Abstract: A recording method consistent with certain embodiments involves monitoring an output from a video source for video signals encoded in a first format; detecting a frame synchronization signal in the video signal; and responsive to detecting the frame synchronization signal in the video, beginning a recording process. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A beacon method for use in a wireless communication network involves populating a beacon frame's channel identification data with accurate data associated with use of a particular channel for wireless communication; populating the beacon frame's network identification data with data including at least one false data element wherein it can be determined if an intruder has attempted to connect to the network by detecting the false data element in the intruder's attempt to connect to the network, where the beacon network identification data are intended to identify the network using the particular channel; storing the beacon frame in a computer readable storage medium; and transmitting the beacon frame over a channel to be reserved. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A communication device consistent with certain implementations has a coaxial cable having length and first and second ends. The coaxial cable further has a central conductor, a dielectric insulator surrounding the central conductor, and an electric shield conductor surrounding the dielectric insulator. The dielectric insulator serves as a dielectric waveguide having a characteristic impedance Z at an operating frequency range. A termination for electrical energy coupled into or out of the dielectric insulator at approximately the characteristic impedance Z at the operating frequency range to utilize the dielectric insulator as a waveguide for transmission of signals along the length of the coaxial cable, and wherein the center conductor is further used to communicate an electrical signal between the first and second ends. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network consistent with certain embodiments has a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals carrying the data at a plurality of carrier frequencies. A user configurable notch filter, receives the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output. A network communication medium interface receives the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over a network communication medium. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments consistent with the present invention, a method providing alternate digital audio and video content in a segment of content containing compressed primary audio and encoded primary video involves inserting blank audio in an alternate audio track between segments of alternate audio; inserting black video in an alternate video track between segments of alternate video; synchronizing the alternate audio track to a master timeline; synchronizing the alternate video track to the master timeline; compressing the alternate audio track; compressing the alternate video track; trimming the blank audio from the compressed alternate audio track; trimming the black video from the compressed alternate video track; synchronizing the trimmed compressed alternate audio to locate the trimmed compressed alternate audio temporally with the primary compressed audio; synchronizing the trimmed compressed alternate video to locate the trimmed compressed alternate video temporally with the primar

Abstract: A field emitter device consistent with certain embodiments has a substantially planar conductor forming a gate electrode. A conductive stripe forms a cathode on the insulating layer. An insulating layer covers at least a portion of the surface between the cathode and the gate. An anode is positioned above the cathode. An emitter structure, for example of carbon nanotubes is disposed on a surface of the cathodes closest to the anode. When an electric field is generated across the insulating layer, the cathode/emitter structure has a combination of work function and aspect ratio that causes electron emission from the emitter structure toward the anode at a field strength that is lower than that which causes emissions from other regions of the cathode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network consistent with certain embodiments involves sending a polling message to a plurality of modems forming a part of a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top boxes; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes; receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter of the television set top boxes; determining that one of the operational parameters from one of the television set top boxes is outside of a specified range of values; and aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes received in the response messages to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstituting packetized data streams representing a television program when the program uses multiple packet identifiers (PID) as in selective encryption schemes. Transmission of multiple sets of system information (SI) is avoided by incorporating a lookup table within a private data packet. A dual buffer arrangement in the set-top box provides ease of reconstitution of a data stream by generation of an interrupt upon receipt of a packet with a shadow PID. The buffers are toggled as a result of the interrupt and a corresponding packet can be found either at the beginning of the newly active buffer or the end of the inactive buffer. The stream of packets representing a program can then be reconstituted by creation of a new packet having the primary PID and shadow packet's payload.

Abstract: A method of content substitution involves receiving an ordered stream of packets containing content marked by a first packet identifier (PID) and one or more substitute content portions marked by one or more secondary PIDs, where the number and placement of packets marked by secondary PIDs ahead of packets marked by the first PID in the stream is retained during transmission of the ordered stream of packets; initiating processing for display or storage of content contained in packets having the first PID; initiating processing for display or storage of content contained in packets having a selected secondary PID that meets a substitution criterion; and either deleting or processing the content having the first PID depending upon a number of received intervening packets having secondary PIDs that reside between the packets having the first PID and the packets having the selected secondary PID that meets the substitution criterion.

