Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
725027000 | Of specific channel | 62 |
20090019469 | DYNAMIC UPDATE OF CHANNEL FILTERING INFORMATION IN IPTV SYSTEMS - Systems and methods according to the present invention address this need and others by updating the channel filtering information, e.g., whitelist, within the context of a streaming media system, e.g., an IMS-IPTV system. This updating of the channel filtering information occurs automatically through messages transmitted between a network node and an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) control function including intervening hardware. | 01-15-2009 |
20090204986 | Method of performing parental control a channel and an IPTV receiver - A method for performing parental control a channel for building a channel map in an internet protocol television (IPTV) receiver and the IPTV receiver thereof are provided. The method includes receiving a master service information (SI) table including a first element defining location of a virtual channel map table, parsing the first element in the received master SI table, receiving the virtual channel map table including a second element defining location of a virtual channel description table based on the parsed location element, parsing the second element in the received virtual channel map table, receiving the virtual channel description table, which includes a third element indicating a default parental guidance rating of a virtual channel service when present, based on the parsed second element, parsing the third element in the received virtual channel description table, and controlling to allow ratings based on the type of parental guidance system according to the parsed third element. | 08-13-2009 |
20090249385 | TERMINAL AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING BROADCASTING THEREIN - An apparatus and method for previewing broadcasting data on a mobile terminal are provided. When a user selected broadcast channel is an authority-restricted channel, data associated with the selected broadcast channel is output according to a presence or non-presence of a preview authority for the selected broadcast channel. | 10-01-2009 |
20090300671 | Controlling Access to Multimedia Content - A disclosed access control application and an associated method for managing access to multimedia content include enabling an administrator, e.g., a parent, to create a user account for a user, e.g., a child, and a password and a profile for the user account. The method further includes assigning an access level to the user and generating an initial set of content access indicator (CAIs) based on the access level. The initial CAI influences or determines the user's ability to access content associated with the access level. The method further includes modifying at least one of the CAIs in response to a request from the administrator. When a user subsequently send a navigation signal or command while the user account is active, the navigation signal is processed based at least in part on the CAIs to prevent the user from accessing content that the applicable CAI indicates as being restricted. | 12-03-2009 |
20090320057 | ENHANCED PARENTAL CONTROL - A parental control method, including receiving a channel selection command from a user to select from a plurality of channels for playing, each of the channels having a plurality of programming content, performing a parental control procedure prior to allowing playing of the programming content of one of the channels, during at least one specific timeslot, and allowing playing of the programming content prior to performing a parental control procedure for at least one of the following the one channel outside of the at least one specific timeslot, and another one of the channels. Related apparatus and methods are also described. | 12-24-2009 |
20100083300 | LICENSE UPDATE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RIGHT-PROTECTED BROADCAST CHANNEL - A license update method and apparatus for a right-protected broadcast channel prevents interruption of the ongoing playback of the right-protected broadcast channel due to the expiration of the license without the user's awareness by controlling the license update timing before the expiration of the license. The license update method according to the present invention includes setting a timer; detecting an expiration time of the timer; and updating a short-term license having a periodic duration which is updated with a periodicity within an entire license duration for the right-protected broadcast channel at the expiration time of the timer. | 04-01-2010 |
20100131973 | System and Method for Managing Entitlements to Data Over a Network - A system and method for determining entitlement to content residing on a server. A subscriber computing device operated by a subscriber generates a request for access to a requested content residing on a content access provider server. The subscriber has an account with a multi-channel video program distributor (MVPD) and the account comprises subscription information indicative of the services provided by the MVPD to the subscriber. The content request is received by the content access provider and forwarded to an entitlements server. The entitlement determines whether the subscriber is entitled to receive the requested content based on the subscription information and sends an access granted message to the content access provider server when the subscriber is entitled to receive the requested content. | 05-27-2010 |
20100162292 | CONTENT ACCESS - Techniques are described to provide content access. In an implementation, a determination is made at a client that a high-definition channel has content that matches content provided by a standard-definition channel. Access is provided to the content via the high-definition channel and access is restricted to the content via the standard-definition channel up the client is capable of outputting the content and high definition. | 06-24-2010 |
