Abstract: Various embodiments provide a dual use remote-control device. In one embodiment, a dual use remote-control device may include a first set of input controls such as buttons positioned on a top side of the housing, a second set of input controls positioned on a bottom side of the housing including a QWERTY keyboard and an optical sensor to remotely control movement of a cursor on a display by the optical sensor detecting movement of a user's finger across the optical sensor or movement of the optical sensor across an object such as a table, arm of a chair or user's lap. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Various arrangements that permit temporary subscription porting are presented. A temporary subscription port request may be submitted by a subscriber. The temporary subscription port request may include an identifier of a visitor television receiver and authentication information for the subscriber. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a first command to a home television receiver may be transmitted that disables viewing a first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a second command to the visitor television receiver may be transmitted that enables viewing the first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for improved clickable touchpads are described. An input device includes a touchpad component configured to produce positional information associated with an input object sensed within a sensing region of the touchpad component and to sense a click event produced by the input object within the sensing region. The input device further includes a compensation module communicatively coupled to the touchpad component, the compensation module configured to produce an output that compensates for a change in the positional information due to at least one of movement and deformation of the input object during the click event.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting a picture-in-picture (PIP) window on a television or other display generated by a set-top box (STB) or other video receiver. The picture-in-picture window is presented in conjunction with a navigation feature on the display. A two-dimensional input associated with the navigation feature is received from a remote control having a touchpad or other two-dimensional input device. The picture-in-picture window on the display is appropriately adjusted in response to the two-dimensional input.

Abstract: An indication of user interest of a program of a particular television channel may be identified based on user interaction with a programming guide that displays first content. A selectable icon positioned in association with a descriptor that identifies the particular television channel may be generated in response to identifying the indication of user interest and for display within the programming guide. An interactive pane that identifies at least one particular program that is stored within an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of programs broadcast consecutively on the particular television channel over a predefined period of time may be generated in response to user selection of the selectable icon for display within the programming guide.

Abstract: A receiver provides an EPG. The EPG includes schedule information for content accessible by the receiver from a content provider presented as slots in a grid arranged by time and source. The receiver may determine recorded content is stored and incorporate content information for the recorded content in the EPG. The content information may include one or more portions of the instance of recorded content. The receiver may automatically incorporate the content information or may incorporate such information in response to user input. The receiver may incorporate additional information and/or access recorded content in response to user selection of content information. In some implementations, the recorded content may be recorded as part of an automatic system for recording multiple instances of content received via a multi-frequency signal from a content provider wherein the instances of content are all included in a same frequency and encoded utilizing the same control word.

Abstract: Various arrangements that permit temporary subscription porting are presented. A temporary subscription port request may be submitted by a subscriber. The temporary subscription port request may include an identifier of a visitor television receiver and authentication information for the subscriber. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a first command to a home television receiver may be transmitted that disables viewing a first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a second command to the visitor television receiver may be transmitted that enables viewing the first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account.

Abstract: Various arrangements for outputting a customized video mosaic are presented. Based on received user input, it may be determined that a customized video mosaic is to be output for presentation. A plurality of television channels to be presented as part of the customized video mosaic may be determined. One or more tuners may be tuned based on the determined plurality of television channels to be presented. The plurality of television channels may be output for presentation to a presentation device. Each of these television channels may be presented by the presentation device as live video simultaneously as part of the customized video mosaic.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for graphically controlling numeric, alphanumeric or other symbol-based features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver. A keypad image is presented on the display that includes key images corresponding to the symbol-based features. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates one of the key images, and imagery on the display is updated in response to the received two-dimensional input.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for graphically controlling numeric, alphanumeric or other symbol-based features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver. A keypad image is presented on the display that includes key images corresponding to the symbol-based features. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates one of the key images, and imagery on the display is updated in response to the received two-dimensional input.

Abstract: A remote control system and related method for controlling a video device are presented. The remote control system contains a plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern that correspond to user selectable options displayed on a display screen arranged in the same grid pattern. The user selects options on the screen by pressing the corresponding button on the remote control.

