Abstract: In certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a method of associating a controlled device with a remote controller device involves providing a controlled device with a near field communication (NFC) module; providing a remote controller device with a near field communication (NFC) module; bringing the remote controller device into close enough proximity to the controlled device to establish an NFC communication link; communicating secret data between the remote controller device and the controlled device to establish an association between the remote controller device and the controlled device so that commands from the remote controller device to the controlled device will be accepted. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: In certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a method of associating a controlled device with a remote controller device involves providing a controlled device with a near field communication (NFC) module; providing a remote controller device with a near field communication (NFC) module; bringing the remote controller device into close enough proximity to the controlled device to establish an NFC communication link; communicating secret data between the remote controller device and the controlled device to establish an association between the remote controller device and the controlled device so that commands from the remote controller device to the controlled device will be accepted. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: A display reader device that reads a channel displayed on a television set top box channel display consistent with certain embodiments has an array of light sensitive electronic elements receiving light signals from a television set top box's channel display and producing an output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive electronic elements. An image processor converts the output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive elements and converts the output signal to a signal representing the channel number displayed on the display. An output from the image processor carries the signal representing the channel number. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for changing programs in a digital transport stream carrying multiple channels which comprises receiving a digital television transport stream that has a plurality of multiplexed channels, de-multiplexing the plurality of channels, detecting I-frames of each channel and storing the most recent I-frame from each channel in a buffer. When a channel change is desired, the stored I-frame associated with the desired channel is obtained and decoded so that subordinate P-frames and B-frames in the desired channel can be immediately decoded in reference to the I-frame. By presenting the stored I-frame, there is no delay while waiting for a next transmitted I-frame in order to commence decoding and immediately presenting the selected channel to the display.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: A system for switching television channels provides a first tuner by which a first television channel is received and a second tuner by which a second television channel is received once a channel selection is made while the first channel is being viewed. The current channel being viewed is immediately switched to the selected second channel once the second tuner has acquired that channel.

Abstract: A packetized voice telephony system including a set top box including a cable modem front end for supporting cable television services to be provided to a television coupled to the set top box. Also included is a voice peripheral coupled to the set top box for supporting packetized voice telephony services provided via a cable link and through the set top box. In one variation, the voice peripheral supports Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The voice peripheral is external to the set top box and couples to the subscriber's telephone equipment. In some variations, the voice peripheral includes a power source to provide backup power to the set top box and the subscriber's telephone equipment.

Abstract: A television signal processing system, such as a set-top box and a personal video recorder, that handles both digital and legacy analogy system can be simplified to minimize the required connections between system components. Digital signals are demultiplexed and recorded or decompressed and output to a television set. Analog signals are decoded, or converted to digital, and then compressed. The compressed signal can be demultiplexed and recorded or demultiplexed, decompressed and output to a television set. In either case, only a single connection is required between the processing circuitry and the television set, and between the processing circuitry and the signal recording circuitry and hardware.

Abstract: An adapter can be used to connect a standard connector on an electronic device, such as a Set-Top Box (“STB”), with a specific connector on an external module, peripheral, electronic device, bus, cable, wire or the like that is to be connected to the electronic device. For example, different adapters can provide means for connecting a standard connector on an STB with any of a Point-of-Deployment card or module, a smart card, a PCMCIA card or a Memory Stick®. Consequently, the STB (or other electronic device) need not be manufactured with connectors configured for connecting all possible peripheral devices. Additionally, the STB (or other electronic device) need not be manufactured in different models with various combinations of connectors for the possible peripheral devices.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: An alignment command is transmitted from a video conference application to a television receiver using an existing command path within the television receiver. The television receiver is then configured in accordance with the alignment command. Transmitting the alignment command may include formatting the command according to a protocol compatible with the existing command path within the television receiver. For example, a signal protocol compatible with a television remote control may be used. Further, the alignment command may be received at an input jack associated with the existing command path within said television receiver. Configuring the television receiver may be accomplished by decoding the alignment command to obtain an alignment parameter for the television receiver. This may include accessing a table (e.g., a look-up table stored in a memory) to obtain the alignment parameter. The alignment parameter may then be used to produce a display alignment command for the television receiver.

Abstract: A system for overlaying a motion video signal onto an analog signal on a display. The system includes a motion video processing unit for receiving and processing the motion video signal into a signal having an analog video format, a video format analyzer and synchronizer device for receiving the analog signal and for determining video timing parameters and a corresponding original pixel clock of the analog signal and for controlling video timing parameters of the motion video signal to match the video timing parameters of the analog signal determined by the video format analyzer and synchronizer device so as to provide an output motion video signal which is synchronized with the analog signal and a display determining device for determining the display of the analog output signal or the synchronized output motion video signal on the display.

Abstract: A zoom distance of a camera is determined at a time when a video image is captured. Next, a filtering process is applied to the image based upon the zoom distance. For one embodiment, the process of determining the zoom distance includes establishing a reference focal length of a lens system of the camera and comparing that reference focal length to a measured focal length of the lens system at a time when the video image is captured. Based upon whether the reference focal length is greater than or less than the measured focal length, a filtering process is applied to the image. The filtering process to be applied is such that when the reference focal length is greater than the measured focal length, the filtering process removes more high frequency components from the image than are removed when the measured focal length is greater than the referenced focal length.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating control data (such as configuration, adjustment, or alignment data) to an internal digital processor of a display device from an external processor, and for communicating status data from the internal digital processor to the external processor. In accordance with the invention, a display signal (e.g., an analog video signal or a synchronization signal associated therewith) is encoded with digital control data. An internal digital processor in the display device receives the encoded display signal and extracts the control data therefrom. In preferred embodiments, the display device is a video monitor, and one or more of the video and video sync signals supplied to the monitor are encoded with control data, which can include a video test signal from a video signal generator, or configuration, alignment, or adjustment data.

Abstract: A computer-generated image signal is analyzed to derive a set of alignment parameters for a television. These alignment parameters arc then used to configure the television accordingly. The alignment parameters may include aspects of the computer-generated image signal such as a vertical period, a horizontal frequency, a horizontal front porch, a horizontal active image time and/or a maximum RGB video level. The television may be configured to reduce its raster length to accommodate the compute generated image signal. Further, the values of the horizontal measurements for the active video time, front porch and frequency of the computer-generated image signals may be used to determine values for the television's horizontal picture size and position. Such values may be determined by computation or by table look up. In addition, other television alignment parameters such as upper and lower pin cushion, vertical bow, pin amplitude and/or horizontal angle may be determined.