20100269129 | BROADCASTING PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - Disclosed are a broadcasting processing apparatus and a control method of the same. The broadcasting processing apparatus including: a broadcasting receiver which receives a broadcasting signal including contents and additional information about the contents; a condition access module which descrambles the contents if the contents have been scrambled; and a controller which controls the broadcasting receiver to receive the broadcasting signal during a power-off mode, and stores contents information about a shunning function that prevents the inputting of the contents to the condition access module among the received additional information. | 10-21-2010 |
20100306794 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT - A channel management method is provided for use in a channel management device. The channel management method includes the following steps. First, a scan request is received. Also, a number of television channels are scanned to generate a first set of channel list. Next, a number of network channels are scanned to generate a second set of channel list. Then, an integrated channel list is generated according to at least one set of channel lists which at least includes the first and the second set of channel lists. Afterwards, the content of a corresponding program is provided according to the integrated channel list and a selected channel thereof, when the selected channel is selected. | 12-02-2010 |
20100333129 | View Confirmation For On-demand Multimedia Content - A computer implemented method and system is provided for confirming that a viewer viewed multimedia content on a client device. A server provisioned with the multimedia content is provided. The viewer creates a viewer account and accesses the server by supplying the viewer credentials. The viewer receives a list of multimedia content on the client device from the server, on demand for selection, and selects viewing parameters and multimedia content from the list. The client device receives and plays the selected multimedia content based on the selected viewing parameters. Viewing of the selected multimedia content is confirmed using a random challenge that is random in content, presented at random times during and/or after the play, and/or presented at random physical locations on the selected multimedia content. A response report is generated and the viewer is compensated if the response report confirms that the viewer has viewed the selected multimedia content. | 12-30-2010 |
20110010733 | AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF A CABLE TRAP - Firmware is installed in a cable modem, enabling detection of the presence or absence of a cable trap in the feed of a customer location. Such a cable modem includes a trap-detection module and a trap-detection object. The trap-detection module is configured to determine whether a video signal is present at a cable-television frequency. The trap-detection object is configured to store data as to whether the video signal is present. For example, a first piece of data is stored if the video signal is present, indicating absence of a properly functioning cable trap between a cable head-end and the cable modem. A second piece of data is stored if the video signal is absent, indicating presence of a properly functioning cable trap between the cable head-end and the cable modem. | 01-13-2011 |
20110093881 | System Method and Apparatus for Portable Digital Identity - Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user's digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory. | 04-21-2011 |
20110154387 | TELEVISION AUTHORIZING SYSTEM FOR PLAYING MEDIA CONTENT AND AUTHORIZING METHOD THEREOF - A television authorizing system comprises a storage, a display, a communicating module, a content controlling module and an output module. The communicating module receives a broadcast signal. The content controlling module acquires a content label of selected program and compares the content label with the user information in a predefined user list. The output module outputs the selected program to the display when the user is authorized. | 06-23-2011 |
20110209174 | Programming and Content Recommendations - Method and system for enabling users to perform self-service operations in interactive TV environments. In one embodiment, the method enables users to select and activate programming channels via a content receiving device, thereby eliminating the need for the users to have to call a call center or content provider to activate previously unavailable or inaccessible content. Using a set of interactive screens, the user is enabled to view programming channel information, including comparative information. In one embodiment, the method assists users who are moving to activate/reactive programming and content services. For example, options are provided to enable the user to schedule service work, disconnect and activate services, and other activities connected with the move. In another embodiment, the method enables a user to select a programming channel based on channels that are recommended by the system. Historic usage patterns, including viewing habits and attempts to access unavailable content are analyzed to determine which programming channels should be recommended for the user. | 08-25-2011 |
