19527 results about "Broadcasting" patented technology

PCT No. PCT / US95 / 15429 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 24, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 24, 1997 PCT Filed Nov. 29, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 17467 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 6, 1996A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network, which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie, or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an "agreement matrix" is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. "Virtual" channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer. Feedback paths are also provided so that the customer's profiles and / or the profiles of the video programs or other data may be modified to reflect actual usage, and so that the data downloaded to the customer's set top terminal may be minimized. Kiosks are also developed which assist customers in the selection of videos, music, books, and the like in accordance with the customer's objective profiles.

The present invention is generally directed to a system and method for monitoring and controlling a host of residential automation systems. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless communication devices configured to relay both data and command encoded signals through the wireless network of communication devices interposed between integrated sensors / actuators and a gateway device. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the gateway translates the data encoded signals and embeds the information in a data packet using terminal control protocol / Internet protocol to communicate the data to a computing device on a wide area network. The computing device may comprise data collection and or control algorithms as desired. The computing device may forward command signals to the gateway device. In response thereto, the gateway may convert the command signals into appropriate command encoded signals for wireless transmission to a designated actuator integrated in a residential system. The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for monitoring and controlling residential systems. In its broadest terms, the method can be described as: sensing a parameter; generating a wireless signal; traversing a wireless network to a gateway interconnected with a wide area network; communicating the parameter to a computing device on the network; generating a control signal; communicating the control signal to the gateway; converting the control signal; and broadcasting the control signal such that an appropriate actuator is energized.

A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an "agreement matrix" is calculated by comparing the recipient's profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. "Virtual" channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer. Feedback paths are also provided so that the customer's profiles and / or the profiles of the video programs or other data may be modified to reflect actual usage. Kiosks are also developed which assist customers in the selection of videos, music, books, and the like in accordance with the customer's objective profiles.

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests. Information on the user's interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level (e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, don't care, etc.) that is indicative of the user's level of interest is associated with each preference attribute. Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are listed in various program listings display screens and may be used to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to tune.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and / or computer program products for measuring if, when, how, and / or to what degree a user responds to an advertisement to enable an advertiser to produce an unique advertisement for the user and measure the effectiveness of advertisements through wireless and other media channels. The system incorporates static and / or dynamic information about the user and / or feedback from the user to produce dynamically a unique advertisement that increases and / or maximizes the probability of the user and comparable users buying the advertised product. The system also enables an advertiser to measure the effectiveness of advertisements transmitted to the user through multiple media channels, including, but not limited to: television, radio, personal computer, billboard, magazines, newspapers, product package, and / or other wireless devices, as well as a wireless network.

A system and method are provided for updating game participants. In some embodiments, the participants receive game control information via a one-way broadcast. The method selects a set of sampling participants from the set of all participants of a game. In some embodiments, the selection occurs prior to the start of the game. The method of some embodiments establishes a two-way connection between a server and each of the sampling participants. For some embodiments, the two-way connection is realtime. The method continuously maintains the two-way connection throughout the game. During each discrete game period, the method receives from a sampling participant, data for the sampling participant's game period performance. Based on the received data, the method determines the performance for the game period and broadcasts this information to a non-sampling participant. A non-sampling participant is a participant who was not selected for the set of sampling participants. In some embodiments, the non-sampling participant determines a standing relative to the other participants in the game event. Some embodiments provide a method and system for detecting unusual performance in a game. The game has a participant. The method calculates for the participant an average performance level. Based on the average performance level, the method tracks for the participant a participant improvement factor and stores the participant improvement factor. The method compares the participant improvement factor to a threshold value.

A computing environment with methods for monitoring access to an open network such as the Internet, is described. The system includes one or more client computers, each operating applications (e.g., Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer) requiring access to an open network, such as a WAN or the Internet, and a router or other equipment that serves a routing function (e.g., a cable modem) for the client computers. A centralized security enforcement module on the router maintains access rules for the client computers and verifies the existence and proper operation of a client-based security module on each client computer. The router-side security module periodically sends out a router challenge via Internet broadcast to the local computers on the network. If the client-side security module is installed and properly operating, the client-side security module responds to the router challenge. The responses received by the router-side security module are maintained in a table. Each time the router receives a request from a client computer to connect to the Internet, the router-side security module reviews the table and analyzes whether or not the computer requesting a connection to the Internet properly responded to the most recent router challenge. If it determines that the computer has properly responded to the router challenge, then it permits the computer to connect to the Internet. If a computer has not properly responded or if a computer has not answered the router challenge, then the computer is not allowed to connect to the Internet as requested.

