, selecting a the device within the network to transcode the content into the target format. A system for collaborative transcoding includes a network, the network comprising a first networked device and at least one other networked device, the first networked device receiving a request for a content item in a target format; a shared content history; the shared content history comprising a list of content available on the network, the first networked device searching the shared content history to determine if another networked device can provide the content item; a capability list comprising a native format and transcoding capabilities of the networked devices, the first networked device searching the capability list to determine if any the networked device is configured to transcode the content item from a source format to a target format. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100086020 | CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM HAVING AN EDGE RESOURCE MANAGER PERFORMING BANDWIDTH RECLAMATION - A method is provided for reclaiming bandwidth from an edge device. The method includes communicating a bandwidth query message to at least one session manager. The bandwidth query message specifies an amount of bandwidth that needs to be reclaimed from a single one of a plurality of edge devices in order to establish at least one additional session that delivers a digital service to a subscriber in a service group serviced by the plurality of edge devices over an access network. In response to communication of the bandwidth query message, a bandwidth query response message is received from the session manager identifying an edge device from which at least the specified amount of bandwidth can be reclaimed. A response is communicated to the session manager requesting the session manager to reclaim the specified amount of bandwidth from the edge device that has been identified. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100083386 | Tokenized Resource Access - A method and system for unlocking diagnostic functions in a hardware device for a user. The method obtains a signed permission object for the hardware device, and validates the signed permission object. A memory of the hardware device stores a device identifier and a last recorded sequence number. The signed permission object includes a sequence number and is associated with an expiration counter having an initial value that indicates a lifetime for the signed permission object. When the signed permission object is valid, the method updates the expiration counter to decrease the lifetime of the signed permission object, stores the sequence number associated with the signed permission object as the last recorded sequence number in the hardware device, and unlocks the diagnostic functions for the user based on the signed permission object. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100083329 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AND CONFIGURING INTERNET CONTENT FOR BYPASS ENCAPSULATION WITHIN A BYPASS ARCHITECTURE - An apparatus, method and system for delivering Internet content within a system that includes an encapsulation database and a last-hop router as part of a bypass architecture, such as a bypass architecture that transmits IP content from a source to a downstream modulator, such as an EQAM modulator, in a manner that bypasses the system's Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). The encapsulation database, which typically is controlled by the MSO, but also is in operable communication with the last-hop router and CMTS, is configured to store encapsulation identification information, which is used to identify which portions of the IP content receive bypass encapsulation. The encapsulation database also can include the QoS settings for such identified portions of IP content. The encapsulation database allows the MSO to provide QoS settings for select portions of IP content, such as videos from internet video providers with whom the MSO has made special arrangements. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100080295 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCALABLE MOTION ESTIMATION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for scalable motion estimation. One embodiment of a method for performing motion estimation includes setting a target complexity for a macroblock of a source frame and performing motion estimation for one or more partitions of the macroblock until the target complexity is met. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100079344 | Equipment Housing with Integral Antenna - A device comprises a housing and antenna elements. The housing has an outer surface portion and a plurality of projection portions. The projection portions dissipate heat and are disposed to extend to a first height from the outer surface portion. The antenna elements are disposed below the first height at a position of the outer surface portion and in between the projection portions. Accordingly, the antenna elements are protected by the projection portions. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100067671 | Obtaining from a Network Media Related to an Incoming Call based on Records of a Data Relay Device - A data relay device comprises a modem, an adaptor, and a base station. The base station is configured to determine whether an incoming call has a corresponding record among one or more records of the data relay device, obtain media by using the corresponding record, and transmit the media to a customer premise equipment device. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100064308 | Method and Apparatus for Constrained Distribution of Television Program Material - A method of distributing video program material, includes receiving a first multi-program transport stream (MPTS) containing multiple video services and distribution constraint data specifying at least one of the video services, and creating a second transport stream that contains at least the specified video service and complies with at least one constraint specified in the distribution constraint. