Abstract: A system can include a precondition detector configured to determine that the system has network congestion at a network link. The system can also include a flow ranking controller that includes a flow excluder configured to apply exclusion criteria to a plurality of data flows associated with respective modems that are operating in a lower bandwidth mode to generate a list of non-excluded data flows. The flow ranking controller can also include a flow tester configured to apply flow tests to the non-excluded data flows to determine which of the respective modems is likely to benefit from being switched to a higher bandwidth mode.

Abstract: A system can include a precondition detector configured to determine that the system has network congestion at a network link. The system can also include a flow ranking controller that includes a flow excluder configured to apply exclusion criteria to a plurality of data flows associated with respective modems that are operating in a lower bandwidth mode to generate a list of non-excluded data flows. The flow ranking controller can also include a flow tester configured to apply flow tests to the non-excluded data flows to determine which of the respective modems is likely to benefit from being switched to a higher bandwidth mode.

Abstract: A system is described for managing memory, the system including, among other things, a memory with logic and a processor configured with the logic to receive an indication of an application state from a plurality of applications in memory and determine which of the plurality of applications to effect removal from the memory based on the received indication.

Abstract: A set-top terminal and related methods is provided that, in one embodiment, comprises a memory with proactive reboot logic and a processor configured with the proactive reboot logic to detect an indication of a critical condition associated with the set-top terminal, determine based on a current status of resources in the set-top terminal if a current time provides an opportunity for a reboot of the set-top terminal in a manner that reduces user intrusiveness, and effect a rebooting of the set-top terminal if the current time provides the opportunity, otherwise postponing the reboot.

Abstract: A system is provided that can generally be described as a system for rebooting that detects an indication that is triggered in response to a condition that is predictive of a critical problem in a client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to detecting the indication, determine an opportune time to reboot the client device in a manner that reduces user intrusiveness.

Abstract: A broadcast data access system is provided for receiving broadcast data by applications residing on a multimedia client, where the broadcast data is a set of modules on a data carousel that are being broadcast over a broadcast network. The broadcast data access system includes an interest manager configured to store a plurality of interests, such that each interest identifies an available module on the data carousel being requested by an application. The system further includes at least one application having registered an interest for a first module with the interest manager, and a dispatcher distributing the first module to the requesting application by accessing the interest manager.

Abstract: A system is provided that can generally be described as a system for rebooting that detects an indication that is triggered in response to a condition that is predictive of a critical problem in a client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to detecting the indication, determine an opportune time to reboot the client device in a manner that reduces user intrusiveness.

Abstract: A broadcast data access system is provided for receiving broadcast data by applications residing on a multimedia client, where the broadcast data is a set of modules on a data carousel that are being broadcast over a broadcast network. The broadcast data access system includes an interest manager configured to store a plurality of interests, such that each interest identifies an available module on the data carousel being requested by an application. The system further includes at least one application having registered an interest for a first module with the interest manager, and a dispatcher distributing the first module to the requesting application by accessing the interest manager.

Abstract: A broadcast data access system is provided for receiving broadcast data by applications residing on a multimedia client, where the broadcast data is a set of modules on a data carousel that are being broadcast over a broadcast network. The broadcast data access system includes an interest manager configured to store a plurality of interests, such that each interest identifies an available module on the data carousel being requested by an application. The system further includes at least one application having registered an interest for a first module with the interest manager, and a dispatcher distributing the first module to the requesting application by accessing the interest manager.

Abstract: A stream device management system is provided for supporting applications that access a variety of stream devices associated with a conventional set-top box. More specifically, the stream device management system includes a stream manager configured to identify a plurality of stream devices and to store a device identifier for each of these stream devices, and a shared memory for storing stream data associated with each of the stream devices. To initiate communication with a first stream device, a first application sends a device identifier indicative of the first stream device to the stream manager. In response to receiving the device identifier, the stream manager communicates an address for the shared memory associated with the first stream device to the first application. Lastly, the application uses this address to access the stream data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for restoring operating systems within a set-top box system. The restoration provides for operating a first operating system in a first memory. An application program is operated in a second memory. The first operating system is stored in a second memory so that a second operating system is loaded into the first memory. When a predetermined condition which is associated with the second operating system is detected, the first operating system is loaded into the first memory in response to the detected predetermined condition. Such a system provides such non-limiting advantages to the set-top box as the ability to robustly recover from errors or anomalies associated with downloading an operating system.