Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
725082000 | Local server or headend | 70 |
20080250464 | System for Providing Multimedia Content to Customers and Method Thereof - Disclosed are a system and a method for providing multimedia content to customers at a vendor location. A control server and a plurality of patron devices are provided at the vendor location. The control server receives the multimedia content from at least one multimedia content source. Each patron device of the plurality of patron devices communicates with the control server over a communication network for receiving the multimedia content from the control server. The each patron device displays the multimedia content received from the control server for providing the multimedia content to a customer. The each patron device is configured to receive customer input and communicate multimedia content information to the control server based on the customer input. The control server may provide the multimedia content to the each patron device based on the multimedia content information received from the each patron device. | 10-09-2008 |
20090089843 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTENT TO A CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR A MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT USING AN AUTHORIZATION LIST - A communication system | 04-02-2009 |
20090165061 | PLAYBACK CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A playback controlling apparatus communicably connectable to a plurality of image processing devices via a first communication scheme and a second communication scheme. The apparatus includes: a first transmission module configured to transmit request information to the image processing devices via the first communication scheme, wherein the request information is for requesting address information; a receiving module configured to receive address information via the second communication scheme from one of the image processing devices; and an association module configured to associate the address information with the one of the image processing devices. | 06-25-2009 |
20090193474 | Method and Apparatus for Moving Viewing Sessions Among Different Devices in a Home Network - A method is provided for rendering digital content items with a second media renderer in a network having at least one control point, at least one media server, and a plurality of media renderers. The method includes presenting a list of one or more digital content items currently being rendered by any media renderer in communication with the network. A user input is received selecting a digital content item that is currently being rendered by a first media renderer. In response to the user input, the second media renderer is caused to request transmission of the selected digital content item from a first media server associated with the first media renderer to the second media renderer. The network is configured to allow digital content items stored in any media server in communication with the network to be located by any control point of the network and to be transferred for rendering by any media renderer of the network. The first media renderer is in communication with the second media renderer over the network. | 07-30-2009 |
20090205001 | Intelligent Disaster Recovery for Digital Cinema Multiplex Theaters - A system for a digital multiplex theater having a plurality of auditoriums includes a central server, playout servers, and an intelligent selection module. The central server has a local storage device configured to store digital cinema movies. The playout servers are each configured to playout the movies at a respective auditorium and have a respective local storage device configured to redundantly store the movies. The intelligent selection module selects a source for playing out, in an alternate auditorium in place of a scheduled auditorium, from a respective playout server in place of a scheduled playout server, a portion of a movie interrupted by a malfunction occurring at the scheduled auditorium. The selection is made from among any of the storage devices, and is based upon at least a current playing out ability of the scheduled playout server, and a playout schedule of the storage device at the alternate auditorium. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210912 | Multi-stream premises apparatus and methods for use in a content-based network - Apparatus and methods for enhanced tuner efficiency, wherein tuner resources function to permit multiple content streams to be demultiplexed and thus made available for subsequent display. In one embodiment, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) comprises a resource manager on which a guide application is run to control the tuning of an available tuner resource. This approach obviate reliance on OCAP or other proprietary vendor architecture applications. In another variant, the CPE is adapted to receive RF source data from a wideband tuner, or multiple tuners. The CPE may also be utilized in conjunction with other system configurations designed to enforce a security or other policies within a premises network. The CPE may also employ ‘look ahead’ capabilities to anticipate a QAM stream content before it is received. | 08-20-2009 |
20090271829 | TERMINALS, SERVERS, AND METHODS THAT FIND A MEDIA SERVER TO REPLACE A SENSED BROADCAST PROGRAM/MOVIE - A wireless mobile terminal works with an identification server to automatically identify a broadcast program/movie and then identify and connect to a networked media server to receive the identified program/movie therefrom. The terminal generates data that characterizes content of a broadcast program/movie that is send by the terminal and is playing external thereto. The terminal transmits a message that includes the characterization data and a request for identification of a media server from which the broadcast program/movie can be received. The identification server identifies the broadcast program/movie, and identifies a user viewed location within the identified program/movie that corresponds to what was sensed by the terminal. The identification server identifies an Internet address of a media server from which the terminal can receive transmission of the identified program/movie. The identification server transmits a message to the terminal that identifies the identified program/movie, the user viewed location therein, and the Internet address of the media server. The terminal responds to the message by establishing a communication connection to the identified media server and requesting transmission therefrom of the identified program/movie starting from a location corresponding to the user viewed location. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276813 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANNEL SELECTION FOR LOCAL BROADCASTING - A video controller selects a channel for premises broadcasting to a premises television based on a fast scan of signal strength in channels available over a premises media. The signal strength of certain filtered channel frequencies can be evaluated to determine if a channel is occupied. Unoccupied channels can be ranked in relation to nearby occupied or unoccupied channels. The nearby channels may be ranked in terms of the signal strength content in relation to the channel being evaluated. The video controller can select an unoccupied channel with an optimal ranking to permit premises broadcasting with reduced interference or conflict with other channels. | 11-05-2009 |
