842 results about "Multiple media" patented technology

An interactive and enhanced digital Instant Catalog of products, services, and information that is personalized or personally profiled, to each unique user of the catalog. The catalog instantly and intelligently captures, stores, manages, and processes self-selected, reusable and "re-distributable" catalog groupings anonymously, for personalizing, enhancing, monitoring, tracking, and peer sharing through multiple mediums and platforms by intelligent agents for a variety of user and vendor specified purposes. The personally profiled cataloged information can be viewed instantaneously and simultaneously by each effected component or member of a supply chain, at the time the product or service has been cataloged, without identifying the cataloger. The user, who preferably employs a Web browser over the Internet, personalizes the interactively produced intelligent catalog content. Products, services, and information groupings are digitally captured and stored by an intelligent catalog agent for enhanced personalized interaction and networking through a peer sharing network, or through an open catalog exchange. The user has the ability to create their own individualized world of products, services, and information that is contextually tailored to each user's unique environment in real-time. Web services hosted within a personal Extranet can anonymously assist and facilitate a context specific task or service insightfully and spontaneously. Through the selective cataloging of multi-vendor products, services, and information, a user is able to fully control, personalize, enhance and share, any lifestyle interest captured from ITV, print, the World Wide Web, businesses, and peers.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and / or computer program products for measuring if, when, how, and / or to what degree an user responds to an advertisement to enable an advertiser to produce an unique advertisement for the user and measure the effectiveness of advertisements through wireless and other media channels. The system enables an advertiser to measure the effectiveness of advertisements transmitted to the user through multiple media channels, including, but not limited to: television, radio, personal computer, billboard, magazines, newspapers, product package, and / or other wireless devices, as well as a wireless network. The system also incorporates static and / or dynamic information about the user and / or feedback from the user to produce dynamically an unique advertisement that increases and / or maximizes the probability of the user and comparable users buying the advertised product.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and / or computer program products for measuring if, when, how, and / or to what degree a user responds to an advertisement to enable an advertiser to produce an unique advertisement for the user and measure the effectiveness of advertisements through wireless and other media channels. The system incorporates static and / or dynamic information about the user and / or feedback from the user to produce dynamically a unique advertisement that increases and / or maximizes the probability of the user and comparable users buying the advertised product. The system also enables an advertiser to measure the effectiveness of advertisements transmitted to the user through multiple media channels, including, but not limited to: television, radio, personal computer, billboard, magazines, newspapers, product package, and / or other wireless devices, as well as a wireless network.

A contact center system and method employing a plurality of agent workstations, and which includes a queuing component, capable of receiving contacts of different media-types, such as telephone calls, e-mails, facsimiles, web chat, voice over internet protocol, and so on, and maintaining the different media types contacts in a common queue while awaiting routing to the agent workstations. The system further comprises a routing component which routes the queued contacts to the agents based on criteria of the contacts, criteria of the agents, or both. A media changing component of the system is capable of changing a media-type of any of the media-type contacts to generate a changed media-type contact, while the queuing component is capable of entering the changed media-type contact in the common queue, and the routing component is capable of routting the queued changed media-type contact to at least one of the workstations. A contact handling component initiates an event at any of the workstations in response to the contact being routed to the workstation, so that an agent at the workstation can handle the contact as appropriate.

Fiber, cable, and wireless data channels are typically impaired by reflectors and other imperfections, producing a channel state with echoes and frequency shifts in data waveforms. Here, methods of using OTFS pilot symbol waveform bursts to automatically produce a detailed 2D model of the channel state are presented. This 2D channel state can then be used to optimize data transmission. For wireless data channels, an even more detailed 2D model of channel state can be produced by using polarization and multiple antennas in the process. Once 2D channel states are known, the system turns imperfect data channels from a liability to an advantage by using channel imperfections to boost data transmission rates. The methods can be used to improve legacy data transmission modes in multiple types of media, and are particularly useful for producing new types of robust and high capacity wireless communications using non-legacy OTFS data transmission methods.

A powerline communications device comprises a powerline communications interface and at least one other communications interface configured to communicate over a computing network. The powerline communications interface is further configured to receive electrical power. The computing network may comprise mediums including powerlines, telephone lines, and / or coaxial cables. In some embodiments, the powerline communications interface may communicate with a network apparatus, such as a personal computer, via an Ethernet interface. The powerline interface, the telephone line interface, and / or the coaxial cable interface may all be associated with the same media access control (MAC) address. The powerline communications device may receive a message via a first medium and repeat the message via a second medium based on a quality of service (QoS) metric. In some embodiments, the powerline communications device may communicate using multiple frequency bands.

A computerized method and apparatus is disclosed for merging content segments from a number of discrete media content (e.g., audio / video podcasts) in preparation for playback. The method and apparatus obtain metadata corresponding to a plurality of discrete media content. The metadata identifies the content segments and their corresponding timing information, such that the metadata of at least one of the plurality of discrete media content is derived using one or more media processing techniques. A number of the content segments are selected to be merged for playback using the timing information from the metadata. The merged media content can be implemented as a playlist identifying the content segments to be merged for playback. The merged media content can also be generated by extracting the content segments to be merged for playback from each of the media files / streams and then merging the extracted segments into one or more merged media files / streams.

