670 results about "Broadcast time" patented technology

In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, programming content can be readily reserved and accessed for viewing using an interactive program guide, a network home graphic user interface (GUI), Quick View Guide, etc., in accordance with the invention. Such programming content may include in-progress programs, future programs and previously broadcast programs which are recorded at a headend in the cable system, and which may or may not have overlapping broadcast times. In addition, the user may reserve programs at a set-top terminal, and may also do so remotely from the terminal through a communications network such as, the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless telephone network, etc.

A media source, including a sending unit that sends out time-stamped media data packets to one or more receiving media sinks. A timestamp of one of the time-stamped media data packets indicates a time of creation of the one of the time-stamped media data packets. The media source also includes a determining unit that determines a play-out time offset. The media source additionally includes a transmission unit that sends out the play-out time offset to the one or more receiving media sinks once for all time-stamped media data packets of a session.

The invention relates to a method of and apparatus for displaying an electronic program guide. The method includes the step of displaying an axis (21) on the screen (20) which corresponds to a particular program attribute (e.g. channel name, broadcast time, program category, program title). The user may select a value from the axis, causing a pictogram (27) to be displayed, showing information about programs corresponding to the selected value. The pictogram's position corresponds to the position of the selected value. A new value may be selected by dragging the pictogram and/or shifting the axis.

The present invention relates to a device for acquiring electronic program guide (EPG) data from a plurality of different EPG sources (120), and combining the acquired data to a single EPG (10). At regular intervals, EPG data is acquired from different sources (120), which may include the Internet (122), digital programming broadcasters, and teletext service providers (126). Equivalent program listings (40) within the acquired EPG data are identified, and the best information is selected from the equivalent program listings (40) to be included in the combined EPG (10). The present invention is able to identify equivalent program listings (40), even if the program titles are written in different languages or when the scheduled broadcast times differ to some extent. The resulting EPG (10) is more reliable and contains more information than any of the EPGs (10) associated with the original sources (120).

A method for providing a local cordless-type service comprises the steps of receiving subscriber neighborhood zone selection input so that a mobile telephone equipped subscriber may place or receive calls for a fixed rate, for example, per month without having to pay radio frequency air time charges any time they are located within their selected subscribed-to zones. If the subscribed-to zones are adjacent to one another and the mobile subscriber roams from one zone to another, the subscriber may continue their free call uninterrupted and without paying air time charges. However, when the subscriber roams outside their subscribed-to zones they may be switched from the present local cordless-type services to conventional personal communications services and pay air time charges. However for an active call, no air-time charges are incurred as the user transitions between the cellular/DPCS environment and the local cordless service environment. Associated apparatus comprises an IBS for automatically changing radio frequency channels as the subscriber roams within a subscribed-to neighborhood zone, roams to another subscribed-to zone or roams outside a subscribed-to zone. Subscribers may choose to use their mobile identification number, their current directory telephone number for wired public switched telephone service or obtain a new directory number. Subscribers can actuate their service over-the-air automatically without service personnel assistance from their home neighborhood zone.

In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, programming content can be readily reserved and accessed for viewing using interactive program guides in accordance with the invention. Such programming content may include in-progress programs, future programs and previously broadcast programs which are recorded at a headend in the cable system, and which may or may not have overlapping broadcast times. In addition, the user may reserve programs at a set-top terminal, and may also do so remotely from the terminal through a communications network such as, the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless telephone network, etc.

A method and system for recording and publishing traditional media source programs over a network is disclosed. According to the method, a request for publication of one or more traditional media source programs in one or more encoding formats is received from a network client that is connected to the network. In response to receiving the request, the one or more traditional media source programs are captured from a traditional media source that broadcasts the one or more traditional media source programs at a particular broadcast time. The one or more traditional media source programs are encoded in one or more encoding formats to produce one or more encoded media programs and then published to the network client over the network at a time that is different from the actual broadcast time.

A client terminal to provide a video program on demand to a client is connected to a video distribution system and a display device. The video distribution system (VDS) broadcasts a video program to the client terminal including an initial program segment (IPS) and a remaining program segment (RPS). The IPS is broadcast during a first broadcast time interval (FBTI) and the RPS is repetetively broadcast during a second broadcast time interval (SBTI). A terminal controller of the client terminal is responsive to a video control program. During the FBTI, the terminal controller records the IPS in a local memory. During the SBTI, the terminal controller selects the video program in response to a user input and displays the recorded IPS. Further, the terminal controller receives the RPS from the VDS and records it in the local memory. After displaying the recorded IPS, the terminal controller displays the recorded RPS.

