Abstract: An apparatus (100) for isolating a noise intolerant device (110) from a source of noise includes a digital bus (104/105). A processor (101) outputs clock signals and first data signals and receives second data signals over the digital bus (104/105). A bi-directional buffer (109) is coupled between the digital bus (104/105) and the noise intolerant device (110) disposed in a tuner module. The apparatus (100) operates such that, in dependence upon a control signal, the bi-directional buffer (109) selectively passes the clock signals and the first data signals from the digital bus (104/105) to the noise intolerant device (110), and the second data signals from the noise intolerant device (110) to the digital bus (104/105).

Abstract: A method of transmission in a transmission network comprising devices connected to the network, at least certain devices being linked by at least one wireless link. According to the present method, the wireless communications are performed according to an isochronous TDMA type protocol, in which a frame is divided into time windows allocated on reservation to devices, the allocation of a window of a frame to a device being such that any device can deduce it from the number of windows reserved per frame by each device and from at least one other parameter which identifies the device which made the request. The invention applies in particular to domestic wireless communication networks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a way of implementing the so-called “late” check according to IEC 61883 in a link layer IC for the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus in a way which is favourable in terms of expenditure. According to the invention, a specific time model is used which, during the checking of the up-to-dateness of a data packet by comparison with the current bus time, also substantially simplifies the necessary comparison operations by virtue of the fact that it is possible to represent only sections of the time axis by means of a data word with limited bit length.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording or reproduction apparatus with a holding and removing device for disc-type recording media which facilitates the emplacement and removal of the recording medium. According to the invention, the holding and removing device is formed by a cover of the hub of the disc turntable, by means of which, during the emplacement or removal of the recording medium, the holding force with which a recording medium is held on the disc turntable is reduced. The loading on the recording medium during emplacement or removal is thereby advantageously reduced and the special configuration of the cover as restoring means has the result that no additional individual parts are necessary. In an advantageous manner, the recording medium is both held and centered on the disc turntable with a force which is greater than a resistance encountered by the recording medium during emplacement or removal.

Abstract: A bus protocol for serial transfer of data between two electronic components via a 3 line bus connection. The bus protocol according to the invention transfers data words without handshake signals for each bit. Each data word is transferred synchronously from a transmitter to a receiver. One bus line is dedicated to a clock signal. The two other bus lines are used for transmitting the data signals and control signals. By assigning the two remaining bus lines differently to data signals and control signals for transfer in the two directions, bus conflicts can be easily solved.

Abstract: A method/apparatus for sharing a resource of plural video/audio/data signal receivers broadcast by an emitter among a plurality of video/audio/data processing Set Top Units using a Master/Slave protocol. The first STU connected to a receiver is the Master, which has priority over a later-connected slave. An STU has access to all services if there is a free receiver. In the absence of free receivers, an STU can access all the services currently accessed by the other STUs, and the services on the transport streams carrying the services currently viewed by the other STUs. A resource sharing apparatus comprises a dedicated for each STU for displaying resources available to the corresponding STU. The controller indicates Slave status for resources that can be provided for the corresponding STU and a special indication for resource that is currently used by a corresponding STU.

Abstract: A device and method for providing varying bias voltages to a security device in a cable set-top terminal, comprising a receiving unit in the security device for receiving replaceable conditional access cards, a card interface for sensing the insertion of conditional access cards in the receiving unit and outputting an enable signal to a logic unit, and the card interface for identifying a bias voltage of the conditional access card and outputting a request of the bias voltage to a controller, a controller for receiving the request of bias voltage from the card interface and outputting a selection signal of the bias voltage to a logic unit, the logic unit for receiving the enable signal from the card interface and selection signal of the bias voltage from the controller to output a control signal to a switch, and a switch for receiving a control signal from the logic unit and providing a switched voltage to the security device based on the selection signal from the controller.

Abstract: The device has a voice and/or manual user interface for accessing its functions. The functions are accessible through a hierarchy of menus in which the branches can be short-circuited by voice instructions referred to as voice short-cuts. According to the invention, means are provided for storing the sequences of interactions performed by the user and for detecting the cases in which a voice short-cut could have been used instead of the sequence of interactions. In this case, a message is sent to the user in order to inform him or her of the existence of the detected voice short-cut. The invention also relates to a process for aiding with learning the voice instructions of the device using the means above.

Abstract: A universal remote control and a method for programming a universal remote control allows a user to quickly and easily identify a set of remote control signal formats that include a desired signal format and then individually test the signal formats in the identified set to identify the desired signal format. A reference code, or other identification information, associated with the desired signal format. In the code search mode of operation, the present universal remote control generates and transmits one of a plurality of sets of signal formats stored in a memory circuit (RAM,ROM) in response to the user pressing a first control key (76). The user repeatedly presses the first control key and observes the controlled device to identify a set of signal formats that includes the desired signal format. After the desired set of signal formats is identified, the user presses either a second or a third control key (74,78) to individually transmit each signal format in the identified set of signal formats.

