Abstract: Notification data is received and stored at a client device. A notice represented by the notification data is then displayed to the television viewer when a channel change event is detected. The notification data may also include data that indicates how the notice is to be displayed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment save presented clips of a program and delete unpresented clips of the program. Meta-data associated with the program or embedded in the program to delineate the presented clips. The meta-data are created in response to commands that cause or end the presentation of the program, such as play, slow motion, skip, fast forward, or rewind commands.

Abstract: A system for controlling the viewing of programs at a user location having one or more viewing devices. The system comprises a viewing control system, which is adapted to count a number of viewings of a program during a time period, determine whether the number of viewings exceeds a viewing limit for the time period, and prevent further viewings of the program if the number of viewings exceeds the viewing limit for the time period.

Abstract: An integrated DS S/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user's navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes an option palette that enables the user to filter the presentation of DSS data in accordance with predetermined filtering criteria. The predetermined filtering criteria includes filtering by category type, filtering in accordance with a user-entered search term, and filtering in accordance with a user-selected date and/or time. The option palette also enables the user to select the amount of filtered information that is displayed on the television screen.

Abstract: A new, interactive, television program profile interface and method are described. The interface is used to capture and display the likes and dislikes of a television viewer in multi-axis format. The weighting of the viewer's preferences proportionately changes over time. Those preferences are illustrated in bar graph format with respect to time or other axes. The viewer interacts with the graphical representations by time traversing the preferential chart, and providing necessary modifications and updates.

Abstract: Audiovisual reproduction system comprising a central unit managing a sound control circuit, and a telecommunications modem connected to a distribution network controlled by a host server, through a multitask operating system created around a tools and services library, characterized in that the operating system comprises a function that adjusts the sound control circuit to couple volumes in the various areas in which the loudspeakers in the audiovisual reproduction system are used, this function being accessible through a management mode of the multitask operating system, the coupling maintaining the ratios between the various volumes in each area when the volume in one area is modified.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a plurality of event information tables (EITs) and a plurality of extended text tables (ETTs) into the data stream in a broadcast environment, the apparatus including a generator to set a first transmission interval for a group of EIT0s containing program information covering a first broadcast time, and a second tranmission interval for a group of EIT1s containing program information covering a second broadcast time after the first broadcast time, and to generate the group of EIT0s and the group of EIT1s. The first transmission interval for the group of EIT0s is set narrower than the second transmission interval for the group of EIT1s.

Abstract: A method to optimize a bandwidth of a digital television (DTV) transport stream and to determine transmission cycles for tables to be transmitted as part of the DTV transport stream, the method including setting transmission cycles for event information tables EIT0, EIT1, EIT2, and EIT3, each event information table containing program information covering different time span, where the transmission cycle for the EIT0 is set narrower than the transmission cycle for the EIT1. Setting a transmission cycle for an extended text table ETT3 containing program description information associated with the EIT3 where the transmission cycle of the ETT3 is greater than a sum of the transmission cycle of the EIT0 and the transmission cycle of the EIT1.

Abstract: A method to optimize a bandwidth of a digital television (DTV) transport stream and to determine transmission cycles for tables to be transmitted as part of the DTV transport stream, the method including; setting transmission cycles for event information tables (EITs) to be transmitted in sequence according to the following condition: transmission cycle (EITi-1)<transmission cycle (EITi), for i=1 and 2, a time span covered by EITi-1 being prior to a time span covered by EITi, where the transmission cycle for the EIT0 is set narrower than the transmission cycle for the EIT1; setting a transmission cycle for an extended text table ETT3 containing program description information associated with one of the event information tables other than the EIT0 and the EIT1, where the transmission cycle of the ETT3 is greater than a sum of the transmission cycle of the EIT0 and the transmission cycle of the EIT1.

Abstract: A system for deriving benefits from the reception and processing of composite video signals by a hand-held device, such as a smart card. Video signals are modulated with auxiliary data creating composite video signals. The composite video signals are then transmitted to and received by a hand-held device. The auxiliary data is then detected in the modulated video signal by circuitry of the hand-held device. The user receives benefits resulting from the reception of the auxiliary data.

