1091 results about "Television channel" patented technology

An interactive television system that renders on-demand interactive multimedia services for a community of users. The interactive multimedia is delivered to each user on a TV or on a LAN-node (Local-Area-Network) computer through an "interactive TV channel" created and controlled by a Channel-processor, which can be implemented as either a PC or a high-end workstation. The system employs a direct-access on-demand workgroup server. It is equipped with the primary on-demand multimedia data base stored on a hard disk subsystem that is connected directly to the Channel-processors through an internal workgroup link. Using a no-overhead server technology, the connected workgrouped Channel-processors can all concurrently retrieve and process the data directly from the hard disk subsystem without resorting to a stand-alone server system for data retrieving and downloading. The system also employs peer-to-peer workgroup connectivity, so that all of the workgrouped Channel-processors that are connected to the workgroup server through the internal workgroup link, can communicate with one another.

A system, device, and method for remote monitoring and servicing uses a gateway to collect user information, such as physiological, audio, video, and proximity information. The gateway processes the user information locally, and may send the user information or other information, such as alarms, to remote service providers through one or more head-end servers. The gateway also allows service provider information, such as audio and video information, to be conveyed from the service providers to the users. The gateway may output video information on a predetermined television channel, and may output audio information on the predetermined television channel or to a wireless remote controller with in-built speaker. The gateway may receive audio information from the user via a wireless remote controller with in-built microphone. The gateway provide for videoconferencing between the user and one or more remote service providers.

The present invention is directed to a non-intrusive data transmission network for use in a healthcare facility and method for implementing such network. Each individual patient's room is equipped with a set-top control device, a separate camera, microphone, control module camera control device. The SCD allows for a non-intrusive installation within a minimum amount of time. By utilizing the existing cable television infrastructure, the device creates a high-speed data network throughout the facility. The interface between the SCD and the CCD is accomplished through a standard interface for universally connecting auxiliary devices, such as USB, for enabling expandable, hot-pluggable Plug and Play serial device interfaces. These ports allow external devices such as the camera, microphone, infrared keyboard and privacy control unit to communicate with the SCD. Additional USB ports on the SCD allow for other devices to be connected to the network at a future time. Such devices include those for instrument monitoring, doctor information access or pharmaceutical prescription ordering. Visual information such as e-mail, web browsing, video and audio communications via web camera applications from family members, friends or other parties may be viewed by the patient from the in-room TV set by way of the internal RF modulator (and connecting to the Internet via the patient Internet server). The SCD switches from the standard cable TV channels to the SCD by way of an internal switch controlled by the patient from an infrared control. This control also enables or disables the camera to allow for privacy at times when such privacy is required from external Internet access. The system is configurable to offer this privacy to be layered from specific Internet or external users to the nurses, doctors or security department as the hospital desires.

A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) including a plurality of tuners, each of which can select one of a plurality of transmission channels provided by a Digital Broadband Delivery System (DBDS). The multiple tuners enable the DHCT to tune to a plurality of downstream media and data transmissions, thereby allowing a subscriber to tune simultaneously to multiple channels and content transmitted in the downstream transmission via the DBDS, an advantage over conventional DHCTs. The present invention enables subscribers to receive and view multiple channels and associated content, including electronic program guide information, at will. Furthermore, using the multiple-tuner DHCT of the present invention, subscribers can view multiple television stations and program content simultaneously, without degradation to television signals or pictures.

A technique for displaying a television commercial on end user equipment includes providing a plurality of commercials available to be played on the end user equipment while tuned to a television channel, e.g., by pre-storing the audio / video of those commercials on a storage medium of the user equipment. The onset of a commercial time slot on the television channel is detected; and a selection is made, at the end user equipment, of one of the plurality of commercials. The selected commercial is played during the detected commercial slot as a substitute for the commercial broadcast on the television channel.

A computerized system for integrating internet sources and television sources in a convergence system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the system integrates both television channels and internet channels in a single list of channels available on the system. The lists of channels are stored in an electronic program database. The system solves the problem of managing multiple channels from multiple sources by seamlessly integrating channels from the television with channels from the internet in a single channel list.

