Abstract: A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile.

Abstract: A method for generating a Set Top Box (STB) code download step sequence includes the steps of retrieving a code object from a Software Download Generator (SDG) memory in response to an instruction signal, generating at least one of a control message and a decoder conditional command using a SDG processor in response to the code object, accessing information in a channel map in the SDG memory, combining the at least one of a control message and a decoder conditional command with the code object to generate the STB code download step sequence for a target STB, transmitting the at least one STB code download step sequence from the SDG memory to a Digital Addressable Controller (DAC), re-transmitting the STB code download step sequence from the DAC to a Remote Addressable DANIS/DLS (RADD), and re-transmitting the STB code download step sequence from the RADD to the target STB.

Abstract: A self-install model for installing digital telephony services at a user premises uses a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication (“DECT”) system having a base station and a cordless telephone. The self-install model enables the activation of telephony services at the user premises automatically through an Internet Protocol network of a service provider such that the user is able to make and receive calls at the user premises over a communication network upon activation of the telephony services. The self-install model involves pre-tests to ensure signal strength of the connection between the user premises and the communication network; acceptance by the user to the service provider's terms and conditions for providing the telephony services to the user premises by way of messages from the service provider being displayed on the cordless handset; activation of the telephony services by the service provider; and post-install service verification tests.

Abstract: A system and method for managing communication. The system and method applying to but not limited to settop boxes (STBs) and other devices used to interface services. The management including any number of features and processes associated with achieving Quality of Service (QoS) across different domains and according to network limitations associated with the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the use of audio, video and audiovisual content are provided. A data structure includes content usage rights for multiple release windows. The usage rights may be encoded in the content or otherwise bound to the content. Playback devices are configured to access the appropriate usage rights and control usage in accordance with the usage rights.

Abstract: A media recording element having capabilities to facilitate recording media for subsequent playback. The recording element further including features associated with limiting operations of a hard drive or other similarly mechanical memory under certain operating conditions so as to limit power consumption and/or memory degradation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to content searching of various databases in an interactive television network; caching programming for rebroadcasting to interactive television network subscribers; and interactively offering goods and services referred to in broadcast programming to interactive television network subscribers.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile.

Abstract: A method and system of limiting recording demands on digital video recorders and other media records. The limiting being facilitated through analysis of programs and other media available from one or more network resources associated with and/or having capabilities to provide media to the recording element. The network resources may be associated with provider resources, customer resources, and/or any other resource in communication with the recording element.

Abstract: A system for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the system includes a TV service provider headend and a set top box (STB). The HDTV may have an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect. The STB may be electrically coupled to the headend and have an STB DVI interconnect. When the HDTV DVI interconnect is initially electrically coupled to the STB DVI interconnect, the HDTV generally presents a data signal to the STB and the STB generally presents the data signal to the headend.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning network elements, such as but not limited to the type of network elements used in cable television system to facilitate subscriber access to services. The provisioning may be accomplished without communications between multiple provisioning servers. This allows the provisioning to be conducted in a stateless manner.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for configuring network devices are provided. Aspects of the invention relate to novel QoS configuration parameters and methods for using QoS configuration parameters to reduce impacts caused by security breach within a network. In one embodiment, a QoS configuration parameter is selected from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database based upon unique identifying information of a network device and a status signal. In one embodiment, each configuration parameter comprises at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device and a second parameter configurable to alter the ability of the network device to communicate with another device in the network. Further aspects of the invention relate to providing improved services to an end user. In one embodiment, services may be customized to an end user and allow increased flexibility for both the service provider and the end user.

Abstract: A content storage method and system for use in a content distribution network are provided. A personal file locker is established on the network for a user. A content-storage-request database is established. The database tracks requests by the user for placing video programs into the user's file locker for personal use by the user. Upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user's file locker, the requested video program is stored in the user's file locker. The stored video program is then made available to the user for viewing. Alternative approaches to content storage methods and systems are also described, including the use of a buffer enhancement to enable the performance of operations on “live” television.

Abstract: A method of initializing, provisioning, and managing a cable modem and a customer premise equipment device includes, prior to receiving the configuration file for the cable modem, providing an equipment identification message containing a description of the customer premise equipment device connected to the cable modem. In the case where the cable modem has yet to be provisioned, the configuration file received from the network server is a particular access-limiting configuration file that is selected from a group of access-limiting configuration files. The selection of the particular access-limiting configuration file is based on the description of the customer premise equipment device in the equipment identification message. This allows different devices to have different network restrictions or different walled gardens.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for providing at least one electronic application to at least one device. In one embodiment, the method includes acquiring device information that relates to the device and determining whether the device supports the at least one application based on the device information. The method may further include generating an electronic message for the device wherein the message contains at least one link for acquiring the at least one application when the device supports the application.

Abstract: Automated booting of a client for a subscriber is provided for clients that are for use in interactive user sessions that involve multimedia. A subscribe message is sent from the client to a proxy server. The proxy server authenticates the subscribe message, and sends the subscribe message to the configuration server. A notify message is sent to the client from the configuration server. The notify message is sent through the proxy server, and contains a location of a profile for the client. The profile is downloaded to the clients. This arrangement allows the persistence of profiles in a centralized place.

Abstract: Method of predicting capacity demands on a desired device used to support services for a number of subscribers within a market area having a number of devices. The method includes predicting the capacity demands as a function of historical capacity demands for the desired device and average subscriber capacity demands on the number of devices in the market area.

Abstract: A method for provisioning subscribers, products, and services in a broadband network includes establishing a directory system for storing information about a plurality of subscribers. The directory system includes a subscriber namespace and a device namespace. A subscriber is added by instantiating a subscriber object for the subscriber in the subscriber namespace. Each available service has its own state in the directory system to provide a multi-state provisioning system that permits granular management services.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for distributing digital images to a user. The system includes an image capture device for creating digital images, and at least one image server in communication with the image capture device via a communication network, such as the Internet. The image server is operable to receive and store the digital images transmitted from the image capture device. At least one programmable software agent in communication with the image server via the communication network automatically selects a subset of the digital images provided by the image server for distribution to the user. The system further includes one or more display devices for displaying the digital images selected by the software agent.