Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7391471 | Apparatus and method for merging vertical blanking intervals This invention teaches an apparatus and method for merging information transmitted in vertical blanking interval (VBIs) of several services into a single VBI. The system includes a pair of memories for each service wherein each memory is toggled between a read and w... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7373652 | Server-centric search function in an interactive program guide Techniques for searching a program guide database. In accordance with a method, one or more search criteria (e.g., keywords) are received and a request for a search is then sent, along with the search criteria, to a head end of an information distribution system. In... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7370073 | Using viewership profiles for targeted promotion deployment A system for generating viewership profiles to facilitate distributing promotions based on the profiles to one or more network devices, such as set top boxes. The system includes a promotion agent associated with each network device which collects viewing activity d... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7359528 | Monitoring of video or audio based on in-band and out-of-band data The presently claimed invention relates generally to monitoring and/or filtering video or audio data. In one implementation a method is provided including: obtaining data representing video or audio; analyzing the data representing video or audio for an in-band sign... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7337462 | System and method for providing timing data for programming events A video production facility system may produce closed caption data that includes text data and timing data. The system may receive script data for a video program. The system may then determine identifiers for individual programming events that make up the program. ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7280672 | Image data processing A digital image is processed to hide information, by generally inconspicuous adjustments thereof. These adjustments can define a pattern that extends across some or all of the image. Desirably, the pattern is adapted to the particular image being encoded, so as to b... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7262563 | Method and apparatus for providing a dynamic rotational alignment of a cathode ray tube raster A method and apparatus used to step and correct the position of raster lines in a sinusoidal or zig-zag deflection system. By combining the magnetic flux generated with a rotation “twister” coil and a vertical deflection coil, scan lines can be uniformly spaced ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7256837 | Baseband video transmission system In a baseband video transmission system for transmission of a video signal at a baseband based on the DVI standard, a transmitting device multiplexes a data signal representing data other than video during at least one blanking period of component video signals of t... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7257163 | Method and system for reducing inter-symbol interference effects in transmission over a serial link with mapping of each word in a cluster of received words to a single transmitted word A system in which encoded data (e.g., encoded video and auxiliary data) are transmitted over a serial link. Other aspects of the invention are transmitters for use in encoding data for transmission over a serial link, receivers for receiving such data, and methods f... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7256822 | Video system In a video system of the invention, control means is provided for a terminal input apparatus which is connected by a communication network of a camera on the partner side and which comprises an image display apparatus having a multiwindow display function for select... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7254824 | Encoding optimization techniques for encoding program grid section of server-centric interactive programming guide An interactive program guide (IPG) may include a program grid section and a multimedia section. The program grid section typically contains program information organized in a grid with a time axis and a channel axis. The multimedia section may include video for adve... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7248602 | Flexible filtering A circuit and method for demultiplexing in a receiver a digital data stream including at least two types of data. In one particular application, such a receiver is used in a television system having a digital set-top-box receiver. A first control circuit extracts a ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7230650 | Data transmission method, data receiving method, video data transmission apparatus and video data receiving apparatus The present invention is relative to a video signal transmitting/receiving system in which digital video signals are transmitted from a transmitter (30) to a receiver (50) using a line (9) as a transmission channel. The transmitter (30) c... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7231587 | Embedded picture PSNR/CRC data in compressed video bitstream A method for processing an input signal is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) extracting a compressed signal and a first checksum from the input signal, (B) generating a decompressed signal by decompressing the compressed signal, (C) calculati... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7231060 | Systems and methods of generating control signals Separating a source in a stereo signal having a left channel and a right channel includes transforming the signal into a short-time transform domain; computing a short-time similarity measure between the left channel and the right channel; classifying portions of th... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7221406 | Data creation method and data transfer method and apparatus A method of producing digital data, which comprises the steps of making first arrangements for 12-bit word digital data constituting a digital video signal, which include a frame rate of 24 Hz, 25 Hz, 30 Hz, 50 Hz or 60 Hz, 1125 lines per frame, 1080 active lines pe... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7209496 | Information transmitting apparatus and method, information receiving apparatus and method, information transmitting and receiving system and method, recording medium and program An original blanking period of a video signal is shortened to a set blanking period, and audio data is multiplexed into a resulting superimposing period. Table distinguishing data indicating the length of the superimposing period is inserted into the period as a bla... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7206019 | Apparatus and method for inhibiting control apparatuses from controlling camera when another control apparatus controls camera In a video system of the invention, control means is provided for a terminal input apparatus which is connected by a communication network of a camera on the partner side and which comprises an image display apparatus having a multiwindow display function for select... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7181022 | Audio watermarking to convey auxiliary information, and media embodying same Methods of processing audio to convey auxiliary information therein without audible evidence of data alteration. Various arrangements are disclosed. One receives plural bit auxiliary data in which the auxiliary information is included, and modulates a carrier signal... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7171106 | Method and apparatus for processing, digitally recording and retrieving a plurality of video signals A method and apparatus for processing and digital recording video signal where transmitters for generating video signals receive an external synchronizing signal for synchronizing the transmitters. A recorder receiving the video signals has a switch sequentially con... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7150028 | Method and system for downloading, storing and displaying coupon data using the horizontal overscan portion of a video signal A method and system for decoding and storing encoded coupon data delivered via the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. An electronic coupon displays representations of coupons defined by coupon data that can be extracted from an encoded video signal that can... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7142731 | Image processing system An image processing system whose circuit size is small, and whose dissipation power is small is provided. The image processing system executes digital image processing of an interval of active pixel in the condition that a first internal logic description is written... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7127737 | Bandwidth management techniques for delivery of interactive program guide Methods for managing delivery of video sequences of an interactive program guide (IPG) over a communications network to a plurality of terminals are provided. In one embodiment, the method pre-allocates a broadcast bandwidth in the communications network for common ... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7127733 | System for bi-directional voice and data communications over a video distribution network The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for bi-directional communications of voice, data, and alarms, and simultaneous transmission of video signals over a single cable such as coax. In more particular, it applies to a communications system that util... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7107516 | Method and system for viewing images from an image capture device on a host computer A method and system for viewing images from an image capture device on a host computer. The method and system include establishing communication between the image capture device and the host computer, and mounting the image capture device as a disk on the host compu... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7096487 | Apparatus and method for combining realtime and non-realtime encoded content Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces. The program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes encoding a first set of slices for each of a plu... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7091968 | Method and apparatus for encoding a user interface A method and apparatus for combining video frame sequences with a video display of an interactive program guide (IPG). The apparatus comprises a plurality of compositors that combine background information, video frame sequences and program guide graphics into a sin... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7084800 | System and method for shuffling mapping sequences A sequence mapping circuit and method for digital audio circuits generates a pulsed output. Over time, the mapping circuit generates pulses with a substantially identical average centroid for each of the possible output waveforms. For at least some of the output wav... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7071991 | Image decoding apparatus, semiconductor device, and image decoding method The present invention provides an image decoding apparatus, a semiconductor device, and a image decoding method, capable of outputting images simultaneously using different formats. In the image decoding apparatus, an MPEG decoding portion 1 decodes an inputt... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7068811 | Protecting images with image markings A method and system for embedding signatures within visual images in both digital representation and print or film. A signature is inseparably embedded within the visible image, the signature persisting through image transforms that include resizing as well as conve... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7058965 | Multiplexing structures for delivery of interactive program guide Multiplexing structures presented overcome problems and disadvantages in the delivery of an interactive program guide. An apparatus for forming a multiplexed transport stream to deliver an interactive program guide includes: an encoder and packetizer adapted (i) to ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7057666 | System and method for encoding information into a video signal A system (10) and method of the present invention encodes information into a video signal by substituting luminance information within the video signal with a modulated frame of content data on one or more lines of the active portion of the video signal to pr... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7038399 | Methods and apparatus for providing power to lighting devices Methods and apparatus for providing power to devices via an A.C. power source, and for facilitating the use of LED-based light sources on A.C. power circuits that provide signals other than standard line voltages. In one example, LED-based light sources may be coupl... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7038732 | DTV signal with GCR components in plural-data-segment frame headers and receiver apparatus for such signal A DTV signal has a plural-data-segment frame header including complementary first and second ghost-cancellation reference signals differentially delayed by the duration of two NTSC horizontal scan lines. A receiver for such DTV signal has an adaptive equalizer for b... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7035432 | Method of monitoring sleeping infant A method of detecting high risk movements of an infant relating to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome includes generating a reference image of an infant by signaling a controller a location of a first plurality of pixels. The first plurality of pixels are stored in a cont... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7031335 | Digital node for hybrid fiber/coax network An optical distribution node is provided. The optical distribution node includes a laser transceiver that is coupleable to at least one fiber optic link. The optical distribution node communicates upstream and downstream digital data with the head end over the at le... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7002617 | Coordinated audio and visual omnidirectional recording A surveillance system featuring a camera that is directed to focus on a location where a noise has been generated and display an image of the location. The system includes an omnidirectional camera having a lens for viewing a 360° field of view, a visual memory for... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7003132 | Embedding hidden auxiliary code signals in media Methods for embedding and reading auxiliary messages from image signals use embedded code signals modulated with the auxiliary message. These embedded ode signals may be used to convey hidden tracking codes in images, video and printed objects. The embedded code sig... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6968567 | Latency reduction in providing interactive program guide Techniques presented reduce latencies or delays in the delivery of an interactive program guide. In accordance with a first technique, a method for providing an interactive program guide comprises: providing a plurality of transport streams; providing a group of int... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6968565 | Detection of content display observers with prevention of unauthorized access to identification signal The invention enables and/or facilitates the display of personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network. The invention enables identification of particular content observers at a content displ... | 11/22/2005 |
