Abstract: There is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus which is capable of performing a tuning process in a short period of time even in the case where a large number of tuning requests are issued. A tuning request reception section 204 receives an issue tuning request. A tuning request storage section 205 stores the tuning request received by the tuning request reception section 204. A tuning process section including a tuning request acquisition section 206 and a tuning execution section 207 performs a tuning process for the broadcast signal corresponding to the tuning request, and if a next tuning request is issued during a tuning process, performs a next tuning process in accordance with one of the tuning requests stored in the tuning request storage section 205. A tuning request which is stored in the tuning request storage section 205 during a tuning process is erased by a tuning request erasure section 208 after the tuning process.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system for distributing a wireless information signal within a vehicle comprises a reproduction device that generating a video signal and an auxiliary signal. A video screen moveable between a viewing position and a stowed position and displays the video signal to the viewing area when the video screen is in the viewing position. A first emitter port that is moveable with the video screen irradiates the wireless information signal throughout the viewing area in response to the auxiliary signal when the video screen is in the viewing position. A second emitter port irradiates the wireless information signal throughout the viewing area when the video screen is in the stowed position.

Abstract: A novel network controller for use with a digital cable headend capable of monitoring and controlling set top terminals in a television program delivery system is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for a network controller that manages a configuration of set top terminals in a program delivery system. The invention is particularly useful in program delivery systems with hundreds of channels of programming, a menu driven program selection system, and a program control information signal that carries data and identifies available program choices. Specifically, the invention modifies a program control information signal at the cable headend before the modified signal is transmitted to each set top terminal. This signal is used with polling methods to receive upstream data from the set top terminals. The invention initiates such upstream data retrieval, gathers all data received and compiles viewer demographics information and programs watched information.

Abstract: An audience rating system for digital television and radio, using identification codes in control streams of time-multiplexed digital transmissions. When a television set or radio, that is being monitored pursuant to the system, is turned on and tuned into a channel, and each time that the channel is changed, an identification code for each audio, video or auxiliary digital stream of the channel is extracted from the control stream, and recorded along with the time. In the first preferred embodiment, the multiplexed digital transmission is received separately by the television set or radio (or an attached IRD) and a meter connected to it. In the second preferred embodiment, the meter does not receive the multiplexed digital transmission separately, but has access to elementary streams extracted from the transmission by an IRD, and extracts identification codes for the channels being received from their elementary streams.

Abstract: A plurality of programs is displayed on screen in a grid of cells. When program in a particular column of cells is pointed to by a cursor, the programs in neighboring columns are shifted to improve the time-alignment of the programs in the row of the cursor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand (SOD) services for a interactive information distribution system, where a consumer may subscribe to packages of on-demand programs for a single price and view the programs in the subscribed package at any time for no additional cost. The apparatus and method are embodied in a combination of software, which provides a so called navigator, and hardware, including a subscriber terminal that provides certain functionality for the navigator and service provider equipment that supports the functionality of the terminal. As such, graphical user interface functionality is distributed between the service provider equipment and subscriber equipment (subscriber terminal). Such distribution provides an enjoyable, real time interactive process for accessing SOD services that allows the subscriber to rapidly identify and access a subscription service.

Abstract: A program guide display system that utilizes a set of hierarchical templates broadcast from a broadcasting station. The set includes a plurality of frame templates and component templates to be embedded in the frame templates. If a user issues a program guide request while viewing a program of a channel, a form of program guide is determined. One of the frame templates which one is suitable to the form is selected. A text describing the program guide of the form is generated by embedding necessary one(s) of the component templates in the selected frame template while substituting variables of the selected and necessary templates with data which are determined by display conditions and obtained from program information broadcast from the broadcasting station. The generated text is passed to means for executing the text to display program guide.

Abstract: The present invention uses multiple broadcast television channels to distribute high volume of data to a client device from a server. Multiple analog channels are broadcast, at least one of which contains video/audio programs and control data inserted into the analog signal's VBI; and at least one separate channel contains a digital data stream which is modulated onto an analog channel and associated with channels containing those video/audio programs. STBs designed to implement this invention are equipped with at least two tuners in order to tune to two of those channels simultaneously. One tuner is used to tune to the video/audio channel, and extract the control data in the VBI. The second tuner is used to tune to the channels containing the data itself.

Abstract: The method and device carry out communication between a settop box and a target network through nay of a number of head ends. When a connectivity between the settop box and the target network through a first head end is lost, a call is initiated over a wireless communication link. A second, alternative, head end is selected based on the settop box, the first head end and the target network. Subsequently, the settop box is coupled through the second head end to the target network.

