Abstract: In certain embodiments, a digital television broadcast method involves generating a digital television signal having one or more transport streams; where data in at least one of the one or more transport streams that supports non-real time (NRT) services, where such data comprises an Internet protocol (IP) stream of packets containing NRT content including a FLUTE file description table (FDT), a NRT information table (NRT-IT), and a Service Map Table (SMT); where the NRT-IT contains a content ID that relates the NRT-IT to the FLUTE FDT, and where the SMT contains a service ID that relates the SMT to the NRT-IT table; and outputting the one or more transport streams for broadcast as a digital television signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of receiving digital television signals involves tuning a radio frequency tuner to receive a radio frequency modulated channel containing a transport stream; demodulating the channel to produce an output transport stream; the output transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time content, a FLUTE file description table (FDT), NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; demultiplexing the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content that is stored in an electronic storage medium, the FLUTE FDT, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; parsing the metadata to produces NRT service metadata; NRT content description text and NRT content metadata; and processing the NRT content description text derived from a Text Fragment Table (TFT). This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a digital television broadcast method involves generating a digital television signal having one or more transport streams; where data in at least one of the one or more transport streams supports non-real time (NRT) services; where such data comprises an Internet protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time content, a FLUTE file description table (FDT), NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; where the NRT metadata further comprises NRT content description text that is contained in Text Fragment Table (TFT); and outputting the one or more transport streams for broadcast as a digital television signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a digital television receiving method that receives non-real time (NRT) content involves receiving a transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time content, NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; at a demultiplexer, demultiplexing the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content that is stored in the electronic storage medium, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; parsing the NRT metadata to produce NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; and where the NRT content metadata contains a signal that indicates that an update is available indicating whether or not a referenced content item will be updated periodically. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain implementations, a method consistent with the invention involves at a television receiver device, receiving a television program depicting a sports program, where data associated with the sports program is represented in a score graphic that is displayed on a television display overlaying images of the sports program; storing the television program depicting the sports program; analyzing the score graphic to identify a change in at least one element of data displayed in the score graphic from one video frame to a subsequent video frame; and storing a chapter mark associated with the time that the change in the element of data displayed in the score graphic occurred. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of processing disparity data for closed captions for three dimensional video involves receiving closed caption data including closed caption text within a first Standard service block having a service number in the range of 1-6; receiving closed caption disparity data within a Standard service block having a service number equal to n, where n is between 1 and 6; receiving a linkage field which associates each instance of said disparity data to a corresponding Standard service; parsing the disparity data from the closed caption data appearing in service number n; and processing the caption text and disparity data to produce an output suitable for defining a rendering of a three dimensional image on a display of the caption text at a z-axis position defined by the disparity data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of encrypting a digital television signal involves examining unencrypted packets of data in the digital television signal to identify a selected packet type; duplicating packets identified as being of a selected packet type to produce pairs of duplicated packets; encrypting one of each pair of the duplicated packets; inserting the encrypted packets along with the unencrypted packets of the selected packet type to the digital television signal along with the unencrypted packets of data that are not of the selected packet type into produce a selectively encrypted digital television signal that contains duplicate packets of the selected packet type with one of the duplicate packets being encrypted while the other of the duplicated packets remains unencrypted; and broadcasting the selectively encrypted television signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of receiving digital television signals involves tuning a radio frequency tuner to receive a radio frequency modulated channel containing a transport stream; demodulating the channel to produce an output transport stream; the output transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time content, a FLUTE file description table (FDT), NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; demultiplexing the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content that is stored in an electronic storage medium, the FLUTE FDT, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; parsing the metadata to produces NRT service metadata; NRT content description text and NRT content metadata; and processing the NRT content description text derived from a Text Fragment Table (TFT). This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a digital television receiver method for receiving non-real time (NRT) content involves receiving a transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time content, NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; an NRT metadata parser that produces NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; and where the NRT service metadata contains an indication whether or not a particular NRT service is to be offered on a subscription basis. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a digital television receiver method for receiving non-real time (NRT) program content involves receiving a transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time program content, NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT program content, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; an NRT metadata parser that produces NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; and where the NRT service metadata contains an indication whether or not a particular NRT service is to be offered on a subscription basis. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggered declarative object (TDO) to a digital television receiver device that carries out a programmed routine when activated; receiving a trigger object associated with the TDO to the digital television receiver device; receiving a back-off parameter that represents a time interval during which the trigger is to initiate an operation; the digital television receiver device having a processor that establishes a random time within the time interval of the backoff parameter in which the TDO is activated; and the digital television receiver device processor initiating the operation at the random time. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggerable declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device that carries out a programmed script upon execution; the programmed script including a parameter discovery function that determines an operational parameter of the television receiver device and further includes a programmed function; initiating the execution of the TDO in order to initiate execution of the script on a processor of the television receiver device; running the script on the processor of the television receiver device in order to discover the operational parameter and in order to carry out the programmed function; and where the programmed function is conditional upon the discovered operational parameter of the television receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a digital television receiver that receives non-real time (NRT) content has an IP demultiplex or a radio frequency tuner that receives a transport stream. The output transport stream contains an IP packet stream containing NRT content, a FLUTE file description table (FDT) and NRT metadata. An electronic storage medium is provided and a demultiplexer demultiplexes the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content that is stored in the electronic storage medium, the FLUTE FDT, and NRT metadata. An FDT parser parses the FDT to produce NRT file metadata from the FLUTE FDT. An NRT metadata parser produces NRT service metadata, NRT content description text and NRT content metadata. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A combined IEEE 1394-2000 and ethernet network allows devices to operate according to both the IEEE 1394-2000 protocol and the ethernet protocol. The devices within the network are able to send IEEE 1394-2000 isochronous data, IEEE 1394-2000 asynchronous data and ethernet data. Both IEEE 1394-2000 and ethernet devices are coupled to modified hubs (MHUBS) to form a local cluster. The MHUBS are coupled to an ethernet switch which controls communications between devices in different local clusters. The ethernet switch and the MHUBS obey an isochronous interval in which all isochronous data transfers and asynchronous data transfers from ethernet devices with an allocation of reserved bandwidth will be allowed. The ethernet switch sends a periodic isotick signal to begin the isochronous interval. Bandwidth remaining after the isochronous interval is then allocated to the IEEE 1394-2000 asynchronous traffic, until the start of the next isochronous interval.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves delivering a triggered declarative object (TDO) to a television receiver device that carries out a programmed routine when user activated and includes an announcement definition that announces presence of the TDO to the at the announcement time; and the TDO including data that defines a time of display of an announcement and a location on a video display for display of the announcement of the TDO. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method according to certain implementations involves receiving by pre-delivery a triggered declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device that carries out a programmed routine when user activated; the TDO including a scripted control object that when activated by the viewer implements a television-centric action; receiving a signal as a result of view activation of the scripted control object; and executing the scripted control object upon receipt of the signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method according to certain embodiments involves at a digital television receiver device, receiving a triggered declarative object (TDO) that carries a script that when executed provides the digital television receiver device with access to hidden television content, where upon execution of the script, the digital television receiver device is given a location of the hidden television content. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggered declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device, the TDO including a scripted executable routine; the scripted executable routine having a script that defines a user interface (UI) for manipulation of non-real-time (NRT) content; initiating the operation of the TDO; and the digital television receiver, executing scripted operations to present the user with the user interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggered declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device that carries out a programmed routine when user activated; the TDO further including a scripted control object that when activated by the viewer implements a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) function; and executing the TDO to cause the TDO to generate a signal that presents the scripted control object. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of transporting data within a DTV bit stream involves in a stream of digital video closed caption data packets, receiving closed caption text and a two bit extended packet control field; where the two bit extended packet control field has a value that designates that the information in cc_data_1 and cc_data_2 fields of the digital video closed caption data packets contain an extended packets within the digital video closed caption data packets; receiving the extended packets within the digital video closed caption data packets in the cc_data_1 and cc_data_2 fields that carry extended channel packets. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.