Abstract: A TV graphical user interface includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels provided by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A direct access channel bar is arranged on a screen so as to cause the channel boxes to display the number and logo of a selected TV channel when the user directs the pointing device at the point on the direct access bar that represents the selected channel. The direct access channel bar is provided with an absolute cursor position indicator that indicates to the user the numbers of TV channels represented by various points on the direct access channel bar, when the user moves the pointing device over these points.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for receiving a compressed video stream and generating a decompressed video signal and closed caption data therefrom employs a video decoder a video decompressor that decompresses the compressed video stream to generate a decompressed video signal. The video decoder has a closed caption data embedder that produces closed caption data contained in the compressed video stream for embedding into a video output signal of the video decoder. A single video signal output port is coupled to the video decompressor and the closed caption data embedder and produces the video output signal which includes the decompressed video signal and the embedded closed caption data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the position of an antenna to improve reception at a television includes a signal generator which measures the signal strength received by the antenna. The signal generator sends a low frequency coded signal to a display visible to a person who is adjusting the antenna. The display provides a quantitative indication of the signal strength to the installer of the antenna, allowing precise adjustments to be made in accordance with the displayed value. The signal generator provides the coded signal to the display via the same cable used to carry the received signals from the antenna to a receiver, such as a set-top box.

Abstract: A home network architecture has an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. Entertainment services are introduced into the network through network interface units that are coupled to an external network and to the internal network. The network interface units perform the necessary interfacing between the external and internal networks, and make the entertainment services available to all terminals connected to the internal network. A plurality of set-top electronics that do not have network interface units connect to the internal network and prepare the information in the digital data stream for display, by a television, for example.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the loss of a remote control input device used with a stationary device provides the stationary device with a transmitter and a signal generator that generates signals transmitted by the transmitter. The remote control input device communicates wirelessly with the stationary device, and has a wireless signal receiver that receives the signals from the signal generator, and a distance warning circuit. A distance warning output signal is produced by the distance warning circuit when the input device is beyond a specified distance from the stationary device, as a function of the signals received by the wireless signal receiver. The remote control input device also has an indicator that produces a human-perceptible distance warning signal in response to the production of the distance warning output signal by the distance warning circuit.