Abstract: A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.

Abstract: A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.

Abstract: A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.

Abstract: A viewer interface for a content delivery system is described. In one embodiment, a method for displaying programming content described. This method, occurring in a receiver controller, includes receiving a user identification from an user interface device; in response to the user identification, activating an interactive graphical display personalized for a viewer identified by the user identification; and displaying, in the interactive graphical display, a menu of programming content that can be personalized for the viewer according to the viewer's viewing preferences, wherein the programming content can be received from at least one of a broadcast transmission and unicast transmission. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for programming content reconstruction in a content delivery system are described. In one embodiment, a method to repair programming content at a receiver controller includes receiving a programming content on the receiver controller from a broadcast transmission; identifying, if present, a portion of the programming content received on the receiver controller that is corrupted; determining in a broadband network, other servers and receiver controllers connected to the broadband network that have an uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content; sending a request to one of the other servers and receiver controllers for the uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content and receiving the uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content from the one of the other servers and receiver controllers. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a remote control for interacting with a video programming system are described. In some embodiments, a remote control unit for an intelligent video programming system having user-dedicated buttons, biometric identification systems, mechanical identification systems, electromechanical identification systems, or voice-activation identification systems on the remote control unit to allow a user to self-identify that user to the intelligent video programming system. Upon pressing this user-dedicated button or otherwise activating a self-identification system on the remote control unit, content personalized for that user is presented and the user's navigational behavior is tracked to further the presentation of personalized content for that user. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.

Abstract: A viewer interface for a content delivery system is described. In one embodiment, a method for displaying programming content described. This method, occurring in a receiver controller, includes receiving a user identification from an user interface device; in response to the user identification, activating an interactive graphical display personalized for a viewer identified by the user identification; and displaying, in the interactive graphical display, a menu of programming content that can be personalized for the viewer according to the viewer's viewing preferences, wherein the programming content can be received from at least one of a broadcast transmission and unicast transmission. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a remote control for interacting with a video programming system are described. In some embodiments, a remote control unit for an intelligent video programming system having user-dedicated buttons, biometric identification systems, mechanical identification systems, electromechanical identification systems, or voice-activation identification systems on the remote control unit to allow a user to self-identify that user to the intelligent video programming system. Upon pressing this user-dedicated button or otherwise activating a self-identification system on the remote control unit, content personalized for that user is presented and the user's navigational behavior is tracked to further the presentation of personalized content for that user. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a photolithography mask for defects is provided. The inspection method comprises providing a defect area image to an image simulator wherein the defect area image is an image of a portion of a photolithography mask, and providing a set of lithography parameters as a second input to the image simulator. The defect area image may be provided by an inspection tool which scans the photolithography mask for defects using a high resolution microscope and captures images of areas of the mask around identified potential defects. The image simulator generates a first simulated image in response to the defect area image and the set of lithography parameters. The first simulated image is a simulation of an image which would be printed on a wafer if the wafer were to be exposed to an illumination source directed through the portion of the mask.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for programming content reconstruction in a content delivery system are described. In one embodiment, a method to repair programming content at a receiver controller includes receiving a programming content on the receiver controller from a broadcast transmission; identifying, if present, a portion of the programming content received on the receiver controller that is corrupted; determining in a broadband network, other servers and receiver controllers connected to the broadband network that have an uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content; sending a request to one of the other servers and receiver controllers for the uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content; and receiving the uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content from the one of the other servers and receiver controllers. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A networked antenna transport system unit receiving at least broadcast transmissions is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus for redirecting content includes an antenna element array for receiving content from a broadcast transmission. This antenna element array is coupled to receiver electronics via an amplifier and a switch for processing the received content; the receiver electronics is further coupled to a sender module which is remotely coupled to a receiver module in a receiver controller via a local area network; and the sender module is configured to transmit the processed received content via the local area network to the receiver module in the receiver controller for storage and selective display on a display device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an operation on hierarchically described integrated circuit layouts such that the original hierarchy of the layout is maintained is provided. The method comprises providing a hierarchically described layout as a first input and providing a particular set of operating criteria corresponding to the operation to be performed as a second input. The mask operation, which may include operations such as OPC and logical operations such as NOT and OR, is then performed on the layout in accordance with the particular set of operating criteria. A first program data comprising hierarchically configured correction data corresponding to the hierarchically described layout is then generated in response to the layout operation such that if the first program data were applied to the flattened layout an output comprising data representative of the result of performing the operation on the layout would be generated.