A powerline communications device comprises a powerline communications interface and at least one other communications interface configured to communicate over a computing network. The powerline communications interface is further configured to receive electrical power. The computing network may comprise mediums including powerlines, telephone lines, and / or coaxial cables. In some embodiments, the powerline communications interface may communicate with a network apparatus, such as a personal computer, via an Ethernet interface. The powerline interface, the telephone line interface, and / or the coaxial cable interface may all be associated with the same media access control (MAC) address. The powerline communications device may receive a message via a first medium and repeat the message via a second medium based on a quality of service (QoS) metric. In some embodiments, the powerline communications device may communicate using multiple frequency bands.

An apparatus, architecture and method for floor control in a Push-to-Talk system. A mobile station (203) may transmit a floor request message or messages and request multiple floors. Each floor may correspond to a media type having multiple media streams. A PoC server (201) assigns a priority to media types and / or media streams such that for example, a mobile station (203) may have a floor to transmit a video clip having audio and video streams to a talk group (207), and a member of the talk group may have a floor to transmit audio voice commentary on the media to the talk group (207). The embodiments of the present invention enable multimedia communication use cases without the need for duplication of the state machine at each node, thereby conserving resources.

A media distribution system that includes a media content provider, a relay device, a data communications network, and multiple media playback devices that each have distinct device-dependent media playback capabilities. The relay device receives a media content from the media content provider over a remote portion of the data communications network, and in response to a received instruction from either the media content provider or a local media playback device, the relay device determines whether or not to reformat the received media content to be compatible with one or more media playback devices. After the reformatting determination and instruction processing, the relay device transfers the media content to designated media playback devices over a local portion of the data communications network.

A control engine (12) downloaded by a server (1) to a student computer (2) instantiates panel objects (16) and multiple media objects (15) linked to each panel object (16). At any one time multiple media objects (15) operate simultaneously and in synchronism to generate multiple display and sound outputs for comprehensive learning output and student interaction. The media objects (15) operate autonomously, without even knowing their places in their respective hierarchies, thus allowing dynamic updates from the server (either server-driven or student-driven). Synchronization is achieved by the panel object activating the multiple relevant media objects for a panel and the media objects using time value attributes to control activation and termination times. The media objects access (84 )a stacking mechanism (82) in real time to determine a linked panel or media object to implement an operation in response to an event such as progression to a next panel. In addition to distributing objects in real time, the stacking mechanism (82) also dynamically modifies some objects by scripting or method invocation.

A system and method for teleconferencing using multiple media mixers is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a conferencing system may include a conference control server in communication with a central media mixer (CMM) and one or more edge media mixers (EMM). The conference control server may create a media path that connects the CMM and the EMM(s) via a call-control protocol. Additionally, conference participants may communicate with one another by connecting to the CMM and / or the EMM.

In a client / server network system, multimedia content is streamed from one or more servers to the client. The multimedia content includes multiple media streams that can be streamed to the client from the same server or from different servers. The user is able to modify the playback speed of the multimedia content, allowing the playback to be either speeded up or slowed down.

A integrated content guide for multiple sources is provided with hyper-text type links to allow for the selection of various programs. The hyper-text links are provided for a transmitted and then stored digital bit stream. This allows for the embedding within the content guide what could be additional commercial information. The embedding may also be as to additional information for other related television or radio shows or the like. Information can be additional television shows, related information or activities on on-line services or automatic telephone ordering of products or services being displayed.

System and method for syndicating more than one media object in an <item> element using Real Simple Syndication (RSS). In one embodiment, multiple media objects with at least one shared characteristic are syndicated under the same <item>element. For example, a single media object can come in multiple formats and / or compression rates.

A method and system for advertising selection, placement management, payment and delivery in a dynamic, real-time environment wherein the production, listing, procurement, payment, real time management, re-allocation and financial settlement of all types of digital advertising mediums, with optional automated delivery for advertisement and messaging for such ads is performed. The planning, purchasing, delivery and payment for on-line and traditional media advertising is automated, standardized and tracked across multiple mediums, such as TV, Internet, satellite, radio, wireless telephone, outdoor screens, and other digital mediums that display dynamic content. As a result, transparency and discovery of price, performance and availability segmented by specific markets and customer profiles for specific products is achieved. A buyer / seller real time feedback is provided to allow both buyers and sellers to dynamically change existing ads, ad space, prices, etc, in a real time environment based on real time sale / conversion feedback.

A third-party interactive voice response service includes a media archiving service in which media streams from a call to a subscriber is encrypted by a public key of the subscriber. The media streams may optionally be compressed and are encrypted in real-time so that at any time no tangible portion of the media streams can be accessed by the third party provider. The multiple media streams can optionally be compressed and / or encrypted individually or after they have been combined into a combined stream. The subscriber is able to retrieve the encrypted media streams and decrypt them using the subscriber's private key. The encryption and compression are under program control of the interactive voice response service.

