Abstract: A Cable Television (CATV) digital return link system that provides dedicated, high-speed, full-duplex and point-to-point connections between users and the head end system is disclosed. The CATV digital return link system includes return path transmitters, intermediate hubs and a head end hub coupled to each other via a network of fiber optics cables. The return path transmitters are each coupled to a relatively large number of users via a local CATV-subtree. Signals from cable modems are transmitted via the local CATV-subtree to the return path transmitters for transmission to the head end. A number of users are individually and directly connected to the return path transmitters. Data from these directly connected users is transmitted to the head end via the network of fiber optics cables in conjunction with the RF data from the subtree. Likewise, data from the head end to these directly connected users is transmitted in the forward path direction using the digital return link system.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the phase linearity of a network comprises a first local oscillator, a first mixer, and a first filter, a second local oscillator, and a second mixer for mixing the first IF to the desired output frequency. The output of the second mixer is coupled to a second filter which passes the desired frequency band, but rejects the high frequency mixing harmonics produced in the second mixer. The output of the second filter is coupled to a variable gain amplifier capable of amplifying the frequency band of interest to the desired level and a third filter which further rejects unwanted high frequencies in the output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multiplexing a plurality of channels within a multimedia system includes processing that begins by receiving a plurality of channels from a multimedia source. The processing then continues by receiving a plurality of channel selection commands from client modules. The processing continues by selecting a channel of the plurality of channels for each of the channel selection commands to produce selected channels. As such, for each channel selection command, a corresponding channel is selected from the plurality of channels. The processing continues by encoding the selected channels based on a data conveyance protocol (e.g., encoding scheme and/or modulation scheme). The encoded channel data is then conveyed to a plurality of clients.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for efficiently managing video programming services by a provider of video on demand services in response to requests from cable television subscribers. The system is controlled by a multimedia application server. Upon receipt of a request, the multimedia application server searches for the most appropriate means of satisfying the request. If the requested program is already being provided, the streaming occurs from the same video server, if capacity is available. If the program already exists in streamable form, it is streamed from that location. If the requested program must be transferred to video server memory, the available space is found to accommodate the transfer or existing programming is swapped out.

Abstract: A satellite broadcast receiver comprises an antenna, a tuner, a modulator, a FEC decoder, a microprocessor, and an antenna driver. The antenna receives the satellite signal and the tuner tunes the satellite signal received by the antenna, and the modulator modulates the satellite signal tuned by the tuner into digital signal, the FEC decoder corrects a position error of the satellite antenna using the signal modulated by the modulator, and outputs a corresponding output signal, and the microprocessor receives the signal modulated by the modulator and the output signal of the error corrector, and outputs a control signal which controls the position of the antenna, and the antenna driver drives the antenna in accordance with the control signal of the microprocessor. The satellite broadcast receiver enables a user to detect satellites fast and see satellite broadcast conveniently.

Abstract: A switch router and one or more gateways incorporating a diagnostic and calibration system that performs RF characterization of an underlying cable plant. The switch router is connected at a point of insertion or point of distribution and each gateway is located downstream, such as at corresponding subscriber locations. The switch router and each gateway sends a test signal with known characteristics and power level, and the receiving device determines noise level and power loss for the corresponding downstream and upstream channel pair. The power loss information is used to calibrate the power level of the transmitters. The noise levels are used to determine if the selected modulation schemes employed for normal communications is realizable. A frequency analysis, such as FFT or the like, is performed on the upstream test signal spectrum to derive valuable frequency information for the upstream channel or the entire upstream bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to automatically set-up an electronic device having multiple user-controllable functionalities is provided by an arrangement that provides an interactive menu to a user. The user interacts with the menu to select and set a functionality to a desired setting. The automatic set-up arrangement receives a set-up command corresponding to the menu choice and transmits the set-up command to the electronic device in the form of an IR beam. The IR beam containing the set-up command is used to set the user-controllable functionality of the electronic device to the selected setting.

Abstract: A device for reading or writing on optical recording media with disk type recognition capability has an optical scanning device and a focus regulating circuit. The object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which can reliably recognize in a short time the type of the recording medium inserted into the device. Another object of the invention is to provide a corresponding process. These objects are attained in that the disk type recognition capability includes a mirror signal generator, a threshold value generator, a counter and an evaluation unit. The process is based on the utilization of a mirror-signal value of the device for disk type recognition.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention provides a direct-to-home integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) and a program for storing and displaying digital objects associated with an electronic television program guide using fuzzy logic. The method and apparatus maintains and adapts a user profile in order to efficiently select digital objects associated with an electronic program guide. The fuzzy logic based user profile may be used to select digital program guide objects for deletion from memory and/or to efficiently select digital program guide objects for display in an electronic program guide. Selection is based on fuzzy variables associated with the objects. In this manner, memory requirements and the number of programs displayed are reduced to decrease cost and reduce the amount of time a user must spend viewing the program guide.

