Abstract: A method of emailing photographs from a set top box is disclosed and includes presenting a menu of photographs at a television coupled to the set top box. The photographs within the menu can be highlighted using a remote control device. The method further includes presenting an email button at the television and presenting an address book. The address book contains at least one recipient email address. Further, the method includes sending an email addressed to the at least one recipient email address. In particular, the email includes a return email address that causes a response to the email to be sent to a location other than the set top box.

Abstract: A content provider has an associated database. The database is indexed with a plurality of content items available in a domain. The database includes a field to indicate an availability of each of the content items from the content provider. The database is searched based on a search query entered by a user to generate a search result list. The search result list may include a content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field. If so, the search result list is provided to the user to indicate the content item and to indicate that the content item is unavailable from the content provider. A user feedback control associated with the content item is also provided to the user.

Abstract: A method of using an entertainment system can allow a plurality of different options to be presented to a user of the entertainment system when an incoming phone call is detected. The user can choose an option, and the entertainment system can be configured to take appropriate action based on the option selected. Such a method allows the user of the entertainment system to make a real-time disposition of the incoming phone call, rather than relying solely on a predetermined set of configurations. In one embodiment, an apparatus and handset can be used in carrying out the method. In another embodiment, a handset for use with the entertainment system can be a remote control that includes telephone control features, or the handset can be used with VoIP connections.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method configured to provide a caller with selectable activities and entertainment when the caller is on-hold. The system and method establishes a connection between a caller and a receiving system, wherein the receiving system is configured to access a plurality of entertainment sources utilizing a selectable link. The receiving system can determine a caller's selection and retrieve the selection from an entertainment provider that stores the selection. The caller can select an entertainment category from a plurality of entertainment categories and select specific audible selections within the categories to be played to the caller. The system and method can provide a menu driven interaction and respond to voice commands and touchtone input to provide the selected entertainment from specific artists, games, and entertainers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for providing a verbal status of a power system utilizing a telephone system. A remote diagnostics module can communicate a status signal to a reporting module or an audio reporting system. The audio reporting system can be configured to dial a telephone number of the user's telephone and provide verbal notification to a user of a specific operating parameter of a power system. A reporting module can notify a central reporting system or a local reporting system. The status may be the condition of a battery.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method configured to provide a caller with selectable music options when the caller is on hold. The method establishes a connection between a caller and a receiving system, wherein the receiving system is configured to retrieve one of the plurality of music selections. The caller can select music from a plurality of selections. The system and method can provide a menu driven interaction and utilize voice commands and touchtone input to provide selected music to the caller.

Abstract: A user interface receives a user selection of a video content item. The video content item is available in a high definition (HD) format and a non-HD format via a broadband network access line. A format selector automatically selects which format of the video content item from the HD format and the non-HD format to retrieve via the broadband network access line. The format is automatically selected based on at least one rule. A receiver receives the video content item via the broadband network access line in the format automatically selected by the format selector. A television display displays the video content item received by the receiver and in the format automatically selected by the format selector.

Abstract: A method for managing a first television tuner and a second television tuner is provided. The method includes detecting when a channel request is received at the first television coupled to the first television tuner and detecting whether a recording is scheduled for the first television tuner. Thereafter, a user is queried via a second television to determine whether the second television tuner is available to record a scheduled recording.

Abstract: A system provides an audible signal to the user of the system before a control or function is activated by the user. In one embodiment, a remote control can be used with an apparatus, such as a set-top box. When the user places an object near a control of the remote control, a control or function associated with the control may be announced to the user before activating the control. The system can include an apparatus is configured to be operated at least in part from a remote control that includes a plurality of controls including a first control. The apparatus includes a control module configured to receive an identification signal from the remote control, wherein the identification signal corresponds to the control, determine a state of the apparatus, determine a function to which the control corresponds, and send another identification signal to an audio system.

Abstract: Systems and methods can be implemented to allow restricted content to be available using an apparatus within a system, while still protecting the privacy or one or more users. Metadata regarding restricted content may not be displayed if the user so desires or if other users do not have proper access. In this manner, visitors of the user or the user's own children may not be aware that restricted content is available. Metadata regarding the restricted data is not displayed.

