Abstract: A television upgrade system allows a consumer to upgrade applications or features in a television (TV) simply by inserting an external device containing an upgrade file into the TV. The TV then executes a boot loader code which automatically replaces an executable code for applications or features currently in the TV with the new or upgraded executable code from the upgrade file. A consumer can also upgrade the boot loader code that maps out where the executable code for the different applications or features are located in memory. This allows the TV to be completely reconfigured for a wider variety of new applications and features. A verification operation can be performed to prevent the TV from being reconfigured with incorrect versions of the boot image and to avoid unauthorized files from being loaded into the TV.

Abstract: A television upgrade system allows a consumer to upgrade applications or features in a television (TV) simply by inserting an external device containing an upgrade file into the TV. The TV then executes a boot loader code which automatically replaces an executable code for applications or features currently in the TV with the new or upgraded executable code from the upgrade file. A consumer can also upgrade the boot loader code that maps out where the executable code for the different applications or features are located in memory. This allows the TV to be completely reconfigured for a wider variety of new applications and features. A verification operation can be performed to prevent the TV from being reconfigured with incorrect versions of the boot image and to avoid unauthorized files from being loaded into the TV.

Abstract: A Personal Video Recorder (PVR) generates an object index table in real-time that can be updated while streaming media is being encoded and stored in memory. This allows more dynamic video trick mode operations such as fast forward, reverse and skip. The PVR also provides automatic data rate control that prevents video frames from being dropped thus preventing jitter in the output media.

Abstract: A Personal Video Recorder (PVR) displays an original, real-time, uncompressed video with no delay during a real-time mode and switches between original video and time shifted video with no delay. This provides a higher fidelity image than using the encoded and then decoded image and provides immediate video change feedback. Additional embodiments of the invention include a PVR that can decode data both from an external storage device and internal buffers; a PVR with a smooth transition when reading data from the external storage device to reading data from a buffer, and vice versa; a PVR that shows true high fidelity real-time video; and a PVR that shows input video transitions in real-time.