2515 results about "IPTV" patented technology

In one embodiment a method is disclosed for interacting with a controllable device in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The method receives at a control server, device state data for the controllable device from a first client device in the IPTV network; accesses user interface (UI) data from a database accessible to the control server; reflects the device state data in the UI data at the control server; and sends the UI data from an IPTV server to the first client device. In another embodiment a system is disclosed for interacting with a controllable device in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The system receives at a control server, device state data for the controllable device from a first client device in the IPTV network; accesses user interface (UI) data from a database at the control server; reflects the device state data in the UI at the control server; and sends the UI from an IPTV server to the first client device.

A set top box (“STB”) apparatus configurable for handling broadcast, cable television and Internet protocol television (“IPTV”) formats by multiple operators via a single flexible operating system is provided. The set top box is enabled to receive and run different operating systems from multiple providers or operators. In another aspect, a dual mode display feature enables viewing of digital content via a first display device while enabling browsing and e-commerce functionality via an associated remote device.

A wireless communication system is provided that has at least three nodes arranged in a multi-hop ultra wide band (UWB) communication network such that communications from a first node destined for a third node pass through a second node. Each of the devices in the system includes a radio and a media access control (“MAC”) module that is configured to establish multi-hop UWB wireless communications between the three or more wireless communication devices that enables high bandwidth applications such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”); multiplayer gaming; Wireless High Definition Television; and Internet Protocol Television (“IPTV”) among others. The MAC module is configured to avoid bandwidth reservation conflicts so that network performance does not degrade as the number of hops or the number of nodes in the wireless communication system increases. The MAC also facilitates utilization of multiple channels to maximize the available spectrum and is further configured to dynamically switch between channels to maximize throughput and meet or exceed quality of service (“QoS”) requirements such that QoS is guaranteed and network resources are efficiently utilized.

A method and apparatus are provided that interact with an IPTV product deployed in a communication network. The method and apparatus of the present invention collects subscriber activity data, such as channel changes generated by the subscriber while watching video or TV in an IPTV system. The system and method of the present invention collects, parses and processes this consumer activity data. The method and apparatus of the present invention collects and aggregates the IPTV consumer activity data from multiple IPTV consumer activity data collection systems. The aggregated data, collected over a national or global basis can then be used to generate metrics. The metrics are then analyzed by business rules to generate marketing data reports that can be used as an strategic analysis tool for communication network operators, content providers and advertisers to determine consumer usage of the IPTV systems and viewing of programming and advertising.

A method of optimizing decoding of MPEG4 compliant coded signals is provided, comprising: disabling processing for non-main profile sections; performing reference frame padding; performing adaptive motion compensation. The method of decoding further including performing fast IDCT wherein an IDCT process is performed on profile signals but no IDCT is performed based on whether a 4×4 block may be all zero, or only DC transform coefficient is non-zero, and including CAVLC encoding of residual data. Reference frame padding comprises compensating for motion vectors extending beyond a reference frame by adding to at least the length and width of the reference frame. Adaptive motion compensation includes original block size compensation processing for chroma up to block sizes of 16×16.

Network-based methods and systems transfer caller ID information from a telephony network to an IPTV network. Embodiments integrate service provisioning, subscriber account and policy information between telephony services and IP-based television services. voice call signaling may be intercepted to retrieve caller ID, caller name information, and other call management information, at the call server in the network to deliver an appropriate notification message to the IP-based TV network at its notification server, which in turn sends a message notification to the called party's TV screen. Call log information may also be retrieved and displayed. SIP call forking and IP multimedia subsystem approaches are described.

A system for executing a method is disclosed for monitoring video data, the method including but not limited to monitoring end user activity data for media usage for a plurality of end user client devices associated with a designated group of end users in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system; receiving from a first one of the end user client devices, avatar data indicating at least one search criterion within the end user activity data; searching the end user activity data based on the at least one search criterion; and sending to the first one of the end user client devices, search result data from the search based on the at least one search criterion.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring usage of a channel, including monitoring upstream information, and determining usage of the channel in response to the monitoring is disclosed. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a service module for monitoring usage of a channel includes a data input operative to monitor upstream information, and a processor that determines usage of the channel in response to the data input is disclosed. In accordance with another aspect of present invention, the method and module also include monitoring video delivery path performance and detecting potential denial-of-service (DoS) attacks to video servers is disclosed.

