Abstract: Method and apparatus to provide alternative content during an intermission in a main content experience. The method includes receiving a pause signal and starting a pause interval. When the pause interval exceeds a predetermined length, alternative content is provided to the user. A network termination unit receives the pause signal and includes a controller that ceases distribution of the main content and starts a timer to time the pause interval. The network termination unit has a content source that may include a local store of main content, alternative content, or both. It may also include a port operable to pull content from a content server.

Abstract: A broadband data broadcast system that allows rich multimedia content to be delivered to a plurality of subscribers is disclosed. The broadband data broadcast system operates by multiplexing a plurality of rich multimedia digital information streams together at a centralized data broadcast center. The data broadcast center then broadcasts the multiplexed digital information stream on a broadcast medium such as satellite broadcasts, radio frequency broadcasts, or digital television broadcasts. A large number of receiver systems receive the broadcast signal and demodulate the broadcast signal to retrieve the multiplexed digital stream. The receiver system extracts a subset of digital information streams that the particular receiver system's owner has designated are of interest. The receiver system caches the interesting digital information stream for later access. The receiver system outputs the interesting digital information streams to a client system upon demand.

Abstract: A system and a method for delivering targeted advertisements to the set-top box (STB). The targeted advertisements may be delivered to the STB in a low bandwidth channel or in a high bandwidth channel as an ad channel. The ad channel may be an analog channel wherein the advertisements are transmitted as analog video. Alternatively, the advertisement channel may be a digital channel, and the advertisements may be encoded and transported in the same way as conventional programming. In digital cases, a 6 MHz digital channel may carry several digital advertisement channels. Moreover, other services (e.g., data may be carried within the 6 MHz digital channel). Alternatively, the ad channel may share a 6 MHz bandwidth with one or more other programming channels.

Abstract: A computerized system for integrating internet sources and television sources in a convergence system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the system integrates both television channels and internet channels in a single list of channels available on the system. The lists of channels are stored in an electronic program database. The system solves the problem of managing multiple channels from multiple sources by seamlessly integrating channels from the television with channels from the internet in a single channel list.

Abstract: A subscriber characterization system is presented in which the subscriber's selections are monitored, including monitoring of the time duration programming is watched, the volume at which the programming is listened to, and any available information regarding the type of programming, including category and sub-category of the programming. The characterization system can extract textual information related to the programming from closed captioning data, electronic program guides, or other text sources associated with the programming. The extracted information is used to form program characteristics vectors. The programming characteristics vectors can be used in combination with the subscriber selection data to form a subscriber profile. Heuristic rules indicating the relationships between programming choices and demographics can be applied to generate additional probabilistic information regarding demographics and programming and product interests.

Abstract: A software application that filters specific messages from an e-mail server is disclosed. A user specifies filtering criteria within the application, which then detects the arrival of an e-mail fulfilling the specified criteria, and notifies the user accordingly. The notification can consist of blinking an icon on a Set Top Box (STB) TV screen, making an audible sound, or activating a pager. The subject of the filter criteria can be an Instant Message or telephone call using Caller ID, instead of an e-mail message.

Abstract: A system residing preferably in a television set-top box monitors the television watching habits of one or more viewers and creates one or more profiles for each viewers descriptive of various characteristics of each viewers, including television watching preferences and demographics. The set-top box is able to select among various available video programming segments to create customized and/or targeted video programs for delivery to the viewer or viewers as a linear program. The customized linear video programs may include targeted content, advertising, and other video programming.

Abstract: A receiving unit 101 repeatedly receives a transport stream, and a specifying unit 102 specifies a purchase state. A restoring unit 103 generates a first audio-digital (AV) signal and interactive data, and an AV reproducing unit 105 generates a second AV signal. A combining unit 106 generates a data-AV combined signal by combining the generated second AV signal and a data signal generated from the interactive data. A data presentation restricting unit 115 outputs the interactive data and a purchase state signal. A control unit 107 receives an operation signal from an inputting unit 110 and outputs it to a data operation restricting unit 116. A data analyzing unit 104 analyzes a presentation element contained in the interactive data and generates video data, which is the data signal. A data judging unit 117 judges whether a currently-presented presentation element is included in the same group as a presentation element that is a link destination of the presented presentation element.