Abstract: An exemplary method of operation of network devices with one device operating as a master device on a communication network involves the master device broadcasting a beacon during a communication session being carried out over the network; the master device determining that the communication session being carried out over the network has ended; the master device ceasing broadcast of the beacon; the master device entering a sleeping or power saving mode; at a client device on the network, transmitting a master search message requesting services of a master device while the master device is in the sleeping or power saving mode; the master device responding to the master search message; and the master device resuming broadcasting beacon signals. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from or contain a subset of the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments provides portable delivery of television programs to a portable wireless device (PWD) involves using the PWD to capture a sample of a program being played by a television; transmitting attributes of the captured sample to a service provider so that the service provider can identify the program being played by the television; and receiving the television program at the PWD from the service provider via a wireless transmission. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of storing digital video content to facilitate trick play consistent with certain embodiments involves storing inter-coded frames of the content in a first file and storing intra-coded frames of the content in a second file. A set of forward indices are used to address the intra coded frames in a forward direction such that playback of the second file in the order of the forward indices simulates a fast-forward playback. A set of reverse indices are used to address the intra-coded frames in a reverse direction such that playback of the second file in the order of the reverse indices simulates a fast-reverse playback. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An electronic storage device has a segment of digital video content recorded thereon as a data structure with a first set of data packets encrypted under a first encryption process and a second set of data packets encrypted under a second encryption process. The first set of video data packets and the second set of video data packets, when unencrypted, represent duplicate copies of the same video information. A third set of data packets contains unencrypted video data that is contextually contiguous to the first set of data packets and the second set of data packets. The first and third set of data packets represents all video content in the segment of digital video content as does the second and third set of data packets.

Abstract: A CableCARD device for manipulation of a stream of data has an inband data input for receiving a stream of video data from a host, the stream of video data being encrypted and encoded according to a first coding. A decrypter decrypts the encrypted data. A transcoder transcodes the stream of video data to convert the stream of video data to a second coding, producing a transcoded data stream. An encrypter encrypts the transcoded data stream. An inband data output sends the encrypted transcoded data stream back to the host. This abstract should not be considered limiting, since other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or different elements that those described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for content substitution, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention involves receiving data representing one or more macroblocks of content, the data having at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second portions of content. The content having the first PID is placed into a data stream. An initiation flag is received indicating initiation of a PID mapping operation. The substitute macroblocks of content having the second PID is then mapped to the first PID and the mapped content is placed into the data stream. A termination flag is received indicating termination of the PID mapping operation at which point the process returns to placing content having the first PID into the data stream. The content substitution process can be used to replace advertisements, provide multiple plots, multiple endings, multiple views as well as other applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of obtaining information associated with a television access device used in a television reception system, wherein the method is carried out in a control device that does not have direct access to the configuration information of the access device involves directing the access device to generate and communicate a signal to the control device suitable for driving a display, wherein the signal contains a visual representation of one or more successive video frames containing at least one or more of the following: a service provider logo, a VOD channel accessible by the access device, a broadcast channel accessible by the access device, a program content stored on the access device, an access device model identifier, a MAC address, a software version and a system time on a display; receiving the signal and storing a representation of the video frame; processing the video frame using optical character recognition (OCR) and pattern matching to extract information from the video frame; a

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method carried out in a digital television receiver device incapable of full two way communications, of receiving switched digital television programs involves storing a virtual channel table in the digital television receiver device, the virtual channel table having entries for each available channel and having a channel type indicator that identifies switched digital channels; receiving a command indicative of selection of a switched digital channel having the switched digital channel type indicator in the stored virtual channel table; sending a request from the television receiver device for the switched digital channel; responsive to the request, receiving a response that either grants the request or denies the request; and if the response grants the request, receiving an updated virtual channel table having updated table entries. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a selective encryption encoder has a packet identifier that identifies packets of a specified packet type. The specified packet type includes packets carrying data representing a video slice wherein the video slice contains a larger amount of data than a threshold amount of data. A packet duplicator duplicates the identified packets to produce first and second sets of the identified packets. Packets are sent and received to and from a primary encryption encoder to encrypt the first set of identified packets under a first encryption method. A secondary encrypter encrypts the second set of identified packets under a second encryption method. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: A weight scale consistent with certain implementations has a case having a weight supporting surface that supports an object being weighed. An array of load cells is provided upon which the weight supporting surface rests. A weight measuring circuit receives output signals from the array of load cells and calculates a weight responsive thereto. A first switch trips when a weight is applied to the weight supporting surface while the weight scale is situated on a soft surface. A second switch trips when a weight is applied to the weight supporting surface while the weight scale is situated on a hard surface. A power source is provided and a turn-on circuit responsive to the first and second switch applies power from the power source to the weight measuring circuit upon detection that either the first or second switch has tripped as a result of a weight being applied to the weight supporting surface.

Abstract: A method for multicasting audio data in a power line communication network consistent with certain embodiments involves assigning a set of one or more time slots and one or more sub-carriers for each recipient audio client designated to receive the multicast audio data over a power line serving as a communication medium. A list of recipient audio clients is built for receipt of the multicast audio data over the power line communication network. Audio data are buffered in a buffer, the data being for receipt during a transmission cycle to the recipient audio clients on the list. Data are read from the buffer, and the data are transmitted over the power line communication network to each recipient on the recipient audio client on the list using a time slot and sub-carrier set assigned to each recipient during the transmission cycle. This abstract should not be considered limiting, since other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or different elements that those described in this abstract.