Abstract: A method to create interactivity between a main device and a secondary device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for processing user interface content. For example, a server computer can receive a user interface event corresponding to a user interface of a device (e.g., a client device, another server computer, or other device). An application associated with the user interface event can be determined, and an interface model can be generated using the application associated with the user interface event. The interface model defines state information for one or more graphic objects of the user interface. The state information results from the user interface event. The server computer can send the interface model to the device, which enables the device to render the user interface.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for processing user interface content. For example, a server computer can receive a user interface event corresponding to a user interface of a device (e.g., a client device, another server computer, or other device). An application associated with the user interface event can be determined, and an interface model 5 can be generated using the application associated with the user interface event. The interface model defines state information for one or more graphic objects of the user interface. The state information results from the user interface event. The server computer can send the interface model to the device, which enables the device to render the user interface.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for processing user interface content. For example, a server computer can receive a user interface event corresponding to a user interface of a device (e.g., a client device, another server computer, or other device). An application associated with the user interface evet can be determined, and an interface model 5 can be generated using the application associated with the user interface evet. The interface model defines state information for one or more graphic objects of the user interface. The state information results from the user interface event. The server computer can send the interface model to the device, which enables the device to render the user interface.

Abstract: A method to create interactivity between a main device and a secondary device.

Abstract: A method to create interactivity between a main device and a secondary device.

Abstract: A service gateway provides a proxy between a client protocol and a plurality of standard communication protocols. The service gateway provides asymmetrical routing, data compression and encryption to optimize client processing power and communication link bandwidth. The service gateway enables content translation between clients and service providers. The service gateway keeps track of client available memory and sequence numbers in messages to generate error codes when applicable. A store and forward message capability is provided along with abstract session identifiers. The service gateway supports user datagram protocol.

Abstract: A method to create interactivity between a main device and a secondary device.

Abstract: A physical device, the possession of which may provide access to digital media content in a fashion similar to the possession of a DVD providing access to the media content stored thereupon on a suitable DVD player. The possession of the physical device grants access to digital content stored on a remote server using a suitable device such as e.g., a set-top box or media player having Internet connectivity. The physical device provides for convenient and possibly anonymous access to content stored on a remote server and has certain advantages over known techniques for storing rights to access the content.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications, that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In one example, a media content item is played for presentation to the user. An interactive application associated with the media content item is available for interaction by a user during the playing of the media content item. During the playing of the media content item, a first indication that the user is interacting with the interactive application is received. In response to the first indication, the playing of the media content item is suspended. During the suspending of the playing of the media content item, a second indication that the user has stopped interacting with the interactive application is received. In response to the second indication, the playing of the media content item is resumed.

Abstract: A system and method for remote maintenance of user units allows efficient diagnosis of failures in a reduced time. Each user unit transmits to a management server, via a network, state data related to hardware and software parameters associated to an operating mode of the user unit. The method includes: storing state data in a user unit memory, monitoring state data stored in the memory, and detecting at least one datum of a state indicating an operational failure of the user unit. When a failure is detected, state data corresponding to current states of the user unit at the moment of the failure and state data corresponding to states stored during a predetermined period before the failure are extracted and transmitted to the management server which determines a statistic correlation coefficient between the values of each state of a user unit and the values of states of other user units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a variable compression factor to an incoming video stream in an STB. An increased amount of video may be stored within a PVR or disk on a STB by reducing the data storage requirements of incoming video based on available storage space and the type and size of the incoming video bit stream. Included are real time compression, or reduction in storage space requirements, by various data reduction methodologies including removing bits from the incoming video stream to reduce the amount of storage required to store the video stream. A background data reduction or compression technique is also provided wherein the incoming video stream is stored and data is reduced or further compressed at a later time to reduce data storage requirements.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for the transmission and reception of targeted content. Using the systems and methods, a wide variety of different types of content can be targeted to a single client or a group of clients. The methods and systems utilize action handlers to handle different types of content. Further, the system can distribute packets with different rates depending on their priority.

Abstract: A physical device, the possession of which may provide access to digital media content in a fashion similar to the possession of a DVD providing access to the media content stored thereupon on a suitable DVD player. The possession of the physical device grants access to digital content stored on a remote server using a suitable device such as e.g., a set-top box or media player having Internet connectivity. The physical device provides for convenient and possibly anonymous access to content stored on a remote server and has certain advantages over known techniques for storing rights to access the content.

Abstract: A physical device, the possession of which may provide access to digital media content in a fashion similar to the possession of a DVD providing access to the media content stored thereupon on a suitable DVD player. The possession of the physical device grants access to digital content stored on a remote server using a suitable device such as e.g., a set-top box or media player having Internet connectivity. The physical device provides for convenient and possibly anonymous access to content stored on a remote server and has certain advantages over known techniques for storing rights to access the content.

Abstract: A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a variable compression factor to an incoming video stream in an STB. An increased amount of video may be stored within a PVR or disk on a STB by reducing the data storage requirements of incoming video based on available storage space and the type and size of the incoming video bit stream. Included are real time compression, or reduction in storage space requirements, by various data reduction methodologies including removing bits from the incoming video stream to reduce the amount of storage required to store the video stream. A background data reduction or compression technique is also provided wherein the incoming video stream is stored and data is reduced or further compressed at a later time to reduce data storage requirements.