Abstract: Improved channel mapping is provided wherein both virtual channel information associated with the currently-tuned channel, as well as physical channel information associated with this same channel is added to a television system's channel map. User inconvenience associated with errors in the virtual channel information may be mitigated since the television system's channel map will contain, not only the standard virtual channel information provided by broadcast stations in their broadcast signals, but also the corresponding physical channel information for the broadcast station in question. In other embodiments, multiple channel maps may be maintained and be user-selectable.

Abstract: Alternative-channel user selectivity is provided when a user tunes to a broadcast channel for which the desired broadcast station corresponding to such broadcast channel has been reassigned. In one embodiment, after tuning to broadcast channel in response to a user input, it may first be determined if in fact the desired broadcast station corresponding to the tuned broadcast channel has been reassigned. If so, one or more alternative broadcast channels corresponding to the desired broadcast station may be identified, and an alternative channel availability indicator may then be displayed to the user to provide alternative-channel user selectivity.

Abstract: A product packaging shipping container for housing and shipping a device that allows for service upgrades while the product packaging container remains closed. The product packaging container may include a set of container interfaces configured to be accessible from an exterior of the product packaging container and respectively corresponding to a set of device interfaces. The shipping container may also include a set of connections that respectively connect the set of container interfaces to the set of device interfaces, such that an external connection to the set of devices is provided while the product packaging container remains closed via access to the set of container interfaces.

Abstract: Various menu and cursor arrow navigation aids are disclosed for television systems.

Abstract: A method of scanning television channels at initial setup. The method includes at a first power mode, automatically scanning for channels using a first scanning setup procedure during which the television is unusable by a user. The first power mode is when the television is at a full power mode. The detected channels are automatically provided for use by the television upon completion of the first scanning setup procedure. The method further includes automatically scanning for channels using a second scanning setup procedure at a second power mode following the first power mode. The second power mode is at a lower power mode than the first power mode, and the second scanning setup procedure is more time consuming in comparison to the first scanning setup procedure. Additional channels not detected during the initial setup by the first scanning setup procedure are automatically detected at the second power mode.

Abstract: Various menu and cursor arrow navigation aids are disclosed for television systems.