Abstract: A digital television broadcast signal receiver connected to a multi-directional antenna carries out in advance automatic scanning for each channel to determine and store the strength of a signal received in each of multiple receiving directions of the antenna, a best receiving direction, and a maximum value of the received signal strengths, normalize the received signal strengths measured in the respective directions with respect to the maximum received signal strength, and produce and store an antenna direction level pattern including a bar graph that shows the received signal strengths in the respective directions with the normalized values used as the amplitude. In response to a command from a user, the receiver superimposes the level pattern on a video image being received for display on a display screen, so that a user can select a receiving direction on the screen.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: A set-top box, which allows a user to input a key command in real time while displaying an animation sequence on an on-screen display (OSD) screen, and a method of outputting the OSD data of the set-top box is provided. The set-top box includes OSD control module that divides OSD animation data into a plurality of subsets, loads each of the subsets in every operating cycle, determines whether a user has input a key command in every operating cycle, and selectively provides the loaded subsets based on the determination result in every operating cycle, wherein the OSD animation data realizes an animation sequence when displayed. The set-top box further includes a combination control module that receives the loaded subsets of the OSD animation data from the OSD control module and overlays the data onto the decoded broadcast signal and provides the overlaid result to a display device.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: A MHP terminal device is provided with a network functionality. In addition to a broadcast interface for receiving a broadcast transport stream, the MHP terminal device comprises a local network interface. Via said interface, the MHP terminal device is connected to a local network, to which other network devices are connected as well. MHP applications can be inserted into local network transport streams transmitted from said network devices to said MHP terminal device. By means of these MHP applications, the network devices can be remotely controlled from the MHP terminal device, whereby commands and messages are exchanged via the local network.

Abstract: In a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network using a Set Top Box (STB) or a cable modem, the cable STB or the cable modem includes respective High-Pass Filters (HPFs) having different passband frequencies to transmit an upstream signal from the cable STB or the cable modem to the HFC network through paths having different passband frequencies depending on states of the HFC network so that the upstream frequency band of 5 to 42 MHz is available.

Abstract: In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, a broadcast program stream is transmitted to broadcast programming content, and the broadcast program stream is recorded in a headend of the system to enable a user to perform network private video recorder (NPVR) functions (e.g., rewinding, pausing, and fast-forwarding) on the programming content in the recorded program stream. In accordance with the invention, a delay is introduced into the transmission of the broadcast program stream to reduce the unsynchronization between its transmission and that of the recorded program stream. In an illustrative embodiment, the amount of the delay is a function of the time required for recording the broadcast program stream and processing a user request for a recorded program stream. In another embodiment, the amount of the delay is predetermined.

Abstract: A resource manager transforms the MPEG7 descriptors into an active and composite storage, processing, and presentation component in a storage area network (e.g. iSCSI). The active component can enable fast search and retrival operation directly on the logical disk blocks which maps well with the multimedia video stream and images data. It can also support content addressable search on the video and image files and play the media blocks directly. In addition, it enables a dynamic configuration of a media processing function after it is loaded in an execution environment. The data block is moved from the iSCSI interface directly into processing modules and presentation modules via decoder, buffer, and constraint control units.

Abstract: In order to switch the transmission medium between the Internet and broadcast waves, reception/playback of communication data received via first media, such as via the Internet from an external device, and broadcast data received via second media, such as via a broadcast network from a broadcast station, is switched.

Abstract: An electronic program table processing apparatus can obtain the number of receivable channels M and the standard number of channels N displayable on one screen. When EPG display data is generated, the apparatus examines whether or not the number M is smaller than the number N. If so, the apparatus generates the EPG to display the program information for M channels on one screen. If not, the apparatus generates the EPG to display the program information for N channels on one screen.