The present invention provides a content locating method and a content delivery network node. In this case, the content locating method provided by the present invention comprises: receiving by a first content delivery network CDN node a service request sent by a service control function entity or an IPTV service control function entity, wherein this service request carries a content identifier which is used to indicate requesting content corresponding to this content identifier; if the first CDN node cannot provide the content service requested by the service request, then the first CDN node sends an inquiry request to a CDN global controller so as to acquire the information about a second CDN node which can provide the content service requested by the service request and request the second CDN node to provide the content service. By way of the present invention, the pressure of the CDN global controller can be reduced and the processing delay of CDN can be shortened.

A method, device and system for providing Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) session mobility between end user communication devices, such as between a set-top box and a mobile communication device. IPTV session mobility is provided using a control server configured to manage and facilitate the transfer of the IPTV session in response to receiving appropriate IPTV session control information from the set-top box and / or the mobile communication device. The control server also is configured to discontinue or terminate an existing transfer of IPTV content to the mobile communication device in response to receiving appropriate IPTV session control information. The control server also is configured to allow the mobile communication device to change IPTV channels, perform trick play operations and retrieve stored content from and control various functions of the set-top box. The control server can be a network element coupled to the IP network.

A method of building an interactive display related to TV programs in an internet protocol television (IPTV) environment includes parsing a plurality of TV programs provided in an IPTV environment for display to a user. The step of parsing includes capturing an image in each TV program, identifying video content in each captured image, interpreting the video content, capturing audio data, identifying an audio content in each captured audio data, and interpreting the audio content for each captured audio data. The method further includes the steps of identifying a selected TV program by the user; determining a correlation level between the interpreted video and audio content of the selected TV program and the interpreted video and audio content of each of the other TV programs; determining TV programs other than the selected TV program; and building and presenting a mosaic display on a TV display including the selected TV program.

Streaming latency in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is decreased by providing a separate source of the selected A / V content to the user that is immediately available to the user when the user requests the A / V content, and that can be used until the requested A / V content is received from the service provider. The separate source can be a channel change stream (CCS) channel broadcast or multicast from the service provider to the user or a local user storage containing stored initial segments of the A / V content.

In one embodiment a method is disclosed for interacting with a controllable device in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The method receives at a control server, device state data for the controllable device from a first client device in the IPTV network; accesses user interface (UI) data from a database accessible to the control server; reflects the device state data in the UI data at the control server; and sends the UI data from an IPTV server to the first client device. In another embodiment a system is disclosed for interacting with a controllable device in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The system receives at a control server, device state data for the controllable device from a first client device in the IPTV network; accesses user interface (UI) data from a database at the control server; reflects the device state data in the UI at the control server; and sends the UI from an IPTV server to the first client device.

When the user initiates the retrieval of the primary content information item by means of entering a user input into the data processing system, e.g. zapping a digital TV that switches channels upon receipt of the user input, he / she has to wait a noticeable time before the rendering and play-out of the primary content information item actually starts. The length of the delay is predicted, on the basis of which one or more secondary content items are rendered and played out to the user during this delay. The invention can also be used for bridging the waiting time in an online ordering system, when loading a program on a personal computer, and in an IMS-based IPTV network.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the service quality performance of a real-time application, for example VoIP, video over IP or IPTV, operating over a path defined in a packet-based network. The present invention performs active probing of a path of the packet-based network by transmitting one or more sequences of packets along the path.

A system for recommending personalized favorite programs or channels to internet protocol television (IPTV) users based on a collaborative filtering algorithm is disclosed. The system includes a broadcast provider as an IPTV broadcast provider that provides users with TV contents through the Internet, a service server to receive a broadcast signal and program information from the broadcast provider, to store corresponding information in respective databases, to calculate the program information based on a recommendation algorithm to quantitatively calculate priority, and to list the program information in recommendation order based on the currently broadcast or reproduced program, a relay device to receive recommended program list information and a broadcast signal from the service server and to transmit the recommended program list information and the broadcast signal through a network, and a TV to output the recommended program list information and the broadcast signal from the relay device.

