An apparatus for providing online multimedia contents acquires, in a pre-designated manner, a content table addresses, in which a content table consisting of a plurality of content information with each set time to be played back is stored, maps and stores the content table address to a designated channel, obtains the content table based on the content table address, analyzes the content information corresponding to the current time among the plurality of content information included in the content table to obtain a content address where a multimedia content is stored, acquires the multimedia content online based on the obtained content address, outputs the multimedia content through TV, thereby allowing a TV user to easily view various multimedia contents available online by simply changing the channel buttons of the remote control and thereby maximizing the user convenience of online multimedia contents.

An apparatus for providing online multimedia contents acquires, in a pre-designated manner, a content table addresses, in which a content table consisting of a plurality of content information with each set time to be played back is stored, maps and stores the content table address to a designated channel, obtains the content table based on the content table address, analyzes the content information corresponding to the current time among the plurality of content information included in the content table to obtain a content address where a multimedia content is stored, acquires the multimedia content online based on the obtained content address, outputs the multimedia content through TV, thereby allowing a TV user to easily view various multimedia contents available online by simply changing the channel buttons of the remote control and thereby maximizing the user convenience of online multimedia contents.

A class system for taking a class conducted in an immersive virtual space by connecting a communication class server and a student terminal. The communication class server includes a delivery unit that delivers, to the student terminal, a class content for viewing a class being conducted in the virtual space, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the student terminal, a display signal, a non-display signal, an operation permission signal, and an operation prohibition signal respectively set according to the progress of the class. The student terminal includes a VR function unit that disposes, in the virtual space, an avatar of a student that uses the student terminal and controls the avatar, receives the class content, and displays the class content from the avatar's point of view.

A dividing section of a server divides, along a common boundary, a plurality of images that are formed by an image forming section and correspond to respective frames of a moving image, to form image blocks. A first coding section compression-codes one of the plurality of images in units of the image block. A second coding section compression-codes another one of the plurality of images in units of the image block, using data compression-coded by the first coding section. A communication section transmits data of the compression-coded image blocks to an image processing apparatus.

A disclosed digital media device operational at user premises to receive media signals from a media source for presentation via endpoint devices such as a television display. The digital media device can include gateway and digital media management functionality and can be referred to as a gateway and digital media device. The device offers application services obtained over a wide area network and a user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and/or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.

A disclosed digital media device operational at user premises to receive media signals from a media source for presentation via endpoint devices such as a television display. The digital media device can include gateway and digital media management functionality and can be referred to as a gateway and digital media device. The device offers application services obtained over a wide area network and a user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and/or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.

Systems and methods are described for delivering regional content for a lineup over a national network. A content provider may select a particular regional broadcast for inclusion in a regional service lineup. The content provider may be able to broadcast multiple, or even all, services nationally. At regional distribution centers, a multiplexer may select only those services that are desired for the region in response to in-stream signals. In some instances, a single region-specific version of a given service may be selected from multiple versions broadcasted nationally. The regional lineup, including the selected services, can then be multiplexed and transmitted to customers throughout the region.

This patent disclosure provides various embodiments of a client-server based digital video playback system and technique. In one aspect, a process for playing internet/online videos on a user device is disclosed. This process can begin by sending a video playback request for playing an online video to the server, wherein the video playback request includes a device type and a browser type of the user device. Next, the process receives a set of video playback addresses and a set of video playback configuration files from the server, wherein the set of video playback addresses and the set of video playback configuration files are generated based on the device type and the browser type. The process subsequently selects a video playback address from the set of video playback addresses corresponding to a transcoded version of the online video that matches a device version and a browser version of the user device. The process next obtains the transcoded version of the online video from the selected video playback address, and plays the obtained video on the user device.

A server resource provides notification to subscribers in a respective network environment that the content is available for retrieval at a particular bit rate (e.g., a promotional bit rate) or particular level of quality (e.g., promotional level of quality) amongst multiple levels of quality for a limited duration of time. For example, an especially high level of quality (or bit rate) of the content may be available only for the limited duration of time. After making the especially high level of quality of content available for retrieval during a promotional period, the content may be subsequently available for retrieval only at lower levels of quality. Accordingly, one or more configurations as discussed herein include changing the ability to access content encoded at different levels of quality over time.

A server resource provides notification to subscribers in a respective network environment that the content is available for retrieval at a particular bit rate (e.g., a promotional bit rate) or particular level of quality (e.g., promotional level of quality) amongst multiple levels of quality for a limited duration of time. For example, an especially high level of quality (or bit rate) of the content may be available only for the limited duration of time. After making the especially high level of quality of content available for retrieval during a promotional period, the content may be subsequently available for retrieval only at lower levels of quality. Accordingly, one or more configurations as discussed herein include changing the ability to access content encoded at different levels of quality over time.