Abstract: Replaying a compressed digital video stream in fast-forward and reverse modes at varied playback rates. An index of interceded frames, those frames not dependant on other frames for generation, is stored. The index includes the size of intercoded frames and their storage location. When a specified playback rate is requested, the intercoded frames are retrieved using the index. The interceded frames then have one or more intracoded frames, frames that reference other frames for generation, placed between them to generate a frame sequence. The intracoded frames are “blank,” meaning they contain only information from their associated interceded frame. By inserting “blank” frames specified playback rates and bit rates are generated. The index of interceded frames may also be accessed to generate playback in reverse mode, which conserves memory resources of associated systems by generating the reverse playback stream in an iterative manner.

Abstract: Reducing the amount of input required by a user to enter an electronic message. When an electronic message is received, one or more language expressions associated with the electronic message are displayed to a user. The user may select one or more of the language expressions and have the full text of all the selected language expressions included in a reply electronic message. Icons, which represent a user's capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, may also be displayed. When a user changes their capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, for instance when they go offline, a command may be sent to other users. This command may take the form of a character sequence not normally occurring in written language, which is interpreted by network devices and changes the display of the icon associated with a the user who went offline.

Abstract: Replaying a compressed digital video stream in fast-forward and reverse modes at varied playback rates. An index of intercoded frames, those frames not dependant on other frames for generation, is stored. The index includes the size of interceded frames and their storage location. When a specified playback rate is requested, the interceded frames are retrieved using the index. The intercoded frames then have one or more intracoded frames, frames that reference other frames for generation, placed between them to generate a frame sequence. The intracoded frames are “blank,” meaning they contain only information from their associated intercoded frame. By inserting “blank” frames specified playback rates and bit rates are generated. The index of interceded frames may also be accessed to generate playback in reverse mode, which conserves memory resources of associated systems by generating the reverse playback stream in an iterative manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to displaying full scale images with overlaid similar scaled images and a graphical user device in a display of a client device. The client device receives video streams of the full scale images and scaled images. The video streams are broadcast independent of one another, and a user of the client device may manipulate the format of the images of either or both streams, and/or place the scaled image on any portion of the full scaled image. The graphical user interface is placed so it does not obscure the scaled image. Alternatively a single video stream may be received by the client device. When a single video stream is received, the client device creates two video streams, one stream comprising full scale images and the other stream comprising scaled images. The full scale image is overlaid with the scaled image and the graphical user interface.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) is enhanced to have entries that enable access to one or more images. When an image-related entry is selected by a user, a television-based device presents the one or more images that are associated with the selected entry. In a described search-related implementation, portions of the EPG, such as actors and actresses names, are presented as links. Selection of a link effectuates a search of a group of files and is followed by the visual presentation of a slide show of images resulting from the search. In a described email-related implementation, a third party can email images to an email address that is associated with the television-based device. In response to the emailed images, an image entry is added to the channel lineup of the EPG. Selection of the image entry causes the device to visually present the emailed images in a slide show.

Abstract: Data destined for a client is compressed at a server in a manner that produces a compressed data string that can be searched in its compressed state. The server constructs a code table that assigns codes from a standard code set (e.g., ASCII code set) that are normally unused to selected character pairs in the data string (e.g., the most frequently occurring character pairs). During compression, the selected character pairs are replaced with the corresponding codes. Identifiers are inserted into the compressed data string to separate substrings. To search the compressed data string at the client, a search query is compressed and compared to the compressed substrings. The substring identifiers are used to quickly locate each successive compressed substring. When a match is found, the matching substring is decompressed by replacing the code in the compressed substring with the corresponding character pair in the code table.

Abstract: An implementation is described herein, which facilitates a fast channel change by receiving and decoding a unicast acquisition media stream that corresponds to a soon-to-be-requested target multicast media stream. It does this before requesting the target multicast media stream of the new channel. Once the transmission of the unicast stream is caught up with the multicast stream, this implementation splices from the unicast acquisition stream to the target multicast media stream. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: In an implementation, a method includes forming a request by a client for communication to a licensing server. The request is for storing encrypted content by the client. A persistent license is received at the client in response to the request. The persistent license includes a key that is encrypted. The key, when decrypted, provides access to the encrypted content. The key is configured to be decrypted by the licensing server. The client however, is not configured to decrypt the key from the persistent license. The persistent license and the encrypted content are stored by the client.

Abstract: Data destined for a client is compressed at a server in a manner that produces a compressed data string that can be searched in its compressed state. The server constructs a code table that assigns codes from a standard code set (e.g., ASCII code set) that are normally unused to selected character pairs in the data string (e.g., the most frequently occurring character pairs). During compression, the selected character pairs are replaced with the corresponding codes. Identifiers are inserted into the compressed data string to separate substrings. To search the compressed data string at the client, a search query is compressed and compared to the compressed substrings. The substring identifiers are used to quickly locate each successive compressed substring. When a match is found, the matching substring is decompressed by replacing the code in the compressed substring with the corresponding character pair in the code table.