A multifunction display system is provided comprising a flat panel display screen; an electronic controller receiving video signal from an input and generating an output signal for displaying on the display screen; a power supply providing power to display screen and the electronic controller; a housing securing the display screen, the electronic controller and the power supply, wherein the housing includes a front shell and a rear shell that join together at a meeting line along a periphery of the display screen. The rear shell of the housing is a designed panel to receive multiple devices of specialized media playing capabilities in standardized boxes including but not limited to a regular or HD television tuner, a DVD and optical disc player, a digital video recorder, a hard drive player or an IPTV Divx player, mini PC and Internet and / or receiver router.

A method and system for sensing and reporting various types of user presence using “buddy list” applications. A buddy list client senses various types of user presence of a user and sends status information corresponding to the sensed user presence to a server. The buddy list client also receives status information from the server corresponding to various types of user presence information of buddies, and displays a buddy list indicating the various types of user presence information of the buddies. This can be implemented on an IPTV client in order to sense and display presence information relating to a user watching television.

A system and method are provided for providing health care. A plurality of virtual presence devices is arranged to a corresponding plurality of customer residences, each comprising a display device; an input device having a user interface permitting selection of an available service; a camera and microphone for interactive audiovisual communication; and a computer device responsive to one of the user interface, the camera, and the microphone, to facilitate the interactive audiovisual communication over an IPTV data network. A health care contact center is in communication with the virtual presence devices, and comprises an IPTV transceiver device configured to interact and audiovisually communicate with the virtual presence devices; and a processing device for receiving one of a contact request, patient data, and a telemedicine measurement from any of the virtual presence devices, and to form an audiovisual memo therefrom for facilitating flow of patient communication to consulting personnel.

Video on demand (VoD) and other video streaming and delivery mechanisms are provided using a messaging protocol (e.g., a session initiation protocol (SIP))-based approach that builds upon existing service delivery platforms. In one example, SIP functionality is extended to provide the ability to control and alter a delivery mode of a content stream, such as to change a playback mode or quality of service, by providing such requests as part of the instruction or payload of existing SIP messages, or by providing new SIP messages. Using SIP allows for third party control, such as by IPTV applications, which is not provided by current Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)-based systems. SIP also can establish a peer-to-peer connection between a client and a SIP-enabled content server to allow the client to directly control the media stream. As an advantage over RTSP, SIP provides for bi-directional messaging between SIP endpoints.

A remote gaze tracking apparatus and method for controlling an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) are provided. An entire image including a facial region of a user may be acquired using a visible ray, the facial region may be detected from the acquired entire image, and a face width, a distance between eyes, and a distance between an eye and a screen may be acquired from the detected facial region. Additionally, an enlarged eye image corresponding to a face of the user may be acquired using at least one of the acquired face width, the acquired distance between the eyes, and the acquired distance between the eye and the screen, and an eye gaze of the user may be tracked using the acquired eye image.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method selects a program from a library of programs. A user selection is determined based upon a voice command, and the program is presented at a display device in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system selects a program from a library of programs. The system includes a processor that determines a user selection based upon a voice command, and also includes a display device that presents the program in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium contains a set of instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a user selection based upon a voice command and to command a display device to present the program, in accordance with the voice command.

The invention discloses a collaborative filtering recommendation method for introducing program popularity weighting, which is characterized in that on the interface of an IPTV program, a visual menu for users to give marks is provided and a program recommendation list is made for target users according to user watching time, conduct operation and program marking data sent by a terminal set-top box. The invention comprises the detailed steps of: collecting the behavior characteristic information of users, working out a 'user-item' scoring matrix A(m, n), calculating popularity weight value, calculating similarity degree and sorting, making forecast score for the target users and sorting, and working out the recommendation list for the target users. Compared with the prior art, the method disclosed by the invention is more in accordance with objective reality, improves the quality of collaborative filtering and the precision degree of recommendation, initiatively cuts own the programs according to user preferences and behavior characteristics, carries out personalized recommendation to the programs which the users like and realizes the purpose that 'watch the program you like whenever you want'.

