Abstract: Systems and methods for continuously and selectively recording a repeating program to provide a viewer instant access to a recent version of the repeating program without having to wait until the next start time, and to allow the viewer to only view the specific segments of the repeating program that the viewer desires to watch. Programming information used to control the recording of the repeating programs is obtained from an electronic programming guide (“EPG”). Alternatively, the programming information, such as information relating to emergency warnings, is not scheduled and thus is not included in a programming guide. Repeating programs may be divided into segments and an overlay may be used to allow a viewer to quickly and easily view a segment of interest. The recording can be performed by home entertainment systems that include one tuner or systems that include multiple tuners.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying fragments of one or more programs that are related and are scheduled to be aired at discrete times, and for automatically and sequentially recording each of the fragments so that a collection of the fragments is made available to the viewer. The fragments are preferably identified through the used of electronic program guide data. A recording system automatically records each fragment as it airs to provide the viewer with a collection of fragments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing the use and availability of storage space in a video data recording system. An intelligent disk recording and management system selectively assigns tags to determine the manner and/or priority of recording programs onto a storage device and the priority of maintaining the programs on the storage device once the programs are recorded. The tags are automatically assigned based on known user preferences or are assigned by the viewer, and can be modified once a program is replayed. The tags allow the system to automatically determine whether or not to record over a previously recorded program and which previously recorded program to record over so as to allow the storage device to be more efficiently and optimally used. The system further includes an interface that provides improved assistance and explanations that relate to the recording of programs and the maintaining of the recorded programs on the storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording a channel included in programming content without degrading or lessening the quality of the channel. Programming content is received at a set top box where a tuner is used to tune a group of channels included in the programming content. A transport is used to demultiplex the group of channels such that the channel to be recorded is produced. Instead of being decoded, the channel is directed to a storage medium where it is recorded in a digital form. The channel is not degraded because it has not been converted to an analog equivalent and re-encoded. The channel is stored as it was received by the tuner. Because the tuner may be used to record a channel, the set top box may either display the channel being recorded by simultaneously decoding the channel or the set top box has the option of retrieving a previously recorded channel that is subsequently decoded and displayed to a user.

Abstract: A development environment and method is provided in which a first computer system is used to develop an application for execution in a second computer system--such as a pen-based computer--having a graphical user interface. The first computer system also has a graphical user interface that can display (1) a palette containing lists and/or buttons of "components" representing graphical interface elements such as slide bars, dialog boxes, buttons, check boxes, icons, menus, etc., (2) a layout window corresponding a display screen of the second computer and containing "views" of selected palette components and (3) a browser allowing the views to be edited graphically. To develop an application, the user creates views on the layout window by (1) selecting a component from the palette and (2) drawing a border for the view in the layout window. Each view so created represents a "template" which is a frame object having a plurality of "slots" which may be edited in a slot editor area of the browser.

Abstract: A scanning method for receiving a signal in a frequency hopped communication system that transmits a packet having N segments that are encoded with an error correction code that allows recovery of a packet even if e segments are erasures. A receiving station continuously scans the first p (1.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.e+1) channels, testing each channel for the existence of a transmission. If detected, a segment is received, and then the receiving station sequences through the remaining channels, receiving the segments if possible, and then applying error correction to the complete transmission. This technique of scanning the first several channels, receiving the first unimpaired segment, and thereby gaining the ability to recover all unimpaired segments enables the full theoretical power of a coded, slow frequency hopped system to be realized.