Abstract: A sprite sheet generation mechanism includes providing a sprite sheet generation engine host, which may be an authoring application. The host loads code that describes sprite sheet format information and a set of ordered images into the sprite sheet generation engine. The code is from code resources may be plug-ins created by a user and managed by a plug-in type manager. The sprite sheet generation engine is operated using the sprite sheet format information and the set of ordered images to generate a sprite sheet.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rendering a stage in a software authoring tool. A run-time player component is employed for rendering the stage for presenting a preview of output of a software application being authored in the software authoring tool. Thus, a software authoring tool outputs a stage which presents a preview of the output of an application being authored, such as a multimedia application. The output presentation of a multimedia application being authored in the authoring tool is rendered to the stage by a run-time player component. Thus, rather than employing code integrated within the authoring tool for mimicking a run-time player in order to generate a preview of output on the stage, embodiments of the present invention utilize a run-time player component to generate such a preview of output on the stage.

Abstract: A system and method for providing layered master pages in page layout or illustration software comprises basing a layered page of a document on two or more layered master pages to provide a child page. The objects disposed on the layered master pages are interleaved with the objects disposed on the document page and output as a child page. The resultant child page image has objects on layers of the layered master pages interleaved with and/or among objects on layers of the document page.

Abstract: A sprite sheet generation mechanism includes providing a sprite sheet generation engine host, which may be an authoring application. The host loads code that describes sprite sheet format information and a set of ordered images into the sprite sheet generation engine. The code is from code resources may be plug-ins created by a user and managed by a plug-in type manager. The sprite sheet generation engine is operated using the sprite sheet format information and the set of ordered images to generate a sprite sheet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rendering a stage in a software authoring tool. A run-time player component is employed for rendering the stage for presenting a preview of output of a software application being authored in the software authoring tool. Thus, a software authoring tool outputs a stage which presents a preview of the output of an application being authored, such as a multimedia application. The output presentation of a multimedia application being authored in the authoring tool is rendered to the stage by a run-time player component. Thus, rather than employing code integrated within the authoring tool for mimicking a run-time player in order to generate a preview of output on the stage, embodiments of the present invention utilize a run-time player component to generate such a preview of output on the stage.

Abstract: A system and method for providing layered master pages in page layout or illustration software comprises basing a layered page of a document on two or more layered master pages to provide a child page. The objects disposed on the layered master pages are interleaved with the objects disposed on the document page and output as a child page. The resultant child page image has objects on layers of the layered master pages interleaved with and/or among objects on layers of the document page.

Abstract: A system and method for providing layered master pages in page layout or illustration software comprises basing a layered page of a document on a layered master page to provide a child page. The objects disposed on the layered master page are interleaved with the objects disposed on the document page and output as a child page. The resultant child page image has objects on layers of the layered master page interleaved with and/or among objects on layers of the document page.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying promotional information on a display on which program listings information is displayed. In some embodiments, the promotional information and the program listings information may be displayed simultaneously with video for a given television channel. In some embodiments, the program listings information may be program listings information for the given television channel. In some embodiments, the program listings information may be program listings information for channels other than the given television channel. In some embodiments, the promotional information may contain text. In some embodiments, the promotional information may contain graphics. Systems and methods are also provided for displaying for a user video that is accompanied by audio on a display on which program listings are displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using an electronic program guide application to access a non-program guide application. The electronic program guide application provides a program guide display from which a user can access the non-program guide application. The electronic program guide application receives a user selection to access the non-program guide application from the program guide display. In response to the user selection, the electronic program guide application accesses the non-program guide application.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule-system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: Allocation of telecommunication systems bandwidth is provided preferably in a predictive fashion. Packets are identified with particular data streams and characteristics of the data streams are used to predict probable future bandwidth requirements. Such predictions are used to allocate high-bandwidth channels, such as ISDN B channels and to close or switch channels as in accordance with predicted needs. Preferably the system is self-learning and can modify a rules base for making allocation decisions e.g. based on actual use statistics.