A method and system are provided for identifying a television content item or a television channel desired by a television viewer from a set of television content items and television channels. A non-intrusive interface is provided to the viewer on a television display. The television viewer using the non-intrusive interface inputs a reduced text search entry directed at identifying a desired television content item or a television channel. The reduced text search entry includes one or more characters of a descriptor relating to the desired television content item or the television channel. The system dynamically identifies a group of television content items or television channels from the set of television content items and television channels matching the search entry as the television viewer enters each character of the reduced text search entry. The television content items or television channels of the group are ordered in accordance with one or more given criteria. The system displays on the non-intrusive interface identification of one or more of the television content items or television channels of the identified group as ordered.

Systems and methods are disclosed that include display systems located at player sites, a server system for generating a television channel comprising real-time live off-shore odds, fantasy betting sports games, standard fantasy sports games, and sports prognosticator predictions, and a communication link for transmitting the television channel to the display systems. The television channel may comprise standard and enhanced fantasy sports games and standard and enhanced fantasy betting sports games with real-time live off-shore odds derived from the one or more off-shore sports books, and sports predictions from sports prognosticators using real-time live off-shore odds from one or more off-shore sports books. Exemplary communication links include cable and satellite providers, telephones, other wireless and wired devices and the Internet. Content may be transmitted by way of cable and satellite providers, telephones, other wired and wireless devices and the Internet. Exemplary display systems include digital non-interactive television systems, digital interactive television systems and web-enabled computer devices. Exemplary programming formats include a linear video channel, a linear interactive television (iTV) channel, an Internet protocol television (IP-TV) channel, and a website channel. The present invention permits interactive fantasy betting on and playing of fantasy betting sports games and fantasy sports games using real-time off-shore betting odds displayed on a television or computer device. The present invention delivers real-time off-shore odds, fantasy betting sports games, fantasy sports games, sports prognosticator predictions, fantasy betting casino games and fantasy casino games for display on television systems and computer devices that implement interactive TV, IP-TV and non-interactive TV.

An interactive sporting event monitoring system includes a determiner for determining whether video blanking interval data is present in a selected television channel, and a decoder for decoding video blanking interval data from the selected television channel. The video blanking interval data from the selected television channel comprises a number of channels of sporting-event audio information, and the decoder associates each of the plurality of channels of sporting-event audio information with a corresponding channel identifier. Each channel identifier distinguishes a corresponding channel of sporting-event audio information from other channels of sporting-event audio information. The interactive sporting event monitoring system further includes a user input for accepting a user-specified channel identifier from a user, and a monitor for placing the channel of sporting-event audio information that the user desires to monitor in a format to facilitate monitoring thereof by a user. The video blanking interval data may further include telemetry data.

In transmitter apparatus for a digital television (DTV) broadcasting system, internet-protocol (IP) packets of digital television information are subjected to multilevel concatenated Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) coding and low-density parity-check convolutional coding (LDPCCC) before being bit-interleaved and mapped to quadrature-amplitude-modulation (QAM) constellations. The QAM constellations are used in coded orthogonal frequency-division modulation (COFDM) of plural carrier waves up-converted to a radio-frequency broadcast television channel. In receiver apparatus for the DTV broadcasting system the results of de-mapping QAM constellations recovered from demodulating the COFDM carrier waves are de-interleaved, and the constituent LDPCCC codewords are decoded to recover constituent BCH codewords of the multilevel BCH coding. The constituent BCH codewords are decoded to correct remnant bit errors in them. Then, IP packets of digital television information are reconstituted from the systematic data bits in those BCH codewords.

An electronic program schedule system which utilizes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver. The system includes a scan feature to permit the user to scan program schedule listings for multiple programs in any of the operational modes of the system with the issuance of a single user control command.

Systems and methods are provided for customizing the display of interactive television overlays. A condition related to the display of an overlay on top of video for a television channel may be defined for each of a plurality of television channels. A default set of information types for an interactive television overlay (e.g., a FLIP overlay, a BROWSE overlay, etc.) may be defined for the plurality of television channels. When the overlay is displayed on top of video for a given television channel of the plurality of television channels, the overlay may include information of the default set of information types. One or more television channels of the plurality of television channels may be identified as channels for which the default set of information types does not apply (e.g., channels for which the overlay is not displayed or for which a custom set of information types is defined).

