Abstract: A system and method for broadcast advertising includes a broadcast receiver that receives a broadcast signal. In addition to the usual video and/or audio data, the broadcast signal includes embedded product or service data. Moreover, the broadcast receiver includes a memory slot that is sized and shaped to receive a portable memory media. In response to a signal received at the broadcast receiver, e.g., from a remote control unit, the embedded product data is extracted from the broadcast signal and downloaded to the portable memory media forming a virtual shopping list. To facilitate shopping, the portable memory media can then be installed in a shopping computer, e.g., in an information kiosk at a shopping mall to determine where a particular product can be found, how much it costs, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing recommended items for purchase or rental at a shopping kiosk, based on TV/DVD/CD etc. viewing profiles. A removable media such as a flash memory device can be inserted into an entertainment device receptacle, and the viewer's subsequent viewing (or listening) habits, including selected programming and related data such as TV program category, title, etc., recorded to establish a profile. The media can be removed and taken to the shopping kiosk, where it is inserted and used by the kiosk to present a list of recommended items for purchase or rental, based on the viewing habit profile of the viewer.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a viewer to generate a playlist of favorite programs with broadcast times using a remote control, for automatically tuning a TV to the programs on the playlist at the appropriate times. The playlist can be stored on a removable media.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring and installing devices of a home entertainment system includes a portable memory media that can be installed in a memory slot of a television. The portable memory media can be preprogrammed with set-up instructions that are displayed at the television. A user can follow these instructions step-by-step in order to properly install and configure a television and any peripheral entertainment devices.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying information pertaining to broadcast content such that the system is robust and stripping or blocking data is rendered relatively difficult. A broadcast component encodes the content with a digital watermark or embeds an icon or other visibly or audibly transparent object (e.g., audio jingle) in the content. A TV or radio that has a microprocessor decodes the content to retrieve the watermark or analyzes the image/jingle to determine an ID. Using the ID a database is accessed to retrieve information pertaining to broadcast content. Alternatively, the watermark may represent the actual data itself. The information can include, e.g., Web site hyperlinks, and/or UPC codes, and/or advertising data.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a viewer to easily program a remote control device with the parameters of various home entertainment components such as TVs, VCRs, DVDs, etc. A removable media is inserted into each component, with the remote control parameters or model identification of the component being downloaded to the media. The media is then removed from the component and inserted into the remote control device, which uploads the model data or control parameters so that the remote control device can be used to control the component without requiring a person to manually set or configure, for each component, the “universal” master remote.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing TV audio/video/program guide settings, based on a biosensor signal representative of viewer mood.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a filtered subset of TV or radio programs based on a group of viewer profiles. A removable media hub is connected or incorporated into a TV, with the hub receiving removable media that contain and store viewers' profiles. The electronic program guide of the TV or access to channels is filtered based on the profiles contained in the removable media. The programming choices can be filtered based on an analysis of the congruity (intersections, disparities, etc.) of the individual profiles which are active in the hub, giving a set of choices representing common interests of the group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a flicker filter for an interlaced video display. Content is analyzed to determine what type of filter or filter characteristics selected from a plurality of available filters or filter characteristics can provide the better display of the content. Based on this analysis, the filter characteristics are selected and used for flicker filtering the content for display.

Abstract: A Set Top Box or other client/server device including an Internet appliance which runs an application and operates under any of several operating systems. The Set Top Box boots from boot code stored, for example, in a ROM which permits a user to select an operating system and application. The Set Top Box contacts a Master Server and obtains a URL for download of the operating system and application. The URL is contacted and the application and operating system are downloaded. The Set Top Box operates under the operating system to run the application until another application is selected.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, doing business transactions on a network, such as the Internet, is described. Purchases are carried out in a secure way such that there is a minimum possibility that the customer's financial or billing information can be stolen. An input device, such as a set top box, television browser, is provided at a customer's location. The input device has a unique identification code. This code is stored on a first server connected to a network, such as the Internet, prior to conducting any transactions. Customer specific financial and/or billing information is also stored on the first server. The customer is then connected to the desired location on the network through a second server to conduct a transaction. The identification code of the input device is also provided to the second server connected to the network. The second server has secure access to the customer specific information located on the first server, for billing the customer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically synchronizing a plurality of streams of temporally related data generate compression time information regarding the time required to compression a first stream of data. The compression time information is transmitted together with the first and other compressed streams of data, and is utilized to delay at least one decompressed compressed stream of data to thereby synchronize such decompressed stream with a decompressed compressed first stream of data. The decompression time information is determined by selecting, from a look-up table, a delay time corresponding to the compression time information.

Abstract: A facsimile broadcasting receiver comprising an index program detector and a recording means, the detector detecting an index program number from a facsimile signal. The detected index program number is recorded into the recording means so that the corresponding index program will be automatically recorded.