Abstract: A method for providing subscription-on-demand services for video-on-demand programs within an interactive information distribution system. The method includes associating a plurality of video-on-demand programming packages as a programming bundle and identifying a number of video-on-demand programming packages within the programming bundle that a subscriber has subscribed. When the number of video-on-demand programming packages exceeds a pre-specified number of programming packages, the subscriber is automatically subscribed to all the video-on-demand programming packages in the programming bundle.

Abstract: Communication methods between networked cable services system devices are provided. Two or more cable services system set-top boxes may be networked together in a house, business or other facility. Alternatively, two or more set-top boxes may be networked together where the two or more set-top boxes are located remotely from each other and are networked via a cable services system. A first set-top box may be designated and equipped as a proxy server for managing communications between networked set-top boxes and one or more other set-top boxes may be designated and equipped as client devices for communicating with other networked set-top boxes via the proxy server set-top box. One or more communication applications may be deployed on each of the networked set-top boxes for allowing user-to-user communications via the networked set-top boxes, as well as, user-to-set-top box communication via the networked set-top boxes.

Abstract: A system for delivering interactive program guide (IPG) includes a number of encoding units, at least one transport stream generator, and a session manager. The encoding units encode a number of IPG pages and generate a number of (e.g., guide, video, audio, and data) streams, with each stream being assigned a respective packet identifier (PID). Each transport stream generator receives and multiplexes selected ones of the streams from one or more encoding units into one or more transport streams. The session manager directs each transport stream generator to generate one or more transport streams based on usage. The system may further include a bandwidth manager that monitors usage and reports the usage to the session manager. The encoding units can be operated to encode only once each IPG page to be transmitted. Each transport stream generator can be operated to provide differentiated IPG for the neighborhood being served by the transport stream generator.

Abstract: Interactive programming advertising methods and systems are provided. A selectable menu may be provided with a broadcast programming advertisement. The selectable menu may include one or more selectable functions that may allow for a user to interact with the broadcast programming advertisement. Data regarding the user's interaction or non-interaction with the interactive programming advertisement may be collected and utilized for providing a user with a more customized television viewing experience, for targeted programming advertisements, for measurement of new viewer generation data, as well as for other marketing activities directed to the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for emulating cable services delivery are disclosed. One system includes a conditional access network handler emulator comprising a conditional access network handler simulator addressable by one or more applications within an emulation environment. The conditional access network handler emulator also includes a library of conditional access configuration data accessible to a conditional access network handler simulator, the configuration data unassociated with a physical cable card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth within a bandwidth constrained interactive information distribution system. The system determines if a requested information stream may be provided to a requesting subscriber at an appropriate bandwidth level (i.e., appropriate bitrate providing full quality), a minimal bandwidth level (i.e., a reduced bitrate providing minimally acceptable quality) or not at all. Each information stream and any ancillary streams may be stored twice by the system, once at an appropriate encoded bitrate and once at a minimal encoded bitrate.

Abstract: A method for profiling an iTV user. The method comprises gathering user-requested content information from iTV interactions, correlating content-associated profile information from a rating service with the user-requested content information, and developing a profile of the user based on the content-associated profile information correlated with the user-requested content information.

Abstract: Communication capacity of a node served by a host digital terminal is managed by redistributing communication lines among headend modems for the node in the host digital terminal. Each node has a plurality of communication lines connected to one or more headend modems, and the communication lines are distributed among one or more voiceports. A voiceport list build module is responsive to a line distribution input for headend modems connected to the node served by the host digital terminal. The voiceport list build module builds a voiceport redistribution list for redistributing the communication lines connected to the headend modems for the node. A voiceport redistribution module is responsive to the voiceport redistribution list and moves one or more voiceports from the voiceport's current headend modem to another headend modem whereby the communication lines for the node are redistributed among headend modems communicating with the node.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for the communication of a data stream and management of faults in a multipath data network having a protected ring-in-ring network architecture. The data stream is communicated over redundant paths between various nodes located throughout the network. Each node is capable of dropping and inserting data from the data stream before passing it on to the next node. A single transmitter in communication with an intelligent splitter at each node is utilized to simultaneously transmit the data stream over the redundant paths. In the event of a fault over one of the paths in the network, the intelligent splitter manages the operation of the single transmitter so that the data stream is communicated over an alternate path to circumvent the fault.

