Abstract: A satellite transponder switch (STS) maintains a table that maps set-top boxes (STBs) to carrier frequencies. The STS receives a first request from a first STB for a first transponder band and a second request from a second STB for a second transponder band. The STS receives contact from the first STB on a control channel upon power-up of the first STB and in response to the contact from the first STB, assigns a first carrier frequency to the first STB. The STS frequency shifts the first transponder band to a first carrier frequency assigned to the first STB and the second transponder band to a second carrier frequency assigned to the second STB. The STS outputs a signal that comprises the frequency-shifted first and second transponder bands to the first STB and the second STB. The frequency-shifted first and second transponder bands are separated by a separation band. A first carrier frequency of the signal is unique to the first STB and a second carrier frequency of the signal is unique to the second STB.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box (STB) having a controller to manage power distribution in the STB from power supplied by a port of a presentation device, decode audio-visual information into a presentation format, and transmit a signal to the presentation device containing decoded audio-visual information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a signal-processing engine configured to generate a video data stream including a plurality of data packets based on a received video signal. A first subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of content having a first quality and all of the plurality of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having a second quality. The second quality is higher than the first quality. The signal-processing engine is further configured to distinguish the first subset of the plurality of data packets from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by applying a tag to particular data packets to form tagged data packets. The system also includes a transmitter coupled to the signal-processing engine and configured to transmit the plurality of data packets of the video data stream.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a centralized broadband gateway for a wireless communication system, including: a router/gateway module which receives encoded compressed audio/video (A/V) streams and distributes the encoded compressed audio/video A/V streams; multiple audio/video decoders which receive the encoded compressed A/V streams from the a router/gateway module, decode the encoded compressed A/V streams, and output uncompressed A/V streams; and an integrated Wireless High Definition Multimedia Interface (WHDMI) which receives the uncompressed A/V streams from the multiple audio/video decoders and transmits the uncompressed A/V streams wirelessly to media devices, without deploying individual media processors at each media device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for maintaining a quality video stream in Internet Protocol (IP) mode include dynamically adjusting IP packet-loss periods and loss distances between IP packet-loss events.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a unified video data stream for diverse receiving platforms. In some embodiments, the unified data stream can provide video data to multiple receiving devices with diverse video data input requirements. The communication system can include a digitizer that converts an analog video to a high resolution (HR) digital video signal. The communication system can also include a signal processing engine that receives the HR digital video signal, compress the video signal, creates video packets from the compressed signal, and identifies at least a portion of the video packets for distribution to lower resolution devices. The HR data stream can be sent to high resolution devices wherein the identified packets can be “copied” from the HR data stream and sent to devices having lower resolution requirements.

Abstract: A satellite transponder switch (STS) maintains a table that maps set-top boxes (STBs) to carrier frequencies. The STS receives a first request from a first STB for a first transponder band and a second request from a second STB for a second transponder band. The STS receives contact from the first STB on a control channel upon power-up of the first STB and in response to the contact from the first STB, assigns a first carrier frequency to the first STB. The STS frequency shifts the first transponder band to a first carrier frequency assigned to the first STB and the second transponder band to a second carrier frequency assigned to the second STB. The STS outputs a signal that comprises the frequency-shifted first and second transponder bands to the first STB and the second STB. The frequency-shifted first and second transponder bands are separated by a separation band. A first carrier frequency of the signal is unique to the first STB and a second carrier frequency of the signal is unique to the second STB.

Abstract: A communications gateway can be used to provide communications services from a communications service provide to electronic devices within a structure. Signals can be transmitted from the communications gateways to the electronic devices over a plurality of different types of wireline media. The communications gateway can allow communication services using a wireline medium (e.g., a set of twisted pair wires) to be transmitted within the structure by taking advantage of existing wireline media (e.g., CAT3 cable, coaxial cable, power lines, etc.).

Abstract: A device that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to provide low loss connectivity to a plurality of coaxial ports over a broadband range of frequencies in a coaxial network providing Ethernet networking, detune secondary coaxial splitters in the coaxial network that reduces an output-to-output isolation loss among secondary coaxial splitter output ports, and enable re-distribution of modulated radio frequency video signals from a point on the coaxial network to any alternative point on the coaxial network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A satellite transponder switch (STS) maintains a table that maps set-top boxes (STBs) to carrier frequencies. The STS receives a first request from a first STB for a first transponder band and a second request from a second STB for a second transponder band. The STS accesses a first satellite feed and polarity based on the first request, and a second satellite feed and polarity based on the second request. The STS band-pass filters the first and second transponder bands from the first and second satellite feed and polarity, respectively. The STS frequency shifts the first transponder band to a first carrier frequency assigned to the first STB and the second transponder band to a second carrier frequency assigned to the second STB. The STS outputs a signal that comprises the frequency-shifted first and second transponder bands to the first STB and the second STB.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a transcoder module having a controller to manage power distribution in the transcoder module from power supplied to an HDMI port of the transcoder module, transcode audio-visual information into a digital compatible format used on an external device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box (STB) having a controller to manage power distribution in the STB from power supplied by a port of a presentation device, decode audio-visual information into a presentation format, and transmit a signal to the presentation device containing decoded audio-visual information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A set-top box (STB) of a television system receives web-based content, such as a web page, from a wide area network such as the Internet. The web-based content is provided to the STB for display. In response to an instruction, the STB provides all or a portion of the web-based content to a printer for printing. The printer can be connected to the STB via a network or through a computer connected to the STB on the same network. By providing an option to print the web-based content, the usefulness of the content is enhanced.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for maintaining a quality video stream in Internet Protocol (IP) mode include dynamically adjusting IP packet-loss periods and loss distances between IP packet-loss events.

Abstract: A broadcast overlay network has a ring topology to carry broadcast traffic from a head-end network. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) has a network interface in communication with the broadcast overlay network. The DSLAM is to receive a request for a particular video channel from a customer premise via a line interface and to deliver the particular video channel from the network interface to the line interface.

Abstract: A broadcast overlay network has a ring topology to carry broadcast traffic from a head-end network. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) has a network interface in communication with the broadcast overlay network. The DSLAM is to receive a request for a particular video channel from a customer premise via a line interface and to deliver the particular video channel from the network interface to the line interface.

Abstract: A digital display monitor module (DDMM) has a display device to display video provided thereto. An interactive network module (INM) removably interfaces with the DDMM to provide the video signals to the DDMM. The INM comprises an input interface and a programmable conditional access system (PCAS) to enable conditional access to at least one premium television service received by the input interface. The PCAS is programmable by at least two different service providers.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising a first lens for focusing a first image, a second lens for focusing a second image, a first sensor for converting a light intensity and color pattern of the first image into a first electrical signal, a second sensor for converting a light intensity and color pattern of the second image into a second electrical signal, a processing unit for processing the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal and a switch for selectively coupling either the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal to the processing unit.