Abstract: In a cable broadcasting system of the invention capable of setting output or stop of broadcasting-signals from tap output terminals of a tap device in response to a command signal transmitted by a center equipment, when demand for output setting for many tap devices occurs, output setting of the corresponding tap devices can be surely carried out without increasing the load on each power supply device for supplying the tap devices in each district with electricity. When demand for setting tap output of plural tap device occurs, a head-end controller reads output setting data for all the tap devices which are the objects of tap output setting and transmits command signals in order to tap devices at a rate of one tap device per each district covered by a power supply device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically generating digital video streams without an equivalent analog stream. The apparatus includes a configuration manager. The configuration manager presents configuration options to a user. User selections are recording as user preferences. The configuration manager is coupled to a media generator, which generates intermediate digital content based upon the user preferences. The media generator may be coupled to a local storage for storing electronic audio and visual information. The intermediate digital content is transferred to an encoder, which encodes the intermediate digital content to a digital format specified by in the user preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network is disclosed. The presence of a viewer in front of the television is sensed, presence information is then transmitted to a cable broadcasting service center via the cable broadcasting network, a control signal is sent to the television adapted to receive same, and regular cable programming is suspended. The present invention allows the cable broadcasting company to provided additional services to the cable subscriber to retain and attract additional customers. These additional services may be tailored to the specific needs of the cable subscriber, thus a higher quality cable service is provided.

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: The present invention encompasses a method and apparatus for ingress detection and attenuation. When a determination is made that the level of ingress in a return frequency band has exceeded a predetermined threshold, the return path is attenuated or disconnected at a communications gateway device located at or substantially near the subscriber location. By disconnecting the return path or attenuating the return path signal at or near the subscriber location, ingress is reduced and locations which are the cause of severe ingress are effectively isolated. This allows for a high degree of reliability to be maintained on the return path, and insures that critical services like cable telephony can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of displaying for a viewer summary information relating to programming available on an interactive television or televideo system. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes obtaining a user selection indication corresponding to a scheduled program selected by the viewer from a programming guide. Based on the user selection indication, the interactive television system accesses summary information relating specifically to the program selected by the viewer. The summary information preferably includes a text description of the programming and display imagery relating to the programming. The display imagery may include a multi-frame video sequence of or relating to the programming or a still video image.

Abstract: An information distribution apparatus for a CATV system which apparatus is capable of transmitting an identical program directed to a plurality of set-top boxes with the use of a single communication path between a distribution control section and an information distributing section. When distribution of identical information is requested from a plurality of set-top boxes, path identification number decision unit determines an identification number of a single communication path for these set-top boxes. Distribution information transmitting unit transmits the requested distribution information to the information distributing section via the communication path with the thus-determined identification number. In the information distributing section, set-top box identifying unit identifies individual set-top boxes to which the distribution information is to be distributed, based on the identification number of the communication path used for transmission by the distribution information transmitting unit.

Abstract: A method and system for incorporating thematic content from a particular television program into product or service advertisements uses program-advancing elements of a television program in an advertisement for a sponsor of the program in order to entice viewers to watch the advertisements. Increased viewership of advertisements can result in increased revenue generated from advertisements that may be realized by television programs, television producers, networks, and advertisers.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for resynchronizing a media stream. A media streaming server receives live or pre-recorded media for streaming to clients. When media is not received or available for streaming at the appropriate media time index, the media stream is deemed to be out of synchronization. The server selects a future time index at which to resynchronize the stream and may discard intervening media. Media corresponding to the new time index is requested or retrieved and, if available at the new time index, media streaming resumes in synchronization. If media corresponding to the new time index is not available, the server may select another future time index and try again to resynchronize. Resynchronization may be attempted a configurable number of times and, if unsuccessful, the server may terminate the stream.

Abstract: A system and method for storing and retrieving program material for subsequent replay is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving access control information and the program material encrypted according to a first encryption key, the access control information including the first encryption key and control data; further encrypting the access control information and the encrypted program material according to a second encryption key; encrypting the second encryption key according to a third encryption key to produce a fourth encryption key; and storing the encrypted access control information and encrypted program material and the fourth encryption key.

Abstract: A program delivery system using a compression apparatus capable of compressing incoming video and non-video signals, such as audio and data signals. The system includes a frequency modulator which modulates the incoming audio, data or other non-video signals, unto selected video frequencies. A Fourier transformer generates a set of sinusoidal transform components corresponding to the incoming video, audio, data or other non-video signals, and a selector chooses the most desirable Fourier sinusoidal transforms. A multiplexer multiplexes only the selected Fourier transform components for further processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing interactive instructions directing a user how to establish interactivity between multiple consumer electronics devices. A first consumer electronics device is connected to the television set. The user is requested to identify another consumer electronics device to be connected to the first consumer electronics device or to the television set. The first consumer electronics device identifies the cables needed to establish the connection and then determines whether the user has the cables. If the user does not have the cables, they may be purchased online by the first consumer electronics device. Connection instructions describing how to establish the connection are displayed on the television set. After the user attempts to establish the connection, the first consumer electronics device optionally tests the connection to determine whether it is reliable and fully operable. If not, further instructions are displayed.

