The invention relates to a distribution method for a multimedia stream multiplexed via a network, the multiplexed multimedia stream comprising multimedia and signalling components, the components being divided into elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream transmitted on at least one transport channel of the network. This method comprises a step of selection of elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream incorporated in transport packets, wherein each of the elementary packets of the signalling components are incorporated in transport packets transmitted on a first of the at least one transport channel, and wherein others transport packets comprising at least one elementary packet and a part only of the multimedia components, are transmitted on a transport channel. This method further comprises a step of transmission of transport packets on each of the transport channels, comprising a step of definition of a first sequence number for each of the transport packets of each of the transport channels and a second sequence number for each of the elementary packets, the first sequence number being incremented for each of the transport packets, independently on each of the transport channels, the second sequence number being incremented for each of the elementary packets.

The present invention is intended to permit both real-time display of a picture represented by a non-compressed video signal on a television and display of a picture represented by a compressed video signal at any desired time by simultaneously transmitting the compressed video signal and non-compressed video signal via one interface. An STB packetizes a compressed video signal, and multiplexes the compressed video signal and a blanking signal combined with a non-compressed video signal. Thus, both the video signals are transmitted simultaneously. A picture represented by the non-compressed video signal is displayed on a television in real time. The compressed video signal is stored in a storage medium incorporated in the television, read at any user's desired time, and decoded so that a picture represented by the compressed video signal can be viewed at the user's desired time.

An encoded bitstream is processed without re-encoding so as to recombine multiple packets of each image into contiguous data of one packet for the image. Each packet is assigned a presentation time stamp, corresponding to the display order of its image in the sequence of images. In one embodiment, each intra-frame compressed image also is marked as a recovery point indicating that a decompression processor empties its buffers of data for prior groups of pictures before processing the image. A video editing or other playback application uses the converted bitstream for scrubbing and similar playback operations.

A method for receiving media according to one embodiment comprises the following steps: selecting a receiving channel; receiving a media transport stream transmitted through the receiving channel; generating a media storage stream based on the received media transport stream; and recording the media storage stream. The media transport stream comprises at least one sync bite which represents data removed from the media transport stream.

A television program switching method and apparatus, relate to the field of communications network technologies and applicable to television program switching, thereby resolving a problem of cumbersome user operations of viewing television program information. The method includes a program selection instruction entered by a user is received when an electronic program guide (EPG) screen is displayed on a mobile terminal, where the program selection instruction includes a program identifier, and the EPG screen includes at least two program identifiers and first program information corresponding to each program identifier, the EPG is searched for program frequency information corresponding to the program identifier according to the program identifier, and the program frequency information is sent to a to-be-controlled television.

A method and an apparatus are used to target interactive virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information to determine the optimum targeting of the virtual objects. The virtual objects may be targeted based on individual subscriber information or on information related to groups of subscribers. When a frame of a program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual object is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. An operations center or a cable headend may generate a group assignment plan that assigns the subscribers' television terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A retrieval plan is then generated that instructs the television terminals to select the desired virtual object for display. The television terminals record which virtual objects were displayed, and report this information to the cable headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits. Interactive virtual objects are received by the television terminal with directions on actions to be taken upon selection of the interactive virtual object. Actions may result in the initiation of processes locally at the television terminal, or communication with a remote site for the initiation of processes to be performed remotely. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software, and corresponding features in the televisions to accomplish these functions.

A display device configured as a multi display system is provided. The display device includes an input; a display; an output connected to an adjacent display device; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to control the output to insert image output information into at least one of frames of a first predetermined interval in a first image and frames of a second predetermined interval in a second image when the first image and the second image are received through the input, and to alternately transmit the frames of the first interval and the frames of the second interval to an adjacent display device, and to control the display to display some regions of one of the frames of the first interval and the frames of the second interval based on display layout information.

Devices, systems and methods are provided for delivering media content from different types of content sources to different destination devices across an outdoor/indoor interface using an outdoor hub device. An exemplary hub device includes a first input interface to receive a broadcast signal, a second input interface to receive a telecommunications signal from a telecommunications network, and an output interface. The device further includes a content stream management module coupled to the first input interface and the second input interface to multiplex broadcast and telecommunications content into a multiplexed content stream, an encapsulation module coupled to the content stream management module to encapsulate the multiplexed content stream into a packetized multiplexed content stream, and a communications interface coupled to the encapsulation module and the output interface to transmit the packetized multiplexed content stream to an indoor gateway device via the output interface.

The present technology relates to a receiving device, a transmitting device, and a data processing method which are capable of providing a broadcast service using a wide bandwidth more flexibly. A receiving device processes a stream in which delivery configuration information indicating that the stream of the broadcast service is delivered across a predetermined frequency band is included in transmission information which is transmitted through an upper layer higher than a physical layer, the stream having a delivery configuration corresponding to the delivery configuration information, so that a broadcast service using a wider bandwidth can be provided. The present technology can be applied to a FW proxy device connected to a network such as, a home LAN, a head end of a cable operator, a base station of a mobile network, or the like.

Devices, systems and methods are provided for delivering media content from different types of content sources to different destination devices across an outdoor/indoor interface using an outdoor hub device. An exemplary hub device includes a first input interface to receive a broadcast signal, a second input interface to receive a telecommunications signal from a telecommunications network, and an output interface. The device further includes a content stream management module coupled to the first input interface and the second input interface to multiplex broadcast and telecommunications content into a multiplexed content stream, an encapsulation module coupled to the content stream management module to encapsulate the multiplexed content stream into a packetized multiplexed content stream, and a communications interface coupled to the encapsulation module and the output interface to transmit the packetized multiplexed content stream to an indoor gateway device via the output interface.