Abstract: A television signal receiver provides visual feedback in response to the receipt of a direct entry digit for a television channel change that indicates the channel number being entered by the user and the television signal tuning device or tuner thereof to which the entered television channel number pertains, particularly with respect to a tuner of the television signal receiver and one or more auxiliary television signal tuners. The various auxiliary television signal tuners are preferably, but not necessarily, with respect to separate components, such as a satellite receiver and a cable set-top box. Upon receipt of a direct entry television channel, television channel tuning may, by default, be performed on the tuner associated with the previously (i.e. last) tuned channel. Default tuning may be selectable by the user. The visual feedback may be in the form of an information banner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient way of presenting hierarchical data or information based on a container metaphor. Nodes or information associated with the hierarchy are represented visually using a geometric shape, such as a rectangle, square, or circle. The hierarchical relationships of the data in the hierarchy can then be represented by displaying the shapes within one another to illustrate a container relationship or adjacent to each other to represent a different level of hierarchy. In addition, visual cues can be used to highlight the container relationship and the corresponding nature of the hierarchy. These cues can include, for example, shading the borders of the shape to give a three-dimensional illusion of depth, increasing the darkness of the background of each successively contained shape, and decreasing the size of the font of each successively contained shape.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for processing an extensible markup language (XML) script using an XML based scripting language are provided. The XML script is parsed. The XML script comprises element nodes. Each element node comprises a component name. A first element node comprises a first component name referencing a first user-defined component. An argument is passed to the first user-defined component. The argument is evaluated when an element node associated with the first user-defined component comprises an evaluate-component name that explicitly specifies that the argument be evaluated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a workflow management system for creating and delivering output material. A customer record is generated to include fields specifying at least one product, customer preferences, and a selected output method to deliver generated output material on the product specified in the customer record. A job record including a status field is added to a job status table for the customer record. The added job record status is set to a first status. A selected job is processed in the job status table. A first worker is invoked if the selected job has the first status. The first worker generates output material from processing the product and customer preference fields in the customer record for the selected job. The status for the selected job in the job status table is set to a second status after generating the output material. A second worker is invoked if the selected job has the second status.

Abstract: A method and system for providing distributed printing is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of printers, at least one print spooler, and at least one relational database coupled with the print spooler. The print spooler(s) are for managing printing operations. The relational database(s) are coupled with the print spooler. The relational database also includes a plurality of tables that store a plurality of print objects.

Abstract: A digital recording apparatus and a method for controlling a digital recording apparatus that provides for allowing the user to easily determine the available recording time that remains on a memory of the apparatus in response to a record command. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of detecting a first user input representing a command to start recording, and enabling display of a first screen message responsive to the first user input, where the first screen message indicates a remaining recording time available on a memory of the apparatus. The command to start recording is a command that does not specify a total recording time, for example, by the user actuating a RECORD key on a remote control device associated with the apparatus. The present invention also automatically provides another screen message that allows the user to delete data from the memory if it is determined that insufficient available recording time remains on the memory.

Abstract: Methods, interfaces, and devices for navigating locations previously accessed by an end user device such as a set top box. A history menu with menu items is provided with the menu items referencing the last locations accessed by the end user device. The end user can therefore choose any one of the previously accessed locations and, upon activation of the menu items, the location referenced by the menu item is accessed. Each location accessed by the end user device creates or modifies a record that notes details relating to how that location is accessed. The mode of the end user device, the address or channel for the location, and any related or required software is noted in the record along with a short but useful description of the location. Each record is referenced by one of the menu items and, upon activation of the menu item, the record is retrieved. The end user device then uses the details in the record the record is retrieved.

Abstract: A data processing system and method of preparing a presentation-ready document are described. In response to receipt of a document description that includes at least one Page Description Language (PDL) instruction and specifies both fixed data and variable data, the one or more PDL instructions are processed to produce separate presentation-ready images of the fixed data and the variable data. In addition, a bookticket specifying an arrangement of the presentation-ready images of the fixed data and the variable data is automatically generated. In response to receipt of the bookticket, a presentation-ready document is built that includes the presentation-ready images of the fixed data and the variable data in the arrangement specified by the bookticket. In one embodiment of the present invention, the document description specifies the fixed data of the document utilizing a PDL form operator.