20090328111 | Content Distribution System, Server, and Content Distribution Method - According to one embodiment, a content distribution system includes a receiver device, a distribution device, and a management device. The distribution device is located in a network, and distributes content to the receiver device. The management device is located in the network, and manages, as user interface information, information on user interface screen to be displayed on the receiver device for operating functions of the distribution device. The management device requests a server located outside the network to create the user interface information, and acquires the user interface information from the server. | 12-31-2009 |
20100023976 | Method and Configuration for Storing and Playing Back TV Transmissions - A method and a configuration for storing and playing back TV transmissions, in particular an improved method and configuration for operating a network PVR, include a PVR server for receiving digitally encoded TV channels. Terminals select TV transmissions to be stored and transmit the selection to the PVR server. The PVR server records the TV transmissions to be stored, wherein a small part of data items to be stored during recording is transmitted to the memory of the selecting terminal and a main part of the data items to be stored is recorded in a mass storage device coupled to the PVR server. The parts of the recording stored in the memory of the selecting terminal and in the mass storage device are combined in such a way that they can be played back through the use of the selecting terminal, either by the selecting terminal or by the PVR server. | 01-28-2010 |
20100050215 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BANDWIDTH HANDLING - A system and method for monitoring and distributing available bandwidth within a home network by- use of a home gateway is provided. The system comprises a home Gateway, one or several Set-Top Boxes and one or several home display units such as e.g. a TV, mobile phone and personal computer When the user selects a movie, a point-to-point unicast connection is set up between the user's set-top-box and the delivering streaming server located outside the local network. Accordingly, the home gateway receives a request signal for a displaying a movie from the set-top box, which signal includes bandwidth information, the home gateway monitor the home gateway if there is available bandwidth. An accept signal will be sent to the STB if there is available bandwidth and the set-top box will send an join-message to the delivering streaming server and the movie is displayed on the home device. | 02-25-2010 |
20100138881 | SMMD HOME SERVER AND METHOD FOR REALISTIC MEDIA REPRODUCTION - A single-media multi-devices (SMMD) home server includes a plurality of media decoding units decoding multi-channel AV media data divided from a realistic media content and reproducing the decoded multi-channel AV media data; a home server processor unit dividing the realistic media content into the multi-channel AV media data and effects data, feeding the divided multi-channel AV media data to the media decoding units, and generating effects control data corresponding to the divided effects data; and a gateway/Ethernet switch receiving the realistic media content through a network and forwarding the received realistic media content to the home server processor unit, and receiving the divided multi-channel AV media data from the home server processor unit and feeding the received multi-channel AV media data to the media decoding units through a switching function. | 06-03-2010 |
20100235868 | DVR HOME NETWORK CONTENT SHIFTING - Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and method for recording television content. For example, in one embodiment, a method performed by a digital video recorder is disclosed that includes communicating with a home gateway to determine whether a device connected to the home gateway has enough free storage space to store a television program in the event that the digital video recorder determines that an internal data storage unit associated with the digital video recorder has enough free storage space to store the television program. In one embodiment, the method routes the storage of a recording of the television program to the device via the home gateway in response to a determination that the device connected to the home gateway has enough free storage space on the data storage unit associated with the device to store the television content. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235869 | DEVICE MANAGEMENT FOR MEDIA NETWORK - A multi-room media network includes a network for providing device interconnectivity for receiving and sending data and a plurality of content control devices coupled to the network. Device management for multiple room-digital video recording is provided by a trusted device list. The trusted device list allows the configuration of a plurality of media devices in a media network to be managed and controlled. | 09-16-2010 |
20100319038 | ENHANCED SIMULTANEOUS RECORDING IN MULTI-ROOM DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - A computing device receives from a user, a request to simultaneously record two or more programs from a content server onto the computing device and initiates a streaming video session between the computing device and a video client. The computing device provides, to the video client, recording parameters for one of the programs and then receives, via the streaming video session, a video stream from the video client. The video stream includes the one of the programs from the content server based on the recording parameters that is then recorded by the computing device. | 12-16-2010 |