20110247032 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY INSTALLING AND UPDATING DIFFERENT SECURITY CLIENTS FOR BROADCASTING OR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - A method for installing different security clients for channels in a terminal in a conditional access system includes: searching one or more channels searchable in the terminal; requesting, for respective searched channels, security clients necessary for receiving pay programs to be transmitted through the searched channels, to a broadcasting station which takes charge of the searched channels; and downloading and installing, for respective searched channels, the requested security clients from the broadcasting station. | 10-06-2011 |
20110258656 | System and method for television application channel sync (TACS) - There is provided a system and method for providing television application channel sync (TACS). There is provided a method comprising determining a channel presently tuned from a plurality of tunable channels, applying a plurality of business rules to the channel to present, on a display, a list of selectable television applications from a plurality of television applications requiring access to a network, associating the channel to a selection of television applications from the list, and rendering the selection of television applications concurrently with the channel on the display while the channel is presently tuned. The business rules may be flexibly configured to prevent television applications from displaying unsuitable, unrelated or irrelevant content with channel video content, thus providing a unified and coherent presentation for viewers while preserving the intended messages of primary programming content providers and advertising partners. | 10-20-2011 |
20120011536 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO A SUBSCRIPTION BROADCAST CHANNEL ON DEMAND VIA A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A request to provide access to a specified subscription broadcast channel during a specified period is received from a subscriber device. A first instruction to allow the subscriber device to access the specified subscription broadcast channel is transmitted to a second device, prior to the specified period. A second instruction to restrict access by the subscriber device to the specified subscription broadcast channel is transmitted to the second device, substantially at the end of the specified period. | 01-12-2012 |
20120060179 | METHOD FOR RECEIVING VIEWING-RESTRICTED CHANNEL - A method for receiving a viewing-restricted channel is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, if a user makes a request for receiving a viewing-restricted channel, a command requesting decoding and transmitting broadcast signals of the viewing-restricted channel is generated and transmitted to a broadcast receiver equipped with a CAS module through a network, and broadcast data decoded at the broadcast receiver is received through the network and played after being processed as audio/video signals. If broadcast signals transcoded in a different bit rate at the broadcast receiver is received, the transcoded broadcast data can be decoded in an appropriate way and played. | 03-08-2012 |
20120060180 | USER BASED ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDES - Electronic program guides are generated using device information, content authorization, service levels, and/or interest levels, etc., for a particular user. A viewer can access a user specific electronic program guide on a mobile device, continue accessing the user specific electronic program guide on a computer system, and subsequently move to a large screen television the same electronic program guide. The same user specific electronic program guide may be provided or adjustments to the electronic program guide can be made to account for varying service levels and device capabilities of the different devices. A user may be authorized to view a particular channel on a mobile device but not on a large screen television. In particular examples, a user can seamlessly access a user specific electronic program guide across a variety of authenticated devices associated with a variety of service levels. | 03-08-2012 |
20120102519 | TRANSMITTING APPARATUS, TRANSMITTING METHOD, RECEIVING APPARATUS, AND RECEIVING METHOD - The present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus and transmitting method as well as a receiving apparatus and receiving method configured to be able to recognize only channel selection information for digital broadcasting that is viewable at the receiving end. | 04-26-2012 |
20120124612 | VIDEO STREAMING ENTITLEMENT DETERMINED BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE VIEWER - Users of portable devices may stream video content to the portable device based on an entitlement determination that includes determining the location of the portable device. A device may receive a request to authenticate the portable device to receive the streaming video content and determine whether the portable device is in a geographic location corresponding to a customer premise of an account associated with the portable device. The video content may be streamed when the portable device is in the geographic location corresponding to the customer premise. | 05-17-2012 |
20120124613 | CONTENT ENTITLEMENT DETERMINATIONS FOR PLAYBACK OF VIDEO STREAMS ON PORTABLE DEVICES - Video content is streamed to portable devices based on an entitlement determination that includes determining the location of the portable device. Channel listings available for the portable device may be filtered based on the determined entitlements. A device may determine an indication of a location of the portable device and determine entitlements defining which of the plurality of video content items are permitted to be viewed by the portable device, where the entitlements are determined based at least on the indication of the location of the portable device. The device may further transmit, to the portable device, a listing of the plurality of video content items, filtered based on those of the plurality of video content items that are permitted to be viewed by the portable device, as determined by the entitlements. | 05-17-2012 |