A technique for automated analysis of multimedia, such as, for example, a news broadcast. A Broadcast News Editor and Broadcast News Navigator system analyze, select, condense, and then present news summaries. The system enables not only viewing a hierarchical table of contents of the news, but also summaries tailored to individual needs. This is accomplished through story segmentation and proper name extraction which enables the use of common information retrieval methodologies, such as Web browsers. Robust segmentation processing is provided using multistream analysis on imagery, audio, and closed captioned stream cue events.

A proximity based social marketing tool / device that is free from a physical location and can be used for matching users and broadcasting messages or data to all or selected users in the proximity. These users can be searched by scanning the selected proximity range and / or by defining various keyword criteria's. And it utilizes one or more or a combination of various short-range or long-range wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, TransferJet, Internet, and others. The X-Path device can locate and store user's location details in the X-path server, which can be retrieved and used by users to broadcast messages to a specific category of an audience. It also makes for a great Social networking tool and takes the concept of Social Networking from the Internet out to the real Physical World.

A method of providing multicast routing for use in ad hoc broadcast networks, such as wireless and mobile networks. The method is described within a protocol referred to as core-assisted mesh protocol, or CAMP. The method departs from traditional tree-structured multicast protocols and utilizes multicast meshes in which the network need not be flooded with control or data packets to establish routing paths. Each router configured for CAMP is capable of accepting unique packets arriving from any neighbor in the mesh, wherein packets are forwarded along reverse shortest paths to the receiver. Multiple cores may be defined for a group wherein the loss of a single core does not prevent packet flow. Routers for sender-only hosts are allowed to join the multicast mesh in simplex mode, and in certain cases may join without the sending of a join request.

Several novel watermarking and fingerprinting applications—and related improvements—are disclosed. Some relate to advertising. These include techniques for replacing broadcast advertising with other advertising; inserting advertising based on a viewer's ad-viewing history; triggering insertion of advertising based on fingerprint data derived from compressed video content; and discontinuing advertising when a threshold amount of advertising has apparently been viewed. A great number of other features and technologies are also detailed.

A method and apparatus for broadcasting live personal performances over the Internet employs a web server to manage scheduling and broadcasting of the performances over the Internet, as well as collections and payments for products and services sold by presenters to viewers in conjunction with their performances. The server receives audio / video data from presenter operated computers through an uploaded presenter program, and relays the received audio / video data to viewer operated computers for viewing in media players invoked by their web browsers responding to an uploaded HTML document or JAVA applet. Viewers select performances to view from a program schedule provided on a webpage hosted by the web server. Both viewers and presenters are registered with the web server to facilitate payments for products and services, and their financial information stored in a secure user database.

A technique dynamically configures and verifies routing information of broadcast networks using link state protocols in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a router within the broadcast network receives a link state protocol routing information advertisement from an advertising router, e.g., a designated router or other adjacent neighbor. The router learns of a next-hop router (“next-hop”) to reach a particular destination from the advertisement, and determines whether the next-hop is located within the same broadcast network (e.g., subnet) as the designated router. If so, the router further determines whether the next-hop is directly addressable (i.e., reachable), such as, e.g., by checking for link adjacencies to the next-hop or by sending request / reply messages (e.g., echo messages or “ping” messages) to the next-hop. In the event the next-hop for the destination is not directly addressable by the router (e.g., no adjacency or reply), the router installs a route to the destination via the designated router. Otherwise, the router installs a route to the destination via the next-hop.

A media storage and access system and methodology including a set-top box which receives and processes a plurality of signal sources and makes programming available locally through connected devices or via a data network such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. The system also integrates a multimedia storage system that allows programming content to be digitally stored. The system utilizes an integrated digital storage system and operating software to allow users to view a broadcast program (e.g., television, radio, etc.) with the option of instantly reviewing previous segments within the program. In addition, the system allows the user to store selected media programming while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another program. The system also allows stored media assets to be accessed locally via a media device connected to the unit or remotely via the Internet.