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 |
20110061081 | REFLECTOR APPARATUS FOR VIDEO HOME NETWORKS - A reflector apparatus improves signal quality within video home networks. According to an exemplary embodiment, the reflector apparatus includes a first terminal (A) for receiving a broadcast signal from a signal source, and a second terminal (B) for outputting the broadcast signal to a plurality of external devices coupled to the reflector apparatus via a signal splitter. The reflector apparatus further includes circuitry for receiving a network signal from a first one of the plurality of external devices and controlling a gain of said network signal responsive to a control signal from a second one of the plurality of external devices to thereby generate a reflected network signal. The reflected network signal is output to the second one of said plurality of external devices. | 03-10-2011 |
20110113455 | System and Method for a Managed Network with Quality-of-Service - Systems and methods for establishing Parameterized QoS flows in a managed network can include a Designated Network Node (like a Network Controller or any network node) discovering a plurality of network nodes. The Designated Network Node discovering one or more of the plurality of network nodes; classifying the discovered network node or nodes based on node type; determining from the classification which node or nodes are designated for supporting Parameterized QoS flows; and invoking a request to a MoCA layer to create Parameterized QoS flows between the network node or nodes classified as designated for Parameterized QoS flows and the source nodes (like BHR and DVRs); wherein the bandwidth designated for the individual Parameterized QoS flows is either a nominal value or actual value specified by the Designated Network Node such that the actual aggregate bandwidth for the Parameterized QoS flows does not exceed the network bandwidth available for actual Parameterized QoS flows; wherein when actual bandwidth is specified for each flow, the Designated Network Node can preempt some PQoS flows in order to release PQoS bandwidth for a new PQOS flow; wherein the Designated Network Node is provisioned with a trusted device list designating nodes for supporting PQoS flows, and preemption rules that can be used for preemption. | 05-12-2011 |
20110131617 | Noise Reduction Apparatus with Isolation Transformers in an Internet Protocol Television System - A residential gateway includes an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) network communication port and a first isolation transformer circuit. The IPTV network communication port is configured to receive a signal from an ITPV network. The first isolation transformer circuit is in communication with the IPTV network communication port. The isolation transformer is configured to receive the signal from the IPTV network communication port, and to transform a ground of the signal to float at a ground potential of a power source of the residential gateway. | 06-02-2011 |
20110162020 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A MULTI-ROOM DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING SYSTEM - A system and method for allocating tuner resources in a multi-room digital video recording system, wherein the system includes a server device having a plurality of tuners therein and a first client device in communication with the server device and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners. A second client in communication client device generates a tuner request. The server device allocates the first tuner to the second user device and communicates a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device. | 06-30-2011 |
20110179455 | DYNAMIC QoS IN A NETWORK DISTRIBUTING STREAMED CONTENT - In a home network a number of receiving devices are connected to receive streamed audio visual content from one or more sources by way of a network hub. One source is a set top box, having a hard disc drive, which provides a real time broadcast stream, stream | 07-21-2011 |
20110185392 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES - When selecting a television program for recording, a user may configure the delivery of the selected television program and associated data and interactive applications to different user equipment devices in a home network, which may have different capabilities. Because the user equipment devices in the home network may have different capabilities, the user may wish to deliver different types and amount of content, different amounts of data, and different versions of interactive applications to the user equipment devices in the home network. | 07-28-2011 |
20110252451 | PERSONAL TV GATEWAY STB/ROUTER - A method for routing TV content including using a personal TV gateway STB/router to route a first TV content to a first TV receiver located in a first location in a home, while simultaneously routing a second TV content to a second TV receiver located in a second location in the home, and commanding the personal TV gateway STB/router to transfer the first TV content from the first TV receiver in the first location to a mobile personal communication device, while still controlling routing the second TV content to the second TV receiver located in the second location. | 10-13-2011 |
20120011551 | USER-PROFILE SERVER FOR PROVIDING USER-TAILORED ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE ACROSS DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT DEVICES AND METHOD THEREOF - A user-profile server for providing a user-tailored entertainment experience across different entertainment devices includes a network connection for coupling the user-profile server to a network. The user-profile server is configured for storing a user profile corresponding to a user identifier, and receiving via the network an electronic bookmark, the electronic bookmark being associated with the user identifier and pertaining to content that was not finished by a user at a first entertainment device. The user-profile server is further configured for updating the user profile to include the electronic bookmark, and communicating via the network at least the electronic bookmark to a controller of a second entertainment device to thereby allow the second entertainment device to play the content automatically starting from a position in the content corresponding to a position indicated by the electronic bookmark. The first entertainment device and the second entertainment device are different devices. | 01-12-2012 |
