Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Radio Frequency (RF) modulator. The RF modulator includes a Chrominance-to-Luminance (C/L) delay compensation unit for receiving a video signal and compensating for a time delay between the chrominance and luminance signals of the video signal, and a modulation unit for receiving the video signal, which is compensated for by the C/L delay compensation unit, and an audio signal and converting the video and audio signal into a preset frequency-band RE signal. The C/L delay compensation unit and the modulation unit are packaged in a single package.

Abstract: A method for receiving a picture-in-picture display via an Internet connection in a satellite television system. A first video stream associated with linear television content is received from a satellite dish. A second video stream is received over an Internet protocol connection. The first video stream of linear television content received from the satellite dish is output to a display, and the second video stream received from the Internet protocol connection is output to a picture-in-picture display on the display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to one- or two-way Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite communications systems which broadcast high bit rate wideband television and multimedia content to user terminals located within a desired coverage area and, more specifically, a single or multi-transponder Direct-To-Home satellite communications system in which a high bit rate wideband data stream is comprised of real-time, statistically multiplexed information and non-real-time information that is transmitted to a subscriber media gateway device for storage and later use. The user terminal contains a specially designed receiving system and may contain a transmitter for transmission of a return data channel to the Broadcast Center.

Abstract: A settop box system for capturing and controlling live and recorded audio and video content. The system records digital and analog data from video and audio content, such as in a home entertainment center. The system records data from the content as specified and the data may be sequenced into clips that can be searched and indexed. A user may create comparison programs that allow searches of either pre-recorded or incoming content to be performed. In addition, the program allows editing of recorded programs, such as filtering of audio content or overlaying a video program with a different audio background. Multiple audio and video feeds may be handled simultaneously and the program's functions may be executed without viewing of the content being manipulated. The recorded content may also be indexed and even clips of the content may be indexed.

Abstract: A communication network is operated by providing a wireless communication network that has bandwidth associated therewith to facilitate communication between one or more mobile terminals and another communication device. Streaming media is transmitted to the one or more mobile terminals using the bandwidth associated with the wireless network.

Abstract: A receiver system equipped with a first and second reception units for receiving a satellite radio broadcasting prevents a reception unit switching operations by using signal selection data that provides satellite availability for respective operation areas. The satellite radio broadcasting reception quality in each of the respective operation areas is improved because of the reduced chance of dropout or the like in the broadcasted contents of the satellite radio broadcasting received by the receiver system.

Abstract: A digital satellite television system has a plurality of set-top-boxes associated with a plurality of end users' television receivers, a modem and a decoder housed in each STB, a Subscriber Authorization System (SAS) incorporating or having associated therewith a plurality of communication servers, means included in the SAS for generating Electronic Managements Messages (EMM), a back channel interconnecting each of the STBs individually with the SAS, means included in the SAS and each STB so that the necessary information required to inject a relevant EMM into the system is supplied directly to the relevant communication server included in or associated with the SAS to authorize the release of the said EMM and/or means to connect the modem to the back channel and means whereby an EMM is transmissible to the decoder directly from a relevant communication server included in or associated with the SAS. Further important features are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow for wirelessly providing television content from a satellite antenna to a television. An antenna is configured to receive a satellite broadcast signal that includes the television content, and a demodulator coupled to the antenna demodulates the received satellite broadcast signal. A wireless transmitter coupled to the demodulator transmits at least a portion of the demodulated satellite broadcast signal across a wireless connection to thereby allow viewing of the television content on the television.

Abstract: A system and method for marking and recording content includes a network operation center receiving an incoming programming stream, monitoring the incoming programming stream, generating descriptive data corresponding to the programming stream, combining the descriptive data with the programming stream to form a composite signal and broadcasting the composite signal to a receiving unit. The system may also include a receiving unit having a monitoring term stored therein. The receiving unit monitors the composite signal for the monitoring term within the descriptive data and storing content or sub-content in a memory of the receiving unit when a monitoring term corresponds to the descriptive data.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for configuring a modulator in a digital broadcast system using service information that is also broadcast to wireless terminals. In an embodiment of the invention, the service information is provided by a generator that encapsulates the service information in a transport stream that is received by a cell transmitter. The service information is parsed by each cell transmitter to determine the current modulator parameters. If at least one of the modulation parameters has changed, the associated modulator is reconfigured with the updated modulation parameters. The invention also provides methods and apparatuses for supporting repeaters in the digital broadcast system in order to provide supplementary RF coverage in associated cells. A repeater may retransmit a received radio signal at the same frequency or at a different frequency.

