Abstract: For data encoded with an encoding scheme, a data compression technique utilizes encoding scheme values as compression indexing values where the encoding scheme values are part of the encoding scheme, but are not used to encode the data. In an implementation, a data compression dictionary is generated and indexed with the unused encoding scheme values. In an eight-bit encoding scheme, for example, the data is compressed from each letter and/or number being represented with eight bits down to complete words, numbers, and/or combinations of words and numbers being represented with only two bytes.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide accurate EPG lineup construction and PVR scheduling for users, regardless of their geographic location. In accordance with the described embodiments, the guide retrieves and aggregates data from multiple available sources, particularly in-band scanning and EPG metadata download. Services are then identified and sorted into logically equivalent groups. Once the services are grouped, in accordance with one embodiment, an analysis is conducted the outcome of which is directed to selecting which services to use for tuning and which services to use for scheduling on a given channel/preset. In addition, various embodiments can, in an automated fashion, assign services to presets/channels, as well as provide a user interface and methods for editing a lineup, modifying tuning information and personalizing presets/channels.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating electronic commerce. One implementation, described herein, is a standardized purchasing system for purchasing premium services over a broadcast feed from premium service providers. This implementation offers a standardized technique facilitating electronic commerce purchases. It employs a standardized offer-terms format that contains the information for creation of an official offer to a user. With one of the implementations, described here, changing or adding premium service providers does not necessitate any changes to the one or more components of the Integrated Receiver/Decoders (IRD) devices so as to effectuate purchases of premiums services from such premium service providers. That is because purchases are handled in a standardized manner using a standardized offer-terms format. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appending claims.