Abstract: An interface adapter device consistent with certain embodiments has a first electrical connector adapted to connect to a conditional access service card to receive encrypted television signals therefrom. A second electrical connector is adapted to connect to a television receiver device in order to provide the encrypted television signals to the television receiver device. An interface circuit receives the encrypted television signals from the first electrical connector and adapts the signals for transmission to a television receiver device over the second electrical connector. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method carried out in a digital television receiver device incapable of full two way communications, of receiving switched digital television programs involves storing a virtual channel table in the digital television receiver device, the virtual channel table having entries for each available channel and having a channel type indicator that identifies switched digital channels; receiving a command indicative of selection of a switched digital channel having the switched digital channel type indicator in the stored virtual channel table; sending a request from the television receiver device for the switched digital channel; responsive to the request, receiving a response that either grants the request or denies the request; and if the response grants the request, receiving an updated virtual channel table having updated table entries. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of recompositing or recomposing a remote user interface in real-time includes a server device determining network information or conditions and modifying the remote user interface based on the network information. One aspect of modifying the remote user interface includes the server device increasing or decreasing the amount of detail of the remote user interface. Another aspect of modifying the remote user interface includes generating several versions of the remote user interface of varying detail and selecting one of the versions based on the network information. A rendering device is then able to display the modified remote user interface without causing a disruption in the network.

Abstract: A method of embellishing a remote user interface includes utilizing metadata to complement the remote user interface. The metadata is able to be used by a device such as an intermediate device to generate additional information related to the remote user interface. The embellished remote user interface is then sent to a rendering device to be displayed and provide a user with an improved viewing experience.

Abstract: An adapter is a device to transcode or translate different graphics languages to permit a variety of networked, dissimilar devices, to communicate by partially rendering or translating an existing application's devices' graphics/images into a lower level Remote User Interface (Remote UI or RUI) graphics protocol; the RUI graphics protocol delivered over the network to a rendering device.

Abstract: A method of structuring Remote User Interface (RUI) into a tiered hierarchical standard with a minimum base RUI profile that is supported by all devices that meet the standard with optional support for the higher level hierarchies within the tier. RUI profiles are a superset of a lower RUI, so that lower RUIs are able to be partially rendered by a higher RUI.

Abstract: A compositing device lessens a rendering/processing load for rendering devices by processing one or more sessions instead of requiring the rendering devices to do so. The compositing device is able to receive one or more sessions from one or more source devices and process the sessions either together or separately. Then, either a composited session or a selected session is sent to be displayed by a rendering device.

Abstract: A system for automatically setting a power saving mode according to a location of a device, such as a TV. The system includes an interface, e.g. GPS receiver, terrestrial broadcast receiver, network interface, etc. for coupling the device to one or more external devices; a processor; programming executable on said processor for performing the following steps: determining the location of the device via communication with the one or more external devices; establishing a power consumption mode according to the determined location of the device and one or more power consumption regulatory requirements associated with said device location; and adjusting a function of the device to modify the power consumption of the device according to said power consumption mode.

Abstract: A bridge including an adapter is able to transcode or translate different graphics languages to permit a variety of networked, dissimilar devices, to communicate. The bridge translates an existing application device's graphics/images into a Remote User Interface (Remote UI or RUI) graphics protocol of a rendering device and transmits the translated RUI to the rendering device. The rendering device is then able to display the translated RUI.

Abstract: A request to render content associated with a first super distributed content file is detected by a content rendering device. At least one portion of the content associated with the first super distributed content file is determined to be missing from the first super distributed content file. A second file including the at least one portion of the content missing from the first super distributed content file is obtained from a server. The at least one portion of the content of the second file includes partial encrypted portions of the content associated with an encryption system of the content rendering device. A content output stream including decrypted partial encrypted portions of the content of the second file and the content associated with the first super distributed content file is generated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method carried out in a digital television receiver device incapable of full two way communications, of receiving switched digital television programs involves storing a virtual channel table in the digital television receiver device, the virtual channel table having entries for each available channel and having a channel type indicator that identifies switched digital channels; receiving a command indicative of selection of a switched digital channel having the switched digital channel type indicator in the stored virtual channel table; sending a request from the television receiver device for the switched digital channel; responsive to the request, receiving a response that either grants the request or denies the request; and if the response grants the request, receiving an updated virtual channel table having updated table entries. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A number of encryption system types utilized by subscriber terminal devices currently requesting tuning to a particular switched digital video (SDV) content selection is determined in response to each change in a number of the subscriber terminals requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection. SDV content associated with the particular SDV content selection is encrypted as either encrypted SDV content or multiply partially encrypted SDV content based upon the determined number of encryption system types beginning from a current play location indicated for the SDV content selection within an electronic program guide (EPG). Either the encrypted SDV content or the multiply partially encrypted SDV content is distributed as part of an outgoing SDV content stream to the subscriber terminals currently requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection. This abstract is not to be considered limiting. Other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a stream of legacy encrypted main content that contains selectively DRM encrypted duplicate content; decrypting the legacy encrypted stream of content; eliminating the duplicate content that is not DRM encrypted; generating a selectively DRM encrypted stream of content; and providing the selectively DRM stream of content as an output signal for consumption by a device residing on a home entertainment network. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A CE device is vended with a TV tuner module which may be provided in an envelope in the same shipping container along with instructions to the consumer to connect the tuner module to the CE device if TV capabilities are desired and to return the module for a rebate if TV capabilities are not desired.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for use in providing the playback of content.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprising an operation of identifying what programming content is currently being transmitted or is scheduled to be displayed by an electronic device that is adapted to receive programming content from a live content broadcaster. A lookup of networked content providers having stored content associated with the programming content is performed and metadata associated with the stored content is obtained. Then, relational information from the metadata is produced. The relational information is output for rendering at least one advanced option icon that is adapted to provide enhanced viewing functionality.

Abstract: A TV receiver such as a set-top box has an Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) programming interface that communicates with interactive digital video applications such as pay-per-view applications to enable a viewer to communicate requests, purchase orders, and the like to a head end. A cable card provides both decryption of incoming video from the head end as well as translation functionality that transforms standardized messages into a proprietary protocol recognizable to the head end. The OCAP has an API that interfaces with the application and that directs standardized messages from the application to the standardized interface of the removable cable card ensuring common reliance on the translation functionality built in to the cable card.

Abstract: One and only instance of a video service model component (for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) model description) is executed in a home network gateway, with multiple instantiations of a view/controller module associated with the model module being generated, one for each display device seeking to simultaneously display the video service. In this way the functionality of a single video service model is shared in the network without requiring the underlying model module itself to be replicated.

Abstract: One and only instance of a video service model component (for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) model description) is executed in a home network gateway, with multiple instantiations of a view/controller module associated with the model module being generated, one for each display device seeking to simultaneously display the video service. In this way the functionality of a single video service model is shared in the network without requiring the underlying model module itself to be replicated.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method carried out in a digital television receiver device incapable of full two way communications, of receiving switched digital television programs involves storing a virtual channel table in the digital television receiver device, the virtual channel table having entries for each available channel and having a channel type indicator that identifies switched digital channels; receiving a command indicative of selection of a switched digital channel having the switched digital channel type indicator in the stored virtual channel table; sending a request from the television receiver device for the switched digital channel; responsive to the request, receiving a response that either grants the request or denies the request; and if the response grants the request, receiving an updated virtual channel table having updated table entries. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.