Abstract: The streams from a plurality of VBR coders or generic data sources (31) are multiplexed to a single stream by a multiplexer (32), while inserting null packets to make their bit-rates uniform. A null-packet eliminator (60) removes the null packets from the stream, while signaling their positions, and inputs the stream to an ACM modulator (62) which codes the stream with the maximum ruggedness allowed by the rate of the incoming useful packets, and transmits the stream over a satellite channel. In the receiving station, the stream is demodulated by an ACM demodulator (64), and the null packets are re-inserted into the stream by a re-inserter (66), based on the received signaling. A bit-rate control circuit (72) receives from the transmitting station, over a return channel, a signaling of the quality of the received signal (QoS) and modifies the bit-rate of the VBR coders or generic data sources (31) accordingly.

Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Abstract: A television system comprises an electronic program guide (EPG) including a picture-in-picture (PIP) window and means for returning to a last channel viewed full screen (LCF) in a television viewing mode prior to entering the guide mode. The EPG displays a program list including a listing for the LCF and text identifying it as such. This last channel listing is positioned at the top of a program list area in the guide. The viewer returns directly to the LCF in the television viewing mode by setting a cursor to the last channel listing prior to exiting the guide mode. In guides including listings for future programs, the last channel listing remains in a designated position of the program list area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording a signal received by a home entertainment system that includes multiple consumer electronics devices interconnected to a central electronics device in a hub and spoke configuration. The configuration allows all signals in the home entertainment system to be accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. By way of example, any signal can be routed to a recording system, where it can be recorded. The signal is coupled with information from an electronic programming guide that details specific programming. An automatic determination is made as to whether or not there exists enough free space on a recording medium to record a specific program. Upon recording the program on the recording medium, an index is updated on the recording medium from the electronic programming guide information and from the location of the program on the recording medium.

Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes a plurality of seat electronic boxes (SEBs) spaced throughout the aircraft. Each SEB is configurable for passing a registration token along to an adjacent SEB. Cabling connects the SEBs together in a daisy chain configuration. Registration circuitry is connected to the cabling for identifying a location of each SEB based upon passing of the registration token among the plurality of SEBs.

Abstract: Scheduling functionality is described for resolving conflicts in the schedules of respective client devices, where the schedules are used to govern the recordation of media programs by the respective client devices. The client devices use virtual tuner functionality to receive media programs over respective communication channels, each channel having a prescribed amount of available bandwidth in which to receive media information. The scheduling functionality includes a conflict identification module for identifying conflicts in the schedules, a solution enumeration module for enumerating solutions to the conflicts, and a conflict resolution module for resolving the conflicts based on the output of the solution enumeration module. In one case, the schedules can be partitioned into a plurality of time segments, and solutions can be enumerated for each time segment in turn.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for distributing same/different digital broadcasting streams in a heterogeneous home network and a method thereof The apparatus includes a home gateway, and a home server, connected to the home gateway through Ethernet and also connected to a PC, a second IP STB, a 1394 STB, an HAS (Home Auto System) and an HDTV receiver, for outputting a ground-wave broadcast, a satellite broadcast and a cable broadcast to their HDTV receivers, respectively, through the second IP STB and the 1394 STB if the ground-wave broadcast, the satellite broadcast and the cable broadcast are received through coaxial cables, interworking with the HAS in order to control home appliances, and directly outputting the broadcast to the HDTV receiver through a built-in STB function.

Abstract: Scheduling functionality is employed at a head-end site to update schedules used by a plurality of respective client devices to define the recording of media presentation events. The scheduling functionality operates by: compiling a master list of unique entries culled from the plurality of schedules; determining whether any entries in the master list require updating; and updating, based on the determining, at least one of the plurality of schedules. The scheduling functionality helps reduce the amount of redundant processing operations involved in updating the plurality of schedules, and therefore provides an efficient technique for updating the schedules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access to programing that is available from multiple programming sources. One embodiment is an integrated terrestrial and satellite television system having a single password set such that a user can enter a single password to activate both satellite and terrestrial television components of the system.

Abstract: A data carousel contains multiple data files having a particular arrangement. These files are cyclically broadcast to a number of receivers of the data files. A procedure modifies the arrangement of data files based on information obtained from receivers of the data files.