20120131605 | HYBRID TUNER CONTROL - A hybrid tuner, comprising multiple individual tuners having differing capabilities of receiving programs or channels of broadcast audio or video content, can be controlled by periodically determining the capabilities of each individual tuner to receive broadcast channels, storing such information into a guide database and then utilizing such information to select appropriate individual tuners to tune in desired programs. If the tuners that can receive a desired program are already in use, the program they are currently receiving can be switched to a different tuner to free up the tuner that can receive the desired program without interrupting the consumption of the program currently being received. When determining the capabilities of an individual tuner to receive a particular channel, one or more tokens associated with such a channel, and utilized to prevent unauthorized access to such a channel, can be obtained from the guide database and provided to the tuner. | 05-24-2012 |
20120167128 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PARENTAL CONTROL USING A PLAYLIST - A method for providing parental control via a playlist is disclosed. A playlist is received from a control server. One or more channel change control messages are sent to a client in accordance with a playlist. The one or more channel change control messages include tuning information for tuning to one or more programs or channels at times indicated in the playlist. | 06-28-2012 |
20120167129 | MULTIMEDIA CONTENT OUTPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILTRATING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT SIGNALS ACCORDING TO AUDIENCE AGE - A multimedia content output apparatus for filtrating multimedia content signals according to audience age includes an image capturing element, an age identifying module and a control circuit. The control circuit receives an image signal and a content-classification identifying message. The image capturing element captures an audience image for the age identifying module to analyze the audience image and obtain an age identification value according to the audience's age. The control circuit loads plural age identification value ranges, and preset content-classification codes corresponding to each of the age identification value ranges. Then the control circuit determines whether the content-classification identifying message matches with the preset content-classification code corresponding to the age identification value range. If matched, the control circuit transforms the image signal as a display driving signal and outputs to a display unit for displaying images. | 06-28-2012 |
20120167130 | Method for Controlling Child Lock of Internet Protocol Television and Electronic Program Guide Server - a method for controlling child lock of an Internet protocol television and an electronic program guide server are disclosed. The method comprises: an electronic program guide (EPG) server providing a child lock setting interface for a user and receiving a child lock setting set by the user via the child lock setting interface; and after the EPG server receives information about demanding or changing to a predetermined channel from the user, the EPG server judging whether to directly play the predetermined channel for the user according to the child lock setting. The present invention is capable of conveniently achieving various child lock functions, and the implementation of this solution does not rely on the set top box of the user terminal and is applicable universally. | 06-28-2012 |
20120185892 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MULTIPLE CONTENT CHANNELS AND ENGAGEMENT SCORING - A system and method for managing multiple content channels and engagement scoring are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes providing, by use of a data processor, a user interface to enable a user to specify a plurality of channels of interest, the user interface further enabling the user to provide authentication credentials for each channel of the plurality of channels of interest; using the authentication credentials to automatically collect channel data from each of the plurality of channels of interest, the channel data including posts data, subscriber data, and subscriber activity data from each channel; augmenting the channel data with data collected from other content sources; processing the augmented channel data to produce an engagement score, the engagement score representing a degree to which a plurality of subscribers are involved in subscriber activity at the plurality of channels of interest; and presenting at least a portion of the processed augmented channel data and the engagement score to the user in one or more reports. | 07-19-2012 |
20120233636 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SETTING CHANNEL - A method and an apparatus of setting a channel are disclosed, wherein the method includes steps as follows. First, a channel is locked as a locked channel. Then, when the locked channel is switched to another channel, a screen is controlled to display information related to the locked channel, and first duration after the locked channel is switched to foresaid another channel is counted. Then, a prompting is performed when the first duration exceeds a first predetermined period. | 09-13-2012 |