Abstract: A conditional access control apparatus for inserting descrambling messages and impulse authorizations to enable requesting subscribers to utilize requested scrambled content. The apparatus includes a content and asset storage module for storing content and assets, and a pre-encryption module for encrypting content to be stored in said content device. A transport processor inserts stored content into a forward application transport channel (FATC), and a controller interacts with a requesting subscriber and inserts into the FATC descrambling messages and impulse authorizations enabling the requesting subscriber to utilize requested scrambled content.

Abstract: Techniques to deliver targeted advertisements and multimedia contents to viewers. Various types of advertisements are encoded and transmitted. The advertisements may be targeted for different coverage areas (e.g., national and local levels) and may further include various categories (e.g., kids, sports, business, and so on). At the terminal, one or more advertisements may be selected for display based on various selection schemes. The particular advertisement to be selected for display at a terminal may be based on the terminal's assigned profile or user interaction at the terminal. The profile may be assigned based on the last program viewed at the terminal, a particular filter icon selected at the terminal, the observed television viewing habits of the viewer at the terminal, and so on. The techniques may also be advantageously used for delivery of other multimedia contents and for other applications.

Abstract: Services associated with an order for a wireless device of a wireless subscriber are decomposed into core services and non-core services. Separate provisioning jobs are provided for asynchronously provisioning the core services and the non-core services. Upon successful completion of the provisioning of the core services and without regard to completion of the provisioning of the non-core services, an account for the subscriber is established in a billing system to allow immediate use of the core services by the wireless subscriber and immediate billing for usage of the core services by the wireless subscriber.

Abstract: Content recommendations may be provided. First, in response to a received input and concurrent with a shrunken programming content, a media guide may be displayed. The media guide may comprise a first card, a second card, and a third card. The first card may comprise a plurality of recommendation types. The second card may comprise a plurality of subcategories corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of recommendation types. The third card may comprise a plurality of content program names corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of subcategories. The plurality of content program names may be in an order. Next, in response to a selection of a one of the plurality of content program names, an action card maybe displayed. Then a selected one of the plurality of actions may be executed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing the health of networks and identifying Points of Interest in networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method for analyzing the health of a network is provided. The method may include: receiving status information for multiple network devices associated with a network; and analyzing the status information for at least a portion of the network devices by comparing the statuses of one or more network devices that are located downstream on the network relative to the statuses of one or more network devices that are located upstream on the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for classifying a possible failure in a power network are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving network device status information for multiple network devices in communication with a communications network and capable of receiving primary power from a power network; and determining that a possible power network failure exists based on a first portion of the network devices associated with an inactive status and a second portion of the network devices associated with an active status, wherein the first portion comprises network devices without battery back-up capabilities and the second portion comprises network devices with battery back-up capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating a possible failure on a power network are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include determining that a possible power network failure exists based on a first group of network devices without battery back-up capabilities having an inactive status and a second groups of network devices with battery back-up capabilities having an active status on a communications network, wherein each of the network devices are adapted for receiving at least primary power from a power network; determining addresses for at least a portion of the first or the second groups of network devices; locating the addresses on a power network grid topology; and identifying at least one power network component or power network segment as a possible power network failure location based on locations of the at least a portion of the first or the second groups of network devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for allowing a monitoring party to have intermediary control over a communication between a calling party and a called party. A notification may be sent to a monitoring party of an incoming communication attempt to a called party, and the monitoring party may control the routing and/or processing of the communication based on a real-time response to the notification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand (SOD) services for a interactive information distribution system, where a consumer may subscribe to packages of on-demand programs for a single price and view the programs in the subscribed package at any time for no additional cost. The apparatus and method are embodied in a combination of software, which provides a so called navigator, and hardware, including a subscriber terminal that provides certain functionality for the navigator and service provider equipment that supports the functionality of the terminal. As such, graphical user interface functionality is distributed between the service provider equipment and subscriber equipment (subscriber terminal). Such distribution provides an enjoyable, real time interactive process for accessing SOD services that allows the subscriber to rapidly identify and access a subscription service.

Abstract: A user interface may be provided including a media guide. The media guide may comprise at least two display elements. One of the displayed at least two display elements may comprise an action card. The action card may be configured to display a plurality of actions that can be taken with respect to the one of the plurality of programs. The plurality of actions may include a parental information action.