Abstract: A remote user interface transmits a digital media request through a communication link to a control which is coupled to a digital audio-visual playback device for selecting and playing a stored digital media by the playback device. The control receives the digital media request and transmits digital media selection and/or the selected digital media content directly to a selected playback device or indirectly to the selected playback device through a playback device server. The communication between the control and the playback device can be through a global communication network.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for use in connection with delivering content that is targeted to users of a broadcast network. In order to select content that is targeted to users of the broadcast network, signals are received from a plurality of customer premise equipment devices (CPEs) of the network users via a broadcast network interface. Based on the received signals, broadcast assets (e.g., programming, advertisements etc.) are selected from a collection of available asset options. Accordingly, at least a portion of the selected assets are inserted into a content stream of the broadcast network. Once the content stream is broadcast over a broadcast network interface, at least a portion of the selected assets area available for receipt by at least a portion of the CPEs. The CPEs generate reports regarding assets delivered such that asset providers can be billed based on guaranteed targeted impressions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building and maintaining a database in a digital television receiver from information received in MPEG and PSIP tables uses the MPEG tables as a master to facilitate creating, updating, and deleting the database. Each database entry is encapsulated in a memory chain control structure such that freeing memory does not require consideration of the specific content of data in the database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) for transmission of signal units to at least one receiver (3), comprising a receiving means being arranged to receive a number of signal units within a frequency range, whereby each signal unit includes at least one signal, and a forwarding means being arranged to make possible for at least a portion of said signal units to be forwarded or at least partially be blocked with respect to said receiver (3). The arrangement is intended to be arranged between a receiver antenna (2) and said receiver (3). The arrangement (1) is further connected to a central computer (6) via an interface unit (8a) and at least one communications network (7a). The central computer (6) can thus control the contents of a register in the arrangement (1), which denotes those of the signal units being received via the receiver antenna (2) that are allowed to be forwarded to the receiver (3).

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for detecting or locating a viable data carrier in a downstream channel by a cable modem. Potential channels for data carriers can be eliminated quickly by going through a “screening” process, i.e., the first constellation diagram match, thereby preventing those potential channels from going through a significantly more time-consuming second constellation match. The determination of whether the signal in the potential channel is modulated according to the first particular modulation scheme is done rapidly and only potential channels containing a signal likely to be modulated according to the second particular modulation scheme are examined for the second determination step.

Abstract: A centralized gateway connects to a broadband digital network for receiving various types of video feeds. The gateway provides output television signals directly to conventional inputs of standard television receivers. Port extenders connected to the gateway via a local-area network allow users to select a video feed sent by the gateway to a television associated with each port extender. The port extenders each provide a convenient and low cost termination point for keyboards, mice, joysticks, digital cameras, and other peripheral devices to interact with computer-based network services via the centralized gateway. The capabilities of the port extenders and the gateway provide a substitute for a personal computer in basic Internet access activities as well as a lower cost system for providing network based video programming to multiple televisions.

Abstract: According to a data display method, data having a program unit and instruction data for the program unit multiplexed on bit stream data is received. The program unit is extracted from the received data and is stored in a memory. The instruction data is extracted from the received data, and the program unit or part thereof specified by the instruction data is read from the memory and is executed. Then, the bit stream data and the execution result are displayed. This ensures smooth synchronization of reproduction of a bit stream with execution of an associated program and efficient use of resources.

Abstract: The upstream performance characteristics of a network are measured by looping a signal through both the downstream and upstream paths of the network. Test equipment may be located at a headend of the network and configured to transmit a signal downstream to a remotely located loopback device that redirects the signal in the upstream path to the test equipment. The upstream characteristics may be predominant in the analysis of the return signal because the downstream path may be relatively free from noise.

Abstract: A software architecture and control protocol that provides seamless playback of multiple clips of media data across a data network. Conventional server-based data network architecture where playback logic resides on the servers does not provide the capability of seamless playback of multiple clips stored in different servers. The present invention allows users to specify a playlist and provides control on the client with the implementation of a “client pull” data transport model. According to the present invention, the playlist is translated into a plurality of frame accurate requests, which are sent from the client to the servers one request at a time. The servers, upon receiving the requests, retrieve the corresponding frames of media data and transmit the media data back to the client. In this way, the present invention allows a user-interface to provide seamless playback of multiple clips that reside on different servers on the client workstation.

Abstract: In a digital cinema network of NTP-timekeeping devices in which one of the devices decodes video information, the scheduling of future instructions takes into account the differences between the nominal and actual frame rates of the video decoding device and the network's NTP latency.