20120304219 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING SUBSCRIPTION DATA - A media guidance application is provided by which users can view program listings associated with programming that the user may access using other user equipment devices. The media guidance application, implemented on, for example, a remote system, may determine through communications with television equipment whether or not the television equipment is authorized to provide a particular package of television programming to be viewed by the user. For example, an online program guide application may determine whether or not television equipment allows a user to view particular channels and, based on that determination, proceed to determine what packages of programming the user subscribes to. A customized program guide may then be displayed based on what programming the user subscribes to on various systems. | 11-29-2012 |
20120331501 | LOW-PASS FILTER CIRCUIT - This disclosure relates generally to community access or cable television (CATV) signals and to in-home entertainment signals sharing a CATV distribution network. A low-pass filter is disclosed which can be used to restrict in-home entertainment signals that are using the CATV distribution network from leaving a subscriber premise network. The low-pass filter is placed at an entry port of a CATV subscriber premise network. The low-pass filter allows both upstream and downstream CATV signal frequency bands to enter and exit the subscriber premise network. The low-pass filter blocks signals in the in-home entertainment frequency band from exiting the subscriber premise network. The low-pass filter includes at least one LC resonant circuit element, and at least one mechanical resonant circuit element. The low-pass filter is sized small enough that it can fit in existing CATV equipment. | 12-27-2012 |
20130007795 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION - A method and apparatus for providing a private broadcast channel service, e.g., a virtual closed circuit television service, on packet networks such as Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, a customer subscribes to the private broadcast channel service for a group having a plurality of confirmed members who have confirmed their desire to participate. The network service provider enables one or more of the group members to upload media content to the service provider's network. The service provider then broadcasts the uploaded media content to all the confirmed members such that each confirmed member may view the media content by simply tuning to the appropriate channel assigned for the private broadcast channel service. | 01-03-2013 |
20130097628 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING INTERACTIVE NEAR VIDEO ON DEMAND CHANNEL - Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing an interactive near video on demand (NVOD) channel. The present invention relates to the field of NVOD channels and can implement an interactive NVOD channel at a low operation cost. The method includes: sending NVOD program metadata to a user equipment; receiving a request for playing an NVOD program, where the playing request is sent by the user equipment and includes the NVOD program that a user selects from the NVOD program metadata through the user equipment; determining, according to the playing request, a next NVOD program to be played, and sending a media stream of the determined NVOD program in multicast/broadcast mode. The present invention is mainly applied to NVOD channels and may be applied to IMS-based IPTV systems. | 04-18-2013 |
20130132995 | SERVICE ACCESS METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM - The present invention provides a service access method, device, and system, and relates to the field of television services, to guarantee multicast security of a network device. The method includes: obtaining an authorized multicast address list according to program channel list information provided by a server; receiving an Internet Group Management Protocol IGMP packet request sent by a user terminal device, where the IGMP packet request carries a multicast address; verifying the multicast address in the IGMP packet request according to the multicast address list; and sending a media data stream corresponding to the verified multicast address to the user terminal device. The solutions of the present invention are suitable for realizing the security of multicast of network device. | 05-23-2013 |
20130263172 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING CONTENT CHANNELS - An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list. | 10-03-2013 |
20130263173 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT CHANNELS PROVIDING SELECTED ACCESS - An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list. | 10-03-2013 |
20140082655 | VIDEO DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - Provided are a video display device and a method of operating the same. The video display device request content recognition configuration information to a third party server that is not dependent on any single channel, and receives the content recognition configuration information from the third party server. The video display device extracts a plurality of content recognition configuration information items from the content recognition configuration information and configures the plurality of content recognition configuration information item in the video display device. The video display device obtains contents information of uncompressed content on the basis of the plurality of content recognition configuration information item, obtains an application on the basis of the content information, and executes the application. | 03-20-2014 |