Abstract: A program guide display apparatus for displaying a table of programs, which is a two dimensional arrangement for displaying program cells assigned to respective programs along the time and channel axes, is provided: a broadcast program search device which searches for a program whose broadcast time includes the current time; an earliest end time storage device which stores an end time of a program which finishes earliest of all the searched program, as an earliest end time; an earliest end time determination device which determines whether the current time is the stored earliest end time, or later than the stored earliest end time; and a program cell display device which displays a program cell with the stored earliest end time as a top display time of the table of programs, if the current time is the stored earliest end time, or later than the stored earliest end time.

Abstract: A method of formatting data to maximize the readability of song identification (ID) information displayed on a monitor screen and a method of formatting data to maximize the amount of song ID information displayed on a limited number of lines on the monitor screen. The monitor screen is used to view in-band audio broadcast channel song ID information and out-of-band audio broadcast channel song ID information. The in-band ID information is associated with a song that is currently being played on a selected one of a plurality of channels. The out-of-band ID information is associated with all of the plurality of channels. To maximize readability, in-band ID information is abbreviated if the amount of information exceeds a maximum number of lines determined for the in-band ID information. To maximize the amount of in-band ID information, wraparound and abbreviation techniques are performed.

Abstract: A TV broadcast cooperative type data perusal apparatus is provided that can establish connection to websites in which is provided information related to the subject matter of a program that is being broadcast, and can simply peruse the information related to the subject matter from these websites, even when no website address information is appended as descriptor information for searching to the program being broadcast, provided that the information related to the subject matter in the program being broadcast is appended to the program as the descriptor information for searching.

Abstract: A data conversion apparatus included an information input device, a holder for holding information designating a method of the conversion processing from input portion when the kind of the input information is examined and is judged as predetermined data for executing a data conversion processing, a convertor for executing the data in accordance with a predetermined rule, a synthesizer for generating new data by combining the input information with a predetermined data content, and an information output device for outputting the new data so generated. When the kind of the data is screen configuration data describing configuration of the screen output of an information processing unit, the predetermined rule adds a display area of the screen configuration and converts it to a screen configuration data capable of displaying a plurality of screen configurations on the same screen.

Abstract: A system enabling television viewers to participate in an audio conference from audio-enabled remote control devices that are equipped with microphones and speakers without requiring the viewer to “dial in” as in a conventional conference call. The system determines the TV channel being watched by the viewer and collects the viewer information that is coming from the remote control device. The user input information is transmitted to an audio conference control center. The information regarding all the viewers interested in participating in an audio conference are collected and processed at an audio conference control center. An operation entity is connected to the audio conference control center for reserving the conference resources provided in an audio bridge device for the viewed TV program channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and resolving interference between two IR signals in a remote control system. The two IR signals may include primary signals emitted from a remote control device to a first consumer electronics device and relayed signals sent from the first consumer electronics device to a second consumer electronics device using an IR blaster, or emitter. In order to minimize the likelihood of interference between the signals at the second consumer electronics device, the IR emitter does not begin transmitting the relayed signals until the primary signals are no longer being emitted. If, however, the remote control device begins to send another primary signal while the IR emitter is sending the relayed signals, the systems and methods include provisions for resolving any data loss that may result. Upon sensing the interference, the IR emitter sends a reset signal that places the secondary consumer electronics device in a known state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for validating recommendations generated by a television program recommender using programmed viewing agents. A viewing agent is programmed with a set of rules that characterize the viewing preferences of a modeled viewer. During a training phase, the programmed rules of a viewing agent are applied to a set of training programs to obtain an agent viewing history. The method and apparatus estimates the required size of the viewing history to provide a given level of accuracy. The viewing agents can be programmed to introduce one or more random shows into the viewing history, or to change the preferences of the viewing agent over time, thereby allowing the television program recommender validator to evaluate how the program recommender processes such non-stationaries.

Abstract: A method for producing a digital video signal from an analog video signal, the analog video signal including an analog video data signal that is raster scanned in lines across a CRT screen to form consecutive frames of video information, the raster scanning controlled by use of a horizontal synchronizing signal (Hsnyc) that controls a line scan rate, and a vertical synchronizing signal (Vsnyc) that controls a frame refresh rate, to produce consecutive frames of video information, wherein the digital video signal is produced by generating a pixel clock signal with pixel clocks for repetitively sampling instantaneous values of the analog video data signal, and digitizing the analog video data signal based on the pixel clock sampling. An expected width E, measured in number of pixel clocks, of a video image producible by the analog video signal is estimated, and an actual width W, measured in number of pixel clocks, of the video image producible by the analog video signal is calculated.