Abstract: Message formats and apparatus are described that reserve access to a communication medium in a multicast system. A first message, a multicast request-to-send message, includes a duration field having information representing the reserved time for a communication medium, multicast receiver and transmitter address fields, and bits that specifies a destination that is expected to reply to the multicast digital message. The bits that specify a destination can be extended to a plurality of fields that each contain different destination identifiers. Example destination identifiers include association identifiers or media access control addresses. Alternately, the bits that specify a destination can have a first field containing an offset and a second field indicating destinations with respect to the offset. A second message includes a duration field and multicast receiver and transmitter address fields. The second message is used to cancel a data transmission resulting from a multicast request-to-send message.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a dynamic user interface on a second screen control device for controlling the content being displayed on primary viewing screen. The method and system utilizes view context which is based on the content being displayed, additional information, and the type of second screen control device. The view context is then used to generate the user interface on the second screen control device.

Abstract: A method for a system that provides an enhanced content guide includes a controller that receives electronic program guide data and parses the received electronic program guide data to identify a program listed in the electronic program guide and data corresponding to at least one program description attribute for the identified program. At least one external source of content information is searched using the Internet interface for information related to the identified program using the at least one program description attribute. A user interface generator generates an enhanced content guide user interface including the information related to the identified program for display on a display device in response to selection of the identified program in the electronic program guide.

Abstract: A method and system enables sharing content between a plurality of users over a communications network. A link to content that has been shared by a user is selected, the link includes at least one access characteristic defining a set of users able to access the content. A request signal including the at least one access characteristic associated with the content and at least one user characteristic associated with a requesting user over the communications network is transmitted for receipt by an authorization processor. A level of access available is determined for the content by comparing the at least one access characteristic and the at least one user characteristic in the request signal with a source of content specific authentication information including data representing content-specific access levels. Access to the requested content is provided via an internet interface to an output device in accordance with the determined level of access.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying and providing content to a user is described. The method is performed by a controller with an internet interface. A controller receives electronic program guide data, the electronic program guide data being selectively displayed on a primary display device. An attribute processor parses the received electronic program guide data to identify at least one program description attribute for a currently tuned program. A content processor searches the received electronic program guide and detects at least one further program having the identified at least one program description attribute. The content processor identifies the at least one further program as recommended content in step and a user interface generator generates, a user interface display including the recommended content user interface including a user selectable data item representing the recommended content for display on a secondary display device different from the primary display device.

Abstract: A method and system of providing a content guide that identifies a spatial relationship between the elements in the content guide is described. A controller receives electronic program guide data. The received electronic program guide data is parsed to identify a plurality of programs listed in the electronic program guide and data corresponding to at least one program description attribute for the identified programs. A relationship is determined between each identified program based on the at least one program description attribute. At least one cluster is generated and includes at least one of the plurality of identified programs based on the determined relationship. A user interface display processor generates a user interface display image representing a clustered content guide and including the at least one generated cluster enabling the user to view the relationship of the plurality of programs.

Abstract: A method and system of providing access to related content includes a primary display that is tuned to a desired program. Information that identifies the desired program is retrieved from an electronic program guide using a content processor. A plurality of locations on a communication network are automatically searched for additional episodes of the desired program using the retrieved information via an interne interface. Links for accessing the additional episodes of the tune program are provided via a user interface display processor on a secondary display.

Abstract: A method and system including a controller with an internet interface of providing enhanced content is provided. The controller receives an electronic program guide data and retrieves at least one characteristic identifying a program currently being displayed on a primary display device within the electronic program guide. At least one external content source is searched using the internet interface for information related to the program based on the at least one characteristic and the information related to the program obtained during the search is stored into a memory. The information stored in the memory and related to the first program is displayed by a user interface display processor on a second display.

Abstract: An electronic program guide is displayed where the program guide indicates the various media being consumed by a plurality of users. Such users can be linked together via a relationship from a social networking website. In addition, the grid can display broadcast channel listings. The grid optionally provides the feature of adding and removing corresponding user and channel listings.