Abstract: A system and method enables a set-top box to share the processing, communications, and storage resources of another local device, such as a personal computer, other set-top box, or an electronic appliance. The set-top box is interconnected with the other local devices using a “transmission medium such as wire, concentric cable, or a wireless medium. The interconnected devices form a resource sharing group that includes a control member. The control member receives a request for a resource from a requesting member, and then determines whether the resource is available from a set-top box that is a member of the resource sharing group. If the resource is available, the set-top box shares the resource, and uses the shared resource to perform a task. The system and method also enables members of the resource sharing group to share video, audio, and related content.

Abstract: Television programs are recommended in a flexible manner which a conventional keyword learning process has failed and also recommended with high accuracy. A method of recommending a program in an apparatus which receives broadcasts of programs together with information representing contents of the programs is carried out by generating a user profile having a plurality of themes with numerical values assigned thereto for representing preferred programs of the user, classifying themes by assigning numerical values to a plurality of respective themes with respect to each of a plurality of programs, using theme dictionaries containing keywords given to the themes, and determining programs to be recommended from the user profile and the numerical values assigned to the themes with respect to each of the programs.

Abstract: In a video-on-demand system, disc-based video streams are seamlessly replaced with memory-based video streams. This is achieved by first switching each disc-based video stream to a mixed video stream; and later, switching each mixed video stream to a memory-based video stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling users visiting a friend or family member to subscribe to a TV programming package that the friend or family member currently subscribes to. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a user-interface (UI) via the friend's set-top box to enable entry of visitor user identification information. This information, along with programming identification information is then sent to the service provider for the programming package. The service provider retrieves or generates information by which a UI may be generated to easily enable the visitor to setup and activate the programming package and sends it to the visitor's home set-top box. In another embodiment, programming package identification information is stored on a portable storage medium and carried to the visitor's home set-top box, where it is read to retrieve the identification information. The information is then sent to the service provider, which sends back appropriate data to generate the UI.

Abstract: An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a receiver configured to receive chunks of data on a downstream channel from a cable modem termination system. The receiver may be further configured to enter a low power state in which the chunks of data cannot be received. Wake up circuitry may be configured to monitor data in the downstream channel for a wake up signal when the receiver is in the low power state.

Abstract: An information handling system for utilizing an electronic program guide and a method for generating a future program guide are disclosed. A processor executes a program of instructions for the information handling system, and a memory stores the program of instructions that comprises a program guide for causing the information handling system to obtain current program guide information, to compare the current program guide information to previous program guide information, to thereby generate future programming information, and to generate a future program guide based upon the future programming information. The current program guide information is obtained from a program information source, and the previous program guide information is stored in an information storage medium of the information handling system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for creating a subset of channels with programming from a plurality of channels and can include the steps of: receiving (210) a plurality of channels, wherein the plurality of channels comprises at least one channel with programming; encoding (212) at least a portion of a predetermined number of channels from the plurality of channels to provide a corresponding encoded signal for each of the predetermined number of channels; processing (214) each of the corresponding encoded signals to determine which of the predetermined number of channels contain programming to provide the subset of channels with programming; and storing (216) the subset of channels into memory. The invention can also include the step of analyzing at least a portion of an audio signal in the predetermined channels to determine which of the predetermined channels contain programming.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring direct broadcast satellite signals. In a most general embodiment, the invention (10) includes a mechanism (20) for receiving direct broadcast wireless signals encoded in accordance with a DSS transport protocol. The received signals are analyzed with respect to various parameters and an output is provided in response thereto. In a specific embodiment, the wireless signals are transmitted via satellite and plural integrated receiver decoders (20) are used, one with an associated channel, to receive the wireless signals and provide audio, video, program guide and conditional access signals in response thereto. These signals are analyzed by software (100) running on a computer (56) which outputs alarm data on the detection of anomalies in the received signals.

Abstract: In each embodiment of this invention, when the precondition information of a broadcast program is cut on the viewer side, the use of the broadcast program is limited. A broadcasting system includes a broadcasting apparatus which sequentially transmits first broadcast data containing first control information and second broadcast data containing second control information over the same channel, and a receiving apparatus which executes, upon sequentially loading of the first and second broadcast data, processing based on the first control information and second control information on the basis of an input command. With this arrangement, when first or second broadcast data is precondition information and the precondition information of a broadcast program is cut on the viewer side, since first or second control information is omitted, the use of the broadcast program can be limited.