Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for allowing improved selection of program guide information. Program guide information includes channel, time, and program listing information. In particular examples, each program listing is associated with a time slot having beginning time slot boundary and an end time slot boundary. Program listing information can be viewed even after a current time passes an end time slot boundary. In some examples, program listing information may be removed after a predetermined period of time or after a predetermined period of disuse.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides for selectively securing an electronic document, the electronic document having the appearance of a paper-based form. The system has a display and a memory, the memory including program code for selectively securing an electronic document, wherein the electronic document has one or more portions. The system also has a processor configured to execute the program code to provide the electronic document to a user and to provide at least one selectable area within the electronic document, wherein the selectable area is associated with at least one of the one or more portions. The processor is also configured to selectively control the ability to alter the at least one portion based on a selection of the associated one or more selectable areas.

Abstract: A satellite receiver includes a signal cancellation tuner for processing a plurality of different transponder signals to simultaneously provide a plurality of different bit streams. The signal cancellation tuner includes (a) a demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received signal representing the plurality of transponder signals into a number of decimated signals, each transponder signal conveying a bit stream, and (b) a transform element operative on the number of decimated signals for providing at least two of the bitstreams simultaneously.

Abstract: A digital filtering system for filtering sample data includes a delay network for delaying input sample data to provide multiple delayed sample data outputs. The filtering system also includes a filter network represented by a decomposed coefficient weighting matrix for processing the delayed sample data outputs. A processor produces a filtered output by computing a weighted product summation of the delayed sample data outputs and the coefficient weighting matrix. The decomposed coefficient weighting matrix is derived by factoring a first coefficient weighting matrix with a common row factor and/or sparse matrix or by factoring based on matrix row or column symmetry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-modulating an RF carrier modulated signal using a Nyquist folding frequency modulation technique. The method modulates a digitized RF carrier modulated signal with a digital sequence of {1,?1,1,?1, . . . }, where the center frequency of the RF carrier modulated signal is at a first frequency and the sample rate of the modulating signal is at a second frequency. When the second frequency is four times the first frequency, the output of the digital modulation process is a spectrum-inverted copy of the source RF carrier modulated signal. For all other frequencies, the remodulated RF carrier modulated signal has a center frequency equal to the carrier frequency minus one-half the sample rate of the modulating signal. A spectrum inversion is then performed to recreate the spectrum of the source RF carrier modulated signal, which is now located at a different center frequency. The apparatus comprises a modulating signal source and a digital modulator.

Abstract: A satellite receiver includes a multi-channel tuner for processing a plurality of different transponder signals to simultaneously provide a plurality of different bit streams from at least two of the transponder signals. The multi-channel tuner includes (a) a demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received signal representing the plurality of transponder signals into a plurality of sample signals, each transponder signal conveying a bit stream, (b) a plurality of bifurcated filters operative on the plurality of sample signals for providing a plurality of filtered signals, and (c) a discrete cosine transform element operative on the plurality of filtered signals for simultaneously providing at least two of the bitstreams.

Abstract: A method of checkpointing and restarting processes that share a file that is open begins with a step of assigning a priority to one of the processes that share the file. This identifies a priority process. The method concludes with a step of reopening the file when restoring the priority process.

Abstract: A method of restoring processes within a process domain begins with a step of restoring a tree of processes in which at least two of the processes share at least a resource. The method continues with a step of restoring a checkpoint state of each resource used by the processes after a time when a possible need for a restoration state of the resource exists. According to an embodiment, the restoration state comprises information used by the method during the step of restoring the tree of processes. According to another embodiment, the restoration state comprises information used by the method during the step of restoring the checkpoint state of one or more particular resources. The method concludes with a step of resuming execution of each process after restoration of the checkpoint state of the resources used by the process.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of checkpointing a virtual memory for a process begins with a step of saving memory resident pages. The method concludes with a step of saving disk swap pages after the step of saving the memory resident pages.

Abstract: Online computer maintenance is performed on at least one node. A virtual machine monitor is run; a first operating instance is run on the virtual machine monitor; and a second operating system instance is run on the virtual machine monitor as a substitute for the first instance. The maintenance is performed with respect to one of the instances while using the other of the instances.

Abstract: A virtual machine monitor is interposed between computer hardware and an operating system at runtime. Hardware that is already virtualized can be devirtualized at runtime.

Abstract: A computer includes hardware, a virtual machine monitor, and first and second operating system instances. The virtual machine monitor is used to expose a first operating system instance to a first hardware partition and prevent the first operating system instance from discovering a second hardware partition; and expose a second operating system instance to the second hardware partition and prevent the second operating system instance from discovering the first hardware partition. The virtual machine monitor is also used to share at least some of the hardware among the first and second operating system instances.

Abstract: A virtual machine monitor can be used to commence virtualization of computer memory at runtime. The virtual machine monitor can also be used to devirtualize computer memory at runtime.

Abstract: A virtual machine monitor can be used to commence virtualization of an I/O device of a computer at runtime. The virtual machine monitor can also be used to devirtualize an I/O device of a computer at runtime.

Abstract: An adaptive digital image processor precedes an MPEG2 encoder. The processor receives a high definition video signal intended for broadcast or storage, and adaptively low-pass filters the signal. The signal is subjected to low-pass two-dimensional filtering to eliminate encoding artifacts and related noise. The video signal is then horizontally down-sampled to create a lower resolution hybrid signal. A receiver decodes and decompresses the hybrid signal. The hybrid signal is upsampled to its original resolution using existing hardware and software with a software modification.

Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.

Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.

Abstract: A satellite receiver includes a multi-channel tuner for processing a plurality of different transponder signals to simultaneously provide a plurality of different bit streams from at least two of the transponder signals. The multi-channel tuner includes (a) a demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received signal representing the plurality of transponder signals into a plurality of sample signals, each transponder signal conveying a bit stream, (b) a plurality of bifurcated filters operative on the plurality of sample signals for providing a plurality of filtered signals, and (c) a discrete cosine transform element operative on the plurality of filtered signals for simultaneously providing at least two of the bitstreams.

Abstract: A satellite receiver includes a signal cancellation tuner for processing a plurality of different transponder signals to simultaneously provide a plurality of different bit streams. The signal cancellation tuner includes (a) a demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received signal representing the plurality of transponder signals into a number of decimated signals, each transponder signal conveying a bit stream, and (b) a transform element operative on the number of decimated signals for providing at least two of the bitstreams simultaneously.

Abstract: A system for receiving a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted with different polarizations includes a first demodulator for demodulating a first channel having a first polarization to produce a first demodulated channel signal, and a second demodulator for demodulating a second channel having a second polarization, opposite to the first polarization, to produce a second demodulated channel signal. An adaptive interference cancellation network, coupled to the first and second demodulators, cancels interference, derived from the second channel, in the first demodulated channel signal to produce a received signal.