Abstract: A program distribution system enabling a user to easily buy a program includes a video server for storing a plurality of distributable programs, and a video on demand controller which receives a request for the distribution of a distributable program from an integrated receiver decoder. The distribution request is formed in a free-style text format described in the arbitrary style of the user of the receiver decoder. The controller compares a word described in the distribution request with each title of the distributable programs stored in the video server, and if a title that corresponds to the word described in the distribution request is found, the controller reads out the corresponding distributing program from the video server and distributes it to the receiver decoder.

Abstract: A multiple input data receiver for bi-directional cable television (CATV) systems simultaneously monitors and selectively receives a return path signal on a plurality of return paths. When an appropriate data or signal transmission is detected on a return path, the corresponding return path is selected and then demodulated. The demodulated signal is appropriately decoded to yield signal data. Various tests and analyzing may be performed on the signal data. Simultaneous monitoring/receiving of all or a plurality of return paths minimizes system response time.

Abstract: Audiovisual reproduction system comprising a central unit managing a sound control circuit, and a telecommunications modem connected to a distribution network controlled by a host server, through a multitask operating system created around a tools and services library, characterized in that the operating system comprises a function that adjusts the sound control circuit to couple volumes in the various areas in which the loudspeakers in the audiovisual reproduction system are used, this function being accessible through a management mode of the multitask operating system, the coupling maintaining the ratios between the various volumes in each area when the volume in one area is modified.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement and method are disclosed for providing a video signal to a video display from a selectable subset of a plurality of digital video data carried on a plurality of video data channels. The digital video data is generated from video signals from a plurality of video sources, and each video channel selectably carries either color or monochrome video data. A processor is configured and arranged to interpret display commands, and a selector circuit is coupled to the processor. The selector circuit is arranged for connection to the plurality of video data channels and selects digital video data from a subset of the channels responsive to an input selection signal from the processor. A video data sequencer is coupled to the selector circuit and decodes color and monochrome video data from the video channels responsive to configuration signals indicating selected data formats for the channels and merges the selected video data into frames of video data.

Abstract: A Set-Top Box configured with a modem and a Main Circuit Board determines an IP address of the modem by periodically broadcasting a Discovery Packet from the modem to a broadcast address, the Discovery Packet comprising at least the IP address of the modem. At the Main Circuit Board, the broadcast Discovery Packet is received from the modem and the IP address of the modem is ascertained from the broadcast Discovery Packet.

Abstract: Systems and methods facilitate the provisioning of a new service in a cable system without requiring that server hardware and/or software be changed to implement the service, or that an equivalent session manager be created in a set-top box. Session requests are generated at the STB and transmitted to the service, which then interprets the request, rather than forwarded from the STB to a server implementing the service, as in conventional systems. To effect the routing to the service the session request contains routing information. Servers facilitating the implementation of services do not know details about, or even the existence of, new services added to the system.

Abstract: A broadcast storing and displaying apparatus including a network, a network management apparatus for managing the network, and plural types of video apparatuses connected to the network, wherein each of the plural types of video apparatuses transmits the state thereof to the network, the network management apparatus stores the states of the plural types of video apparatuses, and each of the plural types of video apparatuses inquires about the states of the other video apparatuses to the network management apparatus and then determines a video apparatus to be a communication partner on the basis of the states of the other video apparatuses which are obtained from the network management apparatus.

Abstract: A digital signal receiver includes a distributed information storage unit having a data storage device for storing broadcast information. A menu frame for the information items stored in the data storage device is reformed as table-of-contents information having the same signal format as the received broadcast signal. As a result, it is unnecessary to specially provide a browser for creating a display frame, simplifying the structure of the receiver as a whole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to dynamically segment video data files or portions of video data files within a video distribution system to facilitate the transfer of the video data files from a file server computing system to client computing system within a video distribution system. The video data files or portions of the video data files are dynamically fragmented as a function of demand for the video data files, size of each video data file of the plurality of video data files, amount of retention space available on each of the plurality of data storage devices, and available bandwidth for communication with the client computing systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the scope of a content domain for ensuring that a content stream is not re-routed to an unauthorized display device. The apparatus includes a content source device, which supports multiple display outputs coupled to one or more content sink devices. A content source application generates and provides a content stream to a hardware interface which securely transmits the content stream to a protected content sink device using a content protection protocol. The content source application utilizes certain status information to ensure that the content stream is not re-routed to an unprotected or unapproved content sink device. The source application requests the updated session identification code from the transmitter/codec unit using the content protection protocol which is compared against the expected session identification code to ensure that the content display stream has not been re-routed to an unprotected content sink device.