Abstract: Systems and methods for carrying a serial digital video stream over an optical network such as an optical network employing SONET/SDH or G.709. For example, serial digital video data formatted in accordance with ANSI/SMPTE 259 M-1997 may be carried. Also, a common interface may be provided for both serial digital video streams and packetized digital video data such as DVB-ASI data.

Abstract: Memory is allocated to record a program being broadcast proportional to its remainder in a client device having a processor in communication with a receiver. The processor executes an application to allocate space in the memory to record the remainder of the broadcast of the program being received by the receiver that has a predetermined time length. The executing application obtains the predetermined time length from the broadcast received by the receiver and derives the remainder of the broadcast of the program from the present time and the predetermined time length obtained from the broadcast. The space can be logically erased prior to its allocation. A video recorder records the broadcast of the program being received by the receiver in the space in the memory. A video playback device plays back the recorded broadcast of the program from the space in the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus in a digital network receives digital packets, such as MPEG packets, included in at least one input transport stream and outputs a plurality of modulated output transport streams. The apparatus determines whether the input transport streams include packets that are for multicasting from a plurality of the modulators included within the apparatus. The apparatus also determines whether the input transport streams include unicast packets that are transmitted from only one of the output modulators of the apparatus. The apparatus identifies the unicast and multicast packets of the input transport streams and associates a modulator for each unicast packet. The associated modulator of a unicast packet is the particular modulator from which the packet is modulated and transmitted. The apparatus also associates a plurality of modulators with each multicast packet, wherein the associated plurality of modulators are the modulators from which the multicast packet is transmitted.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and an information processing method are disclosed. A personal computer receives a program guide and displays it. Then, the personal computer sends information for identifying a user-specified program to an iEPG site. In response, the iEPG site generates preset recording data corresponding to the user-specified program and acquires advertisement-associated data. Then, the iEPG site sends the generated preset recording data and the acquired advertisement-associated data to the personal computer. Thus, the apparatus and method can make users of preset recording data view advertisement.

Abstract: Techniques to monitor operation of an information distribution system and delivery of programming, guide data, and other information by the system. These techniques may be used for diagnostics, quality control, and other purposes, and for various types of systems. In accordance with one method, a directive is received to monitor a particular channel at a particular terminal. In response to the received directive, a command is sent (e.g., via a remote control unit) to the terminal. Contents are then received from the terminal, captured, and reported. The reported contents may be used to visually verify the contents being delivered to the terminals, check what the viewers may observe, mimic and test interactive experiences of the viewers, observe actual viewing conditions at the terminals, and perform other tests and diagnostics. The received contents may be captured as one or more video frames, as a video sequence, or in some other format.

Abstract: An interactive television system includes a plurality of client devices connected to a server through a network. The client devices display broadcast contents based on received broadcast data. Icon buttons are displayed superimposed on the displayed broadcast contents. Each icon button represents a different icon. When one of the displayed icon buttons is selected at one of the client devices, then the client device sends a request to the server, asking to execute, at another client device, an icon represented by the selected icon button. When the server receives the request over the network, the server sends icon identification data that corresponds to the icon over the network to the other client device. The other client device executes the icon based on the received icon identification data.

Abstract: A method and system are provided which allow for automatic execution of applications on a receiving station (109). As applications may provide their own interface, this interferes with the desired consistent interface a user has when “zapping” from channel to channel. Therefore, execution of applications is disabled when a user selects a channel, and enabled whenever it is determined that the user is actively viewing the selected channel. This happens when, for example, the channel identifier (202) is removed from the screen, or the last element of a menu bar (203) or other on-screen display element is erased. A timer, reset whenever the user provides input, and increased every second, can also be used. When the timer exceeds a certain value, it can be assumed the user wants to view the selected channel, and application execution can be enabled.

Abstract: A system and method for managing interactive program and commercial content includes an interactive enabling device which is coupled for receiving a broadcast stream containing interactive program triggers and interactive commercial triggers for retrieving the interactive program and commercial content. At least one interactive content server is coupled to the interactive enabling device for communicating with an interactive control application in the interactive enabling device. The interactive enabling device executes the interactive control application to manage the retrieval of the interactive program and commercial content from the at least one interactive content server in response to the interactive program and commercial triggers. In addition, the interactive control application includes a gatekeeper function for selectively retrieving interactive program and commercial content in response to recognized interactive program and commercial triggers.

Abstract: A system for reducing noise in a signal line, through which upward signals and downward signals are transmitted between a center and terminals, includes a noise-reduction device provided between the center and the terminals. The noise-reduction device attenuates the upward signals by an increased amount when a noise increase regarding the upward signals is detected on the signal line. The system further includes a noise-control device, provided at terminals, which boosts a transmission level of the upward signals by an amount compensating for the attenuation of the upward signals by the noise-reduction device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing multilevel information about video-on-demand services. The method comprises the steps of generating a display, on a computer display screen, of a tree having a plurality of nodes; and embedding in the nodes information about video-on-demand services. Preferably information is embedded in these nodes in the form of matrices. A wide range of information about the video-on-demand service may be embedded in the display. For instance, information may be embedded about usage patterns between the supplier of the video services and the consumer, a list of users, user statistics, satisfaction rates, failure rates, failure causes, rates of view to completion, cost monitor information, customer payment information, menus of videos, charge variations, special features and offers, user age, user education, geography, and any combination of the above.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing display of content and automatic pause of the display. The method and apparatus exists in a client device and/or ahead-end or network operator. Event are assigned a relative priority based on event type, originator and the type of current display so that a variable response level ranging from a required viewer action to the viewer completely ignoring an event is provided.