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100061459 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLEXITY-SCALABLE MOTION ESTIMATION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for complexity-scalable video coding. One embodiment of a method for video coding includes receiving a sequence of one or more video frames, obtaining a budget for the one or more video frames, the budget specifying a maximum number of computations that may be used in performing motion estimation for the one or more video frames, allocating the maximum number of computations among individual ones of the one or more video frames, performing motion estimation in accordance with the allocating, and outputting a motion estimate for the sequence. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100061458 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FAST MOTION ESTIMATION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for fast motion estimation. One embodiment of a method for motion estimation includes classifying a macroblock of a source frame in accordance with an initial matching cost, an intermediate matching cost, and a final matching cost, where the intermediate matching cost is estimated based on a predicted motion vector for the source frame and the final matching cost is estimated based on a final motion vector for a correlated macroblock in a prior frame, performing motion estimation for the macroblock based upon the classifying, wherein an early termination is applied in accordance with a result of the classifying, and outputting a motion vector for the macroblock based on a result of the motion estimation. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100058393 | Switched Digital Video Broadcast Scheduler - A method of reducing channel change requests received by a switched network system includes communicating recording schedules from subscriber devices to a broadcast scheduler and creating or modifying a broadcast schedule based on the recording schedules. A system for avoiding message storms within a broadcasting network includes subscriber devices, a broadcast source communicatively coupled to the subscriber devices, and a broadcast scheduler configured to create or modify a broadcast schedule in response to anticipated requests by the subscriber devices such that requests by the subscriber devices are minimized. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058047 | ENCRYPTING A UNIQUE CRYPTOGRAPHIC ENTITY - A method of encrypting a unique cryptographic entity (UCE), where a client device receives a global-key (GK-) encrypted UKD comprising a GK-encrypted UCE and a GK-encrypted unit key number (UKN). The client device verifies that the GK-encrypted UKN is the same as a pre-provisioned value and then decrypts the GK-encrypted UKD using a global key (GK). The client device then re-encrypts the decrypted UKD using a device user key (DUK) to determine a DUK-encrypted UCE and a DUK-encrypted UKN. The DUK-encrypted UKN is verified as not equal to the GK-encrypted UKN. The DUK-encrypted UKN is then appended to the DUK-encrypted UCE to form a DUK-encrypted UKD and stored in a memory. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100054326 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING START AND END OF A VIDEO SEQUENCE - A method and system for transcoding a video sequence having a plurality of frames are disclosed. For example, the method receives a video sequence having a plurality of frames in a first format. Then, the method detects at least one prefix frame in the video sequence. Subsequently, the method encodes the plurality of frames of the video sequence, beginning with a first frame of the plurality of frames, into a second format in response to detecting the at least one prefix frame. Then, the method detects at least one suffix frame in the video sequence having the plurality of frames. The method concludes by stopping the encoding of the plurality of frames after the last frame of the video sequence in response to detecting the at least one suffix frame. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100046729 | Delivery of Call Features to a User Device Via a Multimedia Terminal Adapter - Described herein are systems and methods for providing call features of a telephone service to a user device, such as a television set top box or a personal computer, by using a multimedia terminal adapter to establish a first network connection with a call management server (CMS) and a second network connection with an application server associated with the user device so as to receive and forward call features and requests for such call features between the CMS and the user device without the need for an interface between the CMS and the application server. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100046604 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CHANNEL ACQUISITION PERFORMANCE - A method and system for processing a video program are disclosed. For example, the method receives a video program. The method receives a delayed version of the video program. The method decodes the delayed version of the video program until a corresponding anchor frame is found in the video program and in the delayed version of the video program. The method concludes by switching from decoding the delayed version of the video program to decoding the video program beginning with the corresponding anchor frame. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100031301 | System and Method for Reducing Interlace Artifacts during Trick Mode Playback - A system and method for reducing interlace artifacts during trick mode playback of pre-encoded content. The system and method operate a decoder to receive a video signal, configured as frames, with each frame having a plurality of interlaced fields, and to provide a video output in interlaced format or trick mode format. When operating in a normal mode, the decoder provides the video output in the interlaced format. When operating in trick mode, the decoder is instructed to use one of the fields of a frame as a reference field, and outputs a video output frame in the trick mode format where both fields of the video output frame are the same as the reference field. The video signal can be a streaming video or read from a medium. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100023960 | Detection of Video Program Viewing Behavior for Correlation with Advertisement Presentation - A video user's viewing behavior with respect to video program selection is monitored. The monitored behavior is analyzed and a suitable advertising format for display that is related to the monitored viewing behavior is identified. Monitoring, for example, can include detecting channel surfing of available viewing channels, accessing and surfing through programming schedules, fast forwarding or reversing through a recorded program, and pausing display of a program. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100017621 | RADIO TRANSCEIVER OR OTHER ENCRYPTION DEVICE HAVING SECURE TAMPER-DETECTION MODULE - An encryption device includes a system processor having a first key for encrypting information. The system processor periodically generates random data strings that are also encrypted using the first key. The encryption device also includes a first output for communicating the encrypted information to an external location and a tamper detection module for receiving on a periodic basis the random data strings generated by the system processor. The tamper detection module includes a second key that is the same as the first key, an encryption engine for encrypting the random data strings using the second key, and a second output for communicating the encrypted data strings to the system processor. The tamper detection module is configured to alter the second key upon detection of a tampering event so that the second key is different from the first key. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100017516 | DEMAND-DRIVEN OPTIMIZATION AND BALANCING OF TRANSCODING RESOURCES - The present invention provides a system and method for optimizing delivery of a content item from a content distribution network to a display device, where the content distribution network includes transcoding resources to convert the content item from a first format to a second format. A computing device receives a request to deliver the content item to the display device. The system selects, from the transcoding resources, an optimized transcoding resource based on an evaluation of metadata that describes the content item, a preferred technique for transcoding the content item, a state of the content distribution network, a predicted behavior for the user, and metadata that describes the display device. The system reserves the selected transcoding resource, and delivers the content item to the display device on a media stream that utilizes the selected transcoding resource. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100014671 | SECURE INTERCHIP TRANSPORT INTERFACE - Multimedia content or related data is securely transferred between a source device and a sink device in a secure multimedia content delivery device, such as a set-top box, using keys modified by logically combining them with copy control-related bits associated with the data. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100011099 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AND LOGGING COMMUNICATION SESSIONS - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for logging and monitoring communication sessions terminating and originating in a home network. One embodiment of a method for monitoring a communication session within a home network includes routing the communication session to a device in the home network via a residential gateway, the residential gateway being equipped with Universal Plug and Play and Session Initiation Protocol capabilities, and storing data related to the communication session in a database coupled to the residential gateway. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100008264 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING INSTALLATION OF PACKET-SWITCHED TELEPHONY EQUIPMENT ON A SUBSCRIBER PREMISES - A residential gateway provides packet-switched telephony service over a broadband communications network. The gateway includes data terminal equipment having an interface for communicating with customer premises equipment. The gateway also includes a self-installation agent for generating signals that are rendered as audio prompts that guide a user through a process for installing the residential gateway so that packet-switched telephony services are available to the user through the customer premises equipment. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100002877 | ADAPTIVE GENERATION OF A PSEUDO RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR SEED - A seed for use in a cryptographic operation for an electronic device is determined by estimating the number of entropy data bits needed to satisfy a predetermined security strength of the cryptographic operation. The estimation is based on an entropy strength of a string of entropy data bits. Entropy strength is a measure of randomness. Furthermore, guiding a determination of the seed differently according to the estimated number of entropy data bits may be performed. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090323954 | INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEPHONY SECURITY ARCHITECTURE - A secure Internet Protocol (IP) telephony system, apparatus, and methods are disclosed. Communications over an IP telephony system can be secured by securing communications to and from a Cable Telephony Adapter (CTA). The system can include one or more CTAs, network servers, servers configured as signaling controllers, key distribution centers (KDC), and can include gateways that couple the IP telephony system to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Each CTA can be configured as secure hardware and can be configured with multiple encryption keys that are used to communicate signaling or bearer channel communications. The KDC can be configured to periodically distribute symmetric encryption keys to secure communications between devices that have been provisioned to operate in the system and signaling controllers. The secure devices, such as the CTA, can communicate with other secure devices by establishing signaling and bearer channels that are encrypted with session specific symmetric keys derived from a symmetric key distributed by a signaling controller. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090322962 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Low Resolution Images in a Broadcast System - Low resolution information streams are combined in a broadcast carrier and broadcast along with full resolution information streams down a television broadcast network. The low resolution streams may be decoded and displayed in mosaic display with multiple images from separate low resolution streams simultaneously displayed. When a user selects a particular channel to be displayed, a low resolution stream associated with the selected channel is displayed (video and audio) while the full resolution stream is processed for display. Once the full resolution stream is available for display, it replaces the low resolution stream. The user perceives a much lower channel change time by viewing the low resolution stream during the channel change delay. The low resolution stream may also be provided directly to a portable media player (PMP) in a low resolution format required for display by the PMP. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090316286 | Aligned Narrowband Optical Filters having Flat Passbands and Comprising Offset Cascaded Broadband Optical Filters - A cascaded pair of broad bandwidth optical filters provides an overlap in pass-bands that forms a flat, narrow band optical filter. A first band-pass filter is operable to receive the optical signal and to transmit a first portion of the optical signal. The second band-pass filter receives the first portion of the optical signal transmits a second portion of the optical signal. The first band-pass filter has a first corner-pass wavelength of λ | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090315626 | High Sensitivity Optical Receiver Employing a High Gain Amplifier and an Equalizing Circuit - An optical receiver includes a light receiving element for converting an optical signal to an electrical signal having a first bandwidth and an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal. The amplifier has a first gain response that yields a second bandwidth that is less than the first bandwidth. The optical receiver also includes an equalizing circuit operationally coupled to the amplifier. The equalizing circuit has a second gain response that compensates for the first gain response of the amplifier so that a substantially constant net gain is imparted by the amplifier and the equalizing circuit to the electrical signal over the first bandwidth. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090310967 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MULTIPLE CHANNELS IN A WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXED (WDM) OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH REDUCED RAMAN CROSSTALK AND NONLINEAR DISTORTIONS - An improved method and apparatus is provided for transmitting a WDM optical signal. The method begins by modulating optical channels that are each located at a different wavelength from one another with (1) a respective one of a plurality of information-bearing electrical signals that all embody the same broadcast information; (2) a respective one of a plurality of RF signals having a common functional broadcast waveform, at least one of the RF signals being out of phase with respect to remaining ones of the plurality of RF signal and (3) at least one of the RF signals being phase adjusted with respect to its original phase. Each of the modulated optical channels is multiplexed to form a WDM optical signal. The WDM optical signal, while maintaining the pre-assigned phase relationships between the modulation signals of the optical channels, is forwarded onto an optical transmission path. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090310961 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING BURST MODE LASER TRANSMITTERS - A method is provided to calibrate a monitor photodiode that measures the optical output power generated by an optoelectronic transceiver module that includes a burst mode laser diode. The method includes disabling the power control loop that controls an average optical output power generated by the laser diode during a laser burst. A series of logic zero signals is applied to a data input of the transceiver module and the logic zero level of the optical signal generated by the burst mode laser diode while applying the series of logic zero signals is measured. The logic zero bias level applied to the laser diode is adjusted until the measured logic zero level of the optical signal reaches a first desired value. While maintaining the optical signal at the first desired value, a first value of a current generated by the monitor photodiode in response to optical energy received from a back facet of the laser diode is stored. The first value of the current represents the calibrated value of the monitor current that will be measured when the laser generates a proper logic zero optical signal. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090310596 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING BYPASS ENCAPSULATION OF INTERNET CONTENT WITHIN A BYPASS ARCHITECTURE - An apparatus, method and system for delivering Internet content within a system that includes a bypass architecture, such as a bypass architecture that transmits content from the Internet or an Internet content source to a downstream modulator, such as an Edge Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (EQAM) modulator, in a manner that bypasses the system's Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). Content from the Internet or an Internet source is transmitted to a last-hop router, which is configured to identify content for bypass encapsulation. The last-hop router also can be configured to perform at least a portion of the necessary bypass encapsulation for proper bypass flows of the identified content. Alternatively, the EQAM is configured to perform the bypass encapsulation, and the last-hop router transmits the identified content to the EQAM, which performs at least a portion of the necessary bypass encapsulation on the identified content. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090310480 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING SESSION ENCAPSULATION INFORMATION WITHIN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL CONTENT BYPASS ARCHITECTURE - An apparatus, method and system for delivering Internet Protocol (IP) content within a system that includes a bypass architecture, using a Session Encapsulation Information Database (SEIDB). Within an existing PacketCable Multimedia (PCMM) framework used as a control plane for IP content bypass flow setup, the SEIDB system stores session bypass encapsulation information for IP content bypass flows within the system. Within the SEIDB, each entry of bypass encapsulation information has a flow classifier component that uniquely identifies a bypass flow in a manner that allows both a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and the IP content source to uniquely identify the bypass flow at the SEIDB. Initially, the CMTS gathers bypass encapsulation information and uploads it to the SEIDB. Before the bypass flow begins, the IP content source obtains the necessary bypass encapsulation information from the SEIDB, e.g., using a flow classifier as a search filter item. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090300707 | Method of Optimizing Policy Conformance Check for a Device with a Large Set of Posture Attribute Combinations - A method, apparatus, and electronic device for conforming integrity of a client device | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090300179 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING NETWORK ACCESS CONTROL - A method and system for optimizing network access control are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving an access request to a network from a device. Then, the method determines if each one of one or more critical updates of said device is current and if each one of one or more non-critical updates of the device is current. The method concludes by granting the access request to the network if each one of the one or more critical updates of the device is current, even if at least one non-critical update of the one or more non-critical updates of the device is not current. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090297061 | REPLACING IMAGE INFORMATION IN A CAPTURED IMAGE - Described herein are systems and methods for expanding upon the single-distance-based background denotation to seamlessly replace unwanted image information in a captured image derived from an imaging application so as to account for a selected object's spatial orientation to maintain an image of the selected object in the captured image. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090296940 | CONTENT ENCRYPTION USING AT LEAST ONE CONTENT PRE-KEY - In a method for encrypting content, the content is received in a device and at least a portion of the content is stored to thereby associate the content with one of a first copy control state and a second copy control state. The method includes creating at least one of a first content pre-key using a local storage key unique to the device as a key to encrypt the content ID of the content and a second content pre-key using the first content pre-key as a key to encrypt the first copy control state, creating a content encryption key using one of the first content pre-key as a key to encrypt the first copy control state and the second content pre-key as a key to encrypt the second copy control state, and encrypting the content using the content encryption key. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090296701 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING CHANNEL ACQUISITION - A method and apparatus for improving channel acquisition times are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving at a router a data stream destined to one or more subscribers. Then, the method generates at said router at least one new access point in between two access points of said data stream. The method concludes by forwarding said at least one new access point upon detecting a request from a subscriber for receiving said data stream. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090288151 | Conditional Access System Switcher - A system is configured to provide access between a plurality of terminals and a plurality of different conditional access systems (CASs) associated with the terminals. The system includes a CAS switcher configured to receive requests from the plurality of terminals and, for each of the requests, identifies and sends the requests to a corresponding CAS. The CAS switcher also receives messages from the CASs responsive to the requests and, for each of the messages, identifies and sends the message to a corresponding terminal. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090285401 | Providing Access To Content For a Device Using an Entitlement Control Message - Providing access to content for devices is performed by providing multiple entitlement management messages (EMMs), each which including a service key, to the plurality of devices. Also, a same entitlement control message (ECM) is provided to the devices. The ECM includes an encrypted traffic key for decrypting content. Each of the devices derives an access key from the service key according to a business model level of access to the content for a user of the devices and uses the access key to decrypt the traffic key to access the content according to the business model level of access to the content for the each of the plurality of devices. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090285391 | Communicating media content from a DVR to a portable device - In a method for communicating media content stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) protected by a first DRM system to a portable multimedia device (PMD) using a second DRM system, in which the first DRM system differs from the second DRM system, a request for communication of a media content item stored on the DVR to the PMD is received. In addition, a portable content key is employed to encrypt the media content item to a PMD format suitable content version and the encrypted PMD format suitable content version is communicated to the PMD along with a portable content identifier (ID). | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090275403 | Limiting access to shared media content - A method and system for limiting access to shared content media items stored in a device. The method establishes a connection with another device and initiates a session with the other device. The method synchronizes the device and the other device by receiving a copy of content media items stored on the other device, and storing the received copy of the content media items as shared content media items on the device. The synchronizing of the device and the other device may include transmitting a copy of content media items stored on the device to the other device. The method allows a user operating the device to access the content media items, but restricts access to the shared content media items based on the status of the session with the other device. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090274471 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPTICAL OUTPUT POWER FROM A BURST MODE LASER - An optical network terminal is provided for use in a passive optical network (PON). The optical network terminal includes a data port for receiving data packets from an external device and a processor for converting the data packets to data link frames. In addition, the optical network terminal includes a memory configured to store a time division multiplexing scheme identifying a time slot assigned to each of a plurality of network nodes in the PON for transmission of upstream optical signals. An optical transceiver is provided for converting the data link frames to upstream optical signals and transmitting the optical signals on an upstream TDMA (time division, multiple access) channel to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The optical transceiver includes a burst mode laser diode for generating the optical signals and a burst mode laser driver for biasing the laser diode with a bias signal and a modulation bias signal. The laser driver includes a dual closed loop feedback control circuit. The dual closed loop feedback control circuit is configured to measure and adjust a logic zero output power level from the laser diode during a time slot identified from the time division multiplexing scheme stored in the memory. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090274295 | Configurable Encryption/Decryption for Multiple Services Support - A system to transmit a set of programs from a transmitter to a receiver is used to accommodate different levels of security used for each program. When a high level of security is necessary for transmitting or receiving a program the transmitter and/or receiver is operable to accommodate that level of security. Thus, both transmitters and receivers are operable to be reconfigured to encrypt or decrypt, respectively, at different levels. Accordingly, differing amounts of programs can be transmitted or received based on the resource requirements needed at any level of security. Consequently, a high level of encryption/decryption requires more resources and allows the processing of fewer services, while a lower level of encryption/decryption allows more services to be transmitted/received. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090273716 | Method to Reduce Contour Artifacts on Recursive Temporal Filters - A method and encoding system for reducing artifacts in a digital video sequence of image frames. The method acquires a current frame of the digital video sequence, and retrieves a previous frame of the digital video sequence from a frame delay. The method applies a recursive temporal filter to the current frame and the previous frame to generate a filtered frame. The method then applies a mixer to the current frame and the filtered frame to generate an output frame. The method stores the output frame in the frame delay. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090271818 | Method And Apparatus For Delivering Emergency Alert System (EAS) Messages Over A Switched Digital Video (SDV) System - A switched digital video (SDV) system includes an SDV manager for coordinating SDV sessions requested by subscriber terminals associated with at least one service group. The SDV system also includes an input for receiving content to be delivered during the SDV sessions and at least one edge device for receiving transport streams that include an SDV program provided by the input and for transmitting each transport stream over an access network to at least one of the subscriber terminals on one of a plurality of SDV channels. In response to receipt of a message from a subscriber terminal in a first service group indicating that an EAS event is occurring, the SDV manager is configured to suspend reclamation of network resources allocated to the first service group which otherwise occurs when subscriber terminals tune off an SDV channel. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090265765 | System and Methods for Managing Trust in Access Control Based on a User Identity - System and methods for managing trust in access control are based on a user identity, in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network. A device has an access control list (ACL), a trusted-to-identify access control list (TIA), and a first TIA management module configured to manage the TIA. A security console is communicatively coupled to the device via the network. The security console has a second TIA management module. The first TIA management module is able to implement an add request from the security console for adding an entry to the TIA. The entry includes a control point identity for a control point communicatively coupled to the device via the network. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090265733 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISING DURING THE PRESENTATION OF SDV PROGRAMMING - A method is provided for delivering a targeted advertisement to a user who is viewing a switched digital video (SDV) program. The method includes receiving over an access network a user input reflective of the user's advertising preferences. An advertisement is selected at least in part on the user input that is received. During a commercial break in transmission of a program to the user over the access network, the advertisement is transmitted to the user over the access network on an SDV channel. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090265551 | System and Methods for Access Control Based on a User Identity - System and methods for access control in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network are based on a user identity. A control point has an identity assertion capability for identifying a user. The control point is configured to declare a value of an attribute associated with the identity assertion capability. A device is communicatively coupled to the control point via the UPnP network. The device has a first access control list and a trusted-to-identify access control list (TIA). The device is configured to permit the user to perform one or more actions based upon whether the user identity appears as a subject in the first access control list. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090259496 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSURING DIGITAL CONTENT - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for insuring digital content. One embodiment of a method for insuring digital content includes receiving a request to insure a specific instance of digital content and associating insurance with the instance of digital content, such that the instance of digital content can be restored to an owner of the instance of digital content in an event that the instance of digital content becomes unusable. At least one of: a copy of the at least one instance of digital content, metadata related to the at least one instance of digital content, and data related to the insurance is stored in at least one database. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090249080 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR AUTHENTICATING A PROGRAMMABLE HARDWARE DEVICE AND FOR AUTHENTICATING COMMANDS RECEIVED IN THE PROGRAMMABLE HARDWARE DEVICE FROM A SECURE PROCESSOR - A method, device and system for authenticating a programmable hardware device, such as a programmable hardware chip, and a command received by the programmable hardware device. A secure processor or other trusted source authenticates the programmable hardware chip by verifying, with the secure processor's own verification key, a random number sent to the programmable hardware chip and encrypted using a verification key embedded within the programmable hardware chip, since the nature of the encryption is such that only the original logic function that includes the verification key can encrypt the data correctly. A command received by the programmable hardware chip is authenticated by verifying that a command authentication token received by the programmable hardware chip is generated using the correct command authentication key and consequently verifying that the command is received from the secure processor, as only the party who has the command authentication key can encrypt the data correctly. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090245309 | Dispersion Compensating Varactor Circuit - Improved dispersion compensating circuits for optical transmission systems are disclosed. According to the improved method, there is provided a compensation circuit comprising a varactor diode network. The network is preferably inserted between a source of laser modulating signal and the laser. A low-pass filter or all pass filter constructs the network. The network preferably includes an inductor or inductors and a combined circuit, which includes varactors. The network preferably provides an amplitude dependent delay of the modulating signal applied to the laser or to the optical receiver as post dispersion correction circuitry. In a first embodiment, a fixed capacitor is in series with a varactor and connected to a DC bias through inductor. Additional embodiments, using multiple varactors in different circuit configurations, with particular advantages for various applications identified. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090222872 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING DIFFERENT FORMATS OF ENCODED CONTENT IN A SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO (SDV) SYSTEM - A method, system and devices for delivering a switched digital video (SDV) channel to a network element, such as an end user set-top box, based on the decoding capabilities of the network element. The system determines whether to deliver the SDV channel in a first format, such as MPEG-4, or a second format, such as MPEG-2. When only network elements capable of decoding MPEG-4 content are tuned to the SDV channel, the system can realize bandwidth savings by delivering only the MPEG-4 version of the SDV channel. When legacy network elements capable of decoding only MPEG-2 content tune to a particular SDV channel, the system delivers only the MPEG-2 version of the SDV channel. The methods and devices can be used in headends, including those that deploy switched digital video, and other appropriate locations within the content distribution system, such as within the edge devices in the distribution hub. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090222576 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION OF A NETWORK COMMUNICATION DEVICE RECEIVING STREAMING CONTENT VIA AN IP-BASED NETWORK - A method and apparatus for transmitting multimedia content to a network communication device, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) device, via one or more IP-based networks, in a manner that reduces power consumption by the network communication device. A system stream server, such as a set-top box, transmits content using a burst transmission mode. The transmitted content includes control information indicating the time of the next transmission burst, thus allowing the device to go into a sleep mode when the content stream is not being burst. Operation of the device in this manner reduces power consumption by the device. The stream server can switch dynamically between burst and non-burst transmission modes according to the needs of the network communication device. The IP-based network is bi-directional, thus the network communication device can communicate to the stream server the manner in which transmission bursts can be received by the device. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090219117 | PLUG-IN DEVICE FOR SIGNAL CORRECTION - Described herein are systems and methods for a JXP-type plug-in device that may be inserted within existing transmission equipment, such as RF amplifiers and the like, to provide an appropriate amount of flat attenuation to the lower frequencies of signals being processed in the equipment while allowing desired peaking at high frequencies of the same signals to compensate for high-frequency roll-off. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090218133 | Cable Having Externally Joinable Outer Portion - In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a device includes a cable having a periphery and an extrusion surrounding the periphery. The extrusion includes a main body portion, a male protrusion and a female indentation. The main body portion has an outer periphery. The male protrusion is disposed at the outer periphery. The female indentation is additionally disposed at the outer periphery. The device enables easy organization by connection of a plurality of cables, prevents entanglement of the plurality of cables, and enables easy removal of at least one cable from the plurality of cables without disrupting the organization of the remainder of the plurality cables. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090214222 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING AN EXTENDED PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - Extender apparatus for an optical network includes first and second extender units having an network-facing port for connection to a backhaul fiber and a subscriber-facing port for connection to a feeder fiber. Each extender unit includes a gain assembly and is operable selectively either in an enabled state, in which the gain assembly amplifies a signal received at either port of the extender unit and couples it to the other port of the extender unit, or in a disabled state, in which the gain assembly blocks coupling of a signal from either port of the extender unit to the other port of the extender unit. A failover unit is operable when the first extender unit is in the enabled state and the second extender unit is in the disabled state to detect occurrence of at least one fault condition in the first extender unit. The failover unit is responsive to the fault condition in the first extender unit to switch the first extender unit to the disabled state and the second extender unit to the enabled state. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090210436 | ENCODING A HIERARCHICAL MULTI-LAYER DATA PACKAGE - A hierarchical encoder is operable to create a hierarchical multi-layer data package. The hierarchical multi-layer data package includes a plurality of layers and one or more subpackages in each layer. The layers include one or more subpackages. A subpackage in an outer layer is related to a subpackage in an inner layer. Also, each subpackage includes meta data describing the encoding, a summary of a subset of data in the hierarchical multi-layer data and a link or ID of the subset of data in a compressed form. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090202075 | CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM EMPLOYING CONSTRAINED ENCRYPTION KEYS - A method and apparatus is provided for decrypting an encrypted transport stream, comprising. The method includes receiving the encrypted transport stream over a content delivery network. The encrypted transport stream is encrypted using a first control word that serves as an encryption/decryption key. A variable control word is received over the content delivery network. The variable control word is mathematically constrained to create a second control word. The encrypted transport stream is decrypted using the second control word if the second control word is the same as the first control word. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090198827 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXPEDITING DELIVERY OF PROGRAMMING CONTENT OVER A BROADBAND NETWORK - A method is provided that is performed by a client device such a set top box when a viewer requests a program by initiating a channel change from a program guide or entering a channel through the user interface. The client device receives the user request and, in response, the client device transmits the request to the streaming server in the headend, which causes the streaming server to create a unicast catch up stream that commences with a key frame. The streaming server calculates the end point of the catch up stream and continues to send the catch up stream at a rate faster than real time. The client device receives the catch up stream and begins buffering it. While the catch up stream is being buffered the client device begins decoding and presenting the content. The client device receives the end of stream marker, and in response, sends a request to join the multicast stream. Once the client device starts receiving the multicast stream, the client device discards any remaining images or pictures in the catch up stream that precede the synchronization time. The client device also begins to buffer the multicast stream as it continues to play the buffered catch up stream. When it reaches the end of the catch up stream, the client device begins to play out the buffered multicast stream. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090197594 | System and Method for Fixed Mobile Convergence Using a Residential Gateway Apparatus - A system and method for providing call mobility for a dual-mode phone between a cellular network and a home wireless network for a dual-mode phone having a cellular identity and a home identity, wherein the home identity is active when the dual-mode phone is in communication with the home wireless network. The system comprises a residential gateway to connect the home wireless network to a public network, and a VoIP service provider in communication with a mobile switching center on the cellular network and the public network. After placing or receiving a call, the dual-mode phone sends a signal to the residential gateway to initiate the movement of the call between the cellular network and the home wireless network while the call is ongoing. | 08-06-2009 |
