Abstract: A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) including a plurality of tuners, each of which can select one of a plurality of transmission channels provided by a Digital Broadband Delivery System (DBDS). The multiple tuners enable the DHCT to tune to a plurality of downstream media and data transmissions, thereby allowing a subscriber to tune simultaneously to multiple channels and content transmitted in the downstream transmission via the DBDS, an advantage over conventional DHCTs. The present invention enables subscribers to receive and view multiple channels and associated content, including electronic program guide information, at will. Furthermore, using the multiple-tuner DHCT of the present invention, subscribers can view multiple television stations and program content simultaneously, without degradation to television signals or pictures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery system are disclosed. One example method includes receiving information describing subscriber requests for content delivery, receiving bandwidth allocation criteria, and processing the information describing subscriber requests and the bandwidth allocation criteria according to a statistical model. The bandwidth allocation criteria comprise at least one of subscriber pricing information, content delivery mode information, and program content information. The processing produces a bandwidth allocation schedule in which one of a plurality of content delivery modes is assigned to each of a plurality of digital transmission channels for each of a plurality of time periods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training voice activation control of electronic equipment are disclosed. One example method includes receiving a selection corresponding to at least one command used to control the electronic equipment. The method further includes instructing a user to speak, and responsive to the instruction, receiving a digitized speech stream. The method further includes segmenting the speech stream into speech segments, storing at least one of the speech segments as an entry in a dictionary, and associating the dictionary entry with the selected command.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed of a network including a primary device, a plurality of remote devices, and a shared peripheral device. The network allows the remote devices to operate the peripheral device, such as a DVD player, VCR, or camcorder, via the primary device and the network. The peripheral device is typically connected to the primary device and shared among all devices. The network also includes a splitter/isolation module (SIM) that routes the signals between the primary device and the plurality of remote devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing objects to a remote digital home communication terminal (remote DHCT) via a gateway device located at a customer premises. One such method, among others, includes receiving a message from a remote DHCT requesting a carousel object, receiving the carousel object from a server device, and transmitting the carousel object to the remote DHCT.

Abstract: A fiber management system for managing fiber optic cables within an enclosure. The fiber management system includes a trough having a plurality of slots for receiving and detachably retaining connectors of the fiber optic cables. A spool is coupled to the trough for coiling the excess length of the fiber optic cables. The trough is fixedly mounted to the inside of the enclosure to allow access to the interior of the enclosure without movement of trough without the fiber optic cables becoming entangled.

Abstract: In a subscriber television system with a host terminal, the present invention allows the identification of the individual packets from two separate MPEG transport streams that have been multiplexed together for decoding by a single external conditional access or point-of-deployment (POD) module. The decoding of individual packets from two separate MPEG transport streams supports the use of multiple tuner host terminals for such functions as picture-in-picture (PIP) program viewing and the viewing of one program while recording a second program.

Abstract: A cable television system (100) having forward and reverse paths includes, in the reverse path, a digital optical transmitter (200) for receiving an RF signal, converting it to a digital signal, and adding a digital pilot tone thereto. A laser is driven in accordance with the summed digital signal to generate a digital optical signal representative of the pilot tone and the RF signal. The cable television system (100) also includes an optical receiver (305) for receiving the digital optical signal and recovering therefrom the RF signal and the pilot tone. The optical transmitter (200) and receiver (305) are coupled by fiber optic communication media (110).

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically pricing viewing options in a digital broadband communication network by receiving bandwidth allocation information from a bandwidth allocation manager and dynamically assigning a price criterion to each of a group of viewing options based at least in part on the bandwidth allocation information. The group of viewing options may, for example, comprise a reservation option, a normal-play option, a random access option, an on-demand random access option, and an adjust preference option. In addition, the method may optionally comprise receiving a subscriber request related to at least one viewing option selected from the group of viewing options and transmitting a price criterion for the viewing option to the subscriber in response to the subscriber request.