An client-side performance optimization system for streamed applications provides several approaches for fulfilling client-side application code and data file requests for streamed applications. A streaming file system or file driver is installed on the client system that receives and fulfills application code and data requests from a persistent cache or the streaming application server. The client or the server can initiate the prefetching of application code and data to improve interactive application performance. A client-to-client communication mechanism allows local application customization to travel from one client machine to another without involving server communication. Applications are patched or upgraded via a change in the root directory for that application. The client can be notified of application upgrades by the server which can be marked as mandatory, in which case the client will force the application to be upgraded. The server broadcasts an application program's code and data and any client that is interested in that particular application program stores the broadcasted code and data for later use.

A method of providing broadband data services over power lines for moving vehicles is provided herein. Using broadband over power line (BPL) networking, a data signal is connected to a vehicle that is connected to a transport power line. The signal is communicated from the transport power line to the vehicle. The signal is then demodulated for use aboard the vehicle. The data signal connection allows for access to wide area networks such as the Internet. Access points can wirelessly broadcast wide area network signals from stationary locations to define meshed wireless networks in metropolitan areas.

PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the media player requests a media broadcasting device to receive the media program; to digitize, transcode, and / or transrate the media program, if necessary; and to transmit the media program to the media player. The media program may be recorded in a local storage of the media broadcasting device or the media player.

A client-side multimedia content targeting system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The viewer may also explicitly express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The viewer's client system locally retains the viewer's preferences and other personal information that the viewer has entered and is sent targeting information relating to program guide objects by a server. Using the viewer's preferences and personal information, the client system creates a viewer profile, which is used with the targeting information by the client system to record content that is within the viewer profile. The invention's client-based form of targeting can be applied to almost any multimedia situation, including, but not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, music, radio, audio, etc.

In an OFDM system, a transmitter broadcasts a first TDM pilot on a first set of subbands followed by a second TDM pilot on a second set of subbands in each frame. The subbands in each set are selected from among N total subbands such that (1) an OFDM symbol for the first TDM pilot contains at least S1 identical pilot-1 sequences of length L1 and (2) an OFDM symbol for the second TDM pilot contains at least S2 identical pilot-2 sequences of length L2, where L2>L1, S1·L1=N, and S2·L2=N. The transmitter may also broadcast an FDM pilot. A receiver processes the first TDM pilot to obtain frame timing (e.g., by performing correlation between different pilot-1 sequences) and further processes the second TDM pilot to obtain symbol timing (e.g., by detecting for the start of a channel impulse response estimate derived from the second TDM pilot).

The present invention relates to one- or two-way Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite communications systems which broadcast high bit rate wideband television and multimedia content to user terminals located within a desired coverage area and, more specifically, a single or multi-transponder Direct-To-Home satellite communications system in which a high bit rate wideband data stream is comprised of real-time, statistically multiplexed information and non-real-time information that is transmitted to a subscriber media gateway device for storage and later-use. The user terminal contains a specially designed receiving system and may contain a transmitter for transmission of a return data channel to the Broadcast Center.

A method of transmitting information to a portable computing device comprises, using a first communication protocol, transmitting a client to the portable computing device. The client configures the portable computing device to communicate with a distributor using a data transfer communication protocol. Using the data transfer communication protocol, the information is transmitted from the distributor to the portable computing device. Transmitting the information includes generating, at the distributor, a polling signal, detecting, at the distributor, an acknowledgement signal generated, in response to the polling signal, by the portable computing device, and generating, in response to the acknowledgement signal, a broadcast signal incorporating the information.

The invention discloses a method, a device, a client end, a server and a system for live broadcasting interaction and belongs to the technical field of network communication. The method is used in the client end comprising an anchor client end or a user client end, which belong to the same room; the method comprises the steps of receiving a live broadcasting video sent by the server from the anchor client end and interaction data of at least one user client end from the room; generating an interaction display content according to the interaction data, wherein the interaction content is used for displaying the interaction between the anchor client end and the user client end; fusing all or part of the interaction display content with the live broadcasting video for displaying in the same area. The problems that a user switches sight among multiple areas as the live broadcasting interaction is displayed in the multiple areas, and when the sight of the user is switched to a certain display area, the user easily omits the display content in other areas, and the information accessing rate is low are solved, and the effect of improving the information accessing rate is achieved.