Abstract: Apparatus in a receiver, for processing transmitted entitlement control information, includes a packet transport processor for selecting signal packets having payloads containing a conditional access payload header and a remaining payload of entitlement data. Respective payload headers include groups of bytes which are coded in a manner to allow or disallow the respective receiver from processing the entitlement data. A conditional access filter preprogrammed with a subscriber specific conditional access codeword examines respective byte groupings of the conditional access header for a match with the subscriber specific conditional access codeword. Only if a match occurs is the processor permitted to process the entitlement data. The entitlement data is thereafter utilized to generate decryption keys for descrambling portions of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: A broadcast video signal is captured on user command and processed to identify network addresses contain therein. Network addresses are stored together with information about the program during which they originated. Identified network addresses are accessed over the network to validate their correctness and a snapshot of the page displayed is stored and related to the network address. An HTML file is constructed showing the original image from which the HTML file was constructed, the address(es) extracted from the original image as hypertext lines and snapshots of the corresponding images. By viewing the HTML file, a user can quickly determine if he wishes to retrieve information from the network addresses and can do so by clicking in the hypertext links.

Abstract: Communications circuitry comprising integration circuitry coupled to interface circuitry. The integration circuitry is configured to convert at least a portion of a terrestrial signal into a satellite channel frequency and to combine the converted terrestrial signal and a satellite signal into an integrated digital signal. The converted terrestrial signal occupies at least one unoccupied channel in the satellite signal. The interface circuitry is configured to provide the terrestrial signal and the satellite signal to the integration circuitry and to transmit the integrated digital signal.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment system has a program provider which distributes video content programs to multiple subscribers over a distribution network. Each subscriber has a user interface unit which receives the digital video program and converts it for display on a television, monitor, or other display unit. The user interface unit has a processor and memory. An electronic programming guide (EPG) resides in the memory and is executable on the processor to organize programming information that is descriptive of the programs supplied over the interactive entertainment system. The EPG supports a user interface (UI) which visually correlates programs titles to scheduled viewing times. A hyperlink browser also resides in memory and is executable on the processor. One or more hyperlinks, which reference target resources containing interactive content related to the video programs, are integrated as part of the EPG UI.

Abstract: A system for permitting an interface between a centralized in-home computing apparatus and a plurality of remotely situated in-home communications stations is provided. The system includes a two-way signal path for facilitating communication between the centralized computing apparatus and the communications stations, and a connection to an external signal distribution system such as a cable television (CATV) system. A frequency sensitive splitter/reflector is employed for reflecting input signals generated from the communications stations, and output signals, generated from the computing apparatus, along the signal path. The splitter/reflector blocks signals from the communications stations and the computing apparatus from moving onto the CATV system while allowing signals from the CATV system to move through the splitter/reflector, onto the signal path to the communications stations and computing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and system for interactive broadcast and web information browsing. In embodiments of the invention, web information is presented in conjunction with a broadcast television image, either at an edge of the image screen or overlaid with the image screen in an opaque, transparent or translucent image. The presented web information is fully interactive and can be interacted with by the user using all known features of interactive web presentation.

Abstract: A method and a system for combining at least two sources of television program rating information, including at least one source obtained through user input into an electronic interface, to provide a more accurate and focused rating for a particular television program. The source of rating information which is obtained through an electronic interface is preferably obtained through the active interaction of the user with a Web browser, for example through an applet or a Web page, or a combination thereof. The advantage of such active interaction is that the user wants to provide the rating information, thereby requiring more involvement by the user than merely passively viewing a television program. Such a system and method is also useful for rating advertisements, for which passive rating methods may not be as effective. Furthermore, more precise demographic information can be obtained through such an interaction with the Web browser, since the user can be requested to enter such precise information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for presentation of information received from a broadcaster which comprises the steps of: (a) receiving broadcast information; (b) receiving guidance information relating to presentation of the broadcast information; (c) analyzing the guidance information to determine a presentation rate; and (d) presenting the information at the presentation rate.

Abstract: A combination terminal unit includes at least: inputting device for inputting a retrieval item and an option item; line connecting means capable of establishing a line connection to any of a plurality of media; storage device for storing therein a plurality of retrieval information entities; display device for displaying any of the retrieval information entities; and retrieval controller for, if a retrieval item is inputted by the inputting device, reading out retrieval information entities relevant to the retrieval item from the storage device and displaying the information entities thus read out on the display device and, if a particular retrieval information entity is selected from the displayed retrieval information entities by the inputting device, actuating the line connecting means to establish a line connection to a location of the particular retrieval information entity.

Abstract: A multimedia stream incorporating interactive support for multiple types of subscriber terminals. The multimedia stream is created by multiplexing several component streams. The component streams include a video stream, an audio stream, and an interactive data stream. The interactive data stream includes data specific to different types of subscriber terminals multiplexed together.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for simultaneously enhancing two or more unique HTML pages (information resources) using a single enhancement trigger. A content creator, (e.g., a program producer, broadcaster, affiliate, cable company, or satellite provider), embeds an enhancement trigger in a data service channel of a broadcast video signal. The embedded enhancement trigger includes a collective resource identifier that identifies two or more information resources, such as a collection of different HTML pages. The content creator can then broadcast the enhancement trigger to the several information resources to enhance them all using a single enhancement trigger.