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| 20120059947 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING MUSIC PROGRAM CONTENT EVENTS RECEIVED IN A CONTENT STREAM - Systems and methods are operable to store music program content events received in a content stream. An exemplary system and method stores the content stream that includes at least an initial portion of a music program content event, receives a request to store the music program content event, accesses the stored content stream, identifies a start of the music program content event in the accessed content stream, and re-stores the initial portion of the music program content event based upon the start of the music program content event. Then, the exemplary system and method receives a continuing portion of the music program content event in the content stream, and stores the continuing portion of the music program content event with the initial portion of the music program content event. Accordingly, an entirety of the music program content event is stored. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120093476 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A THUMBNAIL-SIZED SCENE INDEX OF MEDIA CONTENT - Scene-based program accessing systems and methods are operable to present a program at a scene corresponding to a selected thumbnail-sized image. An exemplary embodiment selects a plurality of image frames from a program based upon a scene separation duration; generates a thumbnail-sized image from each of the selected image frames, and presents the plurality of thumbnail-sized images on a scene index. The scene index is configured to present the plurality of thumbnail-sized images in a time ordered sequence corresponding to a subject matter presentation sequence of the program, and each of the selected image frames are temporally separated from each other by the scene separation duration. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120117596 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRESENTING STORED MEDIA CONTENT AT ITS BEGINNING - Media device systems and methods are operable to automatically present a program at its beginning while a remaining portion of the program is being received at the media device. An exemplary embodiment receives a program in a media content stream; receives a presentation request to present the program, wherein the presentation request is received after an initial portion of the program has been received and wherein the presentation request is received before a conclusion of the program; accesses a stored initial portion of the program from a memory medium; and initiates presentation at a beginning of the program residing in the accessed initial portion of the program. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20130139200 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A THUMBNAIL-SIZED SCENE INDEX OF MEDIA CONTENT - Scene-based program accessing systems and methods are operable to present a program at a scene corresponding to a selected thumbnail-sized image. An exemplary embodiment selects a plurality of image frames from a program based upon a scene separation duration; generates a thumbnail-sized image from each of the selected image frames, and presents the plurality of thumbnail-sized images on a scene index. The scene index is configured to present the plurality of thumbnail-sized images in a time ordered sequence corresponding to a subject matter presentation sequence of the program, and each of the selected image frames are temporally separated from each other by the scene separation duration. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130182182 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING TEXT IDENTIFIED IN A VIDEO IMAGE - Systems and methods are operable to present text identified in a presented video image of a media content event. An exemplary embodiment receives a complete video frame that is associated with a presented video image of a video content event, wherein the presented video image includes a region of text; finds the text in the complete video frame; uses an optical character recognition (OCR) algorithm to translate the found text; and presents the translated text. The translated text may be presented on a display concurrently with the video image that is presented on the display. Alternatively, or additionally, the translated text may be presented as audible speech emitted from at least one speaker. | 07-18-2013 |
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| 20100083159 | SEGMENTED PROGRESS INDICATOR - A segmented progress bar is displayed for an operation including at least two steps. A segmented progress indicator displays a separate section for each step indicating the progress of the step. The display of the progress of each section is displayed at an approximately constant rate. Thus, the segmented progress indicator may not appear erratic and/or random. The percentage of work performed for a step is determined and represented in the respective section as the percentage filled. An error in one or more steps may be indicated in the respective section. The progress of individual steps included in an operation may be displayed in a linear sequence, a non-linear sequence, and/or a mixture of linear sequences and non-linear sequences. The sections of a segmented progress indicator may have similar dimensions or dissimilar dimensions with a relationship between the dimensions which is proportional to the times (or estimated times) for completion. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20110030009 | Alteration of Electronic Program Guide Data Based on Ratings Lock - A television receiver receives a programming signal including programming content and EPG data. The television receiver receives a request for an EPG display. The television receiver modifies the EPG data for one or more records in the EPG data which include content ratings that exceed a ratings lock setting of the television receiver. The television receiver may modify the EPG data for one or more records in a variety of different manners depending on a variety of different factors associated with the records. The television receiver then generates the EPG display from the modified EPG data and transmits the generated EPG display to a display device. The modification of the EPG data may prevent display of objectionable content in the EPG display and/or may indicate that the records correspond to blocked programs. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110145808 | Content Receiver Having a Low-Power Mode - A method, system and apparatus for interacting with scheduling data and primary data. A content receiver may receive scheduling data and extract, from the scheduling data, a time at which primary data is available. The content receiver may enter a de-powered state until the time, at which point it powers up. The content receiver may receive the primary data at the time and process it as necessary. Following processing, the content receiver may again power down. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20120079538 | Systems and Methods for Filtering Access to Content During Selected Time Periods - Provided herein are techniques for controlling access to content during specified time periods. A time period and content filtering parameter specify access to controlled access to content. An entertainment device is configured to disallow access to content outside of the time period and allow access to the content within the time period. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120173235 | Offline Generation of Subtitles - One embodiment described herein may take the form of a system or method for generating subtitles (also known as “closed captioning”) of an audio component of a multimedia presentation automatically for one or more stored presentations. In general, the system or method may access one or more multimedia programs stored on a storage medium, either as an entire program or in portions. Upon retrieval, the system or method may perform an analysis of the audio component of the program and generate a subtitle text file that corresponds to the audio component. In one embodiment, the system or method may perform a speech recognition analysis on the audio component to generate the subtitle text file. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120274218 | Smart Illumination for Electronic Devices - A handheld device includes control elements, an illumination element operable to illuminate the control elements, a light sensor that detects an illumination level, and a sensor that detects whether or not the device is being held. When the illumination level is below an ambient light threshold and the device is being held, the illumination element and activates. However, when either the illumination level is not below the ambient light threshold or the handheld electronic device is not being held, the illumination element deactivates and/or does not activate. In some implementations, the sensor includes a capacitance touch switch and/or a resistance touch switch that detects contact with skin, a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer that detects movement of the handheld device, a pressure sensors that detects exertion of pressure on the handheld device, and/or an additional light sensor that detects when a portion of the handheld electronic device is covered. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120293327 | PROGRESS BAR - A method for displaying the progress of an activity performed on a user device is provided. The method includes outputting a progress indicator indicative of the progress made in completing an activity and updating the progress indicator as the activity proceeds. Simultaneously, a first progress rate indicator is also output to the display, the progress rate indicator having a property indicative of the rate at which the activity is being progressed. The property of the progress rate indicator is based on a value determined by receiving a rate value indicative of the activity progress rate and comparing the rate value with a value indicative of the maximum progress rate of the user device for the particular activity. A corresponding apparatus and computer program for carrying out the method are also provided. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120297422 | ENHANCED PROGRAM PREVIEW CONTENT - Methods and apparatus for providing an enhanced EPG or EPG banner are described. A method of displaying first and second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, the method comprising receiving the first audiovisual content at a media playback device, receiving the second audiovisual content at the media playback device from a remote content system over a packet-based data network, in response to user input, outputting the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen, and controlling the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently. A method of controlling a screen, the display being operable in different modes according to whether a PiP window is shown, and whether currently broadcast or future content is shown. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20130047185 | ALTERATION OF ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DATA BASED ON RATINGS LOCK - A television receiver receives a programming signal including programming content and EPG data. The television receiver receives a request for an EPG display. The television receiver modifies the EPG data for one or more records in the EPG data which include content ratings that exceed a ratings lock setting of the television receiver. The television receiver may modify the EPG data for one or more records in a variety of different manners depending on a variety of different factors associated with the records. The television receiver then generates the EPG display from the modified EPG data and transmits the generated EPG display to a display device. The modification of the EPG data may prevent display of objectionable content in the EPG display and/or may indicate that the records correspond to blocked programs. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130064526 | Handling Requests When Available Channel Selectors Are in Use - A receiver receives a request for content associated with a channel, determines that all channel selectors are in use, selects a set of options, and transmits the set to a presentation device. The receiver may then fulfill the request utilizing a selected option. All available channel selectors may be in use because they are tuned to frequency bands of a broadcast signal to record content and data associated the channel is included in a different frequency band. The set of options may include options to stop the current recording in favor of the requested content and options to present content included in a same frequency band to which a tuner is already tuned. In one or more implementations, the receiver may determine that content currently being recorded will be rebroadcast at a later time and may include notifications indicating such and/or options to record the content at the later time. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130067326 | Associating Macro User Input Events with Content - A content player presents content and determines to record an associated macro. The content player detects inputs and includes the inputs along with corresponding times in the macro. When the content player subsequently provides access to the content, the content player executes the macro, executing the inputs at the corresponding times. In some cases, a number of the inputs may be associated with a single operation and the operation may be recorded instead of the individual inputs. In some cases, the content player may record an input unless a prior indication is received specifying not to include the next input. In other cases, the content player may only record an input if a prior indication is received specifying to include the next input. In one or more implementations, the content player may provide access to one or more recorded macros so that the macros may be edited. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20140068675 | ENHANCED PROGRAM PREVIEW CONTENT - Methods and apparatus for providing an enhanced EPG or EPG banner are described. A method of displaying first and second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, the method comprising receiving the first audiovisual content at a media playback device, receiving the second audiovisual content at the media playback device from a remote content system over a packet-based data network, in response to user input, outputting the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen, and controlling the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently. A method of controlling a screen, the display being operable in different modes according to whether a PiP window is shown, and whether currently broadcast or future content is shown. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20150037012 | HANDLING REQUESTS WHEN AVAILABLE CHANNEL SELECTORS ARE IN USE - A receiver receives a request for content associated with a channel, determines that all channel selectors are in use, selects a set of options, and transmits the set to a presentation device. The receiver may then fulfill the request utilizing a selected option. All available channel selectors may be in use because they are tuned to frequency bands of a broadcast signal to record content and data associated the channel is included in a different frequency band. The set of options may include options to stop the current recording in favor of the requested content and options to present content included in a same frequency band to which a tuner is already tuned. In one or more implementations, the receiver may determine that content currently being recorded will be rebroadcast at a later time and may include notifications indicating such and/or options to record the content at the later time. | 02-05-2015 |
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| 20100325665 | Automatic Web Searches Based on EPG - An enhanced graphical user interface to a user, such as an electronic programming guide, including certain selectable attributes. When a particular attribute is selected, a network transaction may be initiated to a website or other network node. Information or other content received from the network node may be displayed as output. The output may include indications of upcoming or future programs that are related to a particular selected attribute. The output may also include a select link that operates to automatically set a timer to record one or more upcoming programs that are related to the selected attribute. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20120210368 | CONTROLLING PLAYBACK OF RECORDINGS - A method of operating a user device for receiving and recording media content. The method includes receiving a media content stream, and initial timing data, such as EPG data, indicative of the time at which a selected program contained within the media content stream is scheduled to begin. At least a portion of the media content stream containing the selected program is recorded to a memory using the initial timing data to determine the recording start and finish time. Second updated timing data, indicative of the time at which the program began, is also received. A portion of the recorded media content stream is then deleted between the beginning of the recording and the beginning of the program as identified by the second timing data. A corresponding apparatus and appropriate computer program are also provided. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20130086613 | SEARCH AND DISPLAY TECHNIQUES FOR AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - Various arrangements for organizing search results within an electronic programming guide of a television programming device are presented. A search string may be received by a television programming device from an end-user. A set of television programming information stored by a storage device local to the television programming device may be searched using the search string. Each search result, as presented to an end-user, may be accented by a color defined to convey a relationship between the search string and the search result. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20140184905 | VOLUME LEVEL-BASED CLOSED-CAPTIONING CONTROL - Methods and apparatus are provided for a control of closed captioning based on an audio volume level. A content receiver detects that a volume of an audio of a video presentation has been adjusted by a user, and determines the adjusted audio volume level that results from the adjustment. The content receiver compares the resulting adjusted audio volume level to a threshold level. When the content determines that the adjusted audio volume level is under the threshold level, it enables closed captioning of the video presentation, thus presenting the user with both audio and closed captioning. When the content receiver determines that the adjusted audio volume level is above the threshold level, it disables closed captioning for the video presentation. The content receiver may use a microphone to determine the adjusted audio volume level. | 07-03-2014 |
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| 20100162290 | CONTROLLING ACCESS TO BROADCAST PROGRAMMING - A set top box for a television receiver has a paired viewing card. It is also coupled to a hard disc drive for the recording and storage of received broadcasting. If the viewer has a full subscription, the viewer is able to access and view subscription broadcasting by way of the set top box. If the subscription is no longer paid, different usage rights are associated with the set top box so that, whilst the set top box can no longer access the subscription broadcasting, the viewer is still able to access and play any previously stored subscription programming. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100239226 | ARCHIVING BROADCAST PROGRAMS - A system for receiving and presenting broadcast programming has a television receiver connected to a set-top box having an internal hard disc on which selected programs may be recorded. As the internal hard disc has a finite capacity it can become full, particularly if the viewer wishes to retain a library of recordings. The system provides for the automatic transfer of programs stored on the internal hard disc to external hard drives. The viewer is enabled to set the criteria for such archiving using the remote control unit and on-screen menu options. Content with the largest size, the earliest recorded content, or the content viewed less frequently, may be automatically archived. The set-top box is also enabled to collate information identifying the externally stored content and to store that on the internal hard drive together with information as to the location of the stored content. This enables a viewer to retrieve the transferred content. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20120297420 | EXPANDED PROGRAMMING GUIDE - Systems, methods and computer program products utilize a content receiver to generate a dynamically modifiable expanded programming guide with a grid containing a plurality of regions. Each region is associated with a plurality of channels over a timeframe. The content receiver transmits the expanded programming guide to a content display. The grid may be utilized to navigate through regions and therefore across a large amount of programming information associated with a wide range of channels and timeframes. The content receiver may transmit a magnified view of the expanded programming guide and may display content-related information associated with a subset of regions for the associated channels and timeframes. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20130086614 | AUTOMATIC SEARCH - Embodiments of the invention provide a method for searching program metadata using a media device, such as a set-top-box, to search for other programs related to a particular program. Program metadata is received at the media device, the program metadata comprising a plurality of data fields populated with accompanying data for each of a plurality of television programs. The media device is controlled by an input device, such as a remote control, and an input, such as a button, of the input device is associated with a data field. It is determined when an input, associated with a data field, is activated and in response the accompanying data within the associated data field, for a first program, is compared with the corresponding accompanying data of a plurality of other television programs. Data is then presented to the user, relating to those television programs having substantially equivalent data in the selected data field to the selected program. A corresponding apparatus is also provided. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20140150012 | PHOTOSENSITIVITY PROTECTION FOR VIDEO DISPLAY - Systems and methods for providing photosensitivity protection for content displayable with a screen display are provided. Content, which may include video content, may be received at a media device. A portion of the video content that corresponds to flashing images may be identified with the media device. A precaution against the flashing images may be identified based at least in part on the identifying of the portion of the video content that corresponds to flashing images. One or more of at least a portion of the video content and/or information about the video content may be displayed based at least in part on the precaution. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140150026 | NAVIGATION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDES AND VIDEO - A system for remote user navigation of content displayed with a display device, including a screen display, is provided. A user input device may be configured to detect a user movement, including a direction and a speed. The user input device may be configured to communicate information based at least in part on the direction and the speed. The system may include a media device configured to receive communications from the user input device. The media device may be configured to process the information from the user input device and to output content to the display device in accordance with a navigation operation. The navigation operation may include moving displayed content based at least in part on the direction and the speed. | 05-29-2014 |
