Abstract: Described herein is a technology for the presentation digital video. One implementation, described herein, smoothly presents variable-speed scanning of a compressed digital video stream—for example, a MPEG video stream. One implementation, described herein, smooth scanning (e.g., fast-forward and fast-rewind) video is produced by selectively displaying certain types of frames of a Group-of-Pictures (GOP). The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the collection and delivery of broadcast data. Broadcast data is captured by broadcast data sources from television broadcasts and the captured broadcast data is collected by a broadcast data source miniport. The miniport differentiates the broadcast data to separate the requested broadcast data and to separate the broadcast data that complies with a protocol from broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol. The nonrequested broadcast data is preferably discarded and the broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol is encapsulated with appropriate headers. The broadcast data is then transferred through the network or system to a common application interface such as Winsock through NDIS and a protocol such as UDP/IP. Alternatively, a RawData module is used that does not rely on sockets and is capable of communicating with the miniport.

Abstract: A computer system that contains a boot signature checker is disclosed. In one example, the boot signature checker monitors the bus connecting the processor with the memory and provides a boot signature that is a function of the signal sequence detected on the bus. If an unauthorized user tampers with the operating system within the memory as when attempting to gain unauthorized access to presentable content such as television programming, the boot signature checker will in all probability produce a different boot signature than expected. The decrypter will respond to this different boot signature by, for example, deactivating thereby potentially preventing an unauthorized user from gaining access to presentable content.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing integrity alert information include embedding the integrity alert message in a longer message stream that is broadcast to a receiver in order to meet a predetermined time to alert. In one particular embodiment, the receiver is a GPS receiver, the longer message is a navigation signal, and the integrity alert message is a 50 bit word containing an updated user range accuracy index. Advanced GPS users recognize the embedded integrity alert message by its message ID, pass a parity check on the integrity alert message and use the updated user range accuracy index in subsequent signal processing. Legacy GPS users fail parity on the integrity alert message and discard the message. The impact on legacy users is negligible since the infrequent alerts will only occasionally cause data to be discarded.

Abstract: EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data. The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources.

Abstract: Television tuning device screen saver advertising is disclosed. The television tuning device that is connectable to the Internet. While the user has his or her device connected to the Internet, advertising information may be cached. When the device enters a screen saver mode, the previously cached information is displayed. The advertising information can be targeted to the user based on demographic and other information, and can be interactive. The advertising information may also cause the device to tune to a particular channel related to the advertising information, such that both are displayed. The advertising information is unrelated to any sponsor of the television tuning device.

Abstract: EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the collection and delivery of broadcast data. Broadcast data is captured by broadcast data sources from television broadcasts and the captured broadcast data is collected by a broadcast data source miniport. The miniport differentiates the broadcast data to separate the requested broadcast data and to separate the broadcast data that complies with a protocol from broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol. The nonrequested broadcast data is preferably discarded and the broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol is encapsulated with appropriate headers. The broadcast data is then transferred through the network or system to a common application interface such as Winsock through NDIS and a protocol such as UDP/IP. Alternatively, a RawData module is used that does not rely on sockets and is capable of communicating with the miniport.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for electronic program guides and multimedia presentation devices. One implementation, described herein, provides a unified access to multiple electronic program guides (EPGs) from multiple programming and guide data sources (e.g., local broadcast, satellite broadcast, DVR, VoD, etc.). With this implementation, multiple EPGs from a variety of sources are presented in a single common user interface (UI). Therefore, the television viewer may search/browse the EPG of all sources concurrently. The scope of the exemplary e-commerce facilitation is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating electronic commerce. One implementation, described herein, is a standardized purchasing system for purchasing premium services over a broadcast feed from premium service providers. This implementation offers a standardized technique facilitating electronic commerce purchases. It employs a standardized offer-terms format that contains the information for creation of an official offer to a user. With one of the implementations, described here, changing or adding premium service providers does not necessitate any changes to the one or more components of the Integrated Receiver/Decoders (IRD) devices so as to effectuate purchases of premiums services from such premium service providers. That is because purchases are handled in a standardized manner using a standardized offer-terms format. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for in the realm of digital video broadcast technology or other such technology. One implementation, described herein, relates to broadcasting web content to client devices in a DVB (digital video broadcast) environment using rotational sequences of data modules (e.g., DSMCC carousels). One implementation, described herein, relates to emulating an interactive browsing experience of web content over a broadcast channel. One implementation, described herein, relates to the client device “smartly” caching select portions of the web content being broadcast. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: An arbiter component receives a request from a media control object for control of a media resource. The arbiter determines whether a media resource is available, and if a media resource is available, forwards the request to the available media resource. The control object may lock control of the media resource to maintain control of the media resource until the media control unlocks control of the media resource.

