Abstract: A process to synchronize information transmitted from an information provider to a plurality of network elements is provided. The process determines a temporal difference between related network elements and compensates for this difference by dilating an information signal provided to at least one of the network elements to resynchronize the data presented to the network elements. The process is repeated periodically in order to maintain a desired synchronization level.

Abstract: Active client buffer management methods, systems, and apparatus for transmitting electronic data from a server to a client having a limited receive buffer are disclosed. The receive buffer is managed by determining a consumption rate at the client and adjusting the transmission rate of the server responsive to the determined consumption rate to manage the fill level of the receive buffer.

Abstract: A method and system for authorizing client devices to receive secured data streams through the use of digital certificates embedded in the client devices. A freely distributed cryptographically signed group file with an embedded expiration date is associated with each individual digital certificate. A single group file can be associated with more than one digital certificate but each digital certificate is associated with a single group file. The group file contains cryptographic keys that can be used to decrypt a section of the digital certificate revealing a set of client keys. The client keys are then used to encrypt a program key which are then sent back to the client device. When the client device requests a specific data stream or digital content, an issuance timestamp associated with the content is compared to the expiration date in the group file. If the issuance timestamp is after the expiration date, the client device is declined.

Abstract: A content navigation method that may be used with a storage device that holds multiple content objects includes a controller, at least one search switch and at least one control switch. Each of the content objects has a corresponding name which includes at least one character from an alphabet. The controller determines a set of names of the stored content that corresponds to the activation of the search switch, displays at least one name the set of names and, responsive to the control switch, selects the content object corresponding to the displayed name. The search switches may include multiple search switches, each associated with a predetermined set of letters from the alphabet. Alternatively, each switch may have an corresponding display and may be associated with a dynamically determined set of letters based on their frequency of occurrence in the names.

Abstract: A low-power, software based modulator that is used to transfer text data from an auxiliary audio device to an FM radio receiver includes a processor that receives the text data to be transmitted to the FM receiver, processes the data as an RDS signal or converts the text data to speech and then combines the processed data signal with an FM audio signal that is sent to the FM receiver. In one embodiment, the auxiliary audio device is a CD or CD-MP3 player and the software-based modulator is implemented on the control processor or DSP of the device. The FM encoder that produces the FM encoded audio signal may be a separate analog encoder or may also be implemented in the control processor of the auxiliary audio device.