Abstract: Method for changing channel information in a digital TV receiver which can deal with a channel cancellation/addition during broadcasting, including the steps of (1) determining a channel information of being changed from a broadcasting signal received at every preset time interval and storing the changed channel information, and (2) comparing the stored changed channel information and channel information stored already, for updating the channel information.

Abstract: In accordance with the specific embodiment of the present invention, a tuner alternates between receiving a first video signal and a second video signal, such that every other frame of a specific signal is received. This is accomplished by writing to an IF1 and IF2 control register, during a vertical blanking interval. Subsequently, the video images are displayed in full motion video by interpolating the alternating frames of data not received by the tuner.

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: A method and apparatus for decreasing cable installation times and cable installation faults is disclosed. The back panel of the CTMS has a light source, for example an LED associated with each connector on the back plane. When a circuit card is plugged into the front plane of the CMTS the card activates the light source on the back plane to indicate whether an active channel is connected to the connector and what type of channel the active channel is.

Abstract: A computer network comprising a plurality of nodes, each coupled to a DTE device comprising a computing system and a remotely located human interface, which includes a display and at least one I/O device. The DTE device computing systems are commonly located. Each DTE device includes an encoder coupled to the computing system, a decoder coupled to the display and the at least one I/O device, and a transmission line coupling the encoder and the decoder. The encoder receives, from the computing system, a video signal for transmission to the display and a non-video signal for transmission to the at least one I/O device, encodes the video and the non-video signals, and transmits the encoded signals to the decoder via the transmission line. The decoder receives the encoded signals, and decodes the video and non-video signals therefrom for respective propagation to the display and the at least one I/O device.

Abstract: In order to receive satellite broadcasting (BS and CS) and terrestrial broadcasting (VHF and UHF), complicated wiring is required in a personal residence for transmitting broadcasting signals to a plurality of TV receivers while new distributors must be additionally set for installing additional TV receivers in a condominium previously provided with distributors limiting the number of settable TV receivers. The inventive millimeter wave communication system forms power supply paths by simply connecting a BS/CS antenna with a millimeter wave transmitter and connecting an electronic apparatus such as a TV receiver with a millimeter wave receiver through connectors or the like while transmitting/receiving broadcasting signals by millimeter wave radio communication without employing wires such as coaxial cables indoors.

Abstract: A system for receiving network video includes a remote control with a power control input. A video receiver, controlled by the remote control, powers up or powers down based on a control signal indicating activation of the power control input. The video receiver receives video signals from a gateway or gateway source connected to the video network. The gateway decodes signals received from the network into a format acceptable by the receiver. If the gateway receives a control signal from the remote control indicating activation of the power control input and the gateway is currently in the “on” state, the gateway toggles to the “off” state and outputs a predefined channel to the receiver.

Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: In conventionally receiving satellite broadcasting (BS, CS) and terrestrial broadcasting (VHF, UHF) services, transmitting the services to a plurality of TV receivers in an individual house results in complicated wiring and a community house is also limited in the number of installed TV receivers due to previously setting a distributor and thus requires an additional distributor to be installed when a TV receiver is additionally installed. The milliwave receiving and transmitting system of the present invention allows a broadcast signal to be transmitted and received indoors via indoor, wireless milliwave transmission without using any indoor wiring.

Abstract: A method and system for performing chaincast communication to multiple communication systems (e.g., computer systems) within a system of coupled electronic devices (e.g., the Internet). The present invention provides a system wherein a broadcast source communicates primary broadcast information (e.g., encoded audio radio content, encoded audio/video television content, etc.) to a first group of electronic devices. The first group of electronic devices can be instructed by a chaincast manager to then communicate (e.g., forward or retransmit) the broadcast information to other electronic devices which devices can also be instructed to communicate to more devices, etc., thereby reducing the bandwidth requirements of the communication channel between the broadcast source and the first group of electronic devices. The chaincast manager, coupled to the Internet, is used to track and manage which devices are forwarding broadcast information to which other devices.