20120023527 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND HOME STREAM MEDIA SERVER FOR IMPLEMENTING VIDEO ON DEMAND SERVICE - The present invention discloses a method and a system for implementing a video on demand service and a home streaming media server. When the home streaming media server is incapable of providing a media service for the client device, the home streaming media server obtains, from the dispatching server, information of a streaming media server capable of providing service, and the streaming media server provides media service for the client device, thereby achieving redirection during video on demand service and remedying the defects of traditional video on demand systems in terms of redirection function. | 01-26-2012 |
20120047539 | AUTOMATIC MOBILE IMAGE DIARY BACKUP AND DISPLAY - A method performed by a user device connected to a content server, via a public network, that includes sending, to a digital video recorder (DVR) server and via the public network, a request to display images on a display device associated with a local server; receiving, from the DVR server and via the public network, a notification to upload the images, the notification including an address for the content server; selecting a group of images stored on the user device; sending, to the content server and based on the address, the group of images; and sending, to the local server and via a local network, a notification to retrieve the group of images from the content server for display on the display device. | 02-23-2012 |
20120047540 | LODGING ENTERTAINMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE OF SAME - A lodging entertainment apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the lodging entertainment apparatus, a memory is located within a housing and configured to store hospitality content which includes events, channel guide, and amenities relative the lodging establishment. An input is configured to receive an existing video signal that originates independently of the lodging entertainment apparatus and including content differing from hospitality content. An output is configured to independently transmit the hospitality content and the existing video signal. A user interface is configured to receive instructions from a user. A processor is located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the input, the output, the memory, and the user interface. The processor selectively provides the hospitality content in response to a power ON condition of the lodging entertainment apparatus. | 02-23-2012 |
20120131620 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A control method of controlling a transmitting unit to transmit a content via a network and a receiving unit to receive the content via a network. The method includes the steps of obtaining from the transmitting unit, resume information indicating a position at which reproduction of a content is suspended; transmitting to the receiving unit, an indication to reproduce the content beginning at the position which is indicated by the resume information and at which reproduction of a content is suspended; obtaining from the receiving unit, content reproducing information indicating the position at which the content is to be reproduced; transmitting an indication to stop reproduction of the content to the receiving unit; creating resume information by use of the content reproducing information obtained from the receiving unit; and transmitting the resume information to the transmitting unit. | 05-24-2012 |
20120137334 | HOME MEDIA SERVER CONTROL - A home media server includes a processor, a storage medium; and machine-readable code, stored on the non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium includes instructions which when executed, cause the home media server to receive downloadable instructions, an edited set of data and analysis data. The downloadable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the home media server to search for and obtain media content associated with an edited video program. The instructions also cause the home media server to receive the edited set of data corresponding to editing steps for assembly of the edited video program, and to emulate assembly of the edited video program utilizing the media content obtained by the home media server to created an emulated video program. | 05-31-2012 |
20120174166 | DISTRIBUTED RECORDING OF CONTENT - A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB. | 07-05-2012 |
20120198505 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO DATA FOR USE IN AT LEAST ONE CHECKOUT ENVIRONMENT - The invention involves a procedure and a system for reproducing or alternatively creating audio and/or video data in a location ( | 08-02-2012 |
20120304233 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BRIDGING AND MANAGING MEDIA CONTENT ASSOCIATED WITH SEPARATE MEDIA CONTENT NETWORKS - An exemplary system includes at least one computing device located within a local media content network and configured to 1) generate a media index of local media content stored by one or more media content access devices located within the local media content network and cloud media content stored by one or more cloud computing devices located within a cloud media content service network and 2) manage the local media content and the cloud media content based on the media index and on a predefined media management heuristic. Corresponding methods, systems, and apparatus are also disclosed. | 11-29-2012 |
20130014185 | DISTRIBUTED RECORDING OF CONTENT - A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB. | 01-10-2013 |
20130042282 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - An information processing apparatus including an execution unit, a generation unit, a first request unit, and a second request unit. The execution unit is capable of executing first information processing. The generation unit is configured to generate a display image including first information associated with first access information for accessing the execution unit and second information associated with second access information for accessing a server on a global network, the server being capable of executing second information processing. The first request unit is configured to request the execution unit to execute the first information processing based on the first access information associated with the first information. The second request unit is configured to request the server to execute the second information processing based on the second access information associated with the second information. | 02-14-2013 |