Abstract: Efficient messaging techniques that facilitate interactive program guide (IPG) delivery and allow a terminal to specifically designate requested items of information from a server. The IPG can be provided via a number of IPG pages, with each page including a number of defined regions. In one method, selection for a particular region of a particular page is received at a terminal and a determination is made whether the selected region is currently received. If the answer is no, a request for the selected region is generated and sent to a server. The request can conform to a particular message format that includes a number of fields, e.g., a region ID field that identifies the selected region, a subtype field that identifies a particular type, a time slot field that identifies a specific time slot, and a page offset field that identifies a specific page from among many.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying advertisements. The advertisements are displayed on a television having a controlled connected thereto and configured for receiving commands from a viewer of the television. The method includes displaying a first advertisement on the television, receiving a command from the viewer of the television to display a second advertisement, the second advertisement being a variant of the first advertisement, and displaying the second advertisement on the television.

Abstract: An information providing system allows to intentionally modify the arrangement of clips to be reproduced from that of the first transmission. The program clips and the CM clips obtained by receiving those broadcast are stored in recorded result storage section 11 and rearrangement examining section 15 carries out a processing operation of comparing the attributes of each of the clips and the applicable profile data generated by applicable profile generating section 14. Then, the sequence of reproducing the contents clips is modified on the basis of the result of the processing operation and download operating section 16 downloads the contents clips to be added on an on-demand basis. Then, the final arrangement section 17 rearranges the sequence of reproducing the contents clips including those to be added to set up the final arrangement.

Abstract: A head mounted display in a video/audio system includes a display device, a head mount, noise reduction devices, and a speaker. The display device is coupled to the head mount and produces visual images based on received video signals. The head mount is mounted on the user's head and is coupled to the noise reduction devices, which cover the user's ears such that external noise is reduced. The noise reduction devices are coupled together via a strap that fits around the user head. The noise reduction devices are coupled to and house speakers that produce sound signals based on received audio signals. As a result, the user may see the video images produced by the display device and clearly hear the sounds produced by the speaker, and the external noise heard by the user is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system of providing broadcast informations, comprising: a receiving processing unit for receiving both program and advertisement informations broadcasted and for extracting only the advertisement information therefrom; a reproducing unit being connected to the receiving processing unit for fetching both the program and advertisement informations from the receiving processing unit and for re-producing both the program and advertisement informations; an accumulating unit being connected to the receiving processing unit for fetching only the extracted advertisement information from the receiving processing unit and for accumulating the advertisement information; and a control unit being operable by an operator and being connected to both the accumulating unit and the reproducing unit for fetching at least operator-selected one of the accumulated advertisement informations from the accumulating unit and for transferring the at least operator-selected advertisement information to t

Abstract: A wireless communications system comprises a first splitter separating at least two signals, a wireless circuit for processing a first signal as a wireless signal and a combiner connected to the wireless circuit and the splitter, combining the two signals and transmitting the signals into a service area. The wireless communications system further comprises a second splitter separating the wireless signal from a second signal, and a transmitter for broadcasting the wireless signal.

Abstract: In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, a broadcast program stream is transmitted to broadcast programming content, and the broadcast program stream is recorded in a headend of the system to enable a user to perform network private video recorder (NPVR) functions (e.g., rewinding, pausing, and fast-forwarding) on the programming content in the recorded program stream. In accordance with the invention, a delay is introduced into the transmission of the broadcast program stream to reduce the unsynchronization between its transmission and that of the recorded program stream. In an illustrative embodiment, the amount of the delay is a function of the time required for recording the broadcast program stream and processing a user request for a recorded program stream. In another embodiment, the amount of the delay is predetermined.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting interactive and non-interactive media content to a client computer over a computer network. The system can combine discrete, continuous and interactive media into a single scene that is presented to the client computer. The system allows the presentation to be highly configurable and may therefore customize the presentation for a specific user. User profile information may be stored in an repository associated with the system. This information may be used to customize the presentation to suit the specific needs of a user or to notify the user when a presentation of interest to the user is available. Furthermore, information about a user's interaction with a particular presentation may be stored in the repository so that a presentation can adapt “on-the-fly” to suit the specific needs of a user. In addition, information regarding web services that are available on the Internet may be integrated with other interactive content in a presentation that is provided to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services and for the sharing of digital images without the need of a computer. In particular a cable set top box and cable communication network is used for communication with third parties, including image service providers.

Abstract: An interactive television broadcast system comprises a source for broadcasting a plurality of television channels and data. A plurality of remote receiving units, each include a tuner to enable the unit to be tuned to receive a selected TV channel broadcast by the source, a processor responsive to data received from the source to determine the channel to which the unit is tuned, and a transmitter for sending information relating to the channel to which the unit is tuned to a common data collector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method that provides rate controlled insertion of asynchronous data into a synchronous stream in a broadcast system. A calculation of the transmission time for an asynchronous data file is determined from the file size, available data transfer rate, redundancy transmission factor, bandwidth scale factor and connect time latency. Transmission time may be employed to schedule transmission of asynchronous data for use at a predetermined time. Transmission time for multiple files may be combined to determine a transmission start time for a first file such that a last asynchronous file is transmitted by a predetermined time.