Abstract: Exemplary surface debris removal systems and methods are operable to remove debris from a signal transmitting/receiving surface. An embodiment provides power to, and then removes power from, a conductive memory wire that is secured to a moveable portion of a two-position snap spring. In response to providing the power to the conductive memory wire, a length of the conductive memory wire decreases so that the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring is pulled from an extended position to a retracted position. When power is removed from the conductive memory wire, the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring moves from the retracted position to the extended position. In response to the moving of the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring from the retracted position to the extended position, an energy is generated and transferred to the surface that dislodges the debris from the surface.

Abstract: Scene-based program accessing systems and methods are operable to present a program at a scene corresponding to a selected thumbnail-sized image. An exemplary embodiment selects a plurality of image frames from a program based upon a scene separation duration; generates a thumbnail-sized image from each of the selected image frames, and presents the plurality of thumbnail-sized images on a scene index. The scene index is configured to present the plurality of thumbnail-sized images in a time ordered sequence corresponding to a subject matter presentation sequence of the program, and each of the selected image frames are temporally separated from each other by the scene separation duration.

Abstract: A set-top-box is provided for receiving broadcast media content and processing said content for presentation on a display. A processor 304 of the STB is configured to receive, from between a router circuit and a modem circuit, data packets sent over a local network. The data packets are sent to or from a local internet connected user device via the router as part of the local network. The processor is further configured to analyse the received data packets to determine whether they contain undesired content and, if so, to control the display to present an indicator containing at least one property of the detected undesired content. Because the STB is coupled to a display that tends to be the main display in a household, the indicator is more likely to be seen and acted on by a responsible party, thus parents will be more easily able to monitor the activity of their children when they use user devices to access the internet over a home network.

Abstract: A video services receiver and related operating method relate to the recording and presentation of program content. A disclosed operating method records at least a portion of a program event that is identified by program-designating information, resulting in a first recording. The method continues by determining that the first recording represents an incomplete recording of the program event, finding a repeated instantiation of the program event that is identified by the program-designating information, and recording at least a portion of the repeated instantiation of the program event, to obtain a second recording. Thereafter, a complete recording of the program event is presented, wherein the complete recording of the program event comprises the second recording of the program event.

Abstract: Various arrangements for organizing search results within an electronic programming guide of a television programming device are presented. A search string may be received by a television programming device from an end-user. A set of television programming information stored by a storage device local to the television programming device may be searched using the search string. Each search result, as presented to an end-user, may be accented by a color defined to convey a relationship between the search string and the search result.

Abstract: A receiver receives a request for content associated with a channel, determines that all channel selectors are in use, selects a set of options, and transmits the set to a presentation device. The receiver may then fulfill the request utilizing a selected option. All available channel selectors may be in use because they are tuned to frequency bands of a broadcast signal to record content and data associated the channel is included in a different frequency band. The set of options may include options to stop the current recording in favor of the requested content and options to present content included in a same frequency band to which a tuner is already tuned. In one or more implementations, the receiver may determine that content currently being recorded will be rebroadcast at a later time and may include notifications indicating such and/or options to record the content at the later time.

Abstract: A content player presents content and determines to record an associated macro. The content player detects inputs and includes the inputs along with corresponding times in the macro. When the content player subsequently provides access to the content, the content player executes the macro, executing the inputs at the corresponding times. In some cases, a number of the inputs may be associated with a single operation and the operation may be recorded instead of the individual inputs. In some cases, the content player may record an input unless a prior indication is received specifying not to include the next input. In other cases, the content player may only record an input if a prior indication is received specifying to include the next input. In one or more implementations, the content player may provide access to one or more recorded macros so that the macros may be edited.

Abstract: Enhanced history buffer systems and methods are operable to temporarily store program content for program events. An exemplary embodiment receives program content corresponding to each of the plurality of program events, generates a unique discrete program content file in the enhanced history buffer for each of the plurality of program events, and stores the received program content for each of the plurality of program events in the associated one of the discrete program content files. Each discrete program content file begins at a known starting location in the enhanced history buffer and ends at a known ending location in the enhanced history buffer.

Abstract: A television receiver receives a programming signal including programming content and EPG data. The television receiver receives a request for an EPG display. The television receiver modifies the EPG data for one or more records in the EPG data which include content ratings that exceed a ratings lock setting of the television receiver. The television receiver may modify the EPG data for one or more records in a variety of different manners depending on a variety of different factors associated with the records. The television receiver then generates the EPG display from the modified EPG data and transmits the generated EPG display to a display device. The modification of the EPG data may prevent display of objectionable content in the EPG display and/or may indicate that the records correspond to blocked programs.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for identifying a particular user of an receiver, such as a set-top box or receiver. A user is identified by the manner in which she uses an input device, such a wireless remote. Each individual user of the receiver is assigned a profile that includes values for a number of information points that serve to distinguish the user from other users of the receiver. With a user identified through tracking of her usage of a input device, customized content such as target advertisements or programming suggestions may be provided.

