摘要:
A method for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) to a viewer. The method includes displaying one or more data slices representative of broadcast programming to a viewer. In response to input from the viewer, the displayed number of data slices is increased, for example, from one slice to two slices. In browser mode the viewer can scroll through multiple EPG data slices without selecting to view full mode EPG, while in full mode the EPG can expand from a single column of data slices to multiple columns of data slices based upon viewer selections. The EPGs of the present invention can display programming that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than other programming. A data slice representing the predicted programming can be inserted into the EPG so that the viewer can identify programming that is likely to be of interest.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for utilizing a high bandwidth communications channel for broadcasting network data during off-peak hours is disclosed. A demodulation unit includes, 1) a standard television broadcast signal receiver, the signal having a plurality of channels; 2) a partitioning unit configured to partition at least one channel of said plurality of channels into a plurality of variable size sub-channels; 3) a modulating unit configured to modulate a variety of different types of information into said plurality of sub-channels; and 4) a transmitter configured to transmit said plurality of sub-channels over a high bandwidth communications channel during off-peak hours.
摘要:
A method for providing enhanced programming to an entertainment module where the display of the enhanced programming is prepared remotely from the entertainment module. The method includes a step for analyzing a programming transmission stream deliverable to an entertainment module, remotely from the entertainment module, to identify whether the transmission stream includes at least one enhanced programming control signal. In the event that the transmission stream includes at least one enhanced programming control signal, a step for preparing, remotely from the entertainment module, a visual representation of the enhanced programming based upon the at least one enhanced programming control signal. Following preparing the enhanced programming by the preparing step, a step for delivering the visual representation of the enhanced programming to the entertainment module.
摘要:
A computer may be remotely accessed. At a first location, display commands are generated. The display commands are covered into a compressed video data stream. Each display element (5) is checked if it is encoded (52). If object is encoded, it is transcribed into MPEG (54). The image is adjusted for display (56) and compression (58). Additional steps of motion determination (60), change detection (62), compression depth and frame determination (66, 68) are executed. Then the data is transmitted to a second location. The display commands are decompressed and displayed as an image at the second location.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for combining digital information with at video stream and for using the digital information to modify or augment video frames in the video stream is disclosed. The apparatus for decoding a video stream comprises a video receiver configured to receive a video stream, the video stream including a plurality of video frames. A video processor is configured to receive auxiliary data corresponding to the video stream, the auxiliary data including the information indicative of at least one video frame of the plurality of video frames. The video processor is further configured to modify the video frame in accordance with the auxiliary data. The video processor uses the received auxiliary data to identify a portion of the at least one video frame, the portion being modified in the act of modifying the video frame, other portions of the at least one video frame not being so modified. The video processor applies a filter to the portion of the at least one video frame.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for linking multiple remote players of real-time games is disclosed. The system of the present invention includes a first computer for directly linking the first computer with a second computer, the first computer comprises: 1) a network interface coupled to a network; 2) client application software executing in the first computer, the client application software includes: a) processing logic for connecting the first computer to a server on a network via the network interface; b) processing logic for requesting the server to match the first computer with a second computer using matching criteria; c) processing logic for receiving a network address of the second computer from the server; and d) processing logic for establishing a direct communication link with the second computer using the network address.
摘要:
A system and method of selecting a level of detail in a texture-mapping system. Pixels are processed in a zig-zag traversal pattern to allow determination of vertical and horizontal change values in texture map coordinates. In this manner, accurate level of detail selection is achieved without unduly reducing efficiency or throughput of the graphics system.
摘要:
Web browser software is implemented in a processing system housed in a set-top box connected to a television and communicating over a wide-area network with one or more servers. The browser allows a user to use a remote control device to navigate between hypertext anchors in World-Wide Web pages displayed on the television. User inputs are entered from the remote control device using an infrared IR link in order to move a selection between hypertext anchors or various control buttons displayed on the television display. The browser is capable of downloading audio files from Web sites and generating sound through a speaker of the television set based on the audio files. Background music is generated during Web browsing based on audio files downloaded from one of the servers or audio files stored in memory in the set-top box. A background music audio file from a server can be downloaded while another background music audio file is played. An audio panel can be displayed when an audio file from a Web site is downloaded and played to form a user interface by which the user to play, stop, pause, rewind, or fast-forward the audio file.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for providing physical security for a user account and supplying access to the environment and preferences associated with a particular user are provided. An internet terminal is coupled to a server system. The internet terminal detects the presence of a smart card. The smart card includes a memory such as a programmable ROM (PROM), any form of erasable PROM (EPROM) or Flash memory having stored therein identification information. The internet terminal reads the identification information from the smart card and transmits the identification information to a server. According to another aspect of the present invention an internet terminal can be configured by a server. The server receives identification information from an internet terminal. The identification information uniquely identifies a smart card. The server locates configuration information associated with a particular user of the server based upon the identification information. The configuration information may include customer preferences for customizing the operation of the internet terminal such as the type of on-screen keyboard presented by the internet terminal, the font used by the internet terminal for displaying text, background music options, and e-mail options. In any event, after locating the configuration information, the server downloads the configuration information to the internet terminal.