Abstract: The present invention provides a system for providing alternative services in a television system. In one implementation, a subscriber is provided an alternative service upon attempting to access an unauthorized service, thereby providing a framework for efficient control of conditional access and enhanced services. In addition, in one implementation, user device limitations or variations are handled conveniently through the same multi-purpose system for providing alternative services.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for providing alternative services in a television system. In one implementation, a subscriber is provided an alternative service upon attempting to access an unauthorized service, thereby providing a framework for efficient control of conditional access and enhanced services. In addition, in one implementation, user device limitations or variations are handled conveniently through the same multi-purpose system for providing alternative services.

Abstract: A method for providing media to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device includes receiving user input requesting on-screen comments to be provided with a media presentation and providing the user with a media presentation along with comments related to the media presentation.

Abstract: Systems and methods of utilizing hyperlinks in connection with video services are disclosed. One such method includes receiving a video program having a start time. This method also includes receiving, before the start time, a media object associated with the video program. This method also includes storing the media object, and displaying the media object and the video program on a screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for providing alternative services in a television system. In one implementation, a subscriber is provided an alternative service upon attempting to access an unauthorized service, thereby providing a framework for efficient control of conditional access and enhanced services. In addition, in one implementation, user device limitations or variations are handled conveniently through the same multi-purpose system for providing alternative services.

Abstract: A system and method for a communication terminal to manage memory and maintain a current application version for multiple applications are provided. The system and method provide for managing memory in a communication terminal coupled to a server device enabling the communication terminal to provide memory capacity for storing in a memory and executing on the communication terminal a plurality of applications downloaded from the server device. Prior to downloading an application, the communication terminal determines an amount of memory capacity required by an application client to be downloaded from the server device. The communication terminal then attempts to allocate the memory capacity.

Abstract: A media services device including a display device configured to present user-selectable options corresponding to video-on-demand services, and a video-on-demand application server component configured to provide the video-on-demand services responsive to user selection of the options.

Abstract: A method and system for a programmable television services client device that enables a user to navigate to an individual television service and is coupled to a programmable television services server device is provided. The client device comprises a memory for storing data. The client device also includes an interactive program guide contained in the memory that displays program information received from the headend server device. The memory of the client device stores configuration information for a plurality of initial guide arrangements. One of the initial guide arrangements is denoted in the configuration information by either the subscriber or the system operator at the headend as the selected guide for implementation at any given time. The client device also includes a processor that is responsive to the interactive program guide and the configuration information and causes the client device to display program information according to the selected initial guide arrangement.

Abstract: A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) including a plurality of tuners, each of which can select one of a plurality of transmission channels provided by a Digital Broadband Delivery System (DBDS). The multiple tuners enable the DHCT to tune to a plurality of downstream media and data transmissions, thereby allowing a subscriber to tune simultaneously to multiple channels and content transmitted in the downstream transmission via the DBDS, an advantage over conventional DHCTs. The present invention enables subscribers to receive and view multiple channels and associated content, including electronic program guide information, at will. Furthermore, using the multiple-tuner DHCT of the present invention, subscribers can view multiple television stations and program content simultaneously, without degradation to television signals or pictures.

Abstract: The present invention comprises customizable, multimedia messaging over a subscriber television system, such as a cable or satellite system, utilizing a service independent framework. The present invention comprises a multimedia messaging (MMM) server generally located at a headend of a cable or satellite system, and an MMM client at a communications terminal located remotely with respect to the MMM server. A service provider or operator defines a message configuration that is utilized to present the message content to one or more subscribers. The message configuration includes parameters that control the presentation of the message content. The MMM server receives an MMM request from a service application, and in response thereto, generates an MMM request which is sent to the communications terminal, and more particularly, to the MMM client. The MMM client processes the MMM request, including the retrieval of any message content or the message configuration.

Abstract: The invention is a flexible and adaptive application framework and method for providing media services via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes distributing or partitioning computation, data storage, and/or data transmission between the server and client devices to flexibly adapt to and take advantage of the available computing and/or network resources.

Abstract: A system and method for a communication terminal to manage memory and maintain a current application version for multiple applications are provided. The system and method provide for managing memory in a communication terminal coupled to a server device enabling the communication terminal to provide memory capacity for storing in a memory and executing on the communication terminal a plurality of applications downloaded from the server device. Prior to downloading an application, the communication terminal determines an amount of memory capacity required by an application client to be downloaded from the server device. The communication terminal then attempts to allocate the memory capacity. If memory cannot be allocated from the system heap, the communication terminal purges data contained in the memory according to a dynamic list of priorities to create memory capacity in the memory for the application client.

Abstract: A method for providing media to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device includes receiving user input requesting on-screen comments to be provided with a media presentation and providing the user with a media presentation along with comments related to the media presentation.

Abstract: The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a media title to a media title list in response to user input.

Abstract: The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a media title to a media title list in response to user input.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for an interactive media services system to provide media to a user through an interactive media services client device. The client device is coupled to a programmable media services server device. The method includes the step of implementing an interactive media guide. Additionally, the client device is implemented to present the interactive media guide to the user. A system operator is provided an interface to the programmable media services server. Control options are provided within the interface to allow the system operator to configure a plurality of rental options available to the user. Finally the interactive media service system is implemented such that the plurality of rental options can be executed by the user in a requested active media session.

Abstract: A technique for allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery system (DBDS) using a bandwidth allocation manager to dynamically assign a content delivery mode to a plurality of digital transmission channels based on an allocation criteria received from a subscriber is disclosed herein. The bandwidth allocation manager determines a bandwidth allocation schedule for a predetermined bandwidth based on allocation criteria comprising a criteria received from a subscriber. The allocation criteria received from the subscriber may comprise a subscriber reservation request which is processed by the bandwidth allocation manager to determine the bandwidth allocation schedule.

Abstract: The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable television services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes receiving user input and excluding one or more media titles from a media title list based on the user input.

Abstract: A system and method for a communication terminal to manage memory and maintain a current application version for multiple applications are provided. The system and method provide for managing memory in a communication terminal coupled to a server device enabling the communication terminal to provide memory capacity for storing in a memory and executing on the communication terminal a plurality of applications downloaded from the server device. Prior to downloading an application, the communication terminal determines an amount of memory capacity required by an application client to be downloaded from the server device. The communication terminal then attempts to allocate the memory capacity.

Abstract: A method and system that allows a user to, with a single button press on a remote control, quickly navigate within a program guide to an established reference point, such as the program information associated with the last viewed channel and the current time. The establishment of a reference point provides a subscriber with a known position within program information that may cover weeks of time, thousands of channels, and a variety of categories or sorting methods. The subscriber that has advanced through many hours and channels of program information is provided with a method of easily navigating to a known reference within the program information.