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| 20130117442 | NETWORK CONTENT MONITORING - A set-top-box is provided for receiving broadcast media content and processing said content for presentation on a display. A processor 304 of the STB is configured to receive, from between a router circuit and a modem circuit, data packets sent over a local network. The data packets are sent to or from a local internet connected user device via the router as part of the local network. The processor is further configured to analyse the received data packets to determine whether they contain undesired content and, if so, to control the display to present an indicator containing at least one property of the detected undesired content. Because the STB is coupled to a display that tends to be the main display in a household, the indicator is more likely to be seen and acted on by a responsible party, thus parents will be more easily able to monitor the activity of their children when they use user devices to access the internet over a home network. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130298180 | COTENT RECOGNITION AND CENSORSHIP - A method for controlling the output of media content, particularly audio content, to a user in relation to an apparatus, such as a set-top-box, having an input, for receiving media content, and an output, for providing the media content to an output device such as a television or other display device. Media content is received at the input and then analysed using a media content recognition unit. The media content recognition unit undertakes the step of identifying portions of the received media content that contain undesired content, such as offensive language. The output of media content to a user is then controlled, based on any identified undesired content, to prevent the output of content when the identified undesired portions are to be output. A corresponding apparatus and computer program are also provided. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20150074739 | CONTENT RECOGNITION AND CENSORSHIP - A method for controlling the output of media content, particularly audio content, to a user in relation to an apparatus, such as a set-top-box, having an input, for receiving media content, and an output, for providing the media content to an output device such as a television or other display device. Media content is received at the input and then analyzed using a media content recognition unit. The media content recognition unit undertakes the step of identifying portions of the received media content that contain undesired content, such as offensive language. The output of media content to a user is then controlled, based on any identified undesired content, to prevent the output of content when the identified undesired portions are to be output. A corresponding apparatus and computer program are also provided. | 03-12-2015 |
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| 20120319661 | ELECTRICAL GENERATION SYSTEM - An electrical generation system, including: a differential gearbox having an output drive, an input drive and a third drive which can be driven by or drive a load in use; a generator connected to and drivable by the output drive of the differential gearbox; a variable speed primary power source connected to the input drive of the differential gearbox; a regulating electrical machine which is operable as a motor and a generator connected to the third drive of the differential gearbox; at least one switch through which power is supplied to the electrical machine from the electrical output of the generator; and, a control system which monitors the electrical condition of the generator output. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130016546 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION SYSTEMAANM MOUNTAIN; Stephen J.AACI DerbyAACO GBAAGP MOUNTAIN; Stephen J. Derby GB - An electrical system architecture, for example for an aircraft, including a generator driven by an engine of the aircraft to generate electrical energy, which is arranged for extracting the said electrical energy as an AC signal for supply to a system bus. The electrical system architecture also includes an active rectifier coupled to the system bus, that is adapted to rectify the AC signal to a DC signal for supply to a load in the system, and for controlling extraction of the said electrical energy by the generator. An electrical power generation system, including a generator, including a stator and a rotor, for converting mechanical power into alternating current electrical power by electromagnetic induction, and an active rectifier for converting the alternating current output of the generator into direct current electrical power is provided. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130292941 | ELECTRICAL MACHINE - An electromagnetic machine, comprising: a first stator winding having a first number of pole pairs; a second stator winding having a second number of pole pairs which is different to the first number of pole pairs; and, a modulator having a plurality of pole pieces arranged relative to the first and second stator windings so as to modulate the electromagnetic fields produced by the first and second stator windings, thereby matching harmonic spectra of the first and second stator windings. | 11-07-2013 |
