Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is used to enable interactive functions via network generated overlays. This invention enables network operators to launch interactive functionality without requiring changes to existing equipment that exists in the field on the client end.

Abstract: A method for enabling at least one of a plurality of user devices to provide a service flow is described. In one example, a code is transmitted to a home identification device (HID) to be combined with an HID identification number. The combined response, which is comprised of the code and the HID identification number, is then transmitted from the HID and received by the user device(s). If the combined response is equivalent to at least one predetermined match key, which is stored in the user device(s), that user device(s) provides the service flow to a respective television(s).

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is used to enable interactive functions via network generated overlays. This invention enables network operators to launch interactive functionality without requiring changes to existing equipment that exists in the field on the client end.

Abstract: A method of reducing channel change requests received by a switched network system includes communicating recording schedules from subscriber devices to a broadcast scheduler and creating or modifying a broadcast schedule based on the recording schedules. A system for avoiding message storms within a broadcasting network includes subscriber devices, a broadcast source communicatively coupled to the subscriber devices, and a broadcast scheduler configured to create or modify a broadcast schedule in response to anticipated requests by the subscriber devices such that requests by the subscriber devices are minimized.

Abstract: A selected program channel of a video signal, received and tuned to by a set-top box (STB), is simultaneously displayed on a television and on a display of an auxiliary display device that controls the selection of program channels displayed on the television. The STB has a first and second interface. The STB selects the program channel and sends the selected program channel, via the first interface, to a television which displays program content of the selected program channel. The STB encodes the selected program channel into a streaming video signal and sends the streaming video signal to the auxiliary display device via the second interface. The auxiliary display device decodes the streaming video signal into the selected program channel and displays the program content of the selected program channel.

Abstract: An auxiliary display device is used in conjunction with a cable television (CATV) system to process television content metadata extracted from a transport stream received by a set-top box (STB) and sent to the auxiliary display device. Text and/or images defined by the metadata are presented on a display of the auxiliary display device adjacent to a predefined image (e.g., an advertisement, supplemental data) retrieved from a memory of the auxiliary display device. The predefined image is presented in an area of the display of the auxiliary display device that is designated by the metadata as being reserved for displaying a broadcast television channel video image. The predefined image can be changed on a periodic basis, or in response to the auxiliary display device receiving new metadata from the STB.

Abstract: A system for printing application data comprising a client originating the application data and a printer driver server, remotely connected to the client, which receives the application data. The printer driver server includes a database containing a plurality of printer drivers and a transcoder. The transcoder transcodes the format of the received application data to a printer format using one of the printer drivers retrieved from the database and transmits the application data in the printer format to a printer.