Abstract: A multimedia transfer apparatus is described comprising: a plurality of media readers; one or more encoder modules, configured to encode data read by the media readers in a specified encoding format; and a data communication interface configured to copy the encoded data to a media storage and playback apparatus. Also described is a computer-implemented method for transferring multimedia content comprising: reading first multimedia data from a first CD/DVD; encoding the first multimedia data to produce first encoded data in parallel with reading multimedia data from a second CD/DVD; encoding the second multimedia data to produce second encoded data; and transmitting the first and second encoded data to a multimedia storage and playback apparatus.

Abstract: A method for properly rendering various types of graphical and video content is disclosed comprising: determining whether a display on which the content is to be displayed is a progressive or an interlaced display; for a progressive display, de-interlacing any interlaced source content, transforming any bitmapped source content to fit the progressive display's resolution and/or scaling factors, and geometrically rendering any source content in a geometric description format into a bitmap image to fit the progressive display's resolution and/or scaling factors; and for an interlaced display, if the interlaced source content is not provided at the interlaced display's resolution and/or scaling factors, de-interlacing the interlaced source content to produce de-interlaced source content, and transforming the de-interlaced source content to fit the interlaced display's resolution and/or scaling factors.

Abstract: A network for wireless transmission of data includes a source access point, a destination device and a plurality of wireless repeaters that provide a transmission link between the source access point and the destination device. The plurality of access points each includes a single transceiver with separate transmitter and receiver sections operable to simultaneously transmit and receive data on different frequency channels. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing uncompressed and compressed multimedia content on a storage device, the uncompressed content is stored in an interim buffer of the storage device. Compression of uncompressed content stored in the interim buffer is done as a background task, storing the compressed content in a long term buffer of the storage device, responsive to a user request to record the multimedia content. Automatically stream the uncompressed multimedia content remaining in the interim buffer directly to a rendering device once the compressed multimedia content stored in the long term buffer has been streamed to the rendering device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording a signal received by a home entertainment system that includes multiple consumer electronics devices interconnected to a central electronics device in a hub and spoke configuration. The configuration allows all signals in the home entertainment system to be accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. By way of example, any signal can be routed to a recording system, where it can be recorded. The signal is coupled with information from an electronic programming guide that details specific programming. An automatic determination is made as to whether or not there exists enough free space on a recording medium to record a specific program. Upon recording the program on the recording medium, an index is updated on the recording medium from the electronic programming guide information and from the location of the program on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method for efficiently transmitting several multimedia streams to one or more multimedia receivers is disclosed comprising: defining a minimum acceptable time for rendering a multimedia stream to a user when the user selects a particular stream; defining a packet size for packets containing data for each multimedia stream, the packet size defined based on one or more performance characteristics of mass storage devices on the one or more multimedia receivers; concurrently transmitting the packets for each multimedia stream to the one or more multimedia receivers; continually storing the multimedia streams on the mass storage devices; and playing back the multimedia content from the mass storage devices responsive to a user tuning to a particular multimedia stream when a delay greater than the minimum acceptable time would otherwise result waiting for a next packet containing data for the particular multimedia stream to arrive.

Abstract: A method is described comprising: receiving a broadcast signal containing a plurality of encrypted multimedia channels; storing the encrypted multimedia channels in a first hard drive partition; and decrypting one or more of the encrypted multimedia channels to generate one or more decrypted multimedia channels; and storing the decrypted multimedia channels to a second hard drive partition.