Abstract: Advertising content is received over a channel and displayed on the same terminal that displays the point of sale information.

Abstract: A system for an integrated set-top box may include a single integrated circuit chip (SICC). The SICC may include a first satellite receiver demodulator, at least a second satellite receiver demodulator and at least one processor, all integrated within the SICC. The at least one processor may be coupled to the first satellite receiver demodulator and the second satellite receiver demodulator. The at least one processor may generate separate encoded audio and video streams based on at least one demodulated signal received from the first satellite receiver demodulator and/or the at least the second satellite receiver demodulator. The at least one processor may include a MIPS processor, a floating point processor and/or at least one data transport processor. The system may also include a programmable memory integrated within the SICC.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for selecting a signal input. More specifically, there is provided a receiver comprising an Ethernet input, a video input, and a selection device coupled to the Ethernet input and the video input and configured to select either the Ethernet input or the video input based on the application of a selection rule, wherein the receiver is configured to utilize the selected input to receive a signal for display.

Abstract: A system and method of switching services in a receiver unit includes a verifier module in the receiver unit receiving a service signal and middleware within the receiving unit receiving an evaluate signal and enabling the verifier to determine a service change from the service signal. The middleware changing a service flag for the service when a service change is determined at the verifier.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a receiving unit to switch services includes a network operation center communicating a service signal to the receiving unit and an evaluate signal to the receiving unit. The receiving unit changes a service of the receiving unit in response to the evaluate signal.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver includes a smart antenna, a tuner for extracting a signal of a predetermined channel from airwaves received by the smart antenna, a signal processing unit for processing the signal extracted by this tuner, and a control unit for controlling the smart antenna. The control unit detects a receivable direction by performing automatic scanning for each of the channels with respect to each of the directions of the smart antenna, and when the receivable direction is first detected during execution of automatic scanning for a certain channel, the automatic scanning is stopped at a point in time of the detection and transition to automatic scanning for the next channel is made.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting a video program in compressed form from a source location to a second location. The method comprises receiving at an intermediate location a first compressed version of the video program using a first compression method, transported from the source location to an intermediate location over a first segment that includes a link of a first type. The method further comprises transcoding the first compressed version to a second compressed version compressed using a second compression method that is in relatively widespread use. The method further comprises sending the second compressed version to the second location over a link of a second type. The link of the second type includes infrastructure to transport video program streams compressed by the second compression method. The first compression method can achieve a higher compression ratio that the second compression method for approximately the same image quality.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus, systems and methods which facilitate the transmission of data between a client device and a remote device over a wireless telephone network. More particularly, data from a client device is modulated into an audio signal and transmitted to a wireless telephone. The wireless telephone receives the audio signal and places a phone call to a remote device over a wireless telephone network. During the phone call, the wireless telephone transmits the audio signal across a voice channel of the wireless telephone network to the remote device. The remote device receives and decodes the audio signal to extract the transmitted data.

Abstract: A receiving device and method for operating the same includes a tuner tuned to a first channel having a first program, a memory storing program guide data therein and a controller in communication with the tuner and the memory. The controller determines the first channel is a blacked out channel, searches the program data in the memory for a second program equivalent to the first program, determines a second channel associated with the second program and tunes the tuner device to the second channel.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an emergency alert table including frequency information of an emergency alert channel, and transmitting a digital broadcasting signal including the emergency alert table, wherein the frequency information of the emergency alert channel is inserted in a descriptor that provides an additional pointer to the emergency alert channel, wherein the descriptor references the emergency alert channel by means of the frequency information.