20130055323 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING A COMPANION DEVICE TO A PRIMARY VIEWING DEVICE - A method for enabling communication between a companion device and a primary viewing device includes determining presence of the primary viewing device; and determining presence of the second viewing device. The method further comprises determining that the second viewing device is a companion to the primary viewing device and causes establishment of a viewing group that includes the primary viewing device and the second viewing device. A notification message is provided to the primary viewing device with information enabling the primary viewing device to determine that there is a companion device for it. Additionally, a notification message is provided to the second viewing device with information enabling the second device to determine it is a companion device for the primary viewing device. | 02-28-2013 |
20130061272 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERNET-BASED INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING - A method and system for the creation of interactive programming incorporating viewer interactions. An interactive program includes moderator content generated by the moderator and edited participant commentary, such as interactive messages, and is served by a moderator server. Moderators create and manage interactive programs using a Web site. Viewers register to be participants in interactive programs using the Web site. The interactive programs can be distributed as electronic documents written in a markup language such as HTML or XML over a communications network such as the Internet. The interactive programs can also be converted to conventional interactive television content for distribution over an interactive television network. The interactive programs can also be distributed over a virtual private network for use as a collaboration tool by an enterprise such as a business concern. The interactive programs can be embedded within other Web processes such as electronic commerce and television commerce transactions. | 03-07-2013 |
20130081093 | HOSPITALITY MEDIA SYSTEM THAT AVOIDS NETWORK CONGESTION AND SERVER LOAD WHILE PROVIDING MEDIA EXPERIENCE WITHIN GUEST ROOM, AND COMPUTER SERVER AND METHOD THEREOF - A method of servicing requests for information at a server includes receiving a request for information from a client device, and determining a number of attempts of the request made by the client device. Both the client device and the server may count the number of attempts for each request. When the number of attempts is greater than a threshold, the method includes servicing the request and sending the information to the client device. When the number of attempts is not greater than the threshold, the method includes sending a service unavailable message to the client device. A retry-after delay may be calculated by the server according to a predicted time for the server to exit an overloaded state and included in the service unavailable message. The predicted time may take into account both requests currently being serviced and requests that have been scheduled to be serviced in the future. | 03-28-2013 |
20130125179 | METHOD OF OBTAINING TELEVISION CONTENT FROM A SERVING NODE - A method and system for micro-cloud computing is described. An application serving node, which is a specifically configured piece of customer premises equipment such as a set-top box, is the server for a micro-cloud network. Various user devices that form part of the micro-cloud network, such as television sets and smart phones, communicate with the application serving node. The application serving node is configured with software that allows various heterogeneous types of data to be obtained and streamed to the user devices in multiple ways. The application serving node performs much of the processing necessary for such content streaming itself and thus represents an edge-based network architecture. | 05-16-2013 |
20130205353 | HOME NETWORK SYSTEM WITH TRANSMISSION ERROR RECOVERY - A client TV in a home entertainment network receives and buffers an audio/video stream from a server, before playing the stream. In the case of buffer underflow, the client TV requests the server to raise the transmission rate. If this causes an ensuing buffer overflow, the client TV requests the server to reset the transmission rate or stop transmitting altogether for a short time. | 08-08-2013 |
20130291030 | MULTIZONE AUDIO-VISUAL SYSTEM - A multi-zone audio-visual (AV) system that includes: (a) one or more AV devices (such as a TV) operable to provide audio and/or visual information; (b) a set-top box (STB) associated with each AV device; (c) a router; (d) an Ethernet connection between each STB and the router; and (e) a control server which operates to receive and record data from the router, the data including data indicative of the operating status (e.g., on or off) of the or each AV device, the operating configuration (e.g., TV channel) and the time of each change of status and/or configuration of the or each AV. The system comprises at least two remote AV control devices (Human Interface Devices, “HIDs”) for each AV device. The HIDs associated with each AV device operate to be automatically synchronised to the same status and configuration. The system may include a web server and a content server. | 10-31-2013 |
20130318560 | PREMISES GATEWAY APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USE IN A CONTENT-BASED NETWORK - Apparatus and methods for premises gateway functions that integrate or unify functions typically distributed across multiple devices within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the out-of-band (OOB) signaling functionality normally provided in each of a set-top-box (STB) and digital video recorder (DVR) are unified into a common OOB (e.g., DOCSIS) capable premises gateway device, thereby obviating OOB tuners and related components from each device. In another variant, the premises gateway is adapted for all-IP operation, such as for use with IP-based computers and IP set-top boxes, etc. Fully unified variants are also disclosed, wherein the DVR and/or STB functions are physically integrated within the premises gateway. | 11-28-2013 |
20130318561 | NETWORK SYSTEM, HOME GATEWAY, CONTENT PLAYBACK METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIA FOR RECORDING A NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - To cause a service provider to specify playback content and playback order from an outside of a home network and cause the service provider to play back the playback content in the home network. | 11-28-2013 |