20140130082 | WEB-BASED VIDEO BROADCASTING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE CHANNELS - A web-based video broadcast system, comprising at least one web page in communication with a host system to permit a plurality of users and a plurality of content providers to access the host system. The host system is programmed to register a plurality of channels, each associated with a unique channel identifier, and to associate each of at least a portion of the plurality of channels with at least one content provider responsive to a request by the at least one content provider. The host system is further programmed to permit the at least one content provider associated with a channel to selectively upload to the host system at least one video file and associate the at least one video file with the channel. The host system is further programmed to store the at least one video file and continuously display the at least one video file responsive to a user selecting the channel via the at least one web page. | 05-08-2014 |
20140165091 | TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS BROADCASTED BY USERS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL NETWORK USING A RADIAL ALGORITHM - Disclosed are a method, a device and a system of television and radio station broadcast data generation in a constrained geospatial vicinity around a broadcast location of a neighborhood social network. In one embodiment, the station broadcast data is radially distributed as a notification data through at least one of an on-page posting, an electronic communication, and a push notification delivered to a set of recipients through an internet protocol (IP) based network associated with users and their user profiles around an epicenter defined at the set of geospatial coordinates associated with the station broadcast data generated through the computing device. | 06-12-2014 |
20140196073 | Customized Moderation of Electronic Content Published Via A Media Portal - Systems and methods are provided for providing customized moderation of electronic content published via a media portal. The content management application can access a feed that includes multiple electronic content items. The content management application can determine, based on an approval descriptor associated with the feed, that additional content provided to the feed is provided by a publisher account that must be approved by a moderator account rather than an additional publisher account for which other additional content is automatically approved without requiring moderator approval. The content management application can require approval of the additional content by the moderator account. The moderator account has permission to moderate electronic content provided to the feed based on a moderator descriptor associated with the feed. | 07-10-2014 |
20140208343 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY RECEIVING REQUIRED SATELLITE TELEVISION CHANNELS - A system includes a video-on-demand server and an authentication server. The video-on-demand server is configured to provide video-on-demand content through a broadband connection to a set-top box device. The authentication server is in communication with the video-on-demand server. The authentication server is configured to receive a request to allow access to a video-on-demand package that includes the video-on-demand content, to determine if a user is currently authorized to constantly receive a broadcast package that includes a plurality of broadcast channels related to the video-on-demand content, and to authorize a broadcast channel in the broadcast package when not currently authorized to receive the broadcast package. | 07-24-2014 |
20140237503 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MEDIA CONTENT FOR A PERSONAL TELEVISION CHANNEL - A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor can have a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system according to one or more graphical user interface (GUI) templates that define a plurality of segments of a presentation area of the personal TV channel and one or more modules that arrange media content of the subscriber in the plurality of segments of a select one of the plurality of GUI templates. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140298372 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECORDING AND TIME-SHIFTING PROGRAMMING IN A TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM USING POLICIES - Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to store a policy specifying rules relating to recording, storage or delivery of broadcast programming to a consumer of such programming, and to record, store or deliver broadcast programming in response to a rule. According to an example embodiment, a method and system provide for a subscriber requesting that a broadcast television program be saved for the subscriber upstream from the subscriber in a television distribution system, and that the program offered to the subscriber for saving is determined based on a policy established for the program. According to another example embodiment a system provides a computing device including a computer program to control the recording or delivery of a broadcast television program in accordance with a policy established to control the recording or delivery of the broadcast television program. | 10-02-2014 |
20140310738 | CUSTOMER ASSOCIATED PROFILE FOR ACCESSING AUDIO AND VIDEO MEDIA OBJECTS - A method is disclosed for transferring a received media object to remote devices in accordance to attributes in a user profile. The profile information additionally determinates the versions of the media object that are available to such remote devices and whether the media object may be stored in such remote devices. | 10-16-2014 |
