Abstract: A localization process in a network of source devices and sink devices on a 1394 bus, is performed by a source device while it is communicating to a sink device, which determines local network links from nonlocal ones. An actual round trip time calculation is performed only by the source device and the sink device can be relatively passive. The duties of the sink device are performed in hardware and involve (trivially) modifying the received message while moving the message from the input isochronous channel buffer to the output isochronous channel buffer.

Abstract: A method and system for providing data from one or more audio/visual (A/V) source devices to one or more A/V sink devices in a network is provided. The system implements a rendering method in a video rendering module configured to render display data related to digital videos from an A/V source device to one or more sink devices across the network. The video rendering module includes a presentation module configured to obtain selected display data from one or more of the A/V source devices across the network, and a navigation module configured to control the presentation module for obtaining the selected display data, and to allow one or more users to navigate through the display data to access the digital videos.

Abstract: A method for transmitting and processing by a system packetized data stream comprising audio and video components and program guide information. The program guide information has a predetermined service identifier and includes service identifier information associated with audio and video program components. The program guide information is used to identify service identifiers associated with a selected program. The identified service identifiers are used to acquire data packets associated with the selected program. The acquired data packets are processed in accordance with a video signal standard to generate output signals representative of the selected program.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing a packetized transport stream that determines whether a sequence of transport packets are received in a proper sequence and whether an error is present in a particular transport packet. The method includes the steps of determining a packet identifier for identifying transport packets associated with a selected program and parsing a packetized transport stream to identify and capture the desired sequence of transport packets in response to the packet identifier. The method further includes the steps of detecting a counter portion, determining whether a desired sequence of transport packets has been received in response to the counter portion, detecting a one bit toggle portion, and determining whether an error exits in the associated transport packet in response to the one bit toggle portion. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing packetized signal having a plurality of channels carrying program information. The packetized signal also includes program guide information that includes channel identifier data. The program guide information comprises a sequence of data blocks including a segment map that includes information about the partitioning of the plurality of channels into segments and map block that includes information relating specific channels of the plurality of channels with respective channel identifier data.

Abstract: Apparatus in a receiver, for processing transmitted entitlement control information, includes a packet transport processor for selecting signal packets having payloads containing a conditional access payload header and a remaining payload of entitlement data. Respective payload headers include groups of bytes which are coded in a manner to allow or disallow the respective receiver from processing the entitlement data. A conditional access filter preprogrammed with a subscriber specific conditional access codeword examines respective byte groupings of the conditional access header for a match with the subscriber specific conditional access codeword. Only if a match occurs is the processor permitted to process the entitlement data. The entitlement data is thereafter utilized to generate decryption keys for descrambling portions of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for acquiring a program from a packetized signal in response to ancillary information included in the packetized signal. The packetized signal includes a plurality of program signals and ancillary information associated with the plurality of program signals. The apparatus includes means for identifying the ancillary information from the packetized signal, the ancillary information including master guide information for use in identifying and acquiring special guide information, and special guide information for use in acquiring program information associated with the plurality of program signals. The program signals may be acquired using identifier information that may be derived from the ancillary information. The apparatus includes means responsive to the ancillary information for acquiring a selected program from the packetized signal.

Abstract: Apparatus in a receiver, for processing transmitted entitlement control information, includes a packet transport processor for selecting signal packets having payloads containing a conditional access payload header and a remaining payload of entitlement data. Respective payload headers include groups of bytes which are coded in a manner to allow or disallow the respective receiver from processing the entitlement data. A conditional access filter preprogrammed with a subscriber specific conditional access codeword examines respective byte groupings of the conditional access header for a match with the subscriber specific conditional access codeword. Only if a match occurs is the processor permitted to process the entitlement data. The entitlement data is thereafter utilized to generate decryption keys for descrambling portions of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: A satellite receiver for digitally encoded television signals includes apparatus for generating a signal indicating the alignment of the receiving antenna which is responsive to the number of errors contained in the digitally encoded television signals. The antenna alignment signal has the form of an audio signal which is coupled to sound reproducing device associated with the satellite receiver. The audio signal corresponds to a continuous tone when the number of errors is less than a predetermined threshold indicating that error correction is possible. The elevation of the antenna is set according with the location of the receiving site. Thereafter, the azimuth of the antenna is coarsely aligned by first rotating the antenna in small increments so locate a region in which the continuous tone is produced. During this coarse alignment procedure, the tuner of the satellite receiver attempts to locate a tuning frequency at which and demodulation and error correction is possible.

Abstract: In a packet audio/video signal transmission system, program guide information is formed as a master guide and a special guide. The master guide contains programming information for the period of the current several hours. The special guide contains programming information for the next thirty days, for example. The master guide is sent as a service on each carrier or transponder to render it readily available regardless of the carrier frequency to which the receiver is tuned. The special guide is transmitted on only one of the carriers (transponders) to minimize use of system bandwidth.

Abstract: A satellite receiver for digitally encoded television signals includes apparatus for aligning the receiving antenna which is responsive to the number of errors contained in the digitally encoded television signals. Error correction is possible if the number of errors is below a threshold and not possible if the number of errors is above the threshold. The elevation of the antenna is set according to the location of the receiving site. Thereafter, the azimuth of the antenna is coarsely aligned by first rotating the antenna in small increments to locate a region in which error correction is possible. During this coarse alignment procedure, the tuner of the satellite receiver attempts to locate a tuning frequency at which and demodulation and error correction is possible. If no appropriate frequency is found after a range of frequencies have been searched, the antenna is rotated by a small increment.

Abstract: In an audio/video transmission system, a method of forming program guide information conducive to selective display at respective receivers includes arranging program guide information in different data blocks according to types of guide information. One such data block contains channel information (CSSM.sub.i) describing the respective channels. Respective CSSM.sub.i in this block include a channel information customer service system byte (CI.sub.-- CSS) which contains conditional access information related to a channel associated with a CSSM.sub.i. In a receiver embodiment, a subscriber specific byte (CA.sub.-- CSS) is stored and accessible to program guide processing apparatus. Prior to displaying received program guide information for a particular channel, the subscriber byte CA.sub.-- CSS is compared with the channel information byte CI.sub.-- CSS in the program guide.

Abstract: It is herein recognized that it is desirable that a television receiver provide preprogrammed labels for many widely-used television networks. The user has only to select the proper channel and then select a corresponding preprogrammed label from a list in order to associate the channel and label. In one embodiment the preprogrammed label is a graphically-formed logo or service mark of the television network.

Abstract: It is desirable that a television receiver provide a prominent visual indication that it is about to automatically turn off. On-screen display (OSD) circuitry automatically reduces the viewable picture area to a small area before turning off the receiver. Reduction of the viewable area may be performed by displaying and gradually enlarging at least one graphically-generated margin of the OSD display.

Abstract: A plurality of like modules having an open sided C-frame construction are provided with slot-forming guides for receiving a plurality of circuit boards which are inserted from the open side. The circuit boards, when fully received in the guide slot, are engageable with electrical connectorings on the main body section of the C-frame. A plenum chamber is formed on the bottommost surface of the plurality of C-frame modules, and vent slots are provided through the modules at the upper and lower limbs of the C-frame, thereby permitting air to be ducted through the plenum chamber and convected up through the vent slots, thereby dissipating heat from the circuit boards. Means is provided for connecting the plurality of modules in a predetermined fashion to one another, to form a rigid assembly.