Systems and methods securely provide media content from a media server to a media client via a network. The media content is segmented to create multiple media segments that are each identified in a playlist, and at least one of the media segments is encrypted using a cryptographic key. The cryptographic key is also identified in the playlist, and the playlist is provided from the media server to the media client via the network. The various media segments and cryptographic keys may then be requested from and provided by the media server using hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) or similar constructs to allow the media client to receive and decrypt the various segments of the media content.

Fiber, cable, and wireless data channels are typically impaired by reflectors and other imperfections, producing a channel state with echoes and frequency shifts in data waveforms. Here, methods of using OTFS pilot symbol waveform bursts to automatically produce a detailed 2D model of the channel state are presented. This 2D channel state can then be used to optimize data transmission. For wireless data channels, an even more detailed 2D model of channel state can be produced by using polarization and multiple antennas in the process. Once 2D channel states are known, the system turns imperfect data channels from a liability to an advantage by using channel imperfections to boost data transmission rates. The methods can be used to improve legacy data transmission modes in multiple types of media, and are particularly useful for producing new types of robust and high capacity wireless communications using non-legacy OTFS data transmission methods.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes electronically receiving a media presentation description (MPD) from a network. The MPD describes multimedia content that includes alternative representations of a plurality of media types, and the MPD includes information indicative of how the alternative representations are encoded. The method also includes selecting one of the plurality of alternative representations for at least one of the plurality of media types based on information included in the MPD, requesting the selected one of the plurality of alternative representations piece-by-piece, and electronically receiving a piece of media data.

Exposure to media content across multiple media delivery mechanisms is measured, so as to generate reports of aggregate exposure over multiple delivery mechanisms. The delivery mechanisms can include, for example, television and radio, as well as Internet delivery of web pages or other content viewed on a computer, mobile device, or other electronic device using a browser or other application. Reference signatures are generated for media content items of interest. Monitoring devices and / or software monitor user exposure to media items across multiple delivery mechanisms. Intercepted signatures are generated for the monitored media items. Reports are generated based on comparison of the intercepted signatures with the reference signatures, including analysis of media exposure across multiple delivery mechanisms.

A video content distribution system includes a remote content server, a communications network, and multiple media playback devices. One of the media playback devices generates a place marker that indexes a location in a video content where to resume playback of the video content and then the media playback device stores the place marker locally in the communications network. Subsequently, the same media playback device connects to the remote content server and stores a copy of the place marker remotely in the communications network.

In a device that can execute multiple media applications, but only one at a time, a media server coordinates among applications, but neither the media server nor the individual applications maintain rules regarding all of the different applications. Each connection used by an application is assigned a priority and communicates that priority to the media server when the connection is established. When an application requests to begin playback, the request is granted if no other application is playing, or if another application is playing on a connection having a priority at most equal to that of the connection used by the requesting application, but is denied if the connection already in use has a higher priority. Resumption of an application that was interrupted by another application on a connection with higher priority is determined by the interrupted application after the interruption ends, based on information communicated by the media server.

A synchronization manager synchronizes multiple media streams. The synchronization manager queries a media stream output device associated with each media stream to synchronize, and in response receives the current device clock time of each device, each device's next available media stream output time, and each device's delta between available media stream output times. The synchronization manager uses this timing information to determine an earliest available media stream output time common to each media stream output device, and synchronizes the output of the media streams by providing each stream to its associated output device at the earliest available common output time.

The intelligent console method and apparatus of the present invention includes a powerful, intuitive, yet highly flexible means for accessing a multi-media system having multiple multi-media data types. The present intelligent console provides an interactive display of linked multi-media events based on a user's personal taste. The intelligent console includes a graph / data display that can provide several graphical representations of the events that satisfy user queries. The user can access an event simply by selecting the time of interest on the timeline of the graph / data display. Because the system links together all of the multi-media data types associated with a selected event, the intelligent console synchronizes and displays the multiple media data when a user selects the event. Complex queries can be made using the present intelligent console. The user is alerted to the events satisfying the complex queries and if the user chooses, the corresponding and associated multi-media data is displayed.

A synchronization manager synchronizes multiple media streams. The synchronization manager queries a media stream output device associated with each media stream to synchronize, and in response receives the current device clock time of each device, each device's next available media stream output time, and each device's delta between available media stream output times. The synchronization manager uses this timing information to determine an earliest available media stream output time common to each media stream output device, and synchronizes the output of the media streams by providing each stream to its associated output device at the earliest available common output time.

Systems and methods for a modular media guidance dashboard application are provided that present a customizable interactive user interface across multiple media platforms through which personalized media content listings may be delivered. In particular, the modular media guidance dashboard application categorizes listings for media content into a number of different modules that are in turn grouped under a number of different tabs within the dashboard application. The type and layout of the modules and the tabs may be configured by the users as well as by the application. Module content personalization is also permitted and may be automatically customized and updated based on learned user viewing preferences. Furthermore, the format of the dashboard application is adaptable to a variety of devices and platforms for supporting multi-platform access.