Abstract: A method of personalizing a broadcast channel, comprising: receiving an input from a user (110); and personalizing the broadcast channel; and transmitting the personalized broadcast channel to the user using a compressed video transport method. Preferably, computer generated information is overlaid on the channel to achieve the personalization.

Abstract: During an operation performed to obtain time information of a previously designated channel when an XDS scanning master detects from an interrupt that a user designates his/her favorite channel via a key the master cancels the operation performed for the previously designated channel to obtain time information, and a tuner setting master shifts from the previously designated channel to the favorite channel and starts to receive a broadcast signal corresponding to the favorite channel. The XDS scanning master performs an operation to obtain time information from the broadcast signal corresponding to the favorite channel received. Whenever a favorite channel is designated, a current operation to obtain time information is canceled and a favorite channel currently designated by a user is preferentially subjected to the operation to obtain time information.

Abstract: A system for delivering contents includes a center system which delivers the contents, a plurality of terminal systems which receive the contents from the center system and displays the contents, and communication lines connecting the center system to the plurality of terminal systems. The center system includes a delivery-schedule setting unit which sets a schedule of delivery, and a contents-delivery unit which delivers the contents to the terminal systems according to the schedule of delivery during a time period when a load on the terminal systems is lower than a predetermined level.

Abstract: Self-help or do-it-yourself productions of collegiate athletic contests are generated by the originating institution, and the recorded production is sent by overnight courier to a central digital clearing house. At the clearing house the contents of the recording are loaded onto a computer processor and the video and audio channels are digitally processing to prepare the program for digital storage and retransmission. A web transmitter processor transmits the video recordings of these events to subscribers on demand over wide-band, high-speed Internet connections. The content may be edited at the clearing house. The clearing house provides a custom video player or viewer for each recorded production. The games or meets can be selected by the subscriber, which are indexed in categories including originating institution, type of event, and date of event. The events may also be webcast live or near-real-time, as well as archived.

Abstract: A broadcasting system including a transmitter operative to transmit a signal in a first transmission format, a receiver operative to receive the signal, a reformatter operative to reformat the received signal into a second transmission format, and a set-top box (STB) operative to decode the second-transmission-formatted signal.

Abstract: A signal receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes receiving unit for receiving a television broadcast, instruction unit for instructing change of a receiving channel of the receiving unit, and control unit for, in response to the instruction of channel change by the instruction unit, comparing an ending time of a program being broadcasted on a first channel which is being received by the receiving unit and an ending time of a program being broadcasted on a second channel after the change, and controlling a channel change operation of the receiving unit based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A host device is disclosed. The host device includes a processor and a control mechanism. The processor operates to receive primary and associated data, decode and separate the associated data from the primary data, and cause the associated data to be rendered on a separate hand held device. The processor also operates the control mechanism to control a separate display apparatus to separately receive and render the primary data.

Abstract: A computer simulates a plurality of control terminals, for a video-on-demand system, by which viewers send VCR-like commands to a video server. This simulation includes displaying a set of buttons, on a visual monitor, for manually selecting any one of the simulated control terminals and for manually selecting any one of the VCR-like commands. Output signals are generated from the computer which represent the selected VCR-like command being sent from the selected simulated control terminal. These output signals are coupled to the video server where they are processed in the same manner as signals that are sent from actual control terminals on an actual video-on-demand system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tuner apparatus operating as a common tuner capable of receiving both satellite digital TV and terrestrial TV broadcasting. A tuner configured, according to the invention operates as follows. As the tuner apparatus receives satellite TV broadcasting, intermediate-frequency signals SIF1 are supplied to its quadrature detector circuit where the SIF1 signals are demodulated into baseband signals SI and SQ by using oscillation signals supplied thereto from its oscillator. As the tuner apparatus receives terrestrial TV or CATV broadcasting, terrestrial TV or CATV broadcast wave signals are supplied to its mixer circuit where these signals are frequency-converted into intermediate-frequency signals SIF1 that fall within the bandwidth of the satellite TV broadcasting SIF1 signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying differences in the characteristics of multiple versions of an entertainment program includes receiving entertainment programming input, identifying multiple versions of an available entertainment program, identifying, for each of the multiple versions, a set of descriptive information regarding the respective version, the descriptive information comprising a plurality of characteristics of the respective version, identifying the differences in characteristics between the multiple versions displaying the differences in characteristics between the multiple versions to a user.