Abstract: A system and method of analyzing defects on a mask used in lithography are provided. A defect area image is provided as a first input, a set of lithography parameters is provided as a second input, and a set of metrology data is provided as a third input. The defect area image comprises an image of a portion of the mask. A simulated image can be generated in response to the first input. The simulated image comprises a simulation of an image that would be printed on a wafer if the wafer were exposed to a radiation source directed at the portion of the mask. The characteristics of the radiation source comprise the set of lithography parameters and the characteristics of the mask comprise the set of metrology data.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing integrated circuits using opaque field, phase shift masking. One embodiment of the invention includes using a two mask process. The first mask is an opaque-field phase shift mask and the second mask is a single phase structure mask. A phase shift window is aligned with the opaque field using a phase shift overlap area on the opaque field. The phase shift mask primarily defines regions requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask primarily defines regions not requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask also prevents the erasure of the phase shifting regions and prevents the creation of undesirable artifact regions that would otherwise be created by the phase shift mask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a photolithography mask for defects is provided. The inspection method comprises providing a defect area image to an image simulator wherein the defect area image is an image of a portion of a photolithography mask, and providing a set of lithography parameters as a second input to the image simulator. The defect area image may be provided by an inspection tool which scans the photolithography mask for defects using a high resolution microscope and captures images of areas of the mask around identified potential defects. The image simulator generates a first simulated image in response to the defect area image and the set of lithography parameters. The first simulated image is a simulation of an image which would be printed on a wafer if the wafer were to be exposed to an illumination source directed through the portion of the mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing integrated circuits using opaque field, phase shift masking. One embodiment of the invention includes using a two mask process. The first mask is an opaque-field phase shift mask and the second mask is a single phase structure mask. A phase shift window is aligned with the opaque field using a phase shift overlap area on the opaque field. The phase shift mask primarily defines regions requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask primarily defines regions not requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask also prevents the erasure of the phase shifting regions and prevents the creation of undesirable artifact regions that would otherwise be created by the phase shift mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing integrated circuits using opaque field, phase shift masking. One embodiment of the invention includes using a two mask process. The first mask is an opaque-field phase shift mask and the second mask is a single phase structure mask. A phase shift window is aligned with the opaque field using a phase shift overlap area on the opaque field. The phase shift mask primarily defines regions requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask primarily defines regions not requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask also prevents the erasure of the phase shifting regions and prevents the creation of undesirable artifact regions that would otherwise be created by the phase shift mask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a photolithography mask for defects is provided. The inspection method comprises providing a defect area image to an image simulator wherein the defect area image is an image of a portion of a photolithography mask, and providing a set of lithography parameters as a second input to the image simulator. The defect area image may be provided by an inspection tool which scans the photolithography mask for defects using a high resolution microscope and captures images of areas of the mask around identified potential defects. The image simulator generates a first simulated image in response to the defect area image and the set of lithography parameters. The first simulated image is a simulation of an image which would be printed on a wafer if the wafer were to be exposed to an illumination source directed through the portion of the mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing integrated circuits using opaque field, phase shift masking. One embodiment of the invention includes using a two mask process. The first mask is an opaque-field phase shift mask and the second mask is a single phase structure mask. A phase shift window is aligned with the opaque field using a phase shift overlap area on the opaque field. The phase shift mask primarily defines regions requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask primarily defines regions not requiring phase shifting. The single phase structure mask also prevents the erasure of the phase shifting regions and prevents the creation of undesirable artifact regions that would otherwise be created by the phase shift mask.