Abstract: An integrated plug-in card is configured to process subscription video programming. The card consists of multiple integrated technologies. A micro analog tuner/demodulator receives the subscription video programming and provides output to a vertical blanking interval (VBI) device. The vertical blanking interface device separates an unused portion of the subscription video programming to extract an encoded proprietary programming. Conditional access/decryption technology controls user access to the encoded proprietary programming. Video and audio decompression technology decompresses video and audio data from the encoded proprietary programming. An encoder provides the video and audio data in a desired protocol. A control interface controls video programming properties and a memory is utilized for storing video programming information.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an emergency alert table including frequency information of an emergency alert channel, and transmitting a digital broadcasting signal including the emergency alert table, wherein the frequency information of the emergency alert channel is inserted in a descriptor that provides an additional pointer to the emergency alert channel, wherein the descriptor references the emergency alert channel by means of the frequency information.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an emergency alert table including frequency information of an emergency alert channel, and transmitting a digital broadcasting signal including the emergency alert table, wherein the frequency information of the emergency alert channel is inserted in a descriptor that provides an additional pointer to the emergency alert channel, wherein the descriptor references the emergency alert channel by means of the frequency information.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an emergency alert table including frequency information of an emergency alert channel, and transmitting a digital broadcasting signal including the emergency alert table, wherein the frequency information of the emergency alert channel is inserted in a descriptor that provides an additional pointer to the emergency alert channel, wherein the descriptor references the emergency alert channel by means of the frequency information.

Abstract: A path control packet is sent from a router to a receiver. The receiver capsulates the received packet and transmits a capsulated IP packet to a feed via a ground line. The feed extracts the path control packet by decapsulation and transmits the packet to a router. At the same time, path control information is sent to a satellite line. The router processes the packet as if the path control information from the router reached via the satellite line. When a receiver receives a packet via the satellite line, it transmits the packet as a packet to a router. This router processes the packet as if the path control information from the router reached via the satellite line.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an emergency alert table including frequency information of an emergency alert channel, and transmitting a digital broadcasting signal including the emergency alert table, wherein the frequency information of the emergency alert channel is inserted in a descriptor that provides an additional pointer to the emergency alert channel, wherein the descriptor references the emergency alert channel by means of the frequency information.

Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal relevant to an emergency alert and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying an emergency alert broadcast can be prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels. The present disclosure generating an emergency alert table including frequency information of an emergency alert channel, and transmitting a digital broadcasting signal including the emergency alert table, wherein the frequency information of the emergency alert channel is inserted in a descriptor that provides an additional pointer to the emergency alert channel, wherein the descriptor references the emergency alert channel by means of the frequency information.

Abstract: A store and forward (S&F) architecture is provided that supports multiple applications within an extensible network to direct information of various formats to any of multiple destinations. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, Java applications running on a client send non-priority data to any server on the application network or, alternatively, anywhere on a global telecommunications network such as the Internet, at some time in the future. In the preferred embodiment, S&F allows a client application to send usage statistics to a database on the application network. It also enables T-commerce purchases to be made by the user, where the purchase and other relevant information is sent to a destination web server as if the purchase had taken place on the web via a full web browser on an Internet-connected PC.

Abstract: There is provided a digital broadcasting receiver capable of making channel selection without making a user conscious of the difference between a physical channel number and a virtual channel number. A CPU uses an OSD display circuit, for example, to display a menu screen, and causes a user to select either a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is a mode for making channel selection by the physical channel number in which a frequency is assigned to a channel by the physical channel number in accordance with a rule, and a second mode is a mode for making channel selection by the virtual channel number in which a frequency corresponds to a channel on the side of the receiver. The CPU automatically makes, when no channel selection can be made by the entered channel number in the selected mode, an attempt to make channel selection corresponding to the other mode.

Abstract: Sample rate reduction in data communication receivers. Digital sampling of analog data is performed using a reduced sample rate. The reduction factor may be any number of factors including a factor that divides the sample rate by a factor of two. The reduction of the sampling frequency is from a sampling frequency that is greater than twice the highest frequency component in an analog input signal. These analog input signals may be I and Q streams in certain embodiments. A digital interpolation filter may be employed to increase (up-convert) the sample rate of a digital signal before it is input to a VID filter that is used to recover the transmitted symbols from the over-sampled data stream. In this embodiment, this technique allows a front end of a communication receiver to be clocked at a lower sampling rate without affecting the performance of the VID filter.

Abstract: An apparatus coupled to, or integrated with, a tuner. This apparatus, which may be referred to herein as a “compensator,” may operate to adjust a frequency of the tuner to counteract drift or error that may cause the tuner to erroneously tune to an inaccurate or undesired frequency. The compensator may be implemented as hardware or software, and may be stand-alone or integrated into the tuner and/or LNBF.