Different programs are broadcasted in a plurality of channels. A broadcast program which transmits same data in repetition is reserved in such programs to download the data. The GUI part 250 displays EPG data indicating a broadcast time zone of a data broadcast program and the like. When a user select and reserves a program, the virtual program processing part 224 groups the selected program into a virtual program in which priorities interfere each other. The priority processing part 222 assigns a unique priority to each reserved program for each virtual program depending on user's operation. The reception control part 230 controls a broadcast receiving apparatus (not shown) to download data of a program which is assigned the highest priority at each time.

An automated playlist chaser (APC) improves the recovery time and robustness of playlists to component failures and/or human errors in a content sourcing and editing environment. Following detection and correction of an error in a content sourcing subsystem controlled by a playlist, the APC retrieves a last known good playlist from a playlist archive and automatically builds a new playlist for resynchronization of the subsystem. Building the new playlist involves iteratively solving for the first new program segment entry in the new playlist and the new “on-air time,”“start-of message,” and “duration” attributes for the entry as a function of a reference time (e.g., the present time of day), the original on-air time for the entry, the subsystem recovery time, the APC processing time, and the queuing delay of the audio-video source for the program segment.

A method for assigning attributes to media content. A media content is first displayed on a television, computer, or other display. A communication created by a user while viewing the media content is then received. The communication is then analyzed, and at least a portion of the communication is linked to a portion of the media content. The communication is also analyzed to identify relevant keywords which are then saved as attributes of the media content. The assigned word or phrase can be used to recommend the media content to other viewers or to find the media content in response to a search function. A method for synchronizing communications with time-shifted media content is also disclosed. A media content such as a television program is displayed during a time period other than its original broadcast time. Communications created by users while watching the media content are then received. The received communications are time-stamped so they can be synchronized with the run-time of the media content. The communications may be analyzed to select and display targeted advertising.

A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

A system for providing broadcast content includes a content source and a terminal. The content source, in turn, includes a continuity server capable of maintaining at least one piece of content and a schedule. The schedule specifies broadcast time(s) the content source broadcasts the piece(s) of content. In this regard, the content source can broadcast the piece(s) of content in accordance with the schedule. The terminal can store, in a memory, at least one piece of pre-broadcast content comprising the same piece(s) of content maintained by the continuity server. The terminal can therefore access at least one piece of pre-broadcast content from the memory in accordance with the schedule. Then, the terminal can present the accessed at least one piece of pre-broadcast content as the content source broadcasts the same at least one piece of content.

Systems and methods for trimming recorded content or segments using a media guidance application are provided. A first program scheduled for recording during one timeslot. A determination is made that the first program will run beyond the scheduled broadcast time. The first program may be rescheduled for recording during a second larger timeslot that overlaps with the scheduled broadcast time of a second program. Content provided by the program source may be recorded during the second timeslot. The recorded content may be trimmed to remove portions of the recorded content that correspond to the second program.

A method of adapting a playout schedule of a stream of media packets according to network and channel conditions includes (a) setting a playout schedule for a next packet i+1 of the stream upon receiving a current packet i; (b) computing a length of the current packet i based at least in part on a target playout schedule for the next packet i+1; (c) scaling packet i if necessary; (d) outputting packet i; and (e) updating the playout schedule for next packet i+1 based at least in part on the playout schedule and the length of current packet i.

A method to obtain visual content items matched to scheduled programs comprising: providing a program guide display that includes a grid with grid locations that identify scheduled programs, and that correspond to respective a scheduled program air times and a respective program sources; wherein the program guide extends over a time frame prior to the current date; providing an icon associated with a grid location that indicates that a visual content item matched to the program identified by the grid location currently is available; providing an identifier that is encoded in computer readable storage device and that is associated with the grid location and that indicates a location where the visual content item can be obtained; and accessing the location indicated by the identifier in response to a user selection of the grid location associated with the icon.

A broadcast program recording overrun and underrun scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a predetermined start and end broadcast time. An on screen program guide is displayed to the viewer via a monitor or television and lists the predetermined scheduled broadcast times and channels of a plurality of broadcast programs. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record from the program guide using a remote input device. The invention schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The invention allows the viewer to adjust the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a broadcast program by specifying the time increment to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times of a specific program or series of programs. The invention adjusts the recording schedule to the viewer's modifications. Broadcast programs are recorded onto a persistent storage device when the recording schedule indicates that it is time to do so. The viewer is allowed to adjust the end recording time of a program while the program is being recorded. The viewer can randomly access the recorded programs on the persistent storage device for play back.