Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention include a peripheral device connected to a telecommunications network via a telephone line and connected to a multimedia network via a high-speed serial interface. The peripheral device establishes and maintains multiple logical connections between devices in the multimedia network and devices in the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A controlling application generates objects and handles to represent units within a network. To generate an object representing a device, subobjects for each subunit within the device are assembled into the object representing the device. When the unit reports its self-identifying information, the controlling application determines which subunits are included within the unit. Subobjects representing these subunits are copied from a subobject library and assembled into the object representing this device. Preferably, a handle includes a pointer value pointing to an address of the corresponding object for the device.

Abstract: A video recording device includes the ability to record a video broadcast or video program while concurrently replaying a previously recorded video broadcast. This previously recorded video broadcast can be the same video broadcast that is recording or a different video broadcast. The record and playback operations are preferably triggered and controlled through a television on which the user can watch the playback of the recorded program. The viewer enters the data and commands for recording and playback preferably using a remote control device. Video programs are preferably recorded on a mass storage device. Preferably, the mass storage device is a hard disk drive coupled to the television through an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. Alternatively, any other appropriately configured memory device can be used to store the video programs.

Abstract: A controlling application utilizes existing handle objects, as appropriate, to reconfigure objects to dynamically enumerate and represent devices coupled to a serial bus network after a bus reset event. Preferably, the serial bus network is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. During a self-identifying process, after the bus reset, information about the characteristics of the devices within the network is received. From this self-identifying information objects representing the devices are generated. Existing handle objects from a previous bus configuration are then compared to these objects. If a handle matches an object, then a pointer value within the handle is changed to point to an address of the object. Preferably, a handle includes a 64 bit unique identifier value that is compared to the objects to find a match. For devices removed from the network, the handle object is preferably never discarded but is made invalid.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention include a peripheral device connected to a telecommunications network via a telephone line and connected to a multimedia network via a high-speed serial interface. The peripheral device establishes and maintains multiple logical connections between devices in the multimedia network and devices in the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A television with multiple display windows and placement dependent cursor and function control is configured to receive and simultaneously display video and graphics input from multiple devices, including but not limited to personal computers, video cassette recorders, settop boxes, video cameras and video disk players, as well as display video input signals from cable, antenna and satellite sources. The size of each display window is adjustable to encompass a predetermined amount of the display screen of the television. Multiple input windows driven by multiple devices can be viewed simultaneously. One or more cursor control and input devices are used to control the operation of the television and of the devices driving the display windows. The cursor control and input devices control the position of the cursor on the television screen.

Abstract: A computer system or other internet access device is programmed to automatically access specified web pages periodically and download the information from the web page to the computer system. Through a user interface, a user programs the computer system by entering an internet address of the web page and an access interval. The access interval is the interval at which versions of the web page will be downloaded; e.g. hourly, daily or weekly. On that periodic basis the computer system or other internet access device then automatically accesses the specified web page and downloads the available information. This information is stored within a memory device associated with the computer system. The user can then access the downloaded information and view the web page without connecting to the internet to determine if there is anything of interest to the user on the web page.