In a system and method for enabling a user to navigate among a plurality of internet websites of interest to the user, the system includes a graphical user interface which includes a guide for enabling the user to navigate among the internet websites, and to obtain access to a selected one of the internet websites. The guide includes an array of web channel buttons, each of which includes a web channel number and a web channel title, and each of which is associated with and enables access to at least one internet website. The internet websites associated with each web channel button may comprise internet websites commonly accessed by the user or selected for the user, which are relevant to topics of interest to the user. An internet program guide accessible from the web channel guide enables customization of the at least one internet website associated with each of the array of web channel buttons, so as to enable further access to internet websites of internet to the user. Each web channel button can be efficiently activated to enable selection and access to the internet websites of interest to the user. A guide strip identifies the internet website selected and presented in a display, for integrated navigation between internet websites and television channels.

An in-context interactive television ticker is provided. The ticker is rendered on a display screen that also shows a television program, and presents ticker content that is in-context with subject matter of the television program. The ticker remains rendered and context-sensitive to the subject matter of the currently shown television program, whenever there is a change in the television program, such as when the subject matter of the current television program changes, when a commercial interruption occurs during the television program, or when the television channel is changed. The ticker is interactive in that the viewer can perform various interactive operations with the ticker, including interacting with the ticker to obtain additional information related to an in-context item presented by the ticker.

A multiple viewing program recommendation system employing a commercial detection module and a multiple viewing module is disclosed. In response to a generation of viewing recommendations of two or more program during the same time slot, the multiple viewing module controls a display of a recommended program having the highest viewing priority on a television screen while the recommended program is being aired on one of the television channels until the commercial detection module detects a commercial being aired on the television channel. In response to the detection of the commercial by the commercial detection module (37), the multiple viewing module controls a display of an additional recommended program having the next highest viewing priority on the television screen while the additional recommended program is being aired on another one of the television channels.

The purpose of this invention is to change and add to the way fantasy sports games are played by creating an online, virtual live interactive video game that uses fantasy sports statistics as its scoring database system and provides live worldwide communication and competition. The method of playing the online live interactive fantasy video game of the invention comprises a obtaining a subscription to play, selecting a platform from which to play the fantasy game, selecting team members to form a fantasy team, interacting with others playing the fantasy game, and controlling each team member's performance and competing against other fantasy teams. The game includes access to a live fantasy sports television channel to watch games and tournaments, live access to a fantasy sports analyst, and virtual reality software so that the player can become physically involved with the game.

A method and apparatus for providing a personalized channel on packet networks are disclosed. For example, a customer may subscribe to a personalized channel service. In one embodiment, a network service provider determines a customer's viewing preference and matches the customer's viewing preference to at least one program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels. In turn, the personalized channel is populated with the at least one program, i.e., with the program of most interest to the customer.

The present invention consists of a volume adjusting apparatus and method which automatically regulates a volume output of an electronic device. The volume adjusting apparatus comprises a microprocessor for detecting the volume output of the electronic device, a memory unit for storing the volume output received in the microprocessor, a wireless transmitter for transmitting a plurality of command signals to the electronic device and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit further configured to transmit via the wireless transmitter the plurality of command signals to the electronic device. At least one recall button installed with the volume adjusting apparatus enables a user to maintain the same average volume across all channels. The method effectively ensures a volume consistency by adjusting the volume on a current television channel based on the volume of previous channel of the electronic device.

Information services are provided via an over-the-air television broadcasting system that is segmented into a plurality of cells. Each cell includes one or more transmitting facilities. The transmitting facilities of adjacent cells may operate on the same television channel and / or on different television channels, typically chosen from a frequency set allocated to a given service provider. The service information may include different content in different cells, such as local content specific to each cell. Content may be provided from one or more content providers in communication with the transmitting facilities.

