Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for selecting a menu item corresponding to a program to be displayed on a video display. A projector located within a sphere-shaped object projects an image of at least one menu item onto an inside surface of the sphere-shaped object, such that the image can be seen on an outer surface of the sphere-shaped object. The sphere-shaped object is rotated to cause an image of at least one other menu item to be projected onto the inside surface of the sphere-shaped object, such that the image of at least the one other menu item can be seen on an outer surface of this sphere-shaped object. The sphere-shaped object is touched to indicate that one of the displayed menu items is selected, and a video display is cause to display images associated with the selected one of the displayed menu items.

Abstract: A method for providing an incentive for a viewer to watch and react to audio/video programming. The method includes prompting the viewer during a television programming stream to provide an indicated response to an event within an indicated time period, detecting the indicated response to the event, measuring a response time of the indicated response to the event, evaluating viewer performance based upon the response time, and providing the incentive to the viewer based upon the response time. The method involves a viewer actuating a pushbutton key of a set-top box remote control unit and transmitting and recording the response via the set-top box. A media delivery device for providing incentives, rewards, discounts, marketing data, and measurements to a viewer and a media delivery network.

Abstract: In a cable television converter terminal, NICAM signal passthrough is achieved using an alignment-free passthrough circuit including a NICAM SAW filter. The alignment-free passthrough circuit directly taps the output of the converter terminal's tuner to obtain the NICAM signal. As a result, the NICAM signal is not distorted by the components involved in obtaining the other signal components of the cable television signal. Consequently, sound quality is improved and rendered less vulnerable to degradation due to component aging, temperature fluctuations, and human error. The passthrough circuit can be implemented as a removable circuit module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing peer-to-peer communications between televisions wherein a query request is sent from any of the televisions to any other of the televisions. The query request is for information identifying content currently watched on the queried television including samples of the currently watched content. In operation, each television is first identified to each other television. The identifying information includes determining whether a given television may receive content identifying information from each other of the televisions. In some instances, the querying television may only be allowed to receive certain types of content identifying information from the queried television. The identifying of the television is performed by either the televisions or a mediator that is separate from each of the televisions. The televisions receive information identifying what content identifying information a given other television may receive from a user of the televisions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for managing the provisioning of an client device connected to a service distribution network, such as an interactive television service-providing network. Provisioning is managed by a provisioning manager that knows the specific provisioning data to collect and where the data is located and is to be forwarded. The provisioning manager thus acts as an intelligent provisioning data traffic manager by performing as a central collection and dissemination point for the provisioning data and directing provisioning data flows between a billing system, IP data network, server complex and/or other network systems.

Abstract: There is disclosed an addressable advertising system comprising: 1) receiver circuitry for receiving an incoming television signal from an external source, generating a original baseband video signal, and transmitting the original baseband video signal to a display associated with the addressable advertising system; 2) a local storage device coupled to the receiver circuitry for storing a plurality of replacement video advertisements; and 3) an advertisement controller coupled to the receiver circuitry and the local storage device for detecting a first swap control signal transmitted in the incoming television signal. In response to the detection of the first swap control signal, the advertisement controller causes the receiver circuitry to receive from the local storage device a first selected replacement video advertisement from which the receiver circuitry generates a replacement baseband video signal and transmits the replacement baseband video signal to the display.

Abstract: A method of transmitting an image from a remote server to a portable device and dynamically viewing, by a human observer, the transmitted image on a display of the portable device. On a remote server, a master set of data representative of a graphic image (30) is processed to form a first subset of data representative of a portion of the graphic image. The data is transmitted to the portable device (49) and drawn on the display (34). The user selects a portion of the image to be further expanded and the master database is again processed to form a second subset of data representative of the selected portion of the image. The second subset of data is transmitted to the portable device and drawn (36) on the display.

Abstract: An animated virtual creature is generated on a display such as a television set, in order to simulate a pet or to facilitate user interface functions. In one embodiment, one or more signals corresponding to the program being watched are monitored. When certain events are detected based on this monitoring, the animated character is controlled in a manner that corresponds to the detected event. In another embodiment, the animated virtual creature responds to program selections made by a user in a program recommendation system.

Abstract: There is provided a display device for a vehicle. At least one video signal source outputs at least one video signal corresponding to at least one video program. Two or more displays receive the at least one video signal and simultaneously display the at least one video program. An assembly housing encloses at least a portion of the at least one video signal source and supports at least one of the two or more displays. A bus couples the at least one of the two or more displays to the at least one media source when the at least one of the two or more displays is supported by the assembly housing, and wherein each of the two or more displays has a capability of operating while being remote from the assembly housing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the mass customization of Digital Television broadcasts through the broadcasting of commercials in the form of software applications. Ad-applications are injected into various sub-streams of the transport stream and received in a dormant state by the client-side set-top box. When a commercial is to be shown, a broadcaster broadcasts a generic time-stamped trigger to a dispatching application that performs a keyword matching algorithm to decide which ad-application among those received at the receiver is to be executed. The dispatching application uses the results of the latter comparison to decide which specific dormant ad-application to route to; it then converts the generic trigger into a chosen-ad trigger that is routed to the chosen ad-application. Upon receipt of the chosen-ad trigger, the chosen ad-application executes, thereby displaying an ad customized to the individual viewer's interests.