Abstract: A DSL sync detector indicates whether or not DSL sync is present on a telephone line. The detector facilitates DSL self-installation by indicating to a subscriber that the subscriber may proceed with the self-installation of DSL because DSL sync has been detected on the subscriber's telephone line. Specific embodiments provide a detector that plugs into a telephone jack and that has a telephone pass-through port so that a telephone may be plugged into the jack while the customer waits for DSL sync to be present. The detector is a useful component of a DSL self-installation kit to prevent failed self-installations that result from attempting a DSL self-installation before DSL sync is present on the line.

Abstract: A method for managing content at a set top box is provided and includes receiving a request to view content and indicating that the content is available for downloading for a predetermined time period. Further, the method includes downloading the content to a memory device within a set top box and indicating that the downloaded content will remain within the memory device for a predetermined time. A device is also provided and includes a housing, a broadband input connection, a broadband output connection, and a processor. The processor includes a computer readable medium and a computer program that includes instructions to display a graphical user interface at a display device. The graphical user interface comprises a ready list, a queue list, and an action list. The ready list includes a list of movies that are available for viewing at the display device and an expiration date for each movie.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a video stream processing system and to a method of displaying a video stream. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a video stream to be displayed on a display device. During a first time period, a low resolution version of the video stream is displayed while a full resolution version of the video stream is being recovered. The method further includes synchronizing the low resolution version of the video stream with the full resolution version of the video stream, and, during a second time period after the first time period, switching between display of the low resolution version of the video stream to display of the full resolution version of the video stream.

Abstract: A device for detecting when a television is in a standby mode is provided. The device includes a housing and a plug receptacle is formed within a surface of the housing. Also, a plug extends from the housing. The device further includes a power detection circuit that detects when a television coupled to the device is in a standby mode. In a particular embodiment, the standby mode is a low power mode in which the television is not fully operational. Further, the device includes a cable that extends from the housing. A signal can be sent from the power detection circuit to a set top box via the cable. The signal indicates that the television is in the standby mode. An electrical cord from a television can be plugged into the plug receptacle and the plug that extends from the housing can be plugged into to a wall outlet.

Abstract: A method of recording content at a set top box is provided and includes receiving a request to record multiple episodes of a television program. When a copy of a particular episode that has been previously stored in the memory of the set top box is received, a set top box selectively fails to record that particular episode of the television program. Further, the method includes monitoring metadata within an electronic program guide received at the set top box. Using the metadata, a set top box can determine when the particular episode of the television program is to be received and recorded at the set top box.

Abstract: A system includes sleeves each being removably receivable, one at a time, by an adapter connectable to an appliance operable for enabling a user to communicate hands-free on a phone when the phone is connected to the appliance. The sleeves are differently configured from one another to respectively receive, one at a time, phones having configurations which correspond to the configurations of the sleeves. One of the sleeves connects a phone to the appliance via the adapter when the phone is received by the sleeve while the sleeve is received by the adapter while the adapter is connected to the appliance.

Abstract: A uniform resource locator (URL) entered into a browser may be altered to correct misspellings or other errors in the URL. The prefix, the domain name and the domain extension may all be spell checked, compared with lists of homophones, compared with commonly misspelled URLs, and compared with similar URLs that have been previously successfully resolved. The erroneous URL, or portions thereof, may be automatically corrected so that the correction is transparent to the user, or a list of possible substitutions may be presented to the user.

Abstract: A scene of an image sequence is compressed using a number of foveation zones, each foveation zone being weighted based on a probability of a viewer looking at a corresponding portion of the first scene. Another scene of the image sequence is compressed using a different number of foveation zones, each foveation zone being weighted based on a probability of a viewer looking at a corresponding portion of the second scene.

Abstract: A system and method for adapting the level of instructional detail provided through a user interface are disclosed. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, providing a user with a first level of instructional detail for completing a task flow. A skill level score for the user may be generated that indicates how proficiently the user is interacting with a computing platform to progress through the task flow. In some cases, it may be recognized that the skill level score suggest moving to a different level of instructional detail.

Abstract: An authentication protocol interface is described that allows a user to authenticate into, or login to, a PC based environment using a non-pc device. It also provides the user with a transparent method of “programming” the interface so that the interface behaves the way a user wants the next time they use the system. The invention further enables a user to avoid authentication altogether by allowing the settop box to serve as the login authority for certain tasks. The invention operates in a non-PC environment where the use of a mouse and other MS Windows® interface components (i.e., check boxes, radio dials, and the like) are not allowed.