Abstract: A broadcast signal is received that includes a data identifier that identifies data associated with the broadcast signal. The broadcast signal also includes the data associated with the broadcast signal encoded in the broadcast signal. The data associated with the broadcast signal includes an indicator to ignore the data identifier contained in the broadcast signal. The system decodes the data encoded in the broadcast signal while ignoring the data identifier contained in the broadcast signal. The indicator to ignore the data identifier contained in the broadcast signal may include an associated time period during which the data identifier should be ignored. The data identifier is broadcast in scan line twenty-one of a broadcast image. The data associated with the broadcast signal is encoded in vertical blanking interval lines of a broadcast image.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide is provided. The interactive television program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a language for playing television programming and displaying program guide text. Television program audio in the desired language may be obtained from a SAP or digital audio track and played in the selected language. Television related information in the desired language may be obtained from a digital track. If television program audio or related information is not provided in the selected language, the program guide may use a default language. The program guide may coordinate program guide display screen text with languages available for television programs when the programs are broadcast to users.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for transmitting a work to a client which includes steps of: (a) saving at least a portion of the work for a first period of time; (b) receiving a request for the work from the client; (c) transmitting a time-scale modified version of the saved portion of the work for a second period of time, wherein the second period of time is substantially equal to a time it takes for the time-scale modified version to synchronize with the work, had the work been transmitted from a start of the first period; and (d) transmitting the work starting at the synchronized point.

Abstract: A transmission control unit (12) of a transmitting station (10) specifies usable plural transmission paths (20). A data supply unit (11) transfers movie contents file encoded by MPEG 4 to plural divisional distribution encoders (13) corresponding to the specified plural transmission paths (20). The respective divisional distribution encoders (13) divide movie contents file into plural divisional distribution data in which original data file can be restored by carrying out synthesis. Further, the transmitting station (10) transmits divided respective divisional distribution data through transmission paths different from each other. Respective receiving units (31) of a receiving station (30) respectively receive divisional distribution data from the plural transmission paths (20). A linking decoder (32) synthesizes plural divisional distribution data to restore original movie contents file. Thus, high speed transfer of contents file of large capacity can be carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating one or more carousels. A carousel includes a plurality of modules, at least one of which exhibits multiple instances, that are arranged in a module schedule. The apparatus may create, through multiple iterations, two or more module schedules for a carousel, and the optimum module schedule may then be selected and implemented on the carousel.

Abstract: A decoder checks a table within its received input signal and tunes to at least one of the listed frequencies to determine its associated service group within a subscriber television system. The associated service group associates the decoder with the modulators, transport streams, and other components providing services and programming to that particular decoder. The decoder transmits its associated service group to the subscriber television system headend. The subscriber television system then knows the services and programming available on that particular decoder. The decoder can periodically verify its associated service group and, if the service group is changed, notify the headend. By establishing decoders for auditing the system, the definition of the service groups can be established or updated when components or configurations are introduced or changed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preventing a user from bypassing a viewer blocking system using program related information, such as content ratings, included in a program signal. The present invention prevents the user from exploiting the time delay associated with detecting, decoding and comparing the program related information by switching channels to observe portions of objectionable programs before the blocking system can react. The present system comprises a processor (110) which controls the output of a selected program signal (VIDEO, VIDEO IN, AUDIO IN) in response to a determination of whether an associated program related information meets a user selected blocking criteria. The processor blocks display of a program signal when a predetermined sequence of signal channel selections is detected and then continues to block the display of the program signal at least until the determination is performed.

Abstract: A video-on-demand (VOD) system and method which efficiently enables a user to resume viewing of a video program from an interrupted position is disclosed. The present invention allows the user to resume viewing of a video program even if the user requests a resumption of the interrupted video program several times or through different video servers. Particularly, the video viewing characteristic information of a user terminal is not managed by a video server of the VOD system, but is managed by the user terminal. Accordingly, when a user interrupts viewing of a video program, the video server transmits to the user terminal user profile information which includes the characteristic information related to the viewing of the video program. Thereafter, if the user requests resumption of the interrupted video program using the user profile information, the video server re-transmits the video program from the interrupted position of the video program.

Abstract: A system for providing video-on-demand service, broadband internet access and other broadband services over T-carrier systems including a pull multiplexer cherrypicker at the head end is disclosed. The pull multiplexer receives upstream requests and cull out MPEG or other compressed video packets, IP packets and other data packet types to satisfy the requests or to send pushed programming downstream. The downstream can be DSL or HFC. Each customer has a cable modem, DSL modem or a gateway which interfaces multiple signal sources to a LAN to which settop decoders, digital phones, personal computers, digital FAX machines, video cameras, digital VCRs etc. can be attached. Each gateway can coupled the LAN to a DSL line or HFC through a cable modem or a satellite dish through a satellite transceiver. A PSTN and conventional TV antenna interface is also provided.