A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.

A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.

The present invention is directed to a video recorder having user extended and automatically extended time slots. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set-top box having an internal storage device, such as a hard drive where broadcasts are transferred from a broadcast input source to the storage device. The set-top box is connected to an output device such as a television, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and an interactive program guide (IPG). The user has the option to extend a chosen time slot, in which a show is scheduled to be transferred to the storage device. A dialog box is used when certain types of shows are selected that commonly require timeslot extensions at the end of the show.

An imaging apparatus includes: a first imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates first video data; a first communication unit that communicates with a plurality of electronic devices, and receives second video data generated by the plurality of electronic devices and evaluation information indicating priorities of the second video data; an image processor that performs synthesis processing of synthesizing a first video and a second video, the first video being indicated by the first video data, and the second video being indicated by the second video data received from at least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices; and a first controller that controls the synthesis processing in the image processor. The first controller selects the at least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices based on the evaluation information received from each of the plurality of electronic devices, the at least one electronic device providing the second video data to be used for the synthesis processing.

An imaging apparatus includes: a first imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates first video data; a first communication unit that communicates with a plurality of electronic devices, and receives second video data generated by the plurality of electronic devices and evaluation information indicating priorities of the second video data; an image processor that performs synthesis processing of synthesizing a first video and a second video, the first video being indicated by the first video data, and the second video being indicated by the second video data received from at least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices; and a first controller that controls the synthesis processing in the image processor. The first controller selects the at least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices based on the evaluation information received from each of the plurality of electronic devices, the at least one electronic device providing the second video data to be used for the synthesis processing.

Techniques described herein automatically identify, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.

A signaling method of video content and services broadcast by to a multitude of reception devices, the contents being encoded into data packets transmitted in a transport stream associated with a signaling stream is disclosed that comprises an insertion step of a unique identifier associated with each of the video contents or services in the signaling stream; an insertion step of the unique identifier into packets of the transport stream transmitting the video content or service corresponding to the unique identifier. Advantageously, the unique identifier is derived from a characteristic of the content among the title of the video content or service, the date and theoretical continuous broadcast time of the video content or service. A method for recording and a recording device using the signaling is further disclosed.

A signaling method of video content and services broadcast by to a multitude of reception devices, the contents being encoded into data packets transmitted in a transport stream associated with a signaling stream is disclosed that comprises an insertion step of a unique identifier associated with each of the video contents or services in the signaling stream; an insertion step of the unique identifier into packets of the transport stream transmitting the video content or service corresponding to the unique identifier. Advantageously, the unique identifier is derived from a characteristic of the content among the title of the video content or service, the date and theoretical continuous broadcast time of the video content or service. A method for recording and a recording device using the signaling is further disclosed.

A transmission apparatus includes: a video-signal transmission section transmitting a video signal to an external apparatus by a differential signal through a plurality of channels through a transmission line; and an information transmission section transmitting image-quality adjustment information corresponding to the video signal transmitted by the video-signal transmission section to the external apparatus through a communication path formed by a pair of differential transmission lines included in the transmission line.

Techniques are provided for converting live presentations into electronic media and managing captured media assets for distribution. An exemplary system includes capture devices that capture media assets of live presentations comprising a session, including image data of sequentially presented visual aids accompanying the live presentations and audio data. Each capture device has an interface for real-time image data marking of the image data for identification of individual images and session marking of the image data for demarcation of individual presentations of the session. A centralized device processes the captured media assets and automatically divides the captured media assets into discrete files associated with the individual presentations based on the session markings. An administrative tool manages the processed media assets to produce modified presentations and enables modification of the visual aid images identified by the image data markings. A production device formats the modified presentations for distribution on distribution media.