Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: A portable electronic book viewer receives electronic text and graphic files, or electronic books, by connection to a television program delivery system. The electronic books may provided as compressed data that is transmitted with a video signal. The electronic books are transmitted in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal. The electronic books may be received at a set top terminal, and stored in memory at the set top terminal. A hardware upgrade may be added to a conventional set top terminal to provide for reception, storage and processing of the electronic books. Such storage may be by way of a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, and a magnetic cartridge for example. The portable viewer may receive the electronic books from the set top terminal. The portable viewer may then decompress the electronic books for display and viewing. The electronic books are decompressed only at the time of viewing.

Abstract: A radio or television receiver for receiving a plurality of signals, includes a selector for selecting a selected signal and a identifier for assigning an identity to each signal, e.g. a preset number. The receiver includes a history device for maintaining a list of identities of previously selected signals, a navigation device for traversing the list, and for selecting the signal corresponding to the identity at a current position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces. Initially, setup data is placed on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces. A status flag is broadcast to the user interfaces to indicate that the setup data has been placed on the broadcast carousel. Real time data is broadcast to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time. Electronic programme guide (EPG) data indicating a scheduled start time for the scheduled interactive application is further broadcast to the user interfaces.

Abstract: In an interactive cable system having at least one processor at a headend in communication with subscribers through an information service distribution network, a frame grabber is provided for grabbing a frame of video and storing the frame in a storage medium. A video frame may be requested from the storage medium in response to control data received from a subscriber selection device, wherein a processor retrieves the video frame from the storage medium, transforms the frame into a television information signal and sends the frame to the subscriber's home interface controller for display on the subscriber's television.