20130326567 | Real Time Broadcasting Method Using Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) Between Set-Top Boxes - A real time broadcasting method between set-top boxes using a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is provided. The real time broadcasting method may include receiving a broadcast stream, by a first set-top box including a tuner, and sharing the received broadcast stream using the DLNA so as to enable the broadcast to be viewed through a second set-top box in which a tuner is absent. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326568 | MOVIE-SCREENING MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND MOVIE-SCREENING MANAGEMENT METHOD - A movie-screening management device includes: a mutual-state monitoring unit monitoring mutual states by periodically performing communication with other parties connected through a network to exchange information when being logged; a content/playlist synchronization management unit sharing contents and playlists with the other parties; and a key management unit comprehensively managing keys necessary for reproducing the contents with respect to the other parties. | 12-05-2013 |
20130340015 | METHOD FOR ACCESSING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT WITHIN A HOME - A method for accessing multimedia contents within a household via a network includes causing a master to build a contents log associating each content with a server, seeking a multimedia content in the log, and setting up a unicast channel between the client and a server associated with the contents sought in the log, causing the client to receive, using the channel, the content, and to play back the content, in response to connection of a new client or server to the home network or disconnection of a master from the home network, causing different apparatuses capable of functioning as a referencing server to exchange criteria for electing an apparatus to function as a referencing server, and based on the criteria, electing a new master from among the apparatuses capable of fulfilling the referencing server function, wherein in response to election, the new master functions as a reference server. | 12-19-2013 |
20130347043 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RETRANSMITTING PACKETS OVER A NETWORK OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - Systems and methods for transmitting packets over a network of communication channels are provide. A system according to the invention may include first and second nodes in communication with a coax backbone. The first node may further include a retransmission buffer. The system may also include a network access coordinator operative to coordinate access of the nodes to the coax backbone. In a time period at least one first packet is transmitted by the first node to the second node. The first packet may include an indication that retransmission service is applied. The first packet may also include a indication of the length corresponding to the packet. If, during the first time period the packet is not received by the second node, the second node is operative to send a retransmission request to the network access coordinator. | 12-26-2013 |
20140115639 | MULTI-VISION VIRTUALIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A multi-vision virtualization system includes a multi-vision virtualization server and two or more scene clients. The multi-vision virtualization server includes a multi-vision virtualization server configured to generate virtual machines for decoding processes based on image content segments, generate synchronous reproduction information for synchronization between two or more scene clients, transmit the generated synchronous reproduction information to a first scene client among the two or more scene clients, and decode the image content segments to generate decoded image segments; and the two or more scene clients including the first scene client that parses the received synchronous reproduction information, and shares the parsed synchronous reproduction information with remaining scene clients, and being configured to reproduce the decoded image segments on screens based on the parsed synchronous reproduction information. | 04-24-2014 |
20140157334 | DVR MODULE FOR SYSTEM HAVING A GATEWAY - A communications module, a gateway device incorporating the communications module, or a local network system incorporating the gateway device, incorporating a readily installable and removable module which contains internal computer instructions to operate a digital video recorder which may be controllable using the local network system. The module may control at least one of the functions including dynamic video up-conversion, pausing, and recording. The module may obtain timing data from the network with which it is associated. | 06-05-2014 |
20140157335 | Digital Residential Entertainment System - A digital residential entertainment system uses a data switch with dedicated ports. Each one of the dedicated ports may receive a different input or route a different output. As different content items are stored within the digital residential entertainment system, each one of the different content items is associated to a different row in a data table. Each different row thus stores data fields that differentiate one content item from another content item. | 06-05-2014 |
20140181877 | Device Activation Using Encoded Representation - In one embodiment, a method activates a first device for delivering media to the first device. The method captures, by a second device, an encoded representation being output by the first device. The encoded representation is output by an application upon being provided on the first device where activation of the first device via a server is necessary for configuring a media program delivery service for a user on the first device. The method then determines information encoded in the encoded representation. The information includes a unique identifier (ID) for the first device. A user identifier is determined for the user and the method automatically communicates the unique ID and the user identifier to the server associated with the media program delivery service to allow the server to activate the first device for the media delivery service using the unique ID. | 06-26-2014 |