Abstract: A media content receiving device, such as a set top box, includes a thermally conductive chassis having at least one panel with opposing surfaces. One of the opposing surfaces is exposed to an ambient environment. A circuit board located within the chassis includes at least one integrated circuit chip. A thermally conductive heat transferring unit is bonded to and in thermal conductive contact with the chip. The heat transferring unit is arranged to transfer heat from the chip to the at least one panel of the chassis while minimizing radiant heat transfer proximate the chip. The heat transferring unit may be biased toward the panel.

Abstract: Scene-based program accessing systems and methods are operable to present a program at a scene corresponding to a selected thumbnail-sized image. An exemplary embodiment selects a plurality of image frames from a program based upon a scene separation duration; generates a thumbnail-sized image from each of the selected image frames, and presents the plurality of thumbnail-sized images on a scene index. The scene index is configured to present the plurality of thumbnail-sized images in a time ordered sequence corresponding to a subject matter presentation sequence of the program, and each of the selected image frames are temporally separated from each other by the scene separation duration.

Abstract: One implementation of the present invention may take the form of a system for a hard disc drive counter-vibration device that may absorb rotational vibration or gyration of the hard disc drive module. This mounting device may incorporate at least one soft, plastic sphere and a pair of concave dished surfaces, configured to face each other and maintain the sphere between them. The sphere of the counter-vibration assembly may support the hard disc drive (HDD) while the weight of the HDD may align the dishes with each other and over the sphere. In this manner, the sphere may act as a spring and allow the HDD to vibrate or gyrate without transmitting the mechanical movement to the rest of the HDD assembly or electronic device.

Abstract: Exemplary surface debris removal systems and methods are operable to remove debris from a signal transmitting/receiving surface. An embodiment provides power to, and then removes power from, a conductive memory wire that is secured to a moveable portion of a two-position snap spring. In response to providing the power to the conductive memory wire, a length of the conductive memory wire decreases so that the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring is pulled from an extended position to a retracted position. When power is removed from the conductive memory wire, the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring moves from the retracted position to the extended position. In response to the moving of the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring from the retracted position to the extended position, an energy is generated and transferred to the surface that dislodges the debris from the surface.

Abstract: A television receiver receives a programming signal including programming content and EPG data. The television receiver receives a request for an EPG display. The television receiver modifies the EPG data for one or more records in the EPG data which include content ratings that exceed a ratings lock setting of the television receiver. The television receiver may modify the EPG data for one or more records in a variety of different manners depending on a variety of different factors associated with the records. The television receiver then generates the EPG display from the modified EPG data and transmits the generated EPG display to a display device. The modification of the EPG data may prevent display of objectionable content in the EPG display and/or may indicate that the records correspond to blocked programs.

Abstract: A method and system for media content playback and storage utilizes a set-top box including a processor and a storage device. The set-top box is in a system receiving media content which includes a display for displaying the received media content. On receipt, the received media content is associated with stored media content having a common title. A logical order for the received media content relative to the stored media content is determined, in accordance with a determined identifier. If it is determined that the received media content has been accessed for playback the received media content is automatically deleted after it has been played back.

Abstract: A method for displaying the progress of an activity performed on a user device is provided. The method includes outputting a progress indicator indicative of the progress made in completing an activity and updating the progress indicator as the activity proceeds. Simultaneously, a first progress rate indicator is also output to the display, the progress rate indicator having a property indicative of the rate at which the activity is being progressed. The property of the progress rate indicator is based on a value determined by receiving a rate value indicative of the activity progress rate and comparing the rate value with a value indicative of the maximum progress rate of the user device for the particular activity. A corresponding apparatus and computer program for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products utilize a content receiver to generate a dynamically modifiable expanded programming guide with a grid containing a plurality of regions. Each region is associated with a plurality of channels over a timeframe. The content receiver transmits the expanded programming guide to a content display. The grid may be utilized to navigate through regions and therefore across a large amount of programming information associated with a wide range of channels and timeframes. The content receiver may transmit a magnified view of the expanded programming guide and may display content-related information associated with a subset of regions for the associated channels and timeframes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an enhanced EPG or EPG banner are described. A method of displaying first and second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, the method comprising receiving the first audiovisual content at a media playback device, receiving the second audiovisual content at the media playback device from a remote content system over a packet-based data network, in response to user input, outputting the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen, and controlling the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently. A method of controlling a screen, the display being operable in different modes according to whether a PiP window is shown, and whether currently broadcast or future content is shown.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program for displaying video and accompanying text data on a display are provided. The method includes receiving media content that includes video and determining whether text data associated with the video is to be presented on the display alongside the video. If associated text data is not to be presented, then the video content is output as normal, with the video content occupying a first area of the display (such as the entire display). If associated text data is to be presented, then the video output is automatically resized such that the video occupies a smaller area of the display, and the associated text data is automatically displayed alongside the video. By allowing for dynamic resizing it is possible to display subtitles or closed captions alongside portions of video content without obscuring the video.