Abstract: A method of providing initial pictures to a digital TV is provided. The method includes recognizing a set-top box, which is connected to the network and is activated, when a digital TV is turned on, issuing a request for transmitting broadcast signals for displaying initial pictures on the screen of the digital TV to the set-top box, and decoding the broadcast signals received from the set-top box and displaying the decoded broadcast signals.

Abstract: A distribution center according to the present invention is capable of handling requests from a plurality of subscribers for accessing programs in a central audiovisual library. The subscriber requests may specify a variable time allowance interval within which a requested program may be delivered.

Abstract: A method and system for reinserting local content commercials in a digital video format into a customized event data stream. Local content commercials may be inserted at an on-site facility, a national network, a headend, or a local affiliate. Local content commercials may be inserted into the overall data stream, or into one of a plurality of program signals comprising the data stream. Further, markers or software instructions may be inserted into the data stream or program signals instructing a headend, set top box, or personal video recorder to retrieve a stored local content commercial and insert the commercial into the data stream.

Abstract: An exemplary global listings format (GLF) is metadata for electronically transferring multimedia programming content and electronic program guide information. The GLF metadata specifies a self-referential data structure having a self-consistency mechanism comprising interlocking and crosslocking data elements. The self-consistency mechanism ensures completeness and validity of transferred programming data. In one implementation, the exemplary GLF is expressed in an extensible markup language (XML) schema definition (XSD) specification.

Abstract: When a transport stream is transmitted between each unit connected through an interface, if any data which is not permitted to be transmitted on a partial transport stream is transmitted, information of this section is transmitted as a private section or a user private. As a result, information of a section of an EIT can be transmitted from for example a digital satellite broadcast tuner to a personal computer and an original program schedule list can be created on the personal computer.

Abstract: A host includes at least one High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port. A controller is configured to receive a request from a source external to the host. The controller is further configured to collect HDMI status information associated with the HDMI port in response to the request.

Abstract: Digital technology based consumer media devices have many desirable features, including the ability to easily find and watch television shows, and/or automatically record programs of interest. Disclosed is a system and method for allowing a group of television viewers to share program viewing information. This information, exchanged through various on-line community modalities (including Internet chat rooms, email, Internet Web Logs, and the like), can be used within a consumer media device, such as a Digital video Recorder to influence the decision process concerning which programs to record, buffer or view.

Abstract: A host includes a plurality of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports. A controller is configured to receive a source external to the host. The controller is further configured to collect HDMI information associated with more than one HDMI port in response to the request.

Abstract: A television receiver is connected to a multi-directional antenna, and stores, in a memory, a receiving direction table containing: channel numbers; best receiving directions of the multi-directional antenna for receiving the respective channels; and register channel information indicating whether the channels are registered as selectable or non-selectable. The receiving direction table is used for selecting each channel. Based on the operation of a user interface by a user (S42), the register channel information of the receiving direction table can be changed (S44, S46), so that the user can optionally set selectable channels. Best receiving directions of channels registered in the receiving direction table as non-selectable are deleted from the receiving direction table (S45), so that the amount of information stored in the memory can be reduced, thereby saving capacity of the memory.

Abstract: A Video-on-Demand Server architecture transmits a plurality of pre-coded programs having different bit rates across a fixed bandwidth channel. For each program, a generator generates a plurality of different bit rate representations for each program. Each generator also provides control information at each of a plurality of successive time windows T for each bit rate representation. The control information provides a bit rate and a quality measure during each time window T. The control information enables a statistical multiplexer to select a bit rate representation for each program during each time window T to maximize the quality of the selected representations while not exceeding the total available channel capacity.

Abstract: A method for monitoring termination of blocked content. After unwanted content is blocked using substitution, user channel selection, or otherwise, a number of methods are available for monitoring blocked content and choosing content for presentation after the blocked content ends. Default content may be automatically presented. Default content includes content that was being presented prior to blocking, or any user selected default content. The user may opt to continue viewing substitute content. A termination notification may be generated, whereby the user the notified that blocked content is terminated, or will terminate imminently. One type of termination notification includes a prompt enabling the user to select among possible content to switch to.

Abstract: A program-display control apparatus can display information on each of a plurality of programs in a state that can be recognized by the user with ease without regard to the display configuration of the display data of the program. A display-configuration modification unit changes the display configurations of the program table of a BS digital broadcast, the program table of a ground wave broadcast, and a WEB program table into a new display configuration which increases the amount of information on the programs without regard to the display configuration of each of the programs. Furthermore, a program-table creation unit creates display data according to the new display configuration and outputs the display data.

Abstract: A method for blocking content from being presented at a client device based on a user profile and content tags. Content having descriptive tags is delivered to a client device from a server device. The descriptive tags classify the content. A user profile at the client device contains tag data for identifying categories of content that the user does not want presented on the client device. The client device recognizes and evaluates the tags of received content and blocks content based on the user profile. The blocked content will not be presented to the user. The user profile may be created automatically or manually by the user. The user profile is automatically created based on usage history or demographic information. The client device has a tag dictionary that may be updated to correspond to tags utilized by content delivery systems.

Abstract: A method of automatically disabling a low noise amplifier (LNA) that serves to boost weak video signals in a TV tuner, when the television receives a cable TV service. The method involves storing the total number of preset programs assigned during an initial auto-tune setup operation. If the total count exceeds a predetermined threshold, this indicates cable TV service whose signals will not require boosting. The LNA is then disabled to avoid interference between programs on neighboring channels.

Abstract: A TV broadcast receiver measures, at least two times, a signal intensity in a maximum receiving direction and a signal intensity in the 180 degree opposite receiving direction among 16 receiving directions of a smart antenna. If the signal intensity in the maximum receiving direction is significantly different from that in the opposite receiving direction, it determines that the smart antenna is connected. If the signal intensity in the maximum receiving direction is substantially the same as that in the opposite receiving direction, it determines that the smart antenna is disconnected. It displays messages of the connection and disconnection of the smart antenna on a monitor. This makes it possible to quickly determine whether the antenna connected to the TV broadcast receiver is a smart antenna or a stationary unidirectional antenna.