Abstract: Systems and methods for representing a tuner device in a content directory service that is implemented in a media server are disclosed. An exemplary method involves representing a tuner as a tuner container. A broadcast channel which is accessible to the tuner is represented as a broadcast item within the tuner container. The exemplary method also involves exposing the broadcast item within the tuner container as an object for browsing by a control point. Information about the broadcast item may be sent to the control point in response to a browse request. A connection may be established with a media renderer for transmission of content from the broadcast channel to the media renderer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing video content associated with a source image to a television that is part of a communication network is provided. At least a portion of the source image and the video content are displayed on the television. A request at a content distribution platform in the communication network is received for display of the source image from a communication device associated with the television. In certain embodiments, the communication network is cable television network. In other embodiments, the communication network may be a television over IP network. The requested source image is retrieved by the content distribution platform. The source image is displayed on a user's television, and the user may desire to have video content associated with a link displayed on the user's television. A request for video content associated with the link is then received. The content distribution platform then retrieves the video content that is associated with the link.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide including a matrix of cells associated with a plurality of media content instances, and a condensed program guide including a condensed matrix of a subset of the cells and at least one interstitial symbol representing at least one of the cells excluded from the condensed matrix. In certain embodiments, the media content processing subsystem is configured to provide a graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user, the graphical user interface including at least a portion of the condensed program guide. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interface includes a visual indicator of the interstitial symbol indicating a matrix position of a cell excluded from the condensed matrix. In certain embodiments, the interstitial symbol is spatially insubstantial in the condensed matrix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for display of a digital video signal includes a demodulator capable of receiving a major channel of the digital video signal. The major channel of the digital video signal includes one or more minor channels, wherein the minor channels are specific and separate channels of broadcast information. The method and apparatus for display of a digital video signal further includes decoders coupled to the demodulator, wherein the decoders receive the minor channels disposed within the major channel. The decoders thereupon generate minor channel video signals, wherein the minor channel video signal includes the video information for each associated channel. The method and apparatus further includes receiving the incoming video signals and format the video signals for simultaneous display of active video from multiple channels. A display configurator provides the minor channel video signals to an output display, to actively display the minor channels.

Abstract: A system and method of audio/video streaming in which a server transmits over a network an audio/video stream to a client device. The client device is able to send command data to the server causing the server to provide a change in content of the audio/video stream from a first content to a second content. Buffers in the server and client device can be flushed or skipped-over at the time of sending the command data so as to improve response time and marker data can be sent from the server to the client device to indicate the start of the second content.

Abstract: A cable node and a cable hub that communicate on a CATV network are configured to switch communication modes without signal loss or degradation due to delays in switching communication modes. In particular, a cable node sends one or more mute commands in an outgoing data stream to the cable hub, causing the cable hub to disable the RF outputs. Afterward, or along with the one or more mute commands, the cable node can send a switch mode command, thereby causing the cable hub to switch to the appropriate next communication mode, such as a communication mode using a new compression rate. When the cable hub has switched to the appropriate next communication mode, the cable hub can then properly receive and decode a corresponding data stream using the next communication mode.

Abstract: When transmission of on-demand video data interrupts transmission of broadcast video data from a distribution server 17 to a user terminal 18, the distribution server 17 transmits substitute I frame data to the terminal 18 after on-demand video data transmission in complete and before resuming broadcast video data transmission. The user terminal 18 decodes and displays the substitute I frame data, and then uses the decoded substitute I frame data as a reference frame to decode and display the first several frames of broadcast video data received directly after resumption of transmission.

Abstract: A system and method for minimizing timeouts when enhanced services are requested through a digital home communications terminal (DHCT) requiring discovery of a service group identification (SGID) assigned to the DHCT. A service group map (SGM) includes a plurality of entries. Each entry includes a frequency, a tabulated transport stream identification (TSID), and a SGID associated with one another. The SGM has multiple occurrences of the same frequency. Each of the entries are prioritized relative one another such that the frequencies associated with first occurrences of each SGID have the highest priority.