Abstract: The availability of a new information service is publicized by displaying an icon in an EPG when the presence of a new information service is detected. A list of new services is then displayed responsive to a user command. When one of the new services is selected from the list, a description of the selected new service is displayed instead of the list.

Abstract: A method of transmitting TV signals and bidirectional telephone communication signals on a single optical fiber, existing telephone twisted pair infrastructure, and existing coaxial cable infrastructure. In addition to allowing the downstream transmission of television channels as well as bidirectional telephone communication, the single optical fibers also provides for the upstream travel of television related signals while requiring minimal changes of the existing infrastructure.

Abstract: An interactive broadcast or cable television or radio system, consisting of a television or radio tuner data receiver for receiving telephone number or electronic address data, a memory for storing the telephone number or electronic address data, a visual display for indicating the telephone number or electronic address data is stored, a pushbutton or other activation device for activating retrieval from memory of the stored telephone number or electronic address data and output of the retrieved telephone number or electronic address data to an autodialer or other transmission device to be transmitted to an external location, uses a memory having dual port memory functionality in order for simultaneous or substantially simultaneous retrieval of stored telephone number or electronic address data and storing of newly received telephone number or electronic address data.

Abstract: A cable television system (100) includes ahead end section (105) for processing information provided from subscriber equipment via a reverse path within the system (100). The reverse signal is provided from subscriber equipment in the form of a broadband RF signal, which can include voice, data, and/or video information. The broadband RF signal is provided from a plurality of subscribers to a node (200) that pulse width modulates the RF signal to generate a reverse optical signal. The pulse width modulated optical signal is then provided to the head end section (105) for processing to recover the information contained therein.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method apparatus for performing periodic ranging with a cable modem. It is determined whether an actual power level of the cable modem requires adjustment to a desired power level and it is indicated to the cable modem that it should adjust the actual power level to an adjusted power level that differs from the actual power level of the cable modem by less than or equal to a first dynamic range associated with the cable modem. In one extension of this method, the first dynamic range represents a difference between a modem dynamic range of the actual power level output by the cable modem and a head end dynamic range for recognizing the actual power level output by the cable modem.

Abstract: An access device for use with a cable television communications network and a network utilizing such a device. The network includes a cable head end in communication with a television source and a data source and a trunk feed cable. At least one access device is placed in communication with the trunk feed cable. The access device includes an upstream frequency translator, a communications modem, a television band pass filter, a non-television band pass filter, a downstream frequency and a microprocessor for allocating frequency slots for the subscriber, setting the upstream frequency translator. At least one drop cable is in communication with the access device and a subscriber cable modem. In operation, the subscriber sends a service request from the computer, the subscriber cable modem converts the service request signal from the computer and sends the converted signal through the drop cable to the access device.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically allocating bandwidth on a network bus in an audio/visual network. The present invention implements an intelligent process to automatically make adequate bus bandwidth available when a request for a connection (e.g., a communication channel used to transfer data) between a source device and a sink device is received. First, the present invention determines whether a communication channel is already allocated to the source device, and if so, the connection between the source device and the sink device is made using an overlay of the existing communication channel. Otherwise, the present invention compares the required bus bandwidth capacity for the source device with the available bus bandwidth capacity. Using voluntary and forced load shedding techniques, the present invention deallocates bus bandwidth capacity allocated to one or more of the devices on the audio/visual network if the available bus bandwidth capacity is less than the required bus bandwidth capacity.

Abstract: A multimedia system is described that is capable of recognizing and performing functions based on an) number of rating systems such as the MPAA rating system or the U.S. television rating system. Specifically, the multimedia system stores a data structure representing information regarding each of the ratings in each of the rating systems. Once the rating of a multimedia program is determined, the multimedia system can use this information to perform functions such as providing to the user the information for education purposes, or such as blocking the program.

Abstract: A method of anonymous targeted insertion of indicia into video broadcasts. Individual televisions or other video reception devices are associated with set-top boxes that monitor the usage and viewing habits of the television set or other video reception device. A viewer profile derived from data acquired from said monitoring is created wherein the viewer profile indicates certain characteristics about the viewer. This profile is transmitted to a centralized database, said centralized database being an intermediate link between the origin of the video broadcast and the end viewer. The purpose of the database is to link specific insertable indicia with matching specific viewer profiles. The insertable indicia are encoded directly into the broadcast video and re-broadcast to the end viewer where the set-top box decodes the broadcast video and performs insertion of the indicia. Thus, the system and method allow advertisers to target specific ads or indicia to specific viewing profiles.