Abstract: An improved architecture for a set-top box that effects a reduction in memory requirements includes a front-panel board and a DTV board subject to a reset sequence and having a non-volatile memory associated therewith for storing values including a power-state value. The improved architecture eliminates the need for a non-volatile memory associated with the front-panel board by querying the power-state variable in the non-volatile memory associated with the DTV board and effecting a boot-up sequence when the power-state variable is set to ON and by effecting a reset in response to certain detected conditions.

Abstract: In-flight entertainment systems provide entertainment for passengers on commercial airline flights. Presently, usually on longer flights, video entertainment is commonly available on in-flight passenger entertainment systems. In-flight entertainment systems can display video on a variety of display monitors ranging from a conventional CRT display to a more modern Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Generally most displays are connected to the aircraft electronic system via a ARINC 722 connector. The ARINC 722 connector commonly provides an electrical interface between the aircraft and the video system, whether the video system is a CRT or LCD type monitor. With the increasing use of LCD monitors there is a greater need for the ability of the display monitor to be able to report its status. The need for status reporting is increased because the LCD monitors are often greater in number than the prior art CRT monitors and because malfunctions are less obvious.

Abstract: Television programs are represented by program interface objects (PIOs) within an interactive television system. The PIOs provide a visual indicator for quick identification of the represented television program, attributes providing information concerning the represented television program, and actions that may be performed on or in connection with the represented television program. The PIOs may be sorted, filtered, and/or managed based on user-provided criteria. The PIOs may also be linked to allow an operation performable in connection to one PIO to be performed in connection with the linked PIO(s).

Abstract: A switching apparatus of a camera server switches to down-load advertisement for a predetermined period at predetermined intervals while down-loading an image sensed by a camera, in response to a request for the image sensed by the camera.

Abstract: An electronic program guide displays televsion program listings in a time and channel guide format on a monitor screen. A cursor is provided for display on the monitor screen to selectively highlight one of the television program listings in the guide. Various guide functions are activated in response to movement of the cursor in the guide. For example, program note corresponding to the highlighted television program listing is displayed simultaneously with the television program listings, such that the program note changes as the cursor moves in the guide.

Abstract: A mapping method and apparatus for digital television channel mapping is described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a virtual channel selected by a user where the virtual channel is divided into major and minor channels, obtaining a first physical channel in a first mapping table that maps to the major channel, causing the first physical channel to be tuned, and collecting a first VCT from the first physical channel. The method further includes retrieving a first TTSID assigned to the first physical channel and a CTSID of the virtual channel from the first VCT, and decoding audio and video signals from the first physical channel if the first TTSID is equal to the CTSID. The first and second mapping tables are generated beforehand, e.g., during auto programming.

Abstract: Transmission synchronization and bandwidth adjustment in a broadcast system are described. At least one service tool in the broadcast system supplies service information useful for selecting, from a series of broadcast events, broadcast events to be viewed by subscribers of the broadcast system. A conditional access (CA) unit in the broadcast system applies conditional access attributes to the series of broadcast events. Transmission synchronizing apparatus in the broadcast system synchronizes the CA unit and the at least one service tool by instructing the CA unit to blackout a particular event from the series of broadcast events to subscribers that are refused access to the particular event and instructing the at least one service tool to provide a replacement service to the subscribers that are refused access to the particular event.

Abstract: A system enabling television viewers to participate in an audio conference from audio-enabled remote control devices that are equipped with microphones and speakers without requiring the viewer to “dial in” as in a conventional conference call. The system determines the TV channel being watched by the viewer and collects the viewer information that is coming from the remote control device. The user input information is transmitted to an audio conference control center. The information regarding all the viewers interested in participating in an audio conference are collected and processed at an audio conference control center. An operation entity is connected to the audio conference control center for reserving the conference resources provided in an audio bridge device for the viewed TV program channel.

Abstract: A digital signal playback apparatus is disclosed that includes at least one digital signal input receiver, at least one digital signal output decoder, and a universal ratings manager. The universal ratings manager analyzes an incoming digital data signal to determine if the content rating for the signal is acceptable for decoding by the content rating received by the ratings manager from the user. The ratings manager is capable of analyzing multiple input signals and then outputting them simultaneously. The content rating may be based on the type of content acceptable by the user. This content includes sexual situations, language, violence, time of viewing, content author, and content source, among others.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling the distribution of information so as to maximize the viewer ship of the same and, therefore, profits. Dynamic scheduling of distribution of subportions of the information, referred to as descriptors that typically correspond to a motion picture program, is achieved so that the subportions may be transmitted to end users having a high probability of perceiving the same. A subgroup of the descriptors have a weighting value assigned thereto with said subgroup of said plurality of descriptors having a weighting value differing from the weighting value associated with the remaining descriptors of said subgroup. The weighting value is a function of predetermined parameters associated with said motion picture program, such as revenue generated when released in movie theaters, comments by professional critics and contractual constraints placed upon the distributor by holders of the ownership rights of the motion picture program.