A computerized system and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system are disclosed including structures and methods for allocating an IPTV video conference channel to groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), accessing STB data at the server indicating a group of video conference participants' STBs in the groups of video conference participants' STBs, the group of STBs being associated with one video conference data, mapping at the server, the video conference channel to the group of video conference participants' STBs and to one IP address for the one of the video conferences data, and delivering from the server over the video conference channel from a first one of the of IP addresses, the first one of the video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs.

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to remotely monitoring the health of an individual. The individual wears a health monitoring device, with an attached strap, capable of sensing characteristics of the individual. These characteristics may include voice level and tone, movements, blood pressure, temperature, etc. The device allows individuals to constantly monitor their health without having to physically visit a doctor or other health care professional. Wireless communication, for instance with an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) set-top box, allows measurements to be made and evaluated by a ‘computerized’ healthcare service provider. For a more accurate evaluation, measurements are sent over the INTERNET to a service. The device communicates with services in order to diagnose the individual based upon the characteristics.

Systems, devices and methods are provided to automatically identify advertisements or other portions of a broadcast television stream before the stream is distributed via a cable, DBS, IPTV or other medium. The television broadcast is received at the data processing system, and audio content of the television broadcast is analyzed to generate an audio fingerprint of a portion of the audio content. The identified audio fingerprint are compared to audio fingerprints stored in a database to thereby identify the portion of the television broadcast based on the generated audio fingerprint. By identifying the contents of an actual broadcast prior to redistribution of the broadcast, additional actions may be taken that are unique to the identified content.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method selects a program from a library of programs. A user selection is determined based upon a voice command, and the program is presented at a display device in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system selects a program from a library of programs. The system includes a processor that determines a user selection based upon a voice command, and also includes a display device that presents the program in accordance with the voice command. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium contains a set of instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a user selection based upon a voice command and to command a display device to present the program, in accordance with the voice command.

A method and system are disclosed for sending stored IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network end user network interface device. The method includes receiving the IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network server at the IPTV end user network interface device; storing the IPTV advertisement data in a memory of the IPTV network end user network interface device; determining at the IPTV network end user network interface device whether an IPTV subscription is active for the IPTV network end user device; and sending the advertisement data from the IPTV network device to a client device for display when the IPTV subscription is not active for the IPTV end user network interface device. The system includes a processor, memory and instruction for performing the method.

Mechanism for identifying malicious content, DoS attacks, and illegal IPTV services. By monitoring the characteristics of various control messages being transmitted within a network that services Internet protocol television (IPTV) content to identify suspicious behavior (e.g., such as that associated with malicious content, denial of service (DoS) attacks, IPTV service stealing, etc.). In addition to monitoring control messages within such a network, deep packet inspection (DPI) may be performed for individual packets within an IPTV stream to identify malicious content therein (e.g., worms, viruses, etc. actually within the IPTV stream itself). By monitoring control messages and / or actual IPTV content within a network (e.g., vs. at the perimeter of a network only), protection against both outside and inside attacks can be effectuated. This network level basis of operation effectively guards against promulgation of malicious content to other devices within the network.

The invention provides a server system for IPTV multi-screen interaction. The server system for IPTV multi-screen interaction comprises an IPTV platform, a mobile platform, an equipment pairing server, a message transit server and a content conversion server, wherein the IPTV platform is used for providing services for an IPTV; the mobile platform is used for providing services for a mobile terminal; the equipment pairing server is used for providing a pairing service for a set top box and the mobile terminal; the message transit server is used for enabling the set top box to be connected to and have data interaction with the mobile terminal, and the content conversion server is used for receiving and storing content relationship data corresponding to content of the set top box and the mobile terminal. Compared with the prior art, the server system utilizes the IPTV platform and the mobile platform which are insulated from each other, relative safety of an IPTV network is guaranteed, and no additional network burden is added to the IPTV network. The IPTV set top box only requires that a browser is adaptive to a client of the message transit server. The server system has minimal influence on a stock terminal, reduces cost of a user, and is easy for the user to operate and implement.