Abstract: Methods, systems, and products bridge wireless data transmissions with power-line communications. Should a failure occur in alternating current power, a backup battery maintains the power-line communications. Direct current battery power is used to power a wireless transceiver, thus maintaining both wireless data transmissions and communication during power failures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices secure content in memory. The content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory. Prior to expiration of the lock the content cannot be read from the memory. However, a preview option allows at least a portion of the content to be accessed. The preview option provides a preview of the content. At expiration, the content is readable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices secure content in memory. The content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory. Prior to expiration of the lock the content cannot be read from the memory. However, a preview option allows at least a portion of the content to be accessed. The preview option provides a preview of the content. At expiration, the content is readable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices secure content in memory. The content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory. Prior to expiration of the lock the content cannot be read from the memory. However, a preview option allows at least a portion of the content to be accessed. The preview option provides a preview of the content. At expiration, the content is readable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices secure content in memory. The content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory. Prior to expiration of the lock the content cannot be read from memory. However, a preview option allows at least a portion of the content to be accessed. The preview option provides a preview of the content. At expiration, the content is readable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products bridge wireless data transmissions with power-line communications. Should a failure occur in alternating current power, a backup battery maintains the power-line communications. Direct current battery power is used to power a wireless transceiver, thus maintaining both wireless data transmissions and communication during power failures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products bridge wireless data transmissions with power-line communications. Should a failure occur in alternating current power, a backup battery maintains the power-line communications. Direct current battery power is used to power a wireless transceiver, thus maintaining both wireless data transmissions and communication during power failures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products bridge wireless data transmissions with power-line communications. Should a failure occur in alternating current power, a backup battery maintains the power-line communications. Direct current battery power is used to power a wireless transceiver, thus maintaining both wireless data transmissions and communication during power failures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices secure content in memory. The content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory until a date and time of expiration. However, early access to the content is available for a payment.

Abstract: A software conditional access system (CAS) for media services provided to a Media Distribution Device, such as a set top box (STB), is disclosed. The STB may be connected to a Media Delivery Service Provider via a broadband connection. Over the broadband connection, a CAS application may be downloaded to the STB, maintained and dynamically updated. Because the CAS is implemented by software on the STB, it is inexpensive to install, maintain and update. When a user desires to purchase media services through the STB, a request, with identifying information, is sent to the Media Delivery Service Provider via the broadband connection. The service provider cross-references the identifying information with a user's account to determine whether to allow the user to view the media service requested. If the service provider determines to allow the user to view the media service, the user's account (typically maintained by the service provider) is charged and a key is downloaded via the broadband connection to the STB.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and equipment for use in the management of network topology and bandwidth for computing networks are provided. In an illustrative implementation of a device acting as a patch panel is provided. The patch panel works on both the physical wire and on the frequencies of the wire to route data to appropriate destination points. For example, both ADSL and telephony could be bridged among copper wires, using several independent busses. Home Phone Network Alliance Association (HPNA) standardized data could either be bridged among wires, or connected to an internal switching device, that would store and forward the native Ethernet packets used by HomePNA in a way similar to that done by Ethernet switches today. Additionally, an Ethernet uplink could attach the HPNA ports to a larger network or to a DSL Modem, and HPNA/ADSL could be removed from wires that might have privacy concerns or otherwise need filters to perform properly.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and equipment for use in the management of network topology and bandwidth for computing networks are provided. In an illustrative implementation of a device acting as a patch panel is provided. The patch panel works on both the physical wire and on the frequencies of the wire to route data to appropriate destination points. For example, both ADSL and telephony could be bridged among copper wires, using several independent busses. Home Phone Network Alliance Association (HPNA) standardized data could either be bridged among wires, or connected to an internal switching device, that would store and forward the native Ethernet packets used by HomePNA in a way similar to that done by Ethernet switches today. Additionally, an Ethernet uplink could attach the HPNA ports to a larger network or to a DSL Modem, and HPNA/ADSL could be removed from wires that might have privacy concerns or otherwise need filters to perform properly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing computerized services access through a family home page are described. A family home page in a service provider network provides a mechanism for accessing a variety of services, executing on computers that form part of a home network and on computers in the service provider network. A subscriber registers for a particular service and is then provided access by a link being automatically placed on the user's family home page. The actual physical location of the service and the manner in which it operates are transparent to the subscriber. The subscriber may perform functions to control access to the services based on which member of the household logs onto the service.

Abstract: A digital video broadcast (DVB) device decoder as part of a digital residential entertainment system (DRES) is disclosed. A media server, such as a broadband multimedia gateway (BMG), sends an entire transport layer, rather than a single program stream, over a Network Bus to a digital video broadcast (DVB) device decoder. The transport layer includes multiple program, data and information streams. For example, the transport layer may include multiple MPEG signals, such as MPEG-2 signals. The media server provides the DVB tuning function with integrated Personal Video Recording (PVR) functionality. The DVB device decoder provides decrypting, demultiplexing, decoding and digital-to-analog conversion. The complexity of the media server is minimized because it only has to decode a transport layer rather than decoding a single stream of data. The combination of entertainment video and data streams on the same transport is also optimized for the purpose of providing enhanced multimedia services.

Abstract: An HPNA bridge comprises a bi-directional filter for blocking non-HPNA signals and splitter for distributing the filtered signal to at least one additional telephone wire pair. The filter may be a high pass filter allowing signals with a frequency above a threshold value, including HPNA signals, to pass. Alternatively, the filter may be a band pass filter allowing only signals within the HPNA frequency range to pass.

Abstract: A Media Delivery Diagnostic System can be deployed in response to a customer complaint or in an autonomous fashion. When a customer complains to a Media Delivery Service Provider, the complaint can be passed to a diagnostic service center. The diagnostic service center can initiate a query or command and transmit the query or command to a Media Distribution Device (MDD). The query or command can be processed by an intelligent diagnostic agent residing in the MDD. When the intelligent diagnostic agent receives the query or command, it can perform a diagnostic evaluation of the MDD and any other devices connected to the MDD. The intelligent diagnostic agent can transmit diagnostic data back to the diagnostic service center. The diagnostic data may be operational data and/or operational parameters related to the MDD, the identification of a problem with the MDD, or an indication that the intelligent diagnostic agent failed to identify a problem in be MDD.

Abstract: A media delivery service provider has a customer account management center associated with it. The customer account management center has a customer account database for maintaining account information and billing information for all subscribers to the Media Delivery Service Provider. The customer account management center is operative to communicate with a local account manager in a Media Distribution Device (MDD) over a broadband connection. Because a broadband connection can maintain an always-on status, the local account manager can autonomously send local account data to the customer account management center during off-peak hours of operation, thereby reducing the impact on system resources. Any changes made by the customer to a local account data can be immediately effective to modify the media delivered to the MDD. The local account data can be later packaged and transmitted by the local manager to the customer account management center.