Abstract: A TV cable system having one set-top per user. The set-top's VCR recording functions are automatically adjusted in a manner to accommodate the occurrence of a program-delay event or a program-cancel event by the TV cable system. The expected begin/stop time-slot during which a program is projected to occur is broadcast by the system's head end to each set-top, and this IPG data is stored in each set-top. Within each set-top, the currently stored IPG-data is periodically compared to IPG-data that was recorded in the set-top's VCR-record-timers at an earlier time. When the recorded IPG-data does not compare to the current IPG-data, the IPG-data that is recorded in the VCR-record-timer is automatically updated to the current IPG-data. When this automatic updating of one VCR-record-timer produces a time-slot conflict with a different VCR-record-timer, the conflict is resolved, either automatically or by a user-alert-message that enables user intervention to resolve the conflict.

Abstract: An interactive application on a set top computing is downloaded to the set top computing system from a headend in an interactive television network. The interactive application is automatically executed by the set top computing system currently running a video program for display on a television set connected to the set top. The automatic begins by waiting for an application token embedded in the video program and detecting the application token. In response to the detection of the application token, the video program is terminated and the application downloaded to the set top is captured. The application is then executed in the set top computing system for display on the television set. In addition, a warning token also embedded in the video program is detected. Then in response to detection of the warning token, the downloading of the ITV application to the set top computing system is initiated.

Abstract: An interactive cable TV system includes a large number of set-top terminals that are connected to a system headend by way of a low-speed, time division multiplexed, channel. The headend includes the mass storage of multimedia data-assets that each contain a large number of individual data-items that may be of interest to various set-top users. A set-top user initiates an inquiry to the data-asset storage by way of an item-descriptor comprising a word-picture of the item. When this set-top query is received at the headend, a table or list is established whereby the query and its set-top ID are associated with related data assets. As the headend's data-asset storage is changed from time to time, the changes that relate to listed set-top queries result in an update of the query list. This updated data-asset information is sent to the related set-tops immediately, or is sent only when the headend receives a request from the related set-top.