A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive broadcasting data on digital broadcasting is used. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes: a broadcast receiving unit configured to receive broadcasting data containing coded video data regarding a broadcasting program of the digital broadcasting and control information for the broadcasting program; a video decoding unit configured to decode the coded video data received by the broadcast receiving unit to reproduce program video information; a display unit configured to display the program video information reproduced by the video decoding unit; a communication unit configured to transmit viewing permission request data to a predetermined portable information terminal in a case where a broadcasting program that a user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view is a program on which viewing limit is to be imposed, the communication unit being configured to receive response data from the portable information terminal, the response data responding to the viewing permission request data; an authentication information storing unit configured to store terminal identification information and authentication information, the predetermined portable information terminal being allowed to be identified by the terminal identification information; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: control the video decoding unit or the display unit so as not to limit viewing of the broadcasting program that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view in a case where the response data received by the communication unit indicates a display permission response and both of terminal identification information and authentication information contained in the display permission response respectively coincide with the terminal identification information and the authentication information stored in the authentication information storing unit; and control the video decoding unit or the display unit so as to limit the viewing of the broadcasting program that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view in a case where any of the terminal identification information and the authentication information contained in the display permission response does not coincide with corresponding one of the terminal identification information and the authentication information stored in the authentication information storing unit even though the response data received by the communication unit indicates the display permission response.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for the detection of human presence in front of a plurality of sensors such as those of speakers and a device with a processor, such as a television. Data gathered from the plurality of sensors may be analyzed by the processor to determine if one or more humans are present proximate to the device. Based on the determined presence or absence of one or more humans, further actions including, inter alia, activating a sleep mode for the one or more humans, shutting off the device in a green mode, or alerting an owner-user to the presence of an intruder can be taken.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for the detection of human presence in an energy efficient manner using a plurality of sensors such as those of a battery-powered device such as a television remote, and a device with a processor, such as a television. Data gathered from an initial television WiFi radio scan, or an initial low-powered detection scan from the television remote, may be analyzed by the processor to determine a potential presence of one or more humans are present proximate to the device. If there is such a potential presence, the device remote can enter a full-powered detection mode to accurately determine the presence or absence of one or more humans, and take further actions.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for the detection of human presence in front of a plurality of sensors such as those of speakers and a device with a processor, such as a television. Data gathered from the plurality of sensors may be analyzed by the processor to determine if one or more humans are present proximate to the device. Based on the determined presence or absence of one or more humans, further actions including, inter alia, customizing a home theatre experience for the one or more humans, making content recommendations, or activating parental controls can be taken by the device.

A content service provider can transmit a plurality of content streams each including audio, video, or audio-video content to a plurality of premises. In addition, the content service provider can transmit one or more command streams, along with the plurality of content streams over a common content distribution network. The one or more command streams may each include a repeating set of premises automation commands. The premises automation commands may be sent to one or more appropriate systems if a user selects a channel associated with the corresponding command stream. Each set of premises automation commands may be configured to instruct a system at a premises to perform a function. The commands may, for example, instruct a lighting system to turn on/off lights, a security system to enter an arm or disarm operational state, a thermostat to adjust its temperature, etc.

Methods and systems are provided herein for generating notifications based on the interests of guests. Guests may request notifications on their host's television, and the system will generate notifications based on the guest's interests and preferences as stored in the guest's user profile. In doing so, the guest will be notified of events of interest, such as when a favorite sports team scores a point or when an important scene in a favorite movie is playing. The system monitors the network of the apartment or house and detects when a guest device is accessing the network. The system then accesses the guest's interests and identifies a set of programs based on these interests. The system then monitors these programs and generates notifications on the display device when an event of interest has occurred in one of the identified programs.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface via which the contents received by the receiving unit is outputted; a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. In this case, the control unit is configured to determine the output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying necessity or not of protection when to output the contents, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

Methods (FIG. 900), systems and the like for determining which users have an interest in receiving media content and determining when to transmit the media content (i.e., which segment/portion of a media content to transmit) based on user characteristics that are related to the user's interest in the media content. Users/viewers are targeted/selected as candidates for receiving media content based on their interest in the event. Specific segments/portions of the event are identified that are of interest to the users/viewers, such that, real-time transmission (e.g., unicast, broadcast, multicast) of the event may be limited to only those segments/portions of the event that are of interest to the users/viewers.

The disclosure provides for use of watermarking as a basis control abandonment of dynamic content modification. Upon detecting of the occurrence of a trigger event for causing a content presentation device to abandon a dynamic content modification with respect to a media stream being delivered to the content presentation device, an entity encodes into the media stream an abandonment-watermark interpretable by the content presentation device to cause the content presentation device to abandon the dynamic content modification. The content presentation device then detects the abandonment-watermark in the media stream being received by the content presentation device and in response to the abandonment-watermark, abandons the dynamic content modification.

According to one embodiment, a social information distribution apparatus apportions and accumulates, for items classified, basic information including a position of each of a plurality of information sources and social information transmitted in time series from each of the plurality of information sources, analyzes the accumulated social information, modifies and processes the social information, updates the social information as some of the items, selects social information to be broadcast, determines a broadcast format including at least classification of broadcast ranges, a broadcasting time, and a repetition count within the broadcasting time when broadcasting the selected social information, and transmits the selected social information to a designated broadcast range by a broadcast wave.