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Due to the flexibility and efficiency of video-plus-depth 3D video representation format, Depth-Image-Based Rendering (DIBR) has been proposed to create content for 3D-TV. Most previous researches have focused on eliminating areas of disocclusion in synthesized images by smoothing depth-images, which is time-consuming and usually leads to the attenuation of depth-resolution and some artifacts. In this paper, we aim to investigate factors degrading visual quality and attenuating depth-resolution. Based on the investigation, a low-cost and depth-resolution-preserved Parallax-Map-Based DIBR method is then presented. Our method efficiently prevents attenuation of depth resolution and geometric distortions in synthesized images with lower computation resources compared to previous studies, as shown in the experimental results.

With the popularization of digital TV and Internet protocol TV (IPTV), more digital programs are being produced. In order to find the programs users want to watch, it is sometimes difficult and time-consuming for them to read the programs' information provided by electronic program guide (EPG). Therefore, the next generation EPG composed of content search, content recommendation, and content management is expected to help users quickly, and easily find programs they are interested in. In content recommendation, this study proposes a community-based program recommendation (CPR) for the next generation EPG. It analyzes and categorizes users with similar viewing habits into one community, then recommends programs to users to help them quickly find the programs they want to watch. The results show that this method can provide good precision and convenience to users.

With the rapid development of home network technology, sharing multimedia content among AV devices has become easier, however, the operation of these AV devices have become more complicated. These devices display status and related information through on-screen display (OSD) or liquid crystal display module (LCM) display, but the displays have some issues with OSD interference to reception or require users to understand all the symbols on the LCM display. This paper proposes a universal remote control based on AV device virtualization, called V-URC (virtualization based universal remote control), in order to control AV devices V-URC dynamically generates user interfaces, which conform to the current state of devices; this not only simplifies the operation of AV devices, but also eliminates the issues caused by LCM display and OSD-based AV devices In addition, for new AV devices, V-URC can be used directly without the need to go through complicated learning programs or update of firmware.

To resolve the issue that a vast majority of time is spent on design and maintenance of new customized user interface in the development of digital TV system software, we propose TVSkin user interface, an architecture to be applied to the design of user interface software. With TVSkin user interface, there is no need to modify any of the programming codes, in order to make additions or changes to the user interface of a digital TV system. Therefore, the whole cycle of the product development can be shortened. This will make the design of a customized digital TV user interface and the replacement of its mechanism as easy as in the case of a popular skin-able user interface of a desktop application. In this way, a user interface can be used more than once.