Abstract: A gateway apparatus is capable of distributing signals such as audio, video, and/or data signals in a household and/or business dwelling using the existing coaxial cable infrastructure, and the signal distribution is controlled using the coaxial cable infrastructure as a back channel. According to an exemplary embodiment, the gateway apparatus includes signal processing elements for receiving signals from a broadcast source and processing the received signals to generate processed analog signals. A back channel demodulator receives a request signal from a client device via a coaxial cable connecting the gateway apparatus and the client device. The processed analog signals are provided to the client device via the coaxial cable responsive to the request signal.

Abstract: A home satellite system includes a satellite antenna for receiving satellite broadcast video signals, and a satellite receiver that can provide the broadcast video signals to a first television directly coupled to the satellite receiver, to a second television via a in-house coaxial cable, and to a third television through a wireless network. The channel displayed in each television can be individually tuned. The satellite receiver further provides a call back link, which is shared by all the televisions, to a video source for billing or other purposes.

Abstract: A gateway apparatus is capable of distributing audio, video, and/or data signals in a household and/or business dwelling using the existing coaxial cable infrastructure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the gateway apparatus includes signal processing elements which receive signals from a satellite source and process the received signals to generate analog signals corresponding to a desired satellite transponder. A controller enables generation of the analog signals responsive to a request signal. The analog signals are provided to a client device via a coaxial cable connecting the gateway apparatus and the client device.

Abstract: Content protection for digital recording may be provided through the use of digital keys that are unique to specific devices and/or to devices associated with specific household and/or business dwellings. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for enabling digital recording using a signal receiving apparatus and a digital recording apparatus is provided. The method includes steps of receiving a digital key unique to the signal receiving apparatus, receiving broadcast signals, encrypting the broadcast signals using the digital key to generate encrypted digital data, and providing the encrypted digital data to the digital recording apparatus.

Abstract: A server apparatus is capable of distributing audio, video, and/or data signals in a household and/or business dwelling using the existing coaxial cable infrastructure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the server apparatus includes a receiving element operative to receive signals from a broadcast source. First processing elements generate first analog signals responsive to the received signals. Second processing elements generate second analog signals responsive to the received signals. The first analog signals are provided to a first dent device via a coaxial cable connecting the server apparatus and the first client device. The second analog signals are provided to a second client device via the coaxial cable connecting the server apparatus and the second client device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for transferring a received media object to remote devices in accordance to attributes in a user profile. The profile information additionally determinates the versions of the media object that are available to such remote devices and whether the media object may be stored in such remote devices.

Abstract: A server apparatus is capable of distributing recorded content in a household and/or business dwelling using the existing coaxial cable infrastructure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the server apparatus includes a front-end processor operative to receive signals from a broadcast source and process the received signals to generate digital data. A memory is operative to record the digital data. A controller is operative to enable retrieval of the digital data from the memory. An encoder is operative to encode the retrieved digital data with error correction data to generate encoded digital signals. A digital-to-analog converter is operative to convert the encoded digital signals to analog signals. A modulator is operative to modulate the analog signals to generate processed analog signals, which are provided to a client device via a coaxial cable connecting the server apparatus and the client device.

Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.