Embodiments of the invention enable users with communication devices to access affiliate profiles and perform matches on profiles aggregated from multiple independent computer systems regardless of communications device type or operating system and regardless of affiliate match server computer type, operating system or language. Affiliate profiles may comprise user profiles, advertisement profiles or coupon profiles. In addition, embodiments of the invention allow users to broadcast their location with their permission and join groups based on location parameters and connect to or dial other users by alias without knowledge of a machine address or phone number. Embodiments of the invention utilize information from each user in the form of a profile containing metadata. Examples of the type of metadata that comprises a profile include various categories of information describing a user, group, advertisement or coupon. In addition, the profile may comprise the user's groups and the user's preferences including filters for calculating matches with other user, group, advertisement and coupon profiles. Profiles are typically stored on a community engine server, but may also reside in distributed components configured to interface with the community engine server. A user profile may comprise a flag and other fields for example that signify that a user is interested in receiving advertisements for cars and for the type of car that the user is interested in. When a car dealership accepts delivery of a particular model that the user is interested in, the community engine server finds that affiliate profiles comprising aggregated car dealership advertisements include the same car type that the user is interested in and forward the matching advertisement profile to the user. The user may be paid for the advertisement in cash or coupons for accepting the advertisement. A user profile may also comprise a coupon flag and for example when a store that is an affiliate member provides coupon profiles to the community server engine a user may obtain desired coupons that match the user's profile settings if the user's profile is set to accept coupons. A user may match advertisements and coupons based on a location parameter and may transfer or trade advertisements and coupons with other users. The communication device may be capable of displaying a bar code in it's graphical interface while at a store so as to eliminate the need to physically present coupons.

Data streams are selected according to user preferences and transmitted to the user. Such data streams may be audio, video, or other works, such as popular music or the like, or other works, including music videos. Users may indicate their general or specific preferences with reaard to song, artists, or albums. Other users, particularly ones who access the system often, can act as influencers or controllers of the music transmitted to the user. Any other aspects or factors that might affect the user's preferences can be taken into account, such as popular radio stations in the United States or anywhere in the world. A playlist can be created that combines all of these factors, as well as any applicable statutory regulations. The playlist serves as a basis for feeding the data streams to the user, and the user can enjoy music generally of their choosing, while additionally being exposed to new music (if the user so prefers). An Internet radio is established. Each user can express their own preferences and receive music corresponding to those preferences on an on-going basis. Every individual can be the manager of their own radio station that broadcasts music that parallels the user's tastes. Other users may also choose to hear the same playlist as another individual, or allow that individual to influence their playlist.

Systems and methods for collecting sports data are disclosed, which include measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on at least one sports participant, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the at least one sports participant, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in a sports object, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object; and broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object. The systems and methods also include receiving the signals from the telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the at least one sports participant and the telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object; and processing the received signals to calculate position information or movement information of a sports object or a sports participant in relation to a playing surface of a sports event.

Systems and methods for collecting sports data include measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on at least one sports participant, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in a sports object, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object; and broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object or on the at least one sports participant, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object or signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant. In one embodiment, predictive action cameras are controlled to aim at an anticipated or predicted position of a sports participant or sports object.

Techniques of adapting an advertisement previously broadcast or in the process of being broadcast are disclosed. An advertisement selection factor is generated in order to adapt ads to a particular recipient. The advertisement selection factor can be derived from a database of information concerning the recipient and / or from data input by the recipient. The ad may be adapted in a variety of ways including replacing a broadcast ad segment with another segment. The replacement ad segment may be stored in a local device such as a set-top box or hardware card of a TV or PC and selected according to the advertisement selection factor. The replacement ad segment is synchronized with the on-going broadcast to produce a seamless ad. Alternatively, an ad processing can change audio or visual characteristics of the ad according to the ad selection factor. Such ad processing also includes dynamical texture mapping, object replacement, object addition, and audio / video data layering. The ad processing may also be combined with ad segment replacement. The result is a broadcast advertisement specifically targeted for a recipient and thereby likely to have a greater impact on that recipient's buying patterns. These techniques may also be applied to a variety of content such as sitcoms and sports shows to adapt the content to a particular recipient.

A public mobile communications network is configured in accordance with an established protocol which includes a private network portion to which only a selected set of mobile stations have access. The selected set of mobile stations has a private network identity code which is different from a public network identity code. A base transceiver station of the private network portion broadcasts the private network identity code on its broadcast control channel. A mobile switching center prevents public subscriber mobile stations from registering via the private network portion, while the private subscriber mobile stations are allowed to register over the entire network.