Abstract: A video interface circuit reduces loading losses when a video system component, such as a television receiver, is connected to a transmission line by amplifying the video signal with a high frequency amplifier and providing positive feedback of the amplified signal to the cable.

Abstract: Information searching apparatus and method and a transmission medium with which an edition point can be detected simply from coded data without decoding all the coded data. Particularly, in the present invention, an audio signal is divided into plural blocks on the frequency axis every predetermined time (every predetermined frame), and a scale factor serving as a floating coefficient and a word length are coded as a parameter. In a recording medium are recorded coded audio data and the parameters together with the number Ni of the parameters. In a high-speed searching operation, the parameter number Ni is extracted, and a frame for which the parameter Ni varies stepwise is detected as the edition point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces. Initially, setup data is placed on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces. A status flag is broadcast to the user interfaces to indicate that the setup data has been placed on the broadcast carousel. Real time data is broadcast to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time. Electronic programme guide (EPG) data indicating a scheduled start time for the scheduled interactive application is further broadcast to the user interfaces.

Abstract: An electronic program guide executing in a set top box provides real-time guide EIT information to users for periods beyond the six hours of conventional systems. Each transport providing information to the set top box contains a predetermined number of hours of full EIT data and a predetermined number of days of sparse EIT data. The sparse EIT data allows users to see information for programming in real time days into the future without having to tune to a different transport.

Abstract: An arrangement for TV broadcasting outdoor events or the like via a mobile unit (34), which is connected via cables (30, 11, 20) to devices (12, 21, 22) for supplying and/or receiving video, audio or control signals and accommodates corresponding apparatuses (34a) for processing these signals, achieves a reduction in the number of cables and realizes new services, by providing at least one coupling station (10) in which separate optical waveguides (11, 20), outgoing from the individual devices (12, 21, 22), are coupled to a light-wave broadband cable (30), the light-wave broadband cable (30) being connected to a docking station (31) for transferring source signals, the devices (12, 21, 22) and the docking station (31) having electro-optical transducer elements (32) for converting the source signals, and the docking station being connectable to the mobile unit (34).

Abstract: A system and method for selecting programs based on the past selection history of an identified user that allows the identified user to “surf” directly between desired programs. The system includes a head-end server operable to receive program signals from a programming source, and a user input apparatus, such as a remote controller, which is operable to generate an input signal indicating the identity of a user and an input signal indicating a degree of a selection preference. The system further includes at least one set-top box having a program receiver to receive the program signals from the head-end server, and a user input receiver for receiving the input signals from the user input apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enables a user to store event information while watching a television broadcast is disclosed. The event information is transmitted to a server, preferably via the Internet. Based on the event information, the server determines which program the user was watching when the event information was stored, and the time within that program. Based on the determined program and time, the server determines an assortment of goods and services that were displayed on the user's television when the event information was stored. This assortment is presented to the user, preferably via the Internet.

Abstract: Reliable transmission of signals in a multi-channel system is achieved by transferring signal inputs from a defectively operating or inoperative transmitter to another transmitter which continues to transmit other channels. At least two transmitters are operated normally, each transmitting its own block of channels. A sensor detects when the output of one transmitter is improper or non-existent, and causes a change-over switch to operate. Operation of the switch adds the block of channels which had come from the one transmitter to the other (or one or more) of the transmitters, so that the remaining transmitter or transmitters now provide all the channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a user to manually set a clock in a multi-format television receiver capable of receiving a plurality of television signals. The method comprises the steps of selecting a television signal from one of a plurality of television signals and then detecting temporal information in the television signal. Upon detecting such temporal information, the temporal information is extracted and used to set at least one clock to count time. Once the clock is set based upon the temporal information, the temporal information prevails over any manually set time, and the user is precluded from manually setting the clock. The television receiver continues to update the clock based upon the latest periodic temporal information periodically sent with the television signal. The user is permitted to manually set the time on a clock only in an instance where the updated temporal information has not been detected past a specified period of time.

Abstract: On an information record medium, information to be reproduced by an information reproducing apparatus connected to an external apparatus is recorded.

Abstract: A novel mechanism is disclosed by which a sender can direct information such as an audiovisual signal to a particular recipient's audiovisual display device, such as a cable television set and, thereby, share information between the sender and the recipient. In one embodiment of the invention, a calling party originates a telephone call and associates that telephone call with audio-visual information that exists on the caller's personal computer or on an Internet server. The called party answers the call, and can tune an associated cable television to the appropriate channel in order to view the audio-visual information. The caller can modify the audio-visual information during the call. Accordingly, the current invention ties together the telephone, cable, and IP networks in a manner that does not require large investments from cable or telephone service providers.