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: 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: A method to facilitate interaction between the services provided by respective networked devices. The method includes receiving service capabilities associated with a source device which has joined a first network, and receiving a service application at a presentation device. The service application is associated with at least one service identified by the service capabilities associated with the source device. The method further includes presenting a service associated with the source device on the presentation device utilizing the service application.

Abstract: In a home network, instead of filtering out non-demanded digital programs on programs of a main digital transport stream after decryption by a conditional access (CA) device, the audio video data of all non-demanded digital programs is removed prior to decryption, to conserve bandwidth in the home network, while all non-audio video data remains in the stream for use as required by the CA device.

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: An embodiment of the present invention includes a technique to provide multiple focus controls. First and second focus managers manage first and second focus owners, respectively. The first and second focus owners correspond to components of media planes displayable on at least one of a plurality of output display devices. The first and second focus managers associate first and second key events generated by first and second input devices, respectively, to the respective first and second focus owners. A router has a routing table that stores information of association between first and second connections and the first and second focus managers, respectively. The router routes one of the first and second key events originating from the respective connection to a corresponding focus manager using the routing table.

Abstract: A network includes a server such as a TV and one or more client components. The server and client component automatically detect each other and automatically determine that the client component possesses at least one unconsummated capability. Software necessary for the client component to execute the capability is downloaded from the Internet.

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.