An ideal tap may have a plurality of ports that include at least an input port configured for receiving downstream (DS) signals from and transmitting upstream (US) signals to nodes upstream from the tap within the coaxial network, and one or more other ports that comprise at least one of an output port configured for transmitting downstream (DS) signals to and receiving upstream (US) signals from nodes downstream from the tap within the coaxial network, and a drop port for receiving signal from and transmitting signals to customer premise equipment (CPE) in the coaxial network. The ideal tap may further include processing circuits for handling signals received and transmitted via the tap, with the one or more processing circuits being configured to meet particular predefined tap performance criteria, and to specifically apply, during handling of signals in the tap, frequency shifting based on one or more frequency spectrum shift conditions.

A user receiving device including at least one transceiver module, an output module, a control module, and a transaction module. The at least one transceiver module is configured to receive an ad or an offer transmitted from at least one backend device to the user receiving device. The offer is directed to a product and/or service referred to in the ad. The output module is configured to display the ad or the offer on a display. The display is connected to the user receiving device. The at least one transceiver module is configured to receive a response signal transmitted from a mobile device to the user receiving device. The response signal is in response to the offer. The transaction module is configured to perform a transaction between the at least one backend device and a user of the mobile device based on the response signal.

A user receiving device including at least one transceiver module, an output module, a control module, and a transaction module. The at least one transceiver module is configured to receive an ad or an offer transmitted from at least one backend device to the user receiving device. The offer is directed to a product and/or service referred to in the ad. The output module is configured to display the ad or the offer on a display. The display is connected to the user receiving device. The at least one transceiver module is configured to receive a response signal transmitted from a mobile device to the user receiving device. The response signal is in response to the offer. The transaction module is configured to perform a transaction between the at least one backend device and a user of the mobile device based on the response signal.

A transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus and methods of controlling these apparatuses are provided. The transmitting apparatus includes: a baseband packet generator configured to, based on an input stream including a first type stream and a second type stream, generate a baseband packet including a header and payload data corresponding to the first type stream; a frame generator configured to generate a frame including the baseband packet; a signal processor configured to perform signal-processing on the generated frame; and a transmitter configured to transmit the signal-processed frame, wherein the header includes a type of the payload data in the baseband packet and the number of the first type stream packets in the baseband packet.

A transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus and methods of controlling these apparatuses are provided. The transmitting apparatus includes: a baseband packet generator configured to, based on an input stream including a first type stream and a second type stream, generate a baseband packet including a header and payload data corresponding to the first type stream; a frame generator configured to generate a frame including the baseband packet; a signal processor configured to perform signal-processing on the generated frame; and a transmitter configured to transmit the signal-processed frame, wherein the header includes a type of the payload data in the baseband packet and the number of the first type stream packets in the baseband packet.

An apparatus and a method for providing an adaptive multimedia service in a mobile communication system are provided. The method of providing a multimedia service includes collecting user-preference-aware information, device-capability-aware information, and network-aware information, generating a packet according to a correlation among the user-preference-aware information, the device-capability-aware information, and the network-aware information, and providing a multimedia service according to the generated packet.

An apparatus and a method for providing an adaptive multimedia service in a mobile communication system are provided. The method of providing a multimedia service includes collecting user-preference-aware information, device-capability-aware information, and network-aware information, generating a packet according to a correlation among the user-preference-aware information, the device-capability-aware information, and the network-aware information, and providing a multimedia service according to the generated packet.

A method for generating an original total stream intended for being distributed to at least one broadcasting site, which includes a modulator and a transmitter sending a radiofrequency signal on a first frequency. The method implements the following acts: obtaining at least one transport stream comprising at least one transport packet; obtaining, from at least one modulation parameter for the broadcasting site, at least one starting instant of a modulation frame intended for being sent by the broadcasting site; inserting at least one modulation information packet in the at least one transport stream, at a position determined from the at least one starting instant; and generating the original total stream, including at least one physical layer pipe encapsulating the at least one transport stream carrying the at least one modulation information packet.

A method for generating an original total stream intended for being distributed to at least one broadcasting site, which includes a modulator and a transmitter sending a radiofrequency signal on a first frequency. The method implements the following acts: obtaining at least one transport stream comprising at least one transport packet; obtaining, from at least one modulation parameter for the broadcasting site, at least one starting instant of a modulation frame intended for being sent by the broadcasting site; inserting at least one modulation information packet in the at least one transport stream, at a position determined from the at least one starting instant; and generating the original total stream, including at least one physical layer pipe encapsulating the at least one transport stream carrying the at least one modulation information packet.

A method of altering audio output from an electronic device based on image data is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes acquiring image data and determining one or more characteristics of the image data. Such characteristics may include sharpness, brightness, motion, magnification, zoom setting, and so forth, as well as variation in any of the preceding characteristics. The method may also include producing audio output, wherein at least one characteristic of the audio output is determined based on one or more of the image data characteristics. Various audio output characteristics that may be varied based on the video data characteristics may include, for instance, pitch, reverberation, tempo, volume, filter frequency response, added sound effects, or the like. Additional methods, devices, and manufactures are also disclosed.