20140189759 | CUSTOM-TAILORED ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE FOR USER IDENTIFIED BY DIFFERENT LOYALTY PROGRAM USER IDENTIFIERS AT DIFFERENT HOSPITALITY LOCATIONS - A user profile server stores a particular user profile corresponding to a user who belongs to a plurality of separate loyalty programs, and the particular user profile includes a plurality of different loyalty program user identifiers each identifying the user on a respective one of the separate loyalty programs. The user profile server communicates user a preference included on the particular user profile to a first controller via the computer network and communicates the user preference included on the particular user profile to a second controller via the computer network. The first controller is associated with a first hospitality location where the user is identified according to a first loyalty program user identifier included on the particular user profile, and the second is controller is associated with a second hospitality location where the user is identified according to a second loyalty program user identifier included on the particular user profile. | 07-03-2014 |
20140250471 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING UNAUTHORIZED STREAMING OF CONTENT - The present invention relates to methods and apparatus relating to content streaming, e.g., in a home network, in a manner that reduces the chance of streaming of content to a device which is not authorized to receive the content. In an exemplary method of controlling content streaming on a home network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the method involves receiving at a home network gateway a first video on demand service request message from a first device coupled to the home network, storing a portion of said first video on demand service request message in memory, receiving at said home network gateway a second message, and determining based on a portion of said second message and a portion of said stored first video on demand service request message whether to provide the requested video on demand service. | 09-04-2014 |
20140250472 | DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYING SYSTEM - A digital media playing system includes a digital media server and a digital media output device. By recording the video and audio data that are played by a video and audio playing device of the digital media server, a video and audio recording file is generated. By performing an encoding operation and a wrapping operation on the video and audio recording file, an identifiable streaming media file is obtained. In addition, the identifiable streaming media file is transmitted to the digital media output device to be played. Consequently, the video and audio data that are played by the video and audio playing device of the digital media server can be outputted through mirroring. | 09-04-2014 |
20140359677 | Set-Top Box with Interactive Portal and System and Method for Use of Same - A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel. | 12-04-2014 |
20150128195 | VIDEO REPRODUCTION SYSTEM - The present invention is to provide a video reproduction system that can synchronize the reproduction timing of plural videos when contemporaneously reproducing the plural videos. One or plural video distribution devices each give, to a frame image included in a distribution video to be distributed to a video reproduction device, timing information indicating the generation timing of this frame image, and distribute the distribution video given this timing information. The video reproduction device receives plural distribution videos distributed from the one or plural video distribution devices and reproduces the received plural distribution videos in synchronization based on the timing information included in each of the plural distribution videos. | 05-07-2015 |
20150128196 | REMOTE MEDIA STREAMING - A redirection device for remote streaming media reroutes media content sent to the receiving device, typically located in the home of the subscriber, to the subscriber's mobile device such as a laptop or smartphone. Remote media streaming provides media recipients with capabilities for out-of-home (OOH) viewing for remotely rendering media content from a subscriber based receiving device to a personal electronic device. The remote streaming redirects media that has already been received by the subscription based receiving device, such that the redirection device forwards a rendering signal including the requested content to the rendering device based on the reported location. The redirected media stream therefore emanates from the redirection device as an independent transmission of content already received by the receiving device, and not as a separate transmission of media content from the content provider. | 05-07-2015 |
20150319488 | FAST-START STREAMING AND BUFFERING OF STREAMING CONTENT FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - Systems and methods allow playback of a media stream received via a network. The media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream. | 11-05-2015 |
20150326889 | Set-Top Box with Interactive Portal and System and Method for Use of Same - A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel. | 11-12-2015 |
20150326915 | System And Method For Display Device Discovery - A method for creating a list of display devices that are available to receive a video signal from an image generator via network video streaming. One version of the method includes transmitting a display availability packet indicating one or more of the display devices that are available for connection, updating a network display listing module with the information stored in the display availability packet, and transmitting an availability request packet requesting a list of the display devices that are available to receive the video signal. In response to receiving an availability request packet, a display resource list, indicating the display devices available to receive the video signal, is generated from the metadata contained in the availability request packet. | 11-12-2015 |
20150334429 | TUNING EFFICIENCY AND DELIVERY OF CONTENT - In accordance with one configuration, in response to receiving a request from a client device, a server resource tunes to a corresponding channel to retrieve content conveyed on the corresponding channel. While tuning, the server resource obtains a network address of the server resource from which content in the corresponding channel will be available for retrieval by the client device subsequent to the server resource successfully tuning to the corresponding channel and buffering a portion of the content. The server resource forwards the network address to the client device for subsequent retrieval of the content. | 11-19-2015 |