One or more content sequences are created from a store of video content, which could simply be broadcast content which has been captured and stored at a server within a network. The content sequences are generated according to the viewer's specified, or demonstrated, viewing preferences. The viewer preferences are captured form entry by the user themselves, or by observation of their viewing habits. Multiple ‘users’ per household and multiple content sequences per viewer are possible. A content sequences is then streamed to the viewer, and looks to him / her just like a TV channel: when one program ends, another starts automatically. It is also possible for a viewer to select an item within the content sequence using an interactive program controller.

Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone.

The invention concerns a system for developing interactive applications transmitted through a network. The system comprises, activated by the operation of a computer, an electronic editor (E) for simulating a display screen of a display monitor, and an interface controlling (MCS) a control module associated with said display monitor. A module generating virtual objects (GOV) specific to the application to be developed is provided, the virtual objects being selected at least among images in point mode, video files, textual files, capable of being edited, displayed, represented by the editor (E) for forming a scene of the pplication. A control module (COR) for correlating event / action pairs is provided, an event corresponding to the imbalance of the state of an operation system and an action corresponding to an initialization or a modification of the display or the representation of one or several scenes constituting the applications. The invention is useful for developing interactive applications, in particular on TV channel, Internet network or the like.

Nodes in a realtime p2p media distribution can act in the role of ‘Amplifiers’ to increase the total available bandwidth in the network and thus to improve the quality of the realtime media consumed by the viewers. Examples of such media consumptions are TV channels over the Internet, video on demand films and files, and media files downloaded to be consumed at a later time. Amplifiers are added to the p2p swarm by a mechanism that discovers the need for supplemental bandwidth in the swarm and orders nodes to join the swarm in the role of amplifiers. The amplifiers' main goal is to maximize the amount of bandwidth they supply (upload) to the swarm while minimizing the amount of bandwidth they consume (download).

A method and apparatus for providing learning capability to processing device, such as a computer game, educational toy, telephone, or television remote control, is provided to achieve one or more objective. One of a plurality of actions (e.g., game actions, educational prompts, listed phone numbers, or listed television channels) to be performed on the processing device is selected. A user input indicative of a user action (e.g., a player action, educational input, called phone number, or watched television channel) is received. An outcome of the selected action and / or user action is determined. An action probability distribution having probability values corresponding to the plurality of actions is then updated based on the determined outcome. The next action will then be selected based on this updated action probability distribution. The foregoing steps can be modified based on a performance index to achieve the objective of the processing device so that it learns.

An interactive TV device is configured to receive and process multiple broadband input streams simultaneously. The device includes functionality to perform as a Web browser, HF, cable and satellite TV receiver, a digital PVR, an interactive TV set-top box, an advanced central processing unit and a videoconferencing device, thanks to an integrated videoconferencing camera. The present interactive TV device is configured to manage all multimedia sources identically, whether the input is a TV channel, a Web page, or a video stream played back from a data carrier such as a DVD, for example. The present interactive TV device is also configured to enable a user to watch and record a plurality of video streams simultaneously and to display them on four independently manageable quarter screen segments.

An interactive gateway creates a centralized location that allows subscribers and non-subscribers to premium television channels to navigate interactive television features and added value content for the programming services available on the subscription channels. The programming services available on the subscription channels may include movies, original series, boxing and family programming. The interactive gateway can also introduce subscribers and non-subscribers to all of the channels and interactive services available from a particular content provider. Although both subscriber and non-subscribers can access the interactive gateway, their experiences may be different. Different content is preferably provided based on a viewer's subscription status. Non-subscribers are presented with promotion material regarding the programming services to entice non-subscribers to become subscribers. Subscribers are presented with the added-value content, in-depth information about the programming services and other features such as reminders, recording capabilities and the like. Viewers that have advanced set top boxes may be able to access full digital video recording capabilities, as well as set reminders to view programs. The interactive gateway provides the ability to interact and access an extraordinary amount of content. The interactive gateway also provides an easy, entertaining television viewing experience and provides viewers with the choice, control and convenience that they desire.

A user interface for interactive television services is represented as a visual overlay that provides a viewer with knowledge of a library of available content relating to a currently tuned to television channel and navigation options for selecting desired portions of the available content from the library, the available content being designated according to business rules specified by a provider of the interactive television services. The visual overlay may be displayed over full-screen or embedded television programming, which may be broadcast television programming or on-demand television programming.