A collection of well-formed, but possibly semantically invalid, binary encoded multimedia data components or packages as well as the binary encoded announcement, signaling, and interchange protocols used in their transmission are converted into one or more well-formed extensible markup language (XML) files. Such XML files may then be validated according to one or more pre-defined XML schemas, or similar schema languages, in order to verify that the data and protocol structures and substructures adhere to prior defined semantic constraints.

A method and apparatus are provided for synchronizing between rendering of a multimedia stream by a rendering device and execution of an operation by a software application by at least one execution device. The method includes in the rendering device: receiving the multimedia stream comprising pieces of additional data synchronized with a multimedia item; detecting, in the multimedia stream, an item of destination information indicating that the pieces of additional data are intended for a distinct execution device; extracting the pieces of additional data; transmitting the pieces of additional data to the execution device; triggering the execution, by a software application, of an operation to process the transmitted additional data; and rendering the multimedia item.

Methods and apparatus for provisioning or updating software over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and each particular client device (e.g., set-top box) on the network is identified by an address or other unique descriptor. A version association file stored on a server or downloaded to the device maps particular application versions to one or more addresses corresponding to individual client devices. When the version association file is modified or created, the server transmits an upgrade message over the network (optionally along with the current version association file). Upon receiving an upgrade message, a set-top box accesses the version association file, and compares a designated application version to that of the application currently in use. If the designated version is not present on the set-top, the box will terminate any old version of the application currently running and download and install the designated version.

Disclosed herein is a receiving device for receiving an AV content broadcast by a broadcasting wave, including: an obtaining section adapted to obtain a description document described in a predetermined computer language for displaying another content different from the AV content; a determining section adapted to determine whether the obtained description document is managed by a broadcaster which broadcasts the AV content or is managed by a different operator other than the broadcaster; and a controlling section adapted to control execution of the obtained description document in response to a result of the determination by the determining section.

A collection of well-formed, but possibly semantically invalid, binary encoded multimedia data components or packages as well as the binary encoded announcement, signaling, and interchange protocols used in their transmission are converted into one or more well-formed extensible markup language (XML) files. Such XML files may then be validated according to one or more pre-defined XML schemas, or similar schema languages, in order to verify that the data and protocol structures and substructures adhere to prior defined semantic constraints.

Methods and apparatus for provisioning or updating software over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and each particular client device (e.g., set-top box) on the network is identified by an address or other unique descriptor. A version association file stored on a server or downloaded to the device maps particular application versions to one or more addresses corresponding to individual client devices. When the version association file is modified or created, the server transmits an upgrade message over the network (optionally along with the current version association file). Upon receiving an upgrade message, a set-top box accesses the version association file, and compares a designated application version to that of the application currently in use. If the designated version is not present on the set-top, the box will terminate any old version of the application currently running and download and install the designated version.

The present invention proposes a method for providing a broadcast content in an apparatus, the method comprising: requesting a filter code to an application running on the apparatus by using a first Application Programming Interface (API); receiving a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) object from the application in response to the first API; storing the filter code; receiving an Extended File Delivery Table (EFDT) having a first filter code associated with a first file; and selectively downloading the first file by comparing the stored filter code with the first filter code in the EFDT.

Various arrangements for controlling presentation of the video mosaic are presented. A television receiver may store a front-end switching condition and a back-end switching condition. The front-end switching condition may define criteria occurring within a piece of content that triggers when focus is to switch from the piece of content to another piece of content. The back-end switching condition may define when focus is to switch to a higher-ranked piece of content. The television receiver may output to a presentation device, the video mosaic comprising a plurality of pieces of content presented within a plurality of tiles. The television receiver may control focus among the plurality of tiles within the video mosaic based on the front-end switching condition and the back-end switching condition, wherein one tile from the plurality of tiles receives focus at a given time.

A reception apparatus, including circuitry configured to receive a content including at least one of audio content or video content, extract fingerprint information from data of the content, and provide the fingerprint information to a first server via a communication network. The circuitry is further configured to receive control information in response to providing the fingerprint information to the first server.

Provided is a reception apparatus including a reception unit that receives broadcast content transmitted by a broadcast waves of digital broadcasting, a first obtaining unit that obtains transmission data other than data-broadcast content, the transmission data being transmitted in a data carousel transmission scheme by the broadcast wave, and a control unit that controls a predetermined operation based on the obtained transmission data.