Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for the controlled deployment of software in a web-based environment where multiple versions of a single application are supported to provide field experience of various versions before general deployment. The systems and methods of the invention support backwards compatibility, which allows older versions of the same software to be accessed concurrently with newer (revised) versions. Likewise, data item opaqueness is supported whereby data items not recognized by a software level or tier are not rejected but are passed on to another tier or level where they may be recognized.

Abstract: A personal versatile recorder can be connected to, or integrated in, a cable television set-top terminal. The personal versatile recorder includes a central processing unit and a hard drive for mass data storage. Preferably, the personal versatile recorder has a tuner or tuners for receiving one or more transport streams from the cable system as well as analog or digital audiovisual programming. The data transport stream may encompass internet multimedia web content and associated applications to he utilized by the personal versatile recorder, Under instructions of the viewer or the agent application the central processing unit controls and facilitates various functions such as encoding, transcoding, decoding, caching, storing, playback and retrieval of any type of data or data file on the hard drive including compressed audiovisual programming content, streamed multimedia cached content, picture files, video files, audio files, HTML files, etc. for a variety of applications as described.

Abstract: Commands received in a set-top-box are forwarded upstream to an augmentation unit. The augmentation unit executes commands. Record and play commands may enable personal video recording using a set-top-box as a command interpreter. Firmware patches enable a set-top-box to forward commands using a network protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the provision of streaming media content in existing video delivery systems are provided. Streaming media content may be delivered over an existing video delivery system by (1) downloading a streaming media player to a consumer device and processing the streaming media content for delivery over the existing delivery network for decoding and display by the player; and/or (2) transcoding the streaming media content for display on a consumer device and delivering the transcoded streaming media content over the existing delivery network to the consumer device. Processing of the streaming media content may comprise encapsulating the streaming media content in an MPEG-2 transport stream for delivery over the existing network. Transcoding of the streaming media content may comprise converting the content from an original format to another format compatible with the consumer device and/or a player resident at the consumer device, such as an MPEG-2 program stream.