20150350690 | IMPLEMENTING SCREEN SHARING FUNCTIONALITY OVER A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Methods and systems for enabling a screen sharing functionality of an output device are provided. More particularly, one or more first commands may be provided to a headend from a mobile device. The headend may then provide one or more second commands to an output device to enable a screen sharing functionality of the output device. Additional configuration parameters may be received at the headend from the mobile device and provided to the output device to change, for instance, a broadcast name of the output device. Content may then be streamed directly from the mobile device to the output device using a direct device-to-device communication protocol. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350723 | Video Communication Method, Home Terminal, and Home Server - A home video communication method includes sending, by a home terminal, a detection message to a home server, where the detection message carries user account information, receiving, by the home server, the detection message that carries the user account information and is sent by the home terminal, performing, by the home server, matching on the account information, returning a video communication homepage to the home terminal after the matching is successful, receiving, by the home terminal, the video communication homepage returned by the home server, and establishing a socket connection to the home server by using the video communication homepage and a browser that supports web-based real time communication, and interacting, by the home terminal, with a Web Real Time Communication (WebRTC) proxy of the home server by using a web-based real time communication WebRTC application and by means of the Socket connection to implement video communication. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350724 | INTELLIGENT DEVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL SIGNALS ON A WIDEBAND SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A plurality of intelligent device systems for use with a wideband signal distribution network, and methods for transmitting digital information and receiving digital and non-digital information onto and off of an RF carrier through a wideband signal distribution network, are disclosed. The intelligent device systems provide networks of intelligent devices that modulate and demodulate digital video, IP video/data/voice and digital wireless onto, and off of, a wideband signal distribution system, such as an analog carrier system, using existing EIA/TIA 568 standard wiring infrastructure. The methods modulate and demodulate digital video, IP video/data/voice and digital wireless onto, and off of, a wideband distribution system, such as an analog carrier system, and separate IP portions from non-IP portions. | 12-03-2015 |
20160014435 | CAMERA FEED DISTRIBUTION FROM EVENT VENUE VIRTUAL SEAT CAMERAS | 01-14-2016 |
20160105691 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING MEDIA CONTENT FROM A DISPLAY VENUE - A venue display system has a server that communicates with a box and includes a processor. A content server is part of a screen management system (SMS). A venue display management system, a digital projector, and a storage device are provided. The system provides a timeline of media content to be triggered. | 04-14-2016 |
20160105696 | HOSPITALITY MEDIA SYSTEM THAT AVOIDS NETWORK CONGESTION AND SERVER LOAD WHILE PROVIDING MEDIA EXPERIENCE WITHIN GUEST ROOM, AND COMPUTER SERVER AND METHOD THEREOF - A method of servicing requests for information at a server includes receiving a request for information from a client device, and determining a number of attempts of the request made by the client device. Both the client device and the server may count the number of attempts for each request. When the number of attempts is greater than a threshold, the method includes servicing the request and sending the information to the client device. When the number of attempts is not greater than the threshold, the method includes sending a service unavailable message to the client device. A retry-after delay may be calculated by the server according to a predicted time for the server to exit an overloaded state and included in the service unavailable message. The predicted time may take into account both requests currently being serviced and requests that have been scheduled to be serviced in the future. | 04-14-2016 |
20160119687 | CONTENTS PROCESSING DEVICE AND CONTENTS PROCESSING SYSTEM - There is provided a contents processing device of a contents processing system having a plurality of contents input units including network input units, a plurality of contents output units that is related to a plurality of zones and outputs the contents to the plurality of zones, respectively, an NET selector for outputting the contents input into the network input units to a specific contents output unit of the plurality of contents output units, and an NET selector controller for, when a receiving unit receives the contents reproduction notification, controlling an operation of the NET selector according to a predetermined NET selector procedure so that a user's estimated reproduction requirement is satisfied. | 04-28-2016 |
20160142788 | REMOTE CONTROL VIDEO MODULATOR - A video modulator is presented. The modulator includes a video input interface, a video modulation circuit, a video output interface, a communication interface, and control circuitry. The video input interface is configured to receive a video signal to be modulated, the video modulation circuit is configured to modulate the video signal, and the video output interface is configured to transmit the modulated video signal. The communication interface is configured to receive a command via a communication link to control the video modulator. The control circuitry is configured to receive the command from the communication interface and to control at least one of the video input interface, the video modulation circuit, and the video output interface based on the command. | 05-19-2016 |
20160165301 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING MEDIA STREAM WITH ADAPTIVE RESOLUTIONS - Devices and methods for obtaining media stream with adaptive resolutions. The device includes a receiver in communication with a processor, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive a plurality of media signals. The processor is programmed to communicate with a terminal device in the home network, obtain a corresponding display resolution of the terminal device, and select a media signal according to the corresponding display resolution of the terminal device and a video resolution of the media signal. The transmitter is configured to transmit media stream corresponding to the selected media signal to the terminal device. | 06-09-2016 |
20160198222 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING A MULTIMEDIA STREAM | 07-07-2016 |