Abstract: Plural service providers each provide services to one or more multicast service systems, which forward service sets formed by bundling received services to a respective multicast operator. The service sets are then multicast in IP datacasting bursts, and can be received by a mobile terminal. Each service includes one or more service components, which have different media formats, e.g. audio, video, game, software, chat, offline web page, etc. The service components include content data and service identification data. A service set schedule giving timing information relating to the transmission of the IP datacasting burst and the transmission frequency is created. An IP burst begins with ESG data. The service set schedule may be part of the ESG data or it may be transmitted separately.

Abstract: A mobile device operates following a user input indicating that a service guide is required to be displayed to retrieve from a user preferences database storage area required ESG data fields. The ESG data fields might be the start time and the end time of the service, for example. At step 22, the mobile device retrieves from an icon data storage area displayable icons corresponding to the services listed in the ESG data storage area which are to be displayed on a display. This includes reading data from the ESG data storage area, identifying the services information concerning which can be displayed on the display, determining what content descriptors correspond to those services, for each content descriptor looking up the corresponding icon in the icon data storage area, and retrieving those icons. At step 23, the data from the data fields found in step 21 is displayed for each of the selected services, and alongside each of the services is displayed the corresponding icon.

Abstract: In a digital broadcasting network, a mobile terminal receives hierarchical ESG data relating to available broadcast programs adjacent network areas. The terminal is operable whilst receiving a first program from a transmitter in a first network area for detecting a need for handover to a second network area, and for then determining from the ESG data if the same program is available in the second network area If it is, the terminal then receives the program from a transmitter in the second network area. Otherwise, it determines one or more programs which are similar to the first program, and presents them on a display for selection by a user. This involves determining which programs have an identifier in common with the first program. The identifier can be any one or more of a program identifier, a service identifier, a channel identifier, a category identifier and a genre identifier, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in services access. For example, a node and/or other computer that moves to another area may act to determine the availability of services to which service entries correspond, and/or the availability of similar services. As another example, a node and/or other computer that moves to another area may act to modify service entries.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention implement and execute commands of applications and/or services on portable devices with various key button configurations. Certain aspects of the invention create and display an intermediary user interface on a display of a portable device in order to match and utilize an application's commands with the various capabilities of different portable devices.

Abstract: A packet encapsulator includes a filter module that identifies one or more carousel packets from a plurality of received packets. These one or more carousel packets are then stored in a packet buffer. The packet encapsulator also includes a channel queue for enqueuing packets for transmission across a broadcast transmission medium. For instance, the channel queue also receives the forwarding packets from the filter module. The channel queue also receives the one or more carousel packets from the packet buffer when at least a predetermined amount of available bandwidth exists in the broadcast transmission medium. The broadcast transmission medium may be a digital broadcast network such as a DVB handheld (DVB-H) network or a DVB terrestrial (DVB-T) network. Alternatively, the broadcast transmission medium may be a cable network.

Abstract: A service information computer program application and devices and systems that implement the same that is formatted so as to be adaptable to portable digital devices, typically handheld device that have small displays. The service information application provides service program schedules in a hierarchical format, as such, the user benefits from a guide that is highly user-friendly in the small display environment. The application is able to readily locate and access program schedules, program options and program information through minimal user-interface with the application. Additionally, the service information application may provide a record function and ease in locating programs that have been stored by the digital device.

Abstract: The invention provides supplemental content related to a service on a receiver device. The supplemental content related to the service is indicted to a user on the receiver device and may be accessed by the user. The receiver device receives and displays the information concerning availability of the supplemental content related to the service. A user may select supplemental content for viewing or listening by selecting a selectable indicator on the receiver device.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for example, in the provision of Unified Program Guides. A provided Unified Program Guide might, for instance, be employed in learning about available programs, requesting programs, requesting program recording, initiating software, functionality, operation, and/or the like, and/or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for example, in the provision of service listings, channel listings, and/or the like. The location of a device may, for example, be determined, and one or more service parameters corresponding, for instance, to the location may, for example, be employed in receiving service listings data, channel listings data, and/or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for example, in the provision of service listings, channel listings, and/or the like. A device may, for example, detect one or more datacast signals, receive one or more service parameters corresponding to detected signals, and/or offer one or more available service listings, channel listings, and/or the like to its user.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program is provided to control user access, by one or more users each having associated therewith a wireless communications device, to content transmitted or receivable across a communications medium. The system, method and computer program perform a detection of a presence of one or more users in at least one region in which the receivable content may be consumed via the one or more users' wireless communications devices by wireless communications, and a determination of access rights to content based on the detected one or more users, the access rights defining a suitability or unsuitability of one or more users to consume content. Access or consumption of receivable content by the one or more detected users may be selectively controlled according to at least one of the determined access rights and access rating of receivable content.

Abstract: An apparatus, system method and computer program product configured to transmit data over a broadcast network. The data is encrypted and decoded using a decryption key available to terminals in combination with a digital rights object. A media guide is broadcast to the terminals. Information from the media guide is also stored by a request handling means in order to ensure that information, such as pricing information, broadcast to the terminals is synchronized with information used to register a terminal as a subscriber. A request is sent from a terminal to the broadcast network through a second network. Authentication information identifying the terminal may be included in the request without manual input from a user of the terminal. Authentication information is extracted from a component or added to the message by a component of the second network. The digital rights object is then sent to the terminal via the second network.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for providing a user of a terminal with broadcast services. A terminal controller is configured to use data forming the whole of or part of an electronic service guide, and store information concerning the accessibility of services. That information is used to then generate a list of selectable services available to the user. A user interface presents at least part of the list in a selectable manner. Service accessibility display options are included either as a setting in the terminal or as a user input. Subscribed services are presented to the user on a display differently than non-subscribed services. If a non-subscribed service is selected, payment data is retrieved from the terminal and a suitable subscription is purchased without significant user involvement. The purchase of a subscription results in the terminal receiving subscription data, which is then stored for future use.

Abstract: A terminal for recording content usage statistics comprises a memory and a controller. The memory is capable of storing at least one piece of content. The controller, in turn, is capable of accessing at least one piece of content from the memory. The controller is also capable of operating a client application, which is capable of being triggered to obtain a location of the terminal by the controller accessing the piece(s) of content. The memory is also capable of storing, into a content usage log, at least one content usage statistic relating to the controller accessing the piece(s) of content. For example, at least one content usage statistic can include the location of the terminal. Additionally, or alternatively, for example, at least one content can include one or more statistics related to the terminal and/or the piece(s) of content accessed from the memory of the terminal.