Abstract: A server system provides a client system with access to a number of services. For each service, if a given service provider is overloaded or if the client is unable to contact that provider, the client can contact another service provider capable of providing the requested service. The server system provides information to the client system identifying a list of services that the server system provides. For each service in the list of services, the information may include a service name identifying the service, and a unique port identifying each service provider for that service, so that one service name can be used in accessing multiple service providers of a desired service. A request from the client may include a service name identifying the desired service, and a port selected from ports provided by the server system that corresponds to a service provider for the desired service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in interconnecting consumer electronic devices in an entertainment system that allow for switching between composite video and S-video formats. The systems and methods support left audio, right audio, and can be selectively adapted to support either composite video or S-video signal formats. The systems and methods further allow for a determination that a consumer electronic device is connected, the type of device that is connected, and the type of signal format that is being utilized for the transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording a signal received by a home entertainment system that includes multiple consumer electronics devices interconnected to a central electronics device in a hub and spoke configuration. The configuration allows all signals in the home entertainment system to be accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. By way of example, any signal can be routed to a recording system, where it can be recorded. The signal is coupled with information from an electronic programming guide that details specific programming. An automatic determination is made as to whether or not there exists enough free space on a recording medium to record a specific program. Upon recording the program on the recording medium, an index is updated on the recording medium from the electronic programming guide information and from the location of the program on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing a high bandwidth communications channel for broadcasting network data during off-peak hours is disclosed. A demodulation unit includes, 1) a standard television broadcast signal receiver, the signal having a plurality of channels; 2) a partitioning unit configured to partition at least one channel of said plurality of channels into a plurality of variable size sub-channels; 3) a modulating unit configured to modulate a variety of different types of information into said plurality of sub-channels; and 4) a transmitter configured to transmit said plurality of sub-channels over a high bandwidth communications channel during off-peak hours.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording a signal received by a home entertainment system that includes multiple consumer electronics devices interconnected to a central electronics device in a hub and spoke configuration. The configuration allows all signals in the home entertainment system to be accessible by the central electronics device. Accordingly, the central electronics device can process, route, or otherwise respond to any signal. By way of example, any signal can be routed to a recording system, where it can be recorded. The signal is coupled with information from an electronic programming guide that details specific programming. An automatic determination is made as to whether or not there exists enough free space on a recording medium to record a specific program. Upon recording the program on the recording medium, an index is updated on the recording medium from the electronic programming guide information and from the location of the program on the recording medium.

Abstract: A network for wireless transmission of a media data in a building includes a plurality of access points. A first access point receives the media data from a source and transmits the media data downstream at a first data rate. A plurality of additional access points is distributed about the building, each of which includes an upstream transceiver to receive the media content on a first channel and a downstream transceiver to re-transmit the media content at substantially the first data rate on a second channel. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing interactive instructions directing a user how to establish interactivity between multiple consumer electronics devices. A first consumer electronics device is connected to the television set. The user is requested to identify another consumer electronics device to be connected to the first consumer electronics device or to the television set. The first consumer electronics device identifies the cables needed to establish the connection and then determines whether the user has the cables. If the user does not have the cables, they may be purchased online by the first consumer electronics device. Connection instructions describing how to establish the connection are displayed on the television set. After the user attempts to establish the connection, the first consumer electronics device optionally tests the connection to determine whether it is reliable and fully operable. If not, further instructions are displayed.

Abstract: A multimedia apparatus is described comprising: a tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a baseband multimedia signal; a selectable protocol module including QAM/MPEG logic and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“DOCSIS”) logic configured to receive the baseband multimedia signal; and selection logic configured to select the QAM/MPEG logic for processing a first signal having a first signal format to produce a first processed signal, the selection logic further configured to select the DOCSIS logic for processing a second signal having a second signal format to produce a second processed signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing interactive instructions directing a user how to establish interactivity between multiple consumer electronics devices. A first consumer electronics device is connected to the television set. The user is requested to identify another consumer electronics device to be connected to the first consumer electronics device or to the television set. The first consumer electronics device identifies the cables needed to establish the connection and then determines whether the user has the cables. If the user does not have the cables, they may be purchased online by the first consumer electronics device. Connection instructions describing how to establish the connection are displayed on the television set. After the user attempts to establish the connection, the first consumer electronics device optionally tests the connection to determine whether it is reliable and fully operable. If not, further instructions are displayed.

Abstract: A network for wireless transmission of data includes a source access point, a destination device and a plurality of wireless repeaters that provide a transmission link between the source access point and the destination device. The plurality of access points each includes a single transceiver with separate transmitter and receiver sections operable to simultaneously transmit and receive data on different frequency channels. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A network for wireless transmission of data includes a source access point, a destination device and a plurality of wireless repeaters that provide a transmission link between the source access point and the destination device. The plurality of access points each includes a single transceiver with separate transmitter and receiver sections operable to simultaneously transmit and receive data on different frequency channels. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method of operation for wireless transmission of data to one or more destination devices across a network that includes a plurality of access points disposed about a building, each access point having a first transmission range of maximum bandwidth and a second transmission range of signal interference, the access points being arranged in a topology wherein each access point is spaced-apart from a nearest neighboring access point by a first distance less than the first transmission range. The data is transmitted by a first access point; then it is repeated by a series of additional access points that extends across the topology. Re-transmission of the data occurs in a manner wherein any pair of access points transmitting on the same channel is separated by a distance greater than the second transmission range.

Abstract: A network for wireless transmission of a media data in a building includes a plurality of access points. A first access point receives the media data from a source and transmits the media data downstream at a first data rate. A plurality of additional access points is distributed about the building, each of which includes an upstream transceiver to receive the media content on a first channel and a downstream transceiver to re-transmit the media content at substantially the first data rate on a second channel. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.