Abstract: Embodiments of methods to securely bind a disk cache encryption key to a cache device are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for processing broadcasts comprises receiving a broadcast of the program containing a plurality of perspectives of the program and presenting at least one of the plurality of perspectives to a viewer. The method further includes automatically recording the plurality of perspectives in a storage device and playing alternate recorded perspectives for the viewer without interrupting the recording of the broadcast. A system for recording a broadcast containing a plurality of perspectives of a program is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming.

Abstract: A generic data processing engine is operable to receive a format definition and process data formatted according to the definition, without use of formatting information in the data. The format definition includes a description of the syntax of the format, and a description of the semantics of the format. The syntax and semantics may be described in the same language or in different languages, and the engine is configured to produce an internal representation of the syntax and semantics. The engine receives queries and uses them together with the internal representation to set masks for the filters. The filters apply the masks to the data and return filtered data to the engine, which may forward a portion of the filtered data to applications, store a portion of the filtered data, set new masks based on a portion of the filtered data, or modify the existing masks based on a portion of the filtered data. The filters may also be configured to return filtered data directly to applications, bypassing the engine.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods to securely bind a disk cache encryption key to a cache device are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the number of writes in a non-volatile memory (122). The method involves writing data in the non-volatile memory and determining a set of data from the data in the non-volatile memory to be written to a removable memory (126) that is operatively coupled to the non-volatile memory (e.g., a NAND memory). The method also involves writing the set of data to the removable memory (e.g., a hard disk) from the non-volatile memory. The method further involves writing a delineation marker (e.g., a sequence number) to the non-volatile memory specifying that the set of data has been written to the removable memory. Notably, the metadata of the data in the non-volatile memory comprises at least one marker set as a specific marker type (e.g., a valid marker and a dirty marker).

Abstract: A method and mechanism for enabling the creation and/or control of interactive television content using declarative-like directives such as HTML, scripting languages, or other languages. A a centrally located proxy server is configured to receive, transcode and convey transcoded web based content to client devices. Upon detecting directives which indicate particular resources required for a presentation are prerequisites, the proxy server conveys signals to a client device that these particular resources are prerequisites. In response to receiving the conveyed signals, the client device may take actions to prefetch these resources. The client device is further configured to prohibit initiation of the presentation until the prerequisite resources are acquired.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for enabling the creation and/or control of interactive television content using declarative-like directives such as HTML, scripting languages, or other languages. A a centrally located proxy server is configured to receive, transcode and convey transcoded web based content to client devices. Upon detecting directives which indicate particular resources required for a presentation are prerequisites, the proxy server conveys signals to a client device that these particular resources are prerequisites. In response to receiving the conveyed signals, the client device may take actions to prefetch these resources. The client device is further configured to prohibit initiation of the presentation until the prerequisite resources are acquired.

Abstract: A method and system for incorporating previously broadcast content into a program recording. The method includes receiving a broadcast containing a program and automatically recording the broadcast at the start of the program to store a first portion of the program in a first storage area. Space is allocated within a second storage area after the start of the program upon receiving a record command from a viewer. A second portion of the program is recorded in the allocated space of the second storage area and the first and second portions of the program are combined within the second storage area to create a recording of the program.

Abstract: A method for processing broadcasts comprises receiving a broadcast of the program containing a plurality of perspectives of the program and presenting at least one of the plurality of perspectives to a viewer. The method further includes automatically recording the plurality of perspectives in a storage device and playing alternate recorded perspectives for the viewer without interrupting the recording of the broadcast. A system for recording a broadcast containing a plurality of perspectives of a program is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for managing resources in a receiving device. A privileged application-level resource advisor may be included in individual receivers which are manufactured by different hardware manufacturers, each possibly having different resources, and each possibly running operating systems and/or middleware written by different vendors. The advisor is configured to communicate with the middleware and/or operating system of a receiving device in order to affect resource usage. Subsequent to detecting a resource contention problem, the resource advisor may determine how to resolve the contention problem. Subsequent to being authenticated by the middleware and/or operating system, the resource advisor may then affect the resolution by itself, or it may affect the resolution by providing input to the operating system, middleware, or other resource managing component of the IRD.

Abstract: A generic data processing engine is operable to receive a format definition and process data formatted according to the definition, without use of formatting information in the data. The format definition includes a description of the syntax of the format, and a description of the semantics of the format. The syntax and semantics may be described in the same language or in different languages, and the engine is configured to produce an internal representation of the syntax and semantics. The engine receives queries and uses them together with the internal representation to set masks for the filters. The filters apply the masks to the data and return filtered data to the engine, which may forward a portion of the filtered data to applications, store a portion of the filtered data, set new masks based on a portion of the filtered data, or modify the existing masks based on a portion of the filtered data. The filters may also be configured to return filtered data directly to applications, bypassing the engine.