Abstract: The method and apparatus identifies selected broadcast segments, such as commercial advertisements, of a television signal in real-time for the purpose of muting the video and audio portions of the television signal during each unwanted segment. A signature pattern associated with each segment of the television signal is detected and compared to stored signature patterns representative of selected segments such as commercial advertisement segments. If the signature pattern matches one of the stored signature patterns, the segment is thereby immediately identified as being one of the selected segments and is processed in real-time to mute the audio and video portions of the television signal during the segment. If the signature pattern of the segment does not match any of the stored signature patterns, the segment is analyzed to determine whether the segment is nevertheless a selected segment and, if so, its signature pattern is stored along with the stored signature patterns.

Abstract: A demodulator is able to demodulate a television signal and an FM broadcast signal by a common demodulator. Also, a receiver is able to output television video signal and audio signal and an audio signal of the FM broadcast signal by the common demodulator without using a second mixer for frequency-converting the FM broadcast signal to provide an audio intermediate frequency signal of 10.7 MHz when the FM broadcast signal is received. A demodulator includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal and a change-over switch and wherein the change-over switch connects the first input terminal, a video detector and a video carrier generator to receive the television signal and the change-over switch connects the third input terminal, the video detector and the video carrier generator to receive the FM broadcast signal.

Abstract: Plural-conversion radio receivers for receiving DTV signals, in accordance with the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard, or analog TV, in accordance with the National Television Sub-Committee (NTSC) standard, utilize a first intermediate-frequency band spanning 917-923 MHz and a second intermediate-frequency band spanning 35.5-41.5 MHz. A local oscillator generates local oscillations at 958.5 MHz for mixing with signal in the first intermediate-frequency band to generate signal in the second intermediate-frequency band. These local oscillations do not interfere with the aeronautical navigation band or with channel 81 television broadcasting. The second harmonic of sound carrier in the second intermediate-frequency band falls below the 88-108 MHz FM broadcast band.

Abstract: A computer system provides a communication link to a display monitor so as to control the display of not only computer signals but of other signals such as television signals. By providing this link the additional power of the computer can be used to provide a storage of preferred settings for the television/display monitor depending upon signal sources, time of day or the like. This provides a more versatile display. Further data contained within a received data stream such as from a web page or the like may inherently control functions of the television display.

Abstract: Radio receivers for receiving DTV signals, in accordance with the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard, or analog TV, in accordance with the National Television Sub-Committee (NTSC) standard, each use a single first detector for both types of signal. This single first detector supplies its output signals to an intermediate-frequency amplifier chain for DTV signals and to another intermediate-frequency amplifier chain for analog TV signals. The response of the intermediate-frequency amplifier chain for DTV signals is synchrodyned to baseband and supplied to symbol decoding circuitry. The response of the intermediate-frequency amplifier chain for analog TV signals is supplied to a video detector. In some of the radio receivers the sound carrier of the NTSC signal has a separate, further intermediate-frequency amplifier chain. The intermediate-frequency chain for DTV signals comprises an intitial portion which has reverse AGC, a following mixer, and a final portion which also has reverse AGC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compiling a repository of entertainment system data receives entertainment system data, including television program data and software application data, from at least a subset of a plurality of sources. The entertainment system data is then stored in a unitary format for subsequent access by a user.

Abstract: A synchronous control device is disclosed which is capable of obtaining stable synchronization regardless of the kind of image source even when the automatic synchronous control circuit cannot operate in the normal manner.The device includes a phase comparator, an integrator, a horizontal oscillation circuit, and a horizontal synchronous control circuit composed of a frequency measuring section consisting of a digital frequency measuring circuit, etc. and a control section consisting of a frequency determining circuit, an oscillation frequency control circuit, etc. The frequency measuring section measures the input horizontal synchronizing frequency and transfers it to the control section as digital data, and the control section determines the true value of the input synchronizing frequency by the frequency determining circuit while monitoring the transition of the frequency data per unit time.

Abstract: A wireless system includes one or more transmitters and one or more remote receivers that are respectively coupled through one or more users and room ground. The transmitters each produce low-frequency, low power signals that, through capacitive coupling, pass as displacement currents into and from the body of the user, which acts as a conductive node. A receiver that couples capacitively to the user responds to the displacement currents and reproduces the signals. The transmitter includes a signal generator and a pair of electrodes. The signal generator produces modulated signals that vary the voltage between the electrodes, a first one of which is closely coupled capacitively to the user's body such that the "quasi-electrostatic" field resulting from the electrode potential causes a displacement current to pass to the user's body.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for saving and restoring states in an interactive television system. The system presents interactive programs to a user; each program includes one or more states. When a user leaves a state in an interactive program by selecting a second state, the system saves state information sufficient to restore the first state. When the user elects to return to the first state, the system retrieves the state information and uses it to restore the first state; if the first state is not in the same interactive program as the second state, the system terminates the second state's interactive program and launches the first state's interactive program.

Abstract: In order to serve, to each of a plurality of client terminals, programs and data for selecting a video service while considering the memory capacity of the client terminals, client terminals of a video-on-demand system of the invention send information of their memory capacity together with a request for downloading video selection programs to a server station.The server station downloads the video selection programs arranged into MPEG formatted data, step by step according to the memory capacity information and to the result of the program executed in each of the client terminals, providing an excellent graphical user interface making use of an ordinary bi-directional data transmission network.