20140373041 | METHOD FOR MEDIA CONTENT DELIVERY USING VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO ON DEMAND ASSETS - The method for media content delivery using on demand assets of a specific content provider includes integrating a user media platform with the specific content provider. This integration is established through a digital locker of the media platform and a coordinator of the specific content provider. Once established, the Digital locker of the media platform shall maintain all rights information for content purchases, in addition to also storing and maintaining those rights with the specific content provider such that purchased content may be available to the user without necessarily requiring intervention by the specific content provider. | 12-18-2014 |
20150046939 | SEAMLESS MULTI-CHANNEL TV EVERYWHERE SIGN-N - A network device receives a unique device identifier (UDID) associated with a mobile device belonging to a user, and content channel subscription information associated with the user, and stores the UDID and the content channel subscription information in a database. The network device receives the UDID and a channel identifier (ID) from a content application executing at the mobile device, and accesses the database with the UDID and the channel ID to verify the user's subscription to a content channel identified by the channel ID. The network device sends, if the user's subscription to the content channel is verified, a channel permission and a timestamp, to the mobile device, such that the mobile device is able to access content at a content provider corresponding to the channel ID prior to an expiration time that is based on the timestamp. | 02-12-2015 |
20150052545 | METHOD TO BIND THE USE OF A TELEVISION RECEIVER TO A PARTICULAR NETWORK - A method to bind the use of a digital audio/video service data receiver to a network on which at least one services provider broadcasts access controlled and free digital audio/video services streams, the method having the steps: receiving by the receiver a periodic signal transmitted by a conditional access system server via the network, said periodic signal being processed by a run time software embedded in the receiver to check legitimacy of the network; displaying services available on the network only if said run time software recognizes the periodic signal as indicating network legitimacy; and checking operability of the run time software and if necessary taking actions to enforce limitation of using the receiver on the network checked as legitimate. The invention further discloses a receiver bound to a specific network configured to perform the method. | 02-19-2015 |
20150089535 | VIDEO DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - Provided are a video display device and a method of operating the same. The video display device request content recognition configuration information to a third party server that is not dependent on any single channel, and receives the content recognition configuration information from the third party server. The video display device extracts a plurality of content recognition configuration information items from the content recognition configuration information and configures the plurality of content recognition configuration information item in the video display device. The video display device obtains contents information of uncompressed content on the basis of the plurality of content recognition configuration information item, obtains an application on the basis of the content information, and executes the application. | 03-26-2015 |
20150106835 | Providing Parental Control Using a Playlist - A method includes receiving a playlist at a network device from a client device in communication with the network device over a network. In response to receiving the playlist, the method also includes disabling channel changes not associated with the playlist from executing during times indicated in the playlist. The method further includes transmitting a control message from the network device to the client device that requests the client device to tune to a channel conforming to the playlist when the network device receives a channel change request not associated with the playlist from the client device. | 04-16-2015 |
20150150037 | PERSONALIZED CONTENT - A media switch enables a terminal to access content by receiving a content request from a terminal for a first piece of content to be distributed over a cable system, identifying a personal channel within resources available in the cable system to distribute the first piece of content to the terminal, transmitting access information to the terminal to enable the terminal to access the first piece of content through the personal channel, and interfacing with a cable headend to provide the first piece of content on the personal channel. | 05-28-2015 |
20150358673 | VIRTUAL CHANNEL TABLE FOR A BROADCAST PROTOCOL AND METHOD OF BROADCASTING AND RECEIVING BROADCAST SIGNALS USING THE SAME - A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel. | 12-10-2015 |
20150382048 | INTELLIGENT REMOTE CONTROL - An intelligent remote control as disclosed herein provides enhanced functionality by providing bi-directional communication with a multimedia handling device such as a set-top box. An intelligent remote control may provide | 12-31-2015 |
20160014455 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO STREAMING IN A DYNAMIC NETWORK USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES | 01-14-2016 |
20160021410 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top-box (STB) having a controller to join a multicast group having an associated multicast address, wherein the multicast address is associated with a first content type of a plurality of content types, access encoded content associated with the first content type from the multicast address, wherein the encoded content is transmitted by at least one source associated with the multicast group to the multicast address, decode the accessed encoded content, and display the decoded content on a channel mapped to the multicast address. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-21-2016 |
