Abstract: A method of reducing channel scan time is achieved by knowing important location information such a zip code. This allows a locally stored database of available broadcast channels to be used to skip unused frequencies and to allow finding the direction of the most likely broadcast station. Once one active channel is located, it is possible to calculate the most likely direction to search for the remaining active channels in the data base using a smart antenna.

Abstract: A system and method for updating computer software in a television receiver uses digital data encoded in a television signal recorded on a video tape or digital versatile disk (DVD). The system receives the television signal and extracts the data representing the computer software from it. The system checks the extracted data and, if it is determined to be complete and correct, uses the extracted data to update the computer software in the television receiver. The digital data may be recorded as TELETEXT data, extended data services (XDS) data or closed-caption data. The system and method can control the video tape or DVD player under control of the program to customize the software or to select specific software responsive to user commands.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and replaying telephone audio messages containing DTMF tones includes a DTMF decoder that senses and decodes the DTMF tones into text and stores the text with the audio message in a storage device. The apparatus also includes a text-to-speech converter that converts the text representations of the DTMF tones to spoken words. The spoken words may replace the DTMF tones in the stored audio messages. The apparatus can initiate a telephone call by replaying the stored DTMF tones or by converting the stored text into DTMF tones. The apparatus is implemented as a part of a integrated receiver decoder (IRD) set-top box. A display device coupled to the IRD set-top box displays the text numbers while the audio messages are replayed using audio circuitry coupled to the set-top box.