Abstract: A multimedia system is described that is capable of presenting multimedia segments including television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, stored video information, stored audio information, and Web pages. The multimedia system includes a conditional access manager which is a common interface between the multimedia system and a number of conditional access providers even if the conditional access providers follow different interface standards. In order to access a multimedia segment such as a television program, a radio program, or Web page, the multimedia system receives a request to access the multimedia segment. While accessing the multimedia segment, each of the conditional access providers is notified of the request through the conditional access manager. Each conditional access provider then determines whether permission to access the multimedia segment should be denied, or whether the conditional access provider does not know of any reason why permission to access the multimedia segment should be denied.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) hardware card is disclosed. The card is insertable into a television tuning device having EPG capability. A non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, is situated within a case of the hardware card, and has data stored thereon representing one or more loader programs for the device. Each program corresponds to an EPG provider, and gives the device the capability to receive EPG information from this provider. The case of the hardware card may have a form factor such as a Smart Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media, or another form factor. Alternatively, the data stored on the card represents non-executable information corresponding to an EPG provider. A business model and a server-based embodiment are also disclosed.

Abstract: Television tuning device screen saver advertising is disclosed. The television tuning device that is connectable to the Internet. While the user has his or her device connected to the Internet, advertising information may be cached. When the device enters a screen saver mode, the previously cached information is displayed. The advertising information can be targeted to the user based on demographic and other information, and can be interactive. The advertising information may also cause the device to tune to a particular channel related to the advertising information, such that both are displayed. The advertising information is unrelated to any sponsor of the television tuning device.

Abstract: A computer system that contains a boot signature checker is disclosed. In one example, the boot signature checker monitors the bus connecting the processor with the memory and provides a boot signature that is a function of the signal sequence detected on the bus. If an unauthorized user tampers with the operating system within the memory as when attempting to gain unauthorized access to presentable content such as television programming, the boot signature checker will in all probability produce a different boot signature than expected. The decrypter will respond to this different boot signature by, for example, deactivating thereby potentially preventing an unauthorized user from gaining access to presentable content.

Abstract: A system for upgrading software has multiple clients coupled to an upgrade server. The clients store an old version of software. The upgrade server stores both the old version of software and a new version of software. The upgrade server creates an upgrade file from the old and new versions of the software such that the upgrade file is smaller than the new version. The upgrade server compares old character strings from the old version with new character strings from the new version to identify matching sections. The upgrade server derives a two-dimensional table containing multiple entries, whereby each entry represents a length of a longest common substring beginning at a first position in the old character string and at a second position in the new character string. The upgrade server then ascertains the longest common substring from the table. The upgrade server inserts headers into the upgrade file to distinguish between matching and non-matching sections.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment and information system using a television set-top box, wherein pages of information are periodically provided to the set-top box for user interaction therewith. The pages include associated meta-data defining active locations on each page. When a page is displayed, the user interacts with the active locations on the page by entering commands via a remote control device, whereby the system reads the meta-data and takes the action associated with the location. Actions include moving to other active locations, hyperlinking to other pages, entering user form data and submitting the data as a form into memory. The form data may be read from memory, and the pages may be related to a conventional television program, thereby providing significant user interactivity with the television.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment and information system using a television set-top box, wherein pages of information are periodically provided to the set-top box for user interaction therewith. The pages include associated meta-data defining active locations on each page. When a page is displayed, the user interacts with the active locations on the page by entering commands via a remote control device, whereby the system reads the meta-data and takes the action associated with the location. Actions include moving to other active locations, hyperlinking to other pages, entering user form data and submitting the data as a form into memory. The form data may be read from memory, and the pages may be related to a conventional television program, thereby providing significant user interactivity with the television.

Abstract: For use in a set-top box, a relatively small line buffer and a frequency control permit scaling of a video input signal and synchronization between the input signal and a composite output signal. Image data and timing signals derived from the video signal are applied to a video capture engine (VCE). When scaling the input video, the VCE combines an appropriate number of successive lines of the field being processed to produce scaled scan line data for use by a dynamic composition engine (DCE) in producing the composite image. A video odd timing signal is applied to an input odd register, which is monitored by a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU controls the values in a frequency register and in an output odd register. The value in the frequency register determines the frequency of an output clock. The signal from the output clock is applied to a horizontal timing logic circuit that produces an output horizontal sync signal.