Abstract: Combos comprising a display and a video recorder, which avoid a very bright image when switching from a standby recording mode to an on mode. In order to reduce cost, some combos include only one video circuit which is used by both the television and the video recorder, and which notably controls the level of its output signals directed to the display. This control is realized using a feedback loop that provides a feedback signal from the display. To avoid displaying a very bright image when switching the combo from a standby recording mode to an on mode, an amplification control circuit progressively revives an amplifier of the display.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting a signal received from a channel signal and for transforming this signal into a binary code sequence via a signal processing apparatus, which can perform a maximum likelihood detection of the reproduced data from an optical disk with reduced complexity. Accordingly, a method to detect a signal (EBS) received from a channel signal (HF), comprises the steps of digitizing the signal received from the channel, equalizing the digitized signal (Ak), generating branch metrics (b_mp, b_pm) from the equalized signal (Bk), determining the minimum (b_ml) of the generated branch metrics (b_mp, b_pm), determining a merge (m−, m+, m0) from the minimum (b_ml), and generating a bitstream signal from the succession of merges (m−, m+, m0).

Abstract: Information is coupled to a data bus such as an I2C data bus using a push-pull circuit. The push-pull circuit provides for communicating on the data bus at two different data rates. The push-pull circuit includes an active pull-up device that is enabled during a first push-pull mode of operation for providing a high data rate. During a second normal mode of operation, the active pull-up device is disabled providing a low data rate. When the active pull-up device is deactivated, the clock and data buses are driven by the external resistors connected thereto at a data rate lower than the data rate during the first mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to Channel entering method for a wireless communication system, in particular an indoor network, comprising a plurality of subscriber stations (S1 to Sn, n≧2), each of said subscriber stations (S1 to Sn) having a transmitter and a receiver, whereby information can be independently exchanged between said subscriber stations (S1 to Sn) using respective transmitters and receivers and a plurality of channels available for communication in said wireless communication system. A directional antenna is used to review a first channel (Cx) selection, whereby said first channel (Cx) is selected from a first group of channels (C1 to Cm, m≧2) of said plurality of channels available for communication between a first and a second subscriber station (Sx, Sy; 1≦x≦n, 1≦y≦n) of said plurality of subscriber stations (S1 to Sn).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing information stored on a storage medium involves accessing information stored on the medium during a play mode of operation, i.e., during playback, and processing the information during playback to determine whether a rating of a portion of the program being played back differs from a rating limit set for the apparatus. If a rating other than the rating limit is detected, a user is prompted to decide whether to override the rating limit for the portion of the program. Selection of override is followed by changing the rating limit to a new rating limit needed to permit playback of the portion of the program. Override may be conditioned upon the user first entering a password. Completion of playback of the portion of the program may be followed by return of the rating limit to the rating limit set for the apparatus prior to the override operation. The override “on-the-fly” mode of operation may be selectively enabled.

Abstract: The descrambling device comprises hardware resources (1) and first memory zones (CA1, CA2, . . . , CAn) to store at least two different access control codes for controlling the hardware resources. The device also contains an arbitration code for selecting one access control code to control the hardware resources in order to share access to the hardware resources from the access control codes. Access control codes can be downloaded in the first memory zones by means of a loader contained in the device.

Abstract: In a multi-user system for wireless transmission of video, audio and/or combined signals or general communication signals a proposal is given for the timing and synchronization of the various messages of the users. The proposal is based on a combined FDMA/TDMA transmission and access technique. Data from the users are transmitted in a common frame comprising a number of control slots and also a number of data slots, each slot being associated with a guard time.

Abstract: A system for controlling apparatus processing a signal representing a television program comprises a source of schedule data comprising at least data representing the time remaining in a television program. Television signal processing apparatus selectively processes the television program representative signal in response to a control signal. A control circuit generates the control signal to condition the processing apparatus to begin processing the television program signal in response to a user control signal, and to stop processing the television program signal when the time remaining in the television program has elapsed, in response to the program schedule data.

Abstract: Apparatus in a receiver, for processing transmitted entitlement control information, includes a packet transport processor for selecting signal packets having payloads containing a conditional access payload header and a remaining payload of entitlement data. Respective payload headers include groups of bytes which are coded in a manner to allow or disallow the respective receiver from processing the entitlement data. A conditional access filter preprogrammed with a subscriber specific conditional access codeword examines respective byte groupings of the conditional access header for a match with the subscriber specific conditional access codeword. Only if a match occurs is the processor permitted to process the entitlement data. The entitlement data is thereafter utilized to generate decryption keys for descrambling portions of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: A minimal level of interoperability for exchanging audio/video (A/V) content and associated control between common consumer electronic (CE) devices is defined. This interoperability is based on the IEEE 1394 serial bus for the physical and link layers and makes use of AV/C or CAL as the control language. This invention provides for reducing the number of remote controls that the user might need by allowing remote control commands to always be received by a controlling device (e.g., digital television) and then routed to the appropriate peripheral device (e.g. digital VCR) after translation into a universal format.

Abstract: A method for recording and reproducing video and/or audio signals having an additional information item, e.g. a title information item, recorded therein, which additional information item may be subsequently inserted into a video picture during reproduction. The additional information data are converted, thereby producing an executable sub-picture unit, and is recorded in a corresponding sub-picture data pack in addition to the data packs for the video/audio signal. Thus, it is possible to record the additional information data separately without difficulty without necessitating a change to the recording format to the effect that special data packs for the additional information items are included in the planning. The invention also relates to a corresponding recording and reproduction apparatus.