Abstract: A remote control includes a top portion with programming receiver functionality selection members and a bottom portion with a keyboard. The two portions are rotatable between a closed position (where the top portion covers the keyboard) and an open position (where portions of the keyboard project laterally out from under the top portion). When the two portions are in the open position, the selection members and the keyboard share an orientation. The remote control may transmit signals to a programming receiver. The programming receiver may update a display based on signals received from the remote control device. In some implementations, the updated display transmitted by the programming receiver may be based at least in part on a context of a previous display. In various implementations, the remote control may provide indicators to a user. These indicators may be based on signals received from a programming receiver.

Abstract: A receiver determines to transmit an EPG that includes schedule information regarding content available from a provider, determines that content is stored and is not currently available from the provider, incorporates information regarding the stored content in the EPG, and includes indicators indicating that the stored content is stored rather than available from the provider. The stored content may be recorded as part of recording a plurality of content received via a broadcast that are all included in the same frequency band and encoded with the same code word. The EPG may be divided into portions that include information regarding available content and portions that include information regarding previously available content and may include indications of which are stored. The EPG may be configured in a calendar arrangement based at least on the information regarding the available and information regarding when stored content were previously available from the provider.

Abstract: An enhanced electronic program guide (EPG) for television programming may be provided by changing a size of at least a portion of textual information to be displayed in the EPG. In embodiments, a television receiving device may include: a memory configured to store an EPG, the EPG including textual information corresponding to television programs scheduled to be broadcast; a user interface configured to receive user input; and a processor in communication with the memory and the user interface, configured to output the EPG to be displayed with at least one portion of the textual information in a first size in response to first user input received via the user interface, and configured to output the EPG to be displayed with the at least one portion of the textual information in a second size different from the first size in response to a second user input received via the user interface.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein provide methods and apparatus for providing multiple channel recall on a television receiver. A television receiver stores multiple previously viewed channels for selective recall by a user. A television receiver outputs a selection menu that includes a plurality of previously viewed channels. A user selects one of the channels from the selection menu for viewing, and a tuner of the television receiver is commanded to output the selected channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for graphically providing customer service features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver in response to viewer instructions received from a remote control. Imagery including a customer service tile is presented on the display. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates that the tile has been selected, and, in response to the received two-dimensional input, the customer service feature is provided. The customer service feature may provide information received from a remote source via a network, programming connection or other medium.

Abstract: A receiver provides an ERG. The ERG includes schedule information for content accessible by the receiver from a content provider presented as slots in a grid arranged by time and source. The receiver may determine recorded content is stored and incorporate content information for the recorded content in the ERG. The content information may include one or more portions of the instance of recorded content. The receiver may automatically incorporate the content information or may incorporate such information in response to user input. The receiver may incorporate additional information and/or access recorded content in response to user selection of content information. In some implementations, the recorded content may be recorded as part of an automatic system for recording multiple instances of content received via a multi-frequency signal from a content provider wherein the instances of content are all included in a same frequency and encoded utilizing the same control word.

Abstract: A receiver provides an EPG. The EPG includes schedule information for content accessible by the receiver from a content provider presented as slots in a grid arranged by time and source. The receiver may determine recorded content is stored and incorporate content information for the recorded content in the EPG. The content information may include one or more portions of the instance of recorded content. The receiver may automatically incorporate the content information or may incorporate such information in response to user input. The receiver may incorporate additional information and/or access recorded content in response to user selection of content information. In some implementations, the recorded content may be recorded as part of an automatic system for recording multiple instances of content received via a multi-frequency signal from a content provider wherein the instances of content are all included in a same frequency and encoded utilizing the same control word.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein facilitate the display of television guide information to a user simultaneously with supplemental content related to the guide information. An electronic programming guide is initially displayed in first and second portions of a display menu. Responsive to a user selection, the size of the display menu devoted to the electronic programming guide data is modified to free space for the display of supplemental content.