Abstract: An interactive information aggregator is provided for off-broadcast access to trigger information, which can include interactive television triggers, accompanying content and data, network addresses. The aggregator can be implemented in an interactive television system so as to perform real-time capture and aggregation of trigger information through cooperation with content providers, use of a network of collection devices deployed in the interactive television system, or generation of trigger information by third-party entities. The aggregated information can then be made available to ancillary devices used by viewers, independently of being provided to a set top box and television. For instance, the aggregated information can be provided to ancillary devices that do not have direct access or capability to process television broadcast signals.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide. Additionally, a video window is interactive and provides tuning functions.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of failures in a video and data network is provided. The method includes discovering a failure in the video and data network. The failure is correlated with the plurality of failures to determine related failures. A root cause of the failure is then isolated. Next, the related failures that were generated as a result of the root cause failure are suppressed. If the root cause is automatically resolvable, the root cause is resolved.

Abstract: A method, system and software for broadcasting, receiving, providing and/or configuring an electronic program guide (EPG). A broadcast station broadcasts a template to a system where program information is inserted into the broadcasted template, thereby creating a station specific EPG. The template accesses program information, service information, event information, user interface information, etc., for configuration and presentation of the EPG to the user. User interface assets and other associated information such as program information, tuning information, etc., may be accessed through a local data base or even through a broadcast signal containing the desired information. Event handling instructions are provided for selecting programs and events and accessing service information, tuning information, etc., for selected programs and events. Additionally, application program interfaces are accessible for execution, tuning, program, and scheduling information, etc.

Abstract: Methods for managing delivery of video sequences of an interactive program guide (IPG) over a communications network to a plurality of terminals are provided. In one embodiment, the method pre-allocates a broadcast bandwidth in the communications network for common video sequences to be transmitted by a broadcast technique. The common video sequences are transmitted in the broadcast bandwidth to the plurality of terminals by way of the broadcast technique. A request for a specific video sequence is received from a specific terminal via the communications network. A demandcast bandwidth is allocated in the communications network for the specific video sequence. The specific video sequence is transmitted in the demandcast bandwidth to the specific terminal via the communications network.

Abstract: A method for providing television functionality includes defining a time period, associating a user preference with the time period, providing a first result in accordance with the user preference if a request for television functionality is received during the defined time period, and providing a second result if the request for the television functionality is received outside the defined time period.

Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting—method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.

Abstract: A television receiver includes circuitry that quickly derives a channel map for a DTV receiver. The apparatus includes tuner that is controlled by a processor in the television receiver to periodically test each channel frequency to determine the strength of the signal at that frequency. If the signal strength exceeds a threshold value, the channel map is updated to indicate that a channel exists at that frequency. The processor monitors the signal recovered by the tuner during normal television viewing for valid program information. If the processor does not detect valid program information for a channel in the program map, the threshold value used by the processor to build the channel map is raised. If the processor detects valid program information then information on the estimated noise level in the received DTV signal is used to update the threshold value. In one embodiment of the invention, the television receiver includes both a main tuner and an auxiliary tuner.

Abstract: A digital image frame and method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, the digital image frame is coupled with a computer system via a local area network (LAN). Data is sent between the digital image frame and computer system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task has been previously handled.

Abstract: A viewer can save content and context related to a transaction conducted via an interactive television system. The transaction can involve obtaining information or ordering goods/services available from the Internet via the interactive television system. As an example, while the viewer is watching a television commercial on a first screen, the viewer can defer a transaction, capable of being conducted on a second screen, related to a product advertised in the television commercial or defer the viewing of the television commercial itself. Information related to the television commercial may be saved in a shopping cart for subsequent processing. Later, when the viewer wishes to continue the transaction or view the television commercial, the viewer may retrieve the shopping cart information, replay the television commercial, and then complete of the previously deferred transaction.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.