A method is provided that broadcasts channels to set top boxes (STB), processes them, and makes them available in ABR streaming format to clients in a home network. The method includes the steps of: transmitting a plurality of streams for each channel broadcast, wherein each stream is at a different bitrate and is segmentable into chunks; receiving the plurality of streams for one or more channels at the STB; and storing a plurality of segmentable chunk durations for each of the plurality of streams for each channel received. In some embodiments, HLS is packaged as MPEG transport without a manifest file, and a set top box (STB) caches HLS chunks for at least the consumer's most viewed channels, reducing acquisition time of those HLS streams. The STB reconstitutes the HLS playlist and chunks for delivery throughout the home.

A method of configuring a markup for composition of multimedia elements in a multimedia communication system is provided. The method includes configuring area description information corresponding to each of a plurality of areas included in a scene, configuring multimedia description information corresponding to at least one multimedia included in each of the plurality of areas, configuring scene composition information describing spatial composition and temporal composition of each of the plurality of areas, and configuring a markup including the scene composition information, the area description information, and the multimedia description information.

A method of configuring a markup for composition of multimedia elements in a multimedia communication system is provided. The method includes configuring area description information corresponding to each of a plurality of areas included in a scene, configuring multimedia description information corresponding to at least one multimedia included in each of the plurality of areas, configuring scene composition information describing spatial composition and temporal composition of each of the plurality of areas, and configuring a markup including the scene composition information, the area description information, and the multimedia description information.

A system is described for playing embedded video on the Web inside the virtual desktop. A video element, such as an HTML5 video element, in a webpage accessed through a browser in the virtual desktop can be detected and video content for the video element can be intercepted before it is decoded in the virtual desktop. The encoded video data can be transmitted to the client device. On the client device, a counterpart video rendering application can receive the transmitted video data, decode it, and render it in a window that is overlaid onto a corresponding area of the virtual desktop graphical user interface (GUI) in a client application. Headless video composition can be implemented for rendering the video on the client, giving the illusion of the video playing inside the virtual desktop, while it is actually playing on the client itself.

An iTV user interface includes a navigable menu area through which a user can select from among a variety of services and a content display area in which formatted data associated with a selected menu service are displayed to the user. The formatted data is displayed in a rotating or ticker fashion having both a passive mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence independent of any selection operations by a television viewer, and active mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence that depends on selection operations by the television viewer. Advertisements and/or promotions may be interspersed among the content items. The navigable menu area and the content display area may be displayed to the viewer at the same time as television programming is displayed on the television.

An iTV user interface includes a navigable menu area through which a user can select from among a variety of services and a content display area in which formatted data associated with a selected menu service are displayed to the user. The formatted data is displayed in a rotating or ticker fashion having both a passive mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence independent of any selection operations by a television viewer, and active mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence that depends on selection operations by the television viewer. Advertisements and/or promotions may be interspersed among the content items. The navigable menu area and the content display area may be displayed to the viewer at the same time as television programming is displayed on the television.

Techniques are described herein for optimizing the presentation of content through obtaining viewership metrics, generating multiple renditions of presentations of content, and selecting optimized renditions of content. One aspect includes associating a request for viewership metrics with a presentation of content, publishing the presentation of content, and receiving information of the viewership metrics associated with the presentation. Another aspect includes copying a presentation of a content item, creating a second presentation of the content item for publishing over one or more channels, and linking the presentation of the content item to the second presentation of the content item, such that a change to one propagates to the other of the presentation of the content item or the second presentation of the content item. In yet another aspect, a content rendition may be selected for presentation based on performance of the rendition out of multiple renditions in an auction.

Techniques are described herein for optimizing the presentation of content through obtaining viewership metrics, generating multiple renditions of presentations of content, and selecting optimized renditions of content. One aspect includes associating a request for viewership metrics with a presentation of content, publishing the presentation of content, and receiving information of the viewership metrics associated with the presentation. Another aspect includes copying a presentation of a content item, creating a second presentation of the content item for publishing over one or more channels, and linking the presentation of the content item to the second presentation of the content item, such that a change to one propagates to the other of the presentation of the content item or the second presentation of the content item. In yet another aspect, a content rendition may be selected for presentation based on performance of the rendition out of multiple renditions in an auction.

The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions having higher added values. The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast service, controls an operation including activation and end of an application that is in cooperation with a broadcast program based on application-related information, and selects control relating to reactivation of the application based on a user's operation. If activation of the application is requested after the end of the application, the broadcast receiver controls the reactivation or non-reactivation of the application in accordance with the selection of control by the user.

The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions having higher added values. The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast service, controls an operation including activation and end of an application that is in cooperation with a broadcast program based on application-related information, and selects control relating to reactivation of the application based on a user's operation. If activation of the application is requested after the end of the application, the broadcast receiver controls the reactivation or non-reactivation of the application in accordance with the selection of control by the user.