20160044385 | MERGING PERMISSIONS AND CONTENT ACCESS - Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining that a wireless device associated with one user account is proximate to a computing device associated with another user account. In response to determining the proximity of the two devices, one or more of the devices may receive merged access to permissions and/or content associated with the two user accounts. In response to determining that the wireless device is not proximate to the computing device, the devices may no longer receive merged access to permissions and/or content associated with the two user accounts. | 02-11-2016 |
20160088345 | Method, Apparatus, and System for Improving Channel Switching Speed - A method, an apparatus, and a system for improving a channel switching speed is presented, which relate to the field of electronic terminal applications, and further save a channel switching time, so that a channel switching speed is significantly improved. A specific embodiment of the present disclosure includes that: before a switching instruction input by a user is received, first information of a preset channel is acquired, and audio and video information of the preset channel is buffered; when the switching instruction indicating switching to the preset channel is received, and a target channel indicated by the switching instruction is included in the preset channel, program playback of the target channel is already in a ready state. Therefore, much time is saved, and a channel switching speed can be significantly improved. Technical solutions of the present disclosure are mainly applied to a channel switching procedure. | 03-24-2016 |
20160105719 | Systems and Methods for Performing Semantic Analysis of Media Objects - System and method for identification of ownership to media objects through analysis of semantic information in the media objects are disclosed. Semantic information is a term that can be used to describe aspects of the content of a media object that are apparent to a human viewing or listening to the content. In many embodiments, the media object is analyzed for semantic information that are indicative of media ownership such as, but not limited to, station identification logos, franchise logos (e.g., the title credits of a popular television series), theme songs, the distinctive voice of a news presenter, the face and/or voice of an actor and/or other characteristics of the media object are used as a basis for determining entities associated with the media object. One embodiment of the invention includes extracting semantic information from a specified media object, matching said semantic information of the specified media object against known semantic information of known media objects, and taking action based on the result of the comparison. | 04-14-2016 |
20160134910 | Provider Equipment Generation Of Customer User Interface - Systems, methods, apparatus and other mechanisms of providing a user interface (UI) at a service provider node in the television distribution system by encoding UI imagery to provide an encoded video stream bearing the UI imagery and configured for rendering as a UI screen via a client device video decoder, the UI screen including programming information associated with each of a subset of broadcast channels during a plurality of time intervals, and scaled live video imagery associated with each of the subset of broadcast channels; and at the service provider node, scaling video streams associated with at least the subset of broadcast channels to provide respective scaled live video imagery for the UI screen. | 05-12-2016 |
20160142764 | TRANSFER OF DATA RELATED TO BROADCAST PROGRAMMING OVER A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A broadcast programming receiver is provided which includes a broadcast programming interface, a memory, a communication network interface, and output circuitry. The broadcast programming interface is configured to receive broadcast programming, while the output circuitry is configured to transfer the broadcast programming to an output device. The memory is configured to store data related to the broadcast programming. in one embodiment, the communication network interface is configured to receive the data related to the broadcast programming over a communication network from a second broadcast programming receiver and transfer the data to the memory. In another implementation, the communication network interface is configured to receive the data from the memory and send the data over the communication network to a second broadcast programming receiver. | 05-19-2016 |
20160142785 | MULTIUSER AUDIOVISUAL CONTROL - Various audiovisual presentation arrangements are described. In some embodiments, a headset is configured to output audio to a user. A television receiver may be configured to output a plurality of video feeds for simultaneous presentation by a display device. Each video feed of the plurality of video feeds may be displayed in a different display region of the display device. The television receiver may receive a command indicative of a video feed of the plurality of videos feeds that the user is viewing on the display device. Based on the command, the television receiver may output, to the headset, an audio feed that corresponds to the video feed the user is viewing. | 05-19-2016 |
20160173936 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING CHANNEL OF SET-TOP BOX | 06-16-2016 |
20190149892 | Merging Permissions and Content Access | 05-16-2019 |