Abstract: A video on demand system includes a head-end coupled through a proxy server to plural client terminals. The proxy server performs (or cooperates with another component in performing) various functions, including user interface definition, security, system administration (e.g. channel management, load distribution, and failover), and protocol translation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a full duplex wideband communications system for a local (e.g., in-home) coaxial network. The system employs a Frequency-division duplex (FDD) scheme that allows identical wideband modems to communicate with each other. To achieve this, the wideband modems contain a duplexer and a switch that allows reversing the connection of the wideband transmitter and receiver to the duplexer. Each wideband modem includes a control modem that is used to control access to the wideband channels. A wideband transmitter, which may be included in a modem associated with a server set-top terminal (STT), transmits a video presentation to a wideband receiver, which may be included in a modem associated with a client STT.

Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver. The system also includes a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility. A back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility. The monitoring system displays the back-up receiver signal. The remote facility switches the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal.

Abstract: Techniques described herein enable parents to establish a child-protective “kids zone” on a DVR. According to one technique, a DVR receives, from a parent, identities of content items that the parent does not want children to view. The DVR maps the identities to a kids zone. During times that the DVR is set to operate in the kids zone operational mode, the DVR prevents itself from presenting any content items that are associated with the identities. However, during these times, the DVR still may obtain and store these content items. At other times, during which the DVR is not set to operate in the kids zone operational mode, the DVR may allow itself to present the content items that are associated with the identities, including content items that the DVR obtained and stored during times that the DVR was set to operate in the kids zone operational mode.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transmodulator unit. The transmodulator unit generally comprises (i) a first input configured to receive a baseband video signal, (ii) a second input configured to receive a first encoded data signal and (iii) an output configured to present a second encoded data signal. The second encoded data signal is generated in response to the first encoded data signal and the baseband video signal. The first encoded data signal comprises an advanced data signal. The second encoded data signal comprises a legacy data signal.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has: an input unit for inputting image data and program information data, the program information data indicating information on a program including the image data; a display unit for displaying an image corresponding to the image data input from the input unit; and a control unit responsive to a change in a program including images displayed by the display unit for controlling the display unit to display the changed program and the images on the same screen.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention enables a personalized video recorder (PVR) to reliably record automatically a pay-per-view show that it receives from a set-top box. Specifically, a PVR is communicatively coupled to a set-top box thereby enabling the set-top box to request and receive from the PVR its control commands. The set-top box stores these control commands enabling it to control the functionality of the PVR. Therefore, a user may utilize an electronic programming guide (EPG) provided by the set-top box to program the PVR to record (for example) a pay-per-view show. Upon completion of the programming process, the EPG of the set-top box orders the pay-per-view show while the set-top box transmits the programming instructions to the PVR. After receiving the programming instructions, the PVR adds them to its programmable task list. Subsequently, the PVR receives the ordered pay-per-view show from the set-top box and records it.

Abstract: A television receiver (1) acquires numerical quantity information from program list information acquired from a television signal or the like, the acquired numerical quantity indicates the number of program-related information related to a television program and (2) displays the acquired numerical quantity information on a television display screen. When a user selects a television program whose program-related information is to be acquired, the television receiver acquires a URL of program-related information from an address server by utilizing the program identification code of the selected television program, acquires the program-related information from an information server by utilizing the acquired URL, and displays the acquired program-related information so as to be superimposed on a television picture.

Abstract: A method and system for providing selective advertising on a television channel is accomplished by downloading appropriate advertisements from an advertising server to a subscriber's set top box over an out-of-band channel. The set top box monitors for download triggers to provide advertisements to the subscriber's set top box and advertising triggers to insert advertisements when an advertising opportunity occurs. The advertisements can be downloaded in advance of any advertising triggers to a local storage means associated with the set top box, if available.

Abstract: Disclosed is a user history based multimedia service system, wherein user history data include a multimedia consumption type and/or consumption behavior of the user. The consumption type data includes a start time or end time of the multimedia content consumption (i.e., simple view data), content recording time and format, content backup time and format, and content transfer time and format. The consumption behavior data includes a content access/play data such as a normal finish, skimmed, skipped, slowed, or replay, and a stopped data of the content access/play. The consumption type or consumption behavior data include information on program identification and information on access to the consumption type/consumption behavior data. The respective data is provided for each user and program.