Abstract: An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and/or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Furthermore, the architecture allows a central concentrator to support a plurality of remote devices that each have guaranteed bandwidth through connection-oriented allocations of bi-directional data flows. The upstream and downstream bandwidth allocation can support symmetrical bandwidth as well as asymmetrical bandwidth in either direction. The architecture generally can be used to support connection-oriented physical layer connectivity between a remote device and the central concentrator.

Abstract: A modem apparatus including means for communicating authentication information of a host along a first path to prompt a first validation for receiving data over the first path, and means for communicating identifying information of the modem apparatus and a request for network resource allocation over the first path to prompt a second validation after the first validation, the second validation enabling the reception of data over a second path that has a higher rate of transmission than the first path.

Abstract: The present invention comprises customizable, multimedia messaging over a subscriber television system, such as a cable or satellite system, utilizing a service independent framework. The present invention comprises a multimedia messaging (MMM) server generally located at a headend of a cable or satellite system, and an MMM client at a communications terminal located remotely with respect to the MMM server. A service provider or operator defines a message configuration that is utilized to present the message content to one or more subscribers. The message configuration includes parameters that control the presentation of the message content. The MMM server receives an MMM request from a service application, and in response thereto, generates an MMM request which is sent to the communications terminal, and more particularly, to the MMM client. The MMM client processes the MMM request, including the retrieval of any message content or the message configuration.

Abstract: A method for providing television advertising includes receiving user input for selecting an advertising parameter and providing a user with an advertisement corresponding to the advertising parameter.

Abstract: A method for implementing trick mode functionality includes storing a video stream and information related to the video stream in memory, receiving a request for a trick mode operation, decoding a plurality of undecoded dependent frames to create a decoded frame, and outputting the decoded frame.

Abstract: A method for implementing trick mode functionality includes storing a video stream and information related to the video stream in memory, receiving a request for a trick mode operation, decoding a plurality of undecoded dependent frames to create a decoded frame, and outputting the decoded frame.

Abstract: Systems and method for encapsulating an MPEG program stream in an MPEG transport stream are disclosed. In one embodimen comprises the steps of: receiving a plurality of elementary streams, each of the elementary streams divided into access units; and generating an MPEG transport stream which encapsulates an MPEG program stream by combining, in order, a program stream pack header, a packetized elementary stream (PES) packet produced from one of the elementary streams, and a PES padding stream packet. so that total size of the pack header, PES packet and PES padding stream packet is equal to a size derived from a predefined pack size.

Abstract: A television menu system generates a television menu that is context sensitive based upon a service currently being provided to a user. In one implementation, a type of television service currently being viewed by a user determines whether particular menu items are presented to the user. In another implementations, determining which channel is being provided dictates whether particular menu options are included.

Abstract: An attenuator pad adapter for utilizing a replacement attenuator pad in place of another attenuator pad intended for use on a printed circuit board. The attenuator pad adapter has a body portion with a plurality of pins extending from one of its ends that correspond with pins of the originally intended attenuator pad. A slot in an opposite end is configured to detachably receive an end of the replacement attenuator pad. Openings in the slot receive pins on an end of the replacement attenuator pad. The pins of the replacement attenuator pad electrically interconnect connect with the pins extending from the body portion of the attenuator pad adapter. The pins of the replacement attenuator pad are arranged differently than the pins extending from either the body portion or the originally intended attenuator pad.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for requesting additional forward error correction, when needed, in a communication system. In one exemplary embodiment, among others, a method includes receiving a first set of data packets and a first amount of forward error correction (FEC) from an upstream transmitting device. The method also includes determining whether or not the first amount of FEC is sufficient to correct any detected errors with respect to the data packets. Then, an error indication is transmitted to the upstream transmitting device when the first amount of FEC is not sufficient to correct the detected errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing forward error correction are disclosed in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises transmitting a stream of data packets to a receiver and transmitting a first amount of forward error correction (FEC) to the receiver. The first amount of FEC is designed to restore a first number of dropped data packets. The method also includes a receiving a message from the receiver that the first amount of FEC is not sufficient to restore a detected number of dropped data packets, and then transmitting additional FEC to restore the detected number of dropped data packets.