Abstract: In response to a request for media, a determination is made whether a user should receive the requested media. When the user has the proper content privilege, a content manager will authorize the delivery of such content. Otherwise, alternative content is delivered to the user based on the content privileges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including communicating with neighbor nodes in a wireless network, determining one-hop neighbor nodes and two-hop neighbor nodes responsive to the communication, determining a minimum multipoint relay set responsive to the first working channel determination and communicating over the wireless network using the minimum multipoint relay set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including scanning a channel, generating a report for the scanned channel, transmitting the channel report to an associated access point and receiving a channel assignment responsive to said channel report. Also described are a method and apparatus including scanning a channel, generating a first channel report, receiving a second channel report from an associated client, transmitting the first channel report and the second channel report to a server, receiving a channel assignment message from the server responsive to the first and second channel reports and transmitting the channel assignment message to the associated client. Further described are a method and apparatus including receiving a channel report from an associated access point, building an interference graph responsive to the channel report, determining channel assignments based on the interference graph and transmitting a channel assignment message to the associated access point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including categorizing each channel into one of four categories, selecting a channel from a first category of channels, if there are any channels in the first category of channels, selecting a channel from a second category of channels, if there are any channels in the second category of channels and selecting a channel from a third category of channels, if there are any channels in the third category of channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including receiving, by a transmitter, a report from an associated client, setting and using a downlink transmit power level responsive to the report for data transmissions to the associated client, determining a downlink data loss rate and adjusting the downlink transmit power level responsive to the downlink data loss rate, wherein said report includes received signal strength, client transmit power level and one of link margin and receiver sensitivity. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving, by a receiver, a request for a report, transmitting the requested report, receiving an instruction to use an uplink transmit power level, setting and using the uplink transmit power level, determining an uplink data loss rate and adjusting the uplink transmit power level responsive to the uplink data loss rate, wherein said report includes said received signal strength, client transmit power level and one of said link margin and said receiver sensitivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including multicasting a plurality of data units and multicasting a request for acknowledging receipt of the plurality of data units, receiving signals responsive to the request. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a multicast request to acknowledge receipt of data, determining if a response to the request is required, determining status of the data, preparing the response based on the determining acts and transmitting the response.

Abstract: Message formats and apparatus are described that reserve access to a communication medium in a multicast system. A first message, a multicast request-to-send message, includes a duration field having information representing the reserved time for a communication medium, multicast receiver and transmitter address fields, and bits that specifies a destination that is expected to reply to the multicast digital message. The bits that specify a destination can be extended to a plurality of fields that each contain different destination identifiers. Example destination identifiers include association identifiers or media access control addresses. Alternately, the bits that specify a destination can have a first field containing an offset and a second field indicating destinations with respect to the offset. A second message includes a duration field and multicast receiver and transmitter address fields. The second message is used to cancel a data transmission resulting from a multicast request-to-send message.

Abstract: A signal and apparatus for receiving the signal are described wherein the signal includes a duration field, a multi-cast receiver address field, a transmitter address field, a block acknowledgment request control field, a block acknowledgment request information field and an information field. Also described are a signal and apparatus for transmitting the signal wherein the signal includes a duration field, a multicast receiver address field, a transmitter address field, a block acknowledgment control field and a block acknowledgment information field.

Abstract: Message formats and apparatus are described that serve to reserve access to a communication medium in a multi-cast system. A first message, a multicast request-to-send message, includes a duration field having information representing the reserved time for a communication medium, a multicast receiver address field, a multicast transmitter address field, a field that identifies the number of slots for a clear-to-send response, and a field that identifies the number slots for a not-clear-to-send response. A second message includes a duration field, and a multicast receive address field. The second message has a format that can be used as one of a clear-to-send message in response to a multicast request-to-send message, a cancel-clear-to-send message that cancels a data transmission after the clear-to-send message is sent, and a not-clear-to-send message in response to the multicast request-to-send message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including multicasting a medium reservation message and receiving a response to the medium reservation message. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a medium reservation message, determining if a medium is idle and transmitting a response to the medium reservation message responsive to the determination. Further described are a method and apparatus including receiving a medium reservation message, determining if a received network allocation vector in the medium reservation message has a value greater than a current network allocation vector, determining if transmission over a medium during a time interval is detected and resetting the current network allocation vector responsive to the determination of transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including multicasting a medium reservation message, receiving responses to the medium reservation message and determining if a ratio of the received responses to an expected number of responses exceeds a threshold. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a medium reservation message, determining if the medium reservation message specifies this receiver in a list of receivers from which a response is requested, determining if a medium is idle and transmitting the response to the medium reservation message responsive to the second determination.