Abstract: A broadcast program related information processor is provided wherein a user can easily create a message containing a program tag corresponding to a program during watching. When externally receiving a program tag capture request, the program display controller 2 captures the program-related information of a program in displaying from the recorded-video management data 3, creates a program tag based on the program information, and then returns the created program tag to the request source. When the program tag further contains scene information, the program display controller 2 captures the scene information regarding a scene in replay at the time of capturing program related information and then utilizes the scene information at the program tag creation time. The message creator 1 transmits the program tag capture request to the program display controller 2 and then, when the program tag is returned, inserts it into the message 5.

Abstract: A line indicating the current time is displayed across at least a portion of an electronic program guide (EPG). The line is perpendicular to the time axis of the EPG and bisects at least one program element of the EPG into an elapsed portion and a remaining portion, each being proportional in size to the time periods represented thereby. The ratio of the elapsed time to the running time of the program is an indication of the completion status of the program. In certain implementations, the line bisects a plurality of elements of the EPG, allowing the user to immediately determine the completion status of a plurality of programs.

Abstract: The digital broadcasting station describes the first unique information as identification information in addition to the event identification prescribed by ARIB standard as opposed to LIT describing the detailed information of local event. The first unique information is for example a date of amended Julian calendar. Therefore, the digital broadcasting receiver can identify the digital broadcasting program uniquely for a long term based on the event identification and the first unique information. Besides, the digital broadcasting station and the digital broadcasting receiver with the use of program extended information such as LIT are not yet put to practical use and so the existing digital broadcasting receiver had to be changed neither.

Abstract: Program data for use in electronic program guides is selected for storage at a low resource client according to a preference for current program data over program data for a future time. In the described implementation, a memory representative of the client memory is disproportionately allocated for different time units (e.g., 24-hour days) to be represented in an electronic program guide. Analysis is conducted as to whether program data for the different time units can fit in the portions of memory and adjustments to the amount of program data for respective time units are made. Different-size sets of program data are eventually selected such that more program data will be stored in the portion of memory corresponding to the current time unit and progressively less program data will be stored in other portions of memory corresponding to future time units.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically establishing TV channels, based on time/date/geographic location/location of the TV within the home either entered manually or using a locater system such as GPS.

Abstract: It is the objective of the present invention to easily change between an image display application and the viewing of a program for a digital television, and to improve the usability of the television for operating an image display application. The display change list for a (channel) Up/Down key of a remote controller is dynamically altered so that, during the execution of an image display application, an application screen is displayed by using the Up/Down key. Further, when a memory card is loaded immediately after the television is powered on, a display application can be automatically activated. Furthermore, while a user is watching the television, the contents of a memory card is displayed on a small window in one part of the screen, and execution of the image application controlled by the user. In addition, no icons are displayed while an important program is on displaying.

Abstract: An interactive television system for providing personalized remote control is disclosed. Each user or remote control of the interactive television system may be associated with a different control-to-function map. The control-to-function maps may be personalized for each remote control or user.

Abstract: The method of filtering data concerning an electronic program guide (EPG) in a television receiver having a device for automatically searching television channels includes supplying a list of CNI codes of all or some of the channels received by the television receiver to a memory. The method includes obtaining, from the SUMMARY of the guide, a MODIFIED SUMMARY containing only the information of the SUMMARY concerning all or some of the channels received by the television receiver, and recording only the data blocks of the CONTENTS of the guide in a memory when they correspond to all or some of the channels received by the television receiver.

Abstract: Advertisers want to deliver their message in a relatively short period of time. This leads to the product name, company name and other identifying features being repeated frequently during a commercial broadcast. Transcript information can be used to detect commercials by detecting frequently occurring words in the commercials. This can also be used to identify an individual commercial from other commercials. Once the individual commercials have been identified, the transcript information corresponding to each commercial can be stored in a database to identify the commercial in subsequent broadcasts, or to provide a search mechanism for searching a particular commercial in the database.

Abstract: A method of determining noise in a CATV channel, wherein the CATV channel comprises a predetermined frequency band, that employs digital signal processing to isolate the noise signal from an in-service television signal. The method includes an initial step of obtaining a television signal corresponding to a predetermined CATV channel, the television channel comprising a carrier signal modulated by an information signal. Thereafter, the method includes the step of sampling at least a part of the television signal to produce a digital signal segment, said digital signal segment comprising a carrier component, a noise signals component, and an information signal component, wherein said information signal component has a substantially predetermined signal pattern. The method then employs digital signal processing to separate the carrier component from the digital signal segment to produce a baseband signal substantially comprising the information signal and the noise signal.