Abstract: In one embodiment a method is disclosed for interacting with a controllable device in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The method receives at a control server, device state data for the controllable device from a first client device in the IPTV network; accesses user interface (UI) data from a database accessible to the control server; reflects the device state data in the UI data at the control server; and sends the UI data from an IPTV server to the first client device. In another embodiment a system is disclosed for interacting with a controllable device in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The system receives at a control server, device state data for the controllable device from a first client device in the IPTV network; accesses user interface (UI) data from a database at the control server; reflects the device state data in the UI at the control server; and sends the UI from an IPTV server to the first client device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus, method, and computer programs for obtaining content from a communications network. One aspect of the disclosure includes: storing an aggregator on a Set Top Box (STB) associated with a television set, wherein the aggregator is adapted to obtain content corresponding to a plurality of feeds from a communications network; displaying the plurality of feeds on the television set in response to a first input received by the STB; accepting at the STB a selection of at least one feed from the plurality of feeds; obtaining content from the communications network corresponding to the selected at least one feed; and providing the obtained content for display on the television set.

Abstract: A system and method of publishing contact information is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a command to publish a collection of contacts to a plurality of recipients, where the collection of contacts is associated with a network address book of a sender. The method also includes receiving a distribution list that identifies the plurality of recipients. Additionally, the method includes sending a notification to each of the plurality of recipients, where the notification includes an invitation to subscribe to the collection of contacts. The method also includes sending the collection of contacts to at least one of the plurality of recipients who subscribes to the collection of contacts.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for receiving a group of video channels at a client device, selecting a display set from the group of channels, and sending a communication to a display for displaying each channel in the display set in parallel wherein each one of the channels in the display set is displayed in one of a plurality of picture in picture (PIP) displays for a predetermined time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for controlling recording of content delivered over a television network. The method includes receiving content over a television network corresponding to a customer identifier, receiving an input corresponding to the customer identifier to block a selected content from recording on a recording device, and blocking the recording of the selected content in response to the received input. The method also may block the recording of the selected content corresponding to any other account associated with the customer identifier. The method may further enable viewing of the selected content on a television set while the content is being blocked from recording.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method that enables a customer to create a favorite list of channels for a main programming list of channels and switch between the favorite list and the main programming list and block any channel on either of the lists.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system, method and computer-readable medium for providing a television service. A group of settings relating to a television service is received from a customer device. A portal is provided to a remote device that enables updating the group of settings. A change to at least one setting is received from the remote device, and the change is made to the at least one setting at the customer device.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment a system and method for processing a tag carried by a video stream are disclosed. The method includes accessing the tag in the video stream, reading a time stamp associated with the tag and processing the tag based on a time indicated by the time stamp. The system accesses a tag in a video stream, reads a time stamp associated with the tag, and runs a script associated with the tag.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing content is provided. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a housing and a wide area network (WAN) connector extending from the housing. The system may also include a graphical user interface (GUI) engine located within the housing. In practice, the GUI engine may be operable to initiate an outputting of a first list navigable with a remote control and a second list navigable with the remote control. The remote control may be a Set Top Box (STB) remote control and the first list may be configured to facilitate remote control-based navigation. The first list may contain an identifier for at least one piece of selectable content, which may be, for example, photographs, videos, songs, etc. The second list may include an alias for at least one available share partner. In practice, a user of the system may want to give a share partner revocable access to some portion of selectable content.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a light of at least two colors to an optical fiber is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source for the at least two colors and a controller that controls the source to generate lights having selected duty cycles.

Abstract: A system and method of processing a satellite signal is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a satellite signal at a receiver, where the satellite signal includes a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) portion and a radio frequency (RF) portion. The method also includes decoding the satellite signal to produce a digital MPEG transport stream signal that includes the MPEG portion, by removing the RF portion from the satellite signal without substantially altering the MPEG portion. The method also includes transmitting the digital MPEG transport stream signal to a vestigial sideband (VSB) modulator, where the VSB modulator transmodulates the digital MPEG transport stream signal to a VSB signal.

Abstract: A router includes tubular segments interconnected to one another. Each tubular segment surrounds an interior which accommodates fiber optic jumpers within the tubular segment. A latch of a first one of the tubular segments connects to a connector hole of a second one of the tubular segments to interconnect the first and second tubular segments.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for informing customers and taking other corrective actions upon the occurrence of a network event that may affect the provision of a network service, such as Internet Service, VOIP, VOD, IPTV etc. The system includes a processor and computer programs that contain instruction that are executed by the processor to determine the occurrence of a network event and its effect on one or more services and on the network elements and sends appropriate messages to the affected customers and call centers and updates relevant databases.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system, method, and computer-readable medium for accessing a feature version at an Internet Protocol (IP) phone. An Extensible Markup Language (XML) code is activated at the IP Phone. A feature selection selected at the IP Phone is associating to a version of the feature using the activated XML code, and the associated feature version is then performed.

Abstract: Based on information specific to a company, a customized Web services development tool kit is automatically generated. The customized Web services development tool kit comprises at least one configuration file customized to the company based on the information, and a Web services test case driver. The customized Web services development tool kit may be used to develop, for the company, a client interface to a Web services system and to test the client interface using the Web services test case driver and the at least one configuration file.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for establishing telephone communication between a calling party and called party wherein the calling party may store a plurality of numbers or identifiers of a called party and initiating a number or identifier of the called party enables the system and method to call multiple numbers of the called party from the stored plurality of numbers.

Abstract: A management system manages multiple multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) virtual private networks (VPNs), the VPNs having overlapping IP addresses. The system includes a storage storing a file that associates a host name with an IP address and a route distinguisher. The host name corresponds to a network element within one of the customer VPNs. The system also includes a label obtaining system that obtains at least one label for the host name based upon the associated IP address and route distinguisher. The system also has a packet construction system that creates packets destined for the network element using the obtained label(s).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for providing content over a television network. The method includes receiving an input that corresponds to a master account, associating the master account with at least one additional account that relates to the provision of content from a content provider and delivering the content over the television network.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system that can receive a group of channels (at least one of which includes an I-frame) from a DSL network, a memory that can store the I-frames, and a channel change detector that can detect a user's selection of a particular channel. If the memory contains the I-frame corresponding to the particular channel and if an I-frame has not been received from the DSL network, then the system provides the stored I-frame from the memory to the user.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for processing a call by receiving caller input in a speech format and utilizing phonemes to convert the speech input into word strings. The word strings are then converted into at least one object and at least one action. A synonym table is utilized to determine actions and objects. Objects generally represent nouns and adjective-noun combinations while actions generally represent verbs and adverb-verb combinations. The synonym table stores natural language phrases and their relationship with actions and objects. The actions and objects are utilized to determine a routing destination utilizing a routing table. The call is routed based on the routing table.