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.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for selectively adjusting the power and/or frequency of cable modems without relying solely on the most recent measurement of these values to determine whether a change is necessary. Rather, it considers multiple recent measurements and from these makes its assessment. In one approach, the technique employs an average of the recent measurements to determine whether a change in power or frequency is necessary. There are actually at least three determinations that can make use of multiple recent measurements. These include (1) determining whether the signals are fluctuating to an extent that requires a special adjustment technique, (2) determining whether an adjustment is necessary (using the special technique), and (3) determining how large of an adjustment is necessary.

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.

Abstract: An on-demand program access system for broadband, frequency division multiplexed cable television signals, one or more infrastructure element (IF) constituting a local video network signal server has a plurality of subscriber premise equipment elements (SPEE) served thereby. Each SPEE constitutes a video network client. Coaxial premise wiring connects each SPEE with the IE for conducting RF modulated programming signals and bi-directional data signals between the IE and each respective SPEE using out-of-band signaling so that there is no overlap between the programming signals and the bi-directional data signals.

Abstract: A method and system that allows a user to, with a single button press on a remote control, quickly navigate within a program guide to an established reference point, such as the program information associated with the last viewed channel and the current time. The establishment of a reference point provides a subscriber with a known position within program information that may cover weeks of time, thousands of channels, and a variety of categories or sorting methods. The subscriber that has advanced through many hours and channels of program information is provided with a method of easily navigating to a known reference within the program information.

Abstract: An improved video production architecture adds an additional transition element for controlling external devices in synchronism with a given transition so that the transition is treated like a simple mix or wipe. The additional transition element is a “Trigger” function that has a value indicating when during the given transition the external device is activated. The trigger function, device controlled and trigger value are set up during preconfiguration of an effect in an effects memory. When the effect is recalled, if the Trigger function is activated on a switcher control panel, then the external device is activated at the time during the given transition specified by the trigger value.

Abstract: A system for monitoring broadcast channels, includes a device for receiving a plurality of broadcast channels, a central search engine operable to search the received channels for a match with a pre-stored profile, a central memory connected to the search engine for storing the profile, and a plurality of user terminals connected to the search engine over a network. The search engine is responsive to commands from the user terminals to store the profiles to be searched in the memory in association with the identity of the user terminal from which the command was received. A device sends an alert signal over the network when a match is found with a pre-stored profile to the user terminal associated with the pre-stored profile. The alert signal identifies the broadcast channel matching the pre-stored profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for flexible locking and unlocking programming content. Programming content and the content of the programming content is often described by electronic program guide (EPG) data or guide data. Using the guide data, a user is able to create, alter and unlock locks on the programming content. Locking and unlocking the programming content can be based on characteristics of the programming content such as the duration of the programming content, start times of the programming content, end times of the programming content, content descriptors and ratings of the programming content and the like. The ability to create and unlock locks is flexible and can be directed specifically to particular programs within a channel or to specific channels. The ability to create and unlock locks can further be based on user profiles such that the programming content provided to particular users is determined by the user's profile.

Abstract: A program information transport apparatus comprises a update unit for accepting a request for a change in either one of program information and transmission control information stored in a memory, and for updating the contents of the memory according to the change at predetermined update times to update the program information. An information management unit can acquire the program information from the memory and then furnish the acquired program information at predetermined transport times to transport the program information. A transport unit then transports the program information from the information management unit to receivers.

Abstract: TeleWeb services are currently being developed, in which HTML-encoded images are transmitted in the vertical blanking interval of a conventional analog television signal. For special applications, such as subtitling and targeted advertising, the relevant TeleWeb images must be displayed substantially in synchronism with given video frames of the television signal. This is achieved by transmitting the encoded images in advance and provide them with a time stamp (33) which specifies the display time in terms of a reference clock. The reference clock is preferably derived from the teletext clock time (31,32). A possible display time stamp format is hh:mm:ss′ff, where ff specifies a frame within a second. At the receiver end, the teletext clock is interpolated to reconstruct the reference clock, and the subtitles are buffered until the display time stamp matches the actual clock time.