Abstract: Notification data is received and stored at a client device. A notice represented by the notification data is then displayed to the television viewer when a channel change event is detected. The notification data may also include data that indicates how the notice is to be displayed.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and transmitting both video and graphics portions of an interactive program guide (IPG). For an IPG that comprises a graphics portion and at least one video portion having audio associated with the video portion, the apparatus separately encodes the video and audio portion and the graphics portion. The video portion is slice-base encoded using a predictive encoder that produces a bitstream comprising intra-coded picture slices and predictive-coded picture slices. The graphics portion is separately slice-base encoded to produce encoded slices of the graphics image. To transmit an IPG, a transport stream is created containing the intra-coded and predicted picture streams as well as the encoded slices that comprise a graphics image that is to be included in the IPG. The receiver reassembles the components of the IPG into a comprehensive IPG.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting multiple “slices” of information for a particular location of a user interface, which can be used to present more information to a viewer for a limited-size viewing area. Multiple slices can be associated with a particular slice location of a user interface. In a first slice delivery and presentation scheme, multiple slices for a particular location of an interactive program guide (IPG) page are transmitted from the head-end at different times, and the slices can be appropriately time stamped for presentation at the designated times. In a second scheme, multiple slices are concurrently transmitted for a particular location of an IPG page, and one of the multiple slices can be selected for processing and display. In a third scheme, one slice is transmitted for each slice location, and additional slices can be transmitted for a particular location upon receiving a request from the terminal.

Abstract: Efficient messaging techniques that facilitate interactive program guide (IPG) delivery and allow a terminal to specifically designate requested items of information from a server. The IPG can be provided via a number of IPG pages, with each page including a number of defined regions. In one method, selection for a particular region of a particular page is received at a terminal and a determination is made whether the selected region is currently received. If the answer is no, a request for the selected region is generated and sent to a server. The request can conform to a particular message format that includes a number of fields, e.g., a region ID field that identifies the selected region, a subtype field that identifies a particular type, a time slot field that identifies a specific time slot, and a page offset field that identifies a specific page from among many.

Abstract: Encoding functionality is described for producing encoded intra (I) pictures and predictive (P) pictures for consumption by an application running on a set-top box. The encoding functionality includes a pre-processing module which marks regions that should not be updated with a predetermined color code. An encoding module receives the output of the pre-processing module, and, in the event that the output contains the predetermined color code, produces a predictive (P) picture. In the predictive (P) picture, the encoding module produces macroblocks having zero motion vector and zero difference (or skipped macroblocks) corresponding to regions that were marked by the pre-processing module with the predetermined color code. The encoding module produces intra macroblocks for other regions of the picture (corresponding to update regions).

Abstract: A system and method for efficient delivery of video segments. One embodiment relates to the delivery of short-time duration video segments. The video segments may be delivered as part of a media-rich interactive program guide (IPG) or for some other application. The system and method provides a viewer with access to a video segment starting at its beginning (or any other selectable point within the video segment). Such access may be provided using a server-centric interactive technique. The server-centric technique may involve use of a demand-cast system and method. Demand-cast messaging may occur between a session manager, transport stream generator, and terminal. For example, a video object on a screen may be activated by a viewer using a remote control for a terminal. Activation of the object may cause transmission of a request from the terminal to a session manager for a video segment corresponding to the object.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting notifications to a television viewer in response to a channel change are described. Notification data is received and stored at a client device. A notice represented by the notification data is then displayed to the television viewer when a channel change event is detected. The notification data may also include data that indicates how the notice is to be displayed.

Abstract: Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one embodiment, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens including the set of selected channels are rendered at a headend. Custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Commands indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received, and the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. Custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel being viewed, used to carry regular program guide, or a channel independent of the channel used to carry regular programming and program guide.

Abstract: A terminal for decoding and presenting encoded realtime and non-realtime interactive program guide (IPG) content including a realtime video portion and a non-realtime guide graphics portion. The terminal includes a demodulator operative to receive and demodulate a modulated signal to provide a transport stream, and a transport demultiplexer coupled to the demodulator and operative to receive and process the transport stream to provide a sequence of transport packets re-timestamped to synchronize encoded realtime content and encoded non-realtime content included therein. At least one video decoder is coupled to the transport demultiplexer and operative to receive and decode the encoded realtime and non-realtime contents to recover the realtime and non-realtime contents for the user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and transmitting both video and graphics portions of an interactive program guide (IPG). For an IPG that comprises a graphics portion and at least one video portion having audio associated with the video portion, the apparatus separately encodes the video and audio portion and the graphics portion. The video portion is slice-base encoded using a predictive encoder that produces a bitstream comprising intra-coded picture slices and predictive-coded picture slices. The graphics portion is separately slice-base encoded to produce encoded slices of the graphics image. To transmit an IPG, a transport stream is created containing the intra-coded and predicted picture streams as well as the encoded slices that comprise a graphics image that is to be included in the IPG. The receiver reassembles the components of the IPG into a comprehensive IPG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and transmitting both video and graphics portions of an interactive program guide (IPG). For an IPG that comprises a graphics portion and at least one video portion, the inventive system separately encodes the video portion and the graphics portion. The video portion is slice-base encoded using a predictive encoder, e.g., an MPEG encoder, that produces a bitstream comprising intra-coded picture slices and predictive-coded picture slices. The graphics portion is separately slice-base encoded to produce encoded slices of the graphics image. The encoded slices of the graphics portion can be stored in a database and recalled as needed for transmission. To transmit an IPG, a transport stream is created containing the intra-coded and predicted picture streams as well as the encoded slices that comprise a graphics image that is to be included in the IPG. The receiver reassembles the components of the IPG into a comprehensive IPG.

Abstract: A thermostat valve support assembly for a a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes a cylindrical ring body which supports the thermostat valve component, and three flat arms extending from the body with hook ends on each arm. The valve support assembly is inserted into one end of a coolant hose such as the upper radiator hose in an engine compartment until the hook ends become bent over the hose end. The end of the hose is then positioned about a flange-neck connection point of the engine block or the radiator, and is clamped in place until a watertight seal is formed. The arms can be formed from plastic or metal such as aluminum, galvanized steel, brass, tin, copper or combination thereof. The location of the assembly allows for an easier installation and removal of the thermostat valve as compared to prior valves which are generally located in hard to reach locations.