Abstract: Configuration of user interfaces is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a query from a device. The query is for a user interface (UI) from a client. The UI, when executed by the device, is configured to form a request for execution of a control function by the client. A processing of the request determines whether the execution by the client of the control function is permitted. The processing is performed at a head end by using client state data. The hardware and/or software capabilities of the device to execute the UI are detected. The UI is configured based on the hardware and/or software capabilities of the device.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices, and decentralized media data dissemination architecture is formed. Multiple respective senders are associated with multiple respective distributed portions of the media data. Multiple schedulers are associated with clients and are capable of scheduling the sending of media data thereto. Schedulers formulate send requests that stipulate particular media data portions and designate destination clients. These send requests are transmitted to the multiple senders in accordance with the associated respective distributed portions in conjunction with the stipulated particular media data portion of each send request. The senders are capable of sending the stipulated particular media data portions of the send requests to the designated destination clients without routing through the schedulers. In a described implementation, a sender and a scheduler are present on each device of the multiple devices.

Abstract: An exemplary multi-axis television navigation system defines television navigation axes according to attributes of television programs. In one implementation, if a television program has an attribute defining an axis, then the exemplary system links a predefined database query associated with the axis to metadata for the television program. When launched, the predefined query returns a sequence of navigable television programs having the attribute that defines the axis.

Abstract: In an exemplary server implementation, a server is configured to retain at least one independent frame for each video channel of multiple video channels that are being distributed using multicast communications and is adapted to respond to channel change requests from clients by transmitting the retained at least one independent frame of a requested video channel to a requesting client using a unicast communication. In an exemplary method implementation, a method for fast channel changing in a multicast video distribution architecture includes: detecting a channel change request that indicates a requested channel, the requested channel corresponding to a multicast group; and transmitting a retained intra frame for the requested channel as a unicast communication.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices, and multiple schedulers and senders are installed across the multiple devices. Schedulers formulate send requests that stipulate particular media data portions and designate destination clients. Each send request is associated with a send priority. The send requests are transmitted from the multiple schedulers to the multiple senders. The senders rank respective received send requests according to their associated send priorities. Based on the ranked respective send requests and responsive to a respective send bandwidth of each sender, the senders ascertain respective threshold priorities. Each respective threshold priority corresponds to the lowest send priority of all send requests that have been accepted for sending by a respective sender.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices, and the media data is sent therefrom by multiple senders under control of multiple schedulers. For media data blocks in a look-ahead region, schedulers transmit look ahead requests to senders in order to reserve upcoming media data blocks. In a described implementation, a look ahead request identifies a media data block. The receiving sender increments a block usage counter corresponding to the identified media data block responsive to the look ahead request. As part of a look ahead operation, if the media data block is not already in RAM, the sender preloads the media data block into RAM. While the block usage counter indicates that the corresponding media data block is locked, the sender maintains the media data block in RAM. A look ahead cancel message transmitted from the scheduler to the sender prompts the sender to decrement the block usage counter.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices and is locatable using a hashing function and a hash table. The media data is partially replicated based on popularity thereof. In a described implementation, a media data block is locatable by hashing a media data indicator to produce a media data hash value that maps to a bin of the hash table. The bin is associated with at least one device that stores and/or with a sender that is capable of sending to clients the media data blocks mapping thereto. Each bin may have primary and secondary roles. Devices holding primary roles store all of the media data blocks mapping to a bin. Devices holding secondary roles replicate the media data blocks mapping to the bin that are also within a top predetermined popularity percentage. Popularity is determined based on numbers of clients currently requesting a particular media data portion.

Abstract: An implementation, which is described herein, facilitates a presentation of multiple miniaturized video feeds to a multimedia receiver. It further facilitates a user-interface employing multiple miniaturized video feeds to a multimedia receiver. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to displaying full scale images with overlaid similar scaled images and a graphical user device in a display of a client device. The client device receives video streams of the full scale images and scaled images. The video streams are broadcast independent of one another, and a user of the client device may manipulate the format of the images of either or both streams, and/or place the scaled image on any portion of the full scaled image. The graphical user interface is placed so it does not obscure the scaled image. Alternatively a single video stream may be received by the client device. When a single video stream is received, the client device creates two video streams, one stream comprising full scale images and the other stream comprising scaled images. The full scale image is overlaid with the scaled image and the graphical user interface.

Abstract: Subject matter includes methods of using conventional set-top boxes that receive streaming video modulated on coaxial cable rather than over an IP-based LAN as nodes in a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary adapter is used to integrate a conventional set-top box into a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary filter is used to reserve frequencies for communications between a conventional set-top box and a hub and to prevent communications from leaving a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary content protection method provides a way of encrypting program content on the media network in a manner that a conventional set-top box can decode.

Abstract: A system for manipulating a document object model is provided. The system comprises a collection of document object model behavior elements, and a collection of scripts for performing actions associated with the set of behavior elements. Each behavior element comprises a name following a predetermined naming convention, an event attribute for associating the behavior element to an event, and other attributes for describing features of the behavior element. Each script is associated with a behavior element.