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: A computer-based digital wireless audio and video system for consumer audio, home theater and recording studio applications is disclosed. The system distributes synchronized 2-channel stereo and multi-channel home theater video and audio digital signals via wireless broadcast to a closed network including a personal computer, a display, and one or multiple digital active loudspeakers or headphones. Each loudspeaker has a separate digital amplifier dedicated to each transducer within it. The system provides a data link capable of sending an all-digital, full-bandwidth signal from the original digital source material to each separate transducer in the system without using sound degrading lossy data compression. This system is designed to read, broadcast, and reproduce with accurate audio and video channel synchronization in the effort to maintain the integrity of the entire audio and video signal.

Abstract: A system and method for making program recommendations to users of a network-based video recording system utilizes expressed preferences as inputs to collaborative filtering and Bayesian predictive algorithms to rate television programs using a graphical rating system. The predictive algorithms are adaptive, improving in accuracy as more programs are rated.

Abstract: A system and method using digital technologies to deliver a live-video-all-call bulletin over a local area network (LAN) in a facility, e.g., a school. The live video overrides all the facility's video-player devices by pausing them. Once the live-feed-video presentation is over, the system returns all of the facilities video players to the same state of operation each was in before the all-call presentation began.

Abstract: System and method of common synchronisation for bursts transmitted over an uplink connection in an integrated multispot satellite communication system (S) in a multimedia broadcasting network for setting up bi-directional communication with a satellite with return channel. The common burst synchronisation (4) is produced in such a way that the transmission rate in the downlink direction (P2; U2; C2) from the satellite is a whole multiple of the network clock reference.

Abstract: A method of processing television content metadata in a communications system. The system includes a consumer device (e.g., a set-top box and/or television) in communication with an auxiliary display device (e.g., webpad). A broadcast television channel video image signal and the metadata are received by the consumer device. A single video image frame of the broadcast television channel video image signal is captured when a predefined indicator is detected in the metadata. The metadata is modified by changing the predefined indicator to an image identifier associated with the single video image frame. The single video image frame is converted to a well-known format, and the consumer device sends the modified metadata and the converted single video image frame to the auxiliary display device for display thereon.

Abstract: A method and system of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a STB provisioning system are provided which include storing STB profile information in a provisioning datastore, receiving a customer order at a service provisioning system, notifying a billing system of the customer order, and notifying a conditional access system of the customer order. The method and system further include storing information from the customer order in a provisioning datastore, notifying a video device manager about the STB, and delivering a cable operator configuration message from the video device manager to the STB, the configuration message being based on information from the provisioning datastore, thereby provisioning the STB without essential involvement of the conditional access system.

Abstract: A customer premises installation has a wireless multimedia center (WMC) for reception from one or more signal sources and for distribution of segments of signals from signal sources through the wireless multimedia center to a plurality of end units, in which the signals include video signals and broadband data. The wireless multimedia center receives all the signals and distributes segments of said signals via a transmitter. The video signals are transmitted by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing in which all signals are added together and summed as an orthogonal array having dimensions of time, frequency and amplitude, to transmit spread spectrum multiplexed signals. Each pulse has sufficiently long individual pulse widths to defeat multi-path, reflection and absorption phase induced losses. The video signals are distributed to one or more end units. The end units communicate with the wireless multimedia center, controlling which segments of which signals are distributed to each end unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to allocating mobile-terminal electronic-service-guide (ESG) memory for use in storing a dynamically adjustable ESG, determining a composition of a dynamically adjustable ESG that can be stored in the allocated mobile-terminal ESG memory, and determining whether ESG fragments are deleted from the dynamically adjustable ESG to reduce the size of the dynamically adjustable ESG. The size of the allocated ESG memory may be determined based on an amount of memory dynamically available in a mobile terminal and/or by checking statistics of previously stored and/or received ESG data. A time-filter value may be determined for use in determining whether particular ESG fragments should be stored in the dynamically adjustable ESG. The time-filter value may be determined based on a number of channels (or services) for which ESG fragments will be stored in the dynamically adjustable ESG and/or based on whether an ESG-memory-usage threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: A video recorder, adapted for use in conjunction with a remotely controllable unit associated with television recording and/or viewing, contains a remote-control signal transmitter to transmit control codes to the associated unit, and means to analyze the operation of the associated unit in response to the control codes. An electronic controller causes the transmitter to transmit test codes to the associated unit, then analyzes the resulting operation of the associated unit to determine its control codes, which it stores in a memory for later use.