Abstract: A broadcast programming receiver is provided which includes a broadcast programming interface, a memory, a communication network interface, and output circuitry. The broadcast programming interface is configured to receive broadcast programming, while the output circuitry is configured to transfer the broadcast programming to an output device. The memory is configured to store data related to the broadcast programming. In one embodiment, the communication network interface is configured to receive the data related to the broadcast programming over a communication network from a second broadcast programming receiver and transfer the data to the memory. In another implementation, the communication network interface is configured to receive the data from the memory and send the data over the communication network to a second broadcast programming receiver.

Abstract: Various embodiments concurrently process program content corresponding to multiple concurrently communicated programs. One embodiment provides a program content transporter that receives via a content stream selector a multiplexed signal that contains a plurality of program content portions that each correspond to one of a plurality of programs, and concurrently presents the program content portion corresponding to a first program of the plurality of programs and records the received program content portion corresponding to a second program of the plurality of programs.

Abstract: A vehicular audio/visual system that receives a transmitted electric wave of video or sound, and that outputs the electric wave by switching to an output mode corresponding to user's instruction from among output modes corresponding to multiple types of media includes: a positional information detecting unit that detects positional information of a vehicle; a receiving area storage unit that stores at least one of an area in which the electric wave can be received and an area in which it is difficult to receive the electric wave; a receiving area determination unit that refers to the receiving area storage unit on the basis of the detected positional information and determines whether the electric wave can be received; an output mode switching unit that prohibits an output mode that outputs the electric wave as video or music from being entered when it is determined that the electric wave cannot be received.

Abstract: An integrated receiver with dual channel transport stream decoding and delivery substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. A receiver front end provides multiple time-base clocks for two transport streams. Transport processor circuitry uses multiple PCRs to track transport streams through decoding, storage and or delivery of the decoded signals for display. Provision of a multiple time-base clock for decoding and delivering multiple transport streams allows display of the two decoded audio-video signals on independent monitors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the generation of television channels and which allows the generation of the same by the processing and selection of designated packets of data from multiple data transport streams, which each transport stream including numerous packets of data. In each transport stream the packet of data is identified by the allocations of a packet identification code (PID) and each is held in the transport packet which is transmitted as part of each transport stream. In accordance with the invention, and in order to prevent errors and inaccurate packet selection, a Transport Stream Identification Code (TSID) is allocated to each of the transport streams of data received. Typically the TSID is located in the transport packet for each transport stream of data. In the selection of a packet of data, the appropriate TSID is referred to identify the appropriate transport stream and the PID then referred to identify the packet of data from that transport stream.

Abstract: A receiving unit 28 includes a tuner that receives a first signal that may include a satellite signal. A demodulator demodulates the satellite signal to form a second signal. The second signal may be internet protocol (IP) encapsulated to form an IP encapsulated signal. The IP encapsulated signal may be communicated through an IP network to a decoder. The decoder 144 decodes the second signal or the IP encapsulated signal. A modulator 146 modulates the decoded signal which is communicated to user devices through a network 147. In addition, IP encapsulated signals may also be communicated to various user devices through the network.

Abstract: A broadcast communication system is presented which includes a broadcast communication transmitter, a broadcast communication receiver, and an information processor. The broadcast communication receiver is configured to receive programming from the broadcast communication transmitter. The receiver is also configured to generate information relating to the operation of the broadcast communicate receiver. In addition, the receiver is configured to connect to the information processor and transfer the information thereto during a time period in accordance with user input accepted by the receiver. The information processor is configured to receive and process the information.

Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a radome to be carried by the aircraft, and a dual-beam satellite antenna and at least one positioner coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft and protected by the radome. The dual-beam satellite antenna is to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. The dual-beam satellite antenna includes a first aperture for receiving the television programming, and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture for receiving the Internet data. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam satellite antenna to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam 0satellite antenna to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

Abstract: There is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus which is capable of performing a tuning process in a short period of time even in the case where a large number of tuning requests are issued. A tuning request reception section 204 receives an issue tuning request. A tuning request storage section 205 stores the tuning request received by the tuning request reception section 204. A tuning process section including a tuning request acquisition section 206 and a tuning execution section 207 performs a tuning process for the broadcast signal corresponding to the tuning request, and if a next tuning request is issued during a tuning process, performs a next tuning process in accordance with one of the tuning requests stored in the tuning request storage section 205. A tuning request which is stored in the tuning request storage section 205 during a tuning process is erased by a tuning request erasure section 208 after the tuning process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an intelligent low-noise block down-converter (LNB) which is implemented to, only when an LNB ID contained therein is the same as an ID of a satellite receiver connected therewith, provide a down-converted signal (IF signal) to the satellite receiver, thereby making it possible to more securely prevent an ID card of the satellite receiver and/or a pay broadcast program from being duplicated.

Abstract: A low profile low cost mobile in-motion antenna system for satellite TV reception using DVB with different either BPSK or CDMA like modulation schemes is described. In some embodiments, a low resolution version of a video transmission may be used as a backup for a higher resolution version of the video transmission.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling receiving circuit module includes a remote facility, an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network. The local collection facility includes a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules having a first encoder. The local collection facility generates a receiving circuit module monitoring signal. The local collection facility communicates the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network. The monitoring system generates a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal communicates the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network.

Abstract: A receiving circuit module and method for operating the same includes a housing having a first receiver, a second receiver, a serial digital interface and an input-output port disposed therein. The receiving circuit module includes an encoder disposed within the housing and in communication with the first receiver, the second receiver and the serial digital interface. The receiver circuit module also includes a controller disposed within the housing receiving a control signal, switching between the first receiver, the second receiver and serial digital interface in response to the control signal and generating an encoded output signal corresponding to the first receiver, the second receiver and serial digital interface.

Abstract: A system and method for processing signal in a remote facility includes an IP network and a first local collection facility that includes a first plurality of receiving circuit modules receiving a first plurality of channel signals and generating a first plurality of IP encoded signals from the first plurality of channel signals and a first router routing the first plurality of encoded signals to the IP network. The system also includes a second local collection facility comprising a second plurality of receiving circuit modules receiving a second plurality of channel signals and generating a second plurality of IP encoded signals from the second plurality of channel signals and a second router routing the second plurality of encoded signals to the IP network. The system also includes a remote facility having a statistical multiplexer in communication with the IP network.

Abstract: A system and method for switching between receiver and decoder circuits includes a first receiver receiving a first channel signal and forming a first channel signal, a second receiver receiving the first channel signal and forming a second channel signal and a monitoring system monitoring the first channel signal and the second channel signal and generating a monitoring signal. The system also includes a transfer switch in communication with the first channel signal and the second channel signal. The monitoring system controls the switching of the transfer switch from the first signal to the second signal in response to the monitoring signal. The transfer switch forms a switch output signal.

Abstract: A set top box (STB) may be enabled to generate and communicate SMS messages over a back channel between the STB and one or more networked entities such as a satellite service provider headend and/or billing center via a coupled communication device. The SMS enabled communication device may be integrated within the STB or may be external to the STB. The SMS messages may comprise an address for one or more destination devices. In addition, the STB may receive acknowledgement messages for corresponding transmitted SMS messages and/or may receive and decode SMS messages. The SMS messages may be communicated via an integrated Bluetooth transceiver and an external cellular phone, via an integrated cellular transceiver and/or via a cable connecting an external cellular phone. The STB may be a satellite STB. The communicated SMS message may comprise billing information. The networked entity may comprise a headend and/or a billing center.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to measure a transmission performance characteristic. A signal is received and equalized. The equalized signal is demodulated and an ideal signal is generated from the demodulated equalized signal. A performance characteristic is the estimated from a difference between the ideal signal and the equalized signal.

Abstract: A dissemination system for satellite broadcasting comprises a satellite receiving antenna for receiving satellite signals, receivers for demodulating the signals received by the antenna, and a line system for relaying the signals to a plurality of subscribers, in which the receivers are assigned to the satellite receiving antenna in close spatial proximity, and only demodulated or decoded signals are relayed to the subscribers by means of the line system.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to measure a transmission performance characteristic. A signal is received and demodulated. An ideal signal is generated from the demodulated signal. The received signal is coherently averaged to reduce noise. The performance characteristic is the estimated TWTA nonlinearity from a difference between the coherently averaged ideal signal and received signal.