Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically displaying personalized interactive media guidance application screens based on the time of day are provided. The interactive media guidance application may monitor user interactions with the user equipment, and identify individual user profiles for different times of day. Using this information, the interactive media guidance application may partition the day into day parts, each associated with a user profile. The interactive media guidance application may also create or select a plurality of personalized interfaces or configurations for displaying media guidance information, where each interface or configuration reflects the interests of an identified user profile. When a user accesses the interactive media guidance application, the interactive media guidance application may identify the user profile associated with the current day part, and display the personalized interface or configuration associated with the identified user profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding a first plastic sheet to a second plastic sheet is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate die including a channel extending longitudinally along the die's welding face. In combination with a plate and a high frequency alternating current generator, the die and the plate are operable to compress the first and second plastic sheets in an overlapping arrangement and generate a high frequency alternating electromagnetic field between the die and the plate and weld the first and second plastic sheets to one another. The depth of the die channel prevents the formation of an electromagnetic field that is strong enough to weld the first and second plastic sheets in an area between the die channel and the plate. A die for use in such an apparatus and a method of use thereof are further provided.

Abstract: Users of interactive media guidance applications may access media content and seek media guidance on a plurality of user equipment devices. A user profile server may be used for the management of a user's profile information. The user profile server may store a user's profile information including information about the user's media network and about user equipment devices associated with the user's media network. The user's profile information may be used to provide functionality to record media content on the most suitable user equipment device of a user's media network. The user's profile information may also be used to provide recommendations of media content based on a user's monitored interactions with a plurality of user equipment devices. The user's profile information may also be provided to user equipment devices of the media network not having the user profile information.

Abstract: Users of interactive media guidance applications may access media content and seek media guidance on a plurality of user equipment devices. A user profile server may be used for the management of a user's profile information. The user profile server may store a user's profile information including information about the user's media network and about user equipment devices associated with the user's media network. The user's profile information may be used to provide functionality to record media content on the most suitable user equipment device of a user's media network. The user's profile information may also be used to provide recommendations of media content based on a user's monitored interactions with a plurality of user equipment devices. The user's profile information may also be provided to user equipment devices of the media network not having the user profile information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a modular media guidance dashboard application are provided that present a customizable interactive user interface across multiple media platforms through which personalized media content listings may be delivered. In particular, the modular media guidance dashboard application categorizes listings for media content into a number of different modules that are in turn grouped under a number of different tabs within the dashboard application. The type and layout of the modules and the tabs may be configured by the users as well as by the application. Module content personalization is also permitted and may be automatically customized and updated based on learned user viewing preferences. Furthermore, the format of the dashboard application is adaptable to a variety of devices and platforms for supporting multi-platform access.

Abstract: Rules concerning whether or not to insert advertisement and/or allow trick mode capabilities during playback of locally stored content downloaded from a content provider's or a VOD service providers server are communicated to the client device and may be specified by a variety of mechanisms including a Web-page based tool for A content provider to edit and for a VOD service provider to review and modify such rules. The client device stores and applies the rules during playback of the content.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding a first plastic sheet to a second plastic sheet is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate die including a channel extending longitudinally along the die's welding face. In combination with a plate and a high frequency alternating current generator, the die and the plate are operable to compress the first and second plastic sheets in an overlapping arrangement and generate a high frequency alternating electromagnetic field between the die and the plate and weld the first and second plastic sheets to one another. The depth of the die channel prevents the formation of an electromagnetic field that is strong enough to weld the first and second plastic sheets in an area between the die channel and the plate. A die for use in such an apparatus and a method of use thereof are further provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically displaying personalized interactive media guidance application screens based on the time of day are provided. The interactive media guidance application may monitor user interactions with the user equipment, and identify individual user profiles for different times of day. Using this information, the interactive media guidance application may partition the day into day parts, each associated with a user profile. The interactive media guidance application may also create or select a plurality of personalized interfaces or configurations for displaying media guidance information, where each interface or configuration reflects the interests of an identified user profile. When a user accesses the interactive media guidance application, the interactive media guidance application may identify the user profile associated with the current day part, and display the personalized interface or configuration associated with the identified user profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically displaying personalized interactive media guidance application screens based on the time of day are provided. The interactive media guidance application may monitor user interactions with the user equipment, and identify individual user profiles for different times of day. Using this information, the interactive media guidance application may partition the day into day parts, each associated with a user profile. The interactive media guidance application may also create or select a plurality of personalized interfaces or configurations for displaying media guidance information, where each interface or configuration reflects the interests of an identified user profile. When a user accesses the interactive media guidance application, the interactive media guidance application may identify the user profile associated with the current day part, and display the personalized interface or configuration associated with the identified user profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically recognizing a user of an interactive media guidance application are provided. The interactive media guidance application may monitor a plurality of users' interactions with the interactive media guidance application, and determine, from the interactions, user profiles. For example, the interactive media guidance application may determine that a number of interactions (e.g., a number of viewed programs) satisfy a relevancy rule, and associate the interactions with the same user profile. The interactive media guidance application may identify the parts of the day when each user uses the interactive media guidance application, and associate the corresponding user profiles with the current day part. The interactive media guidance application may further identify the user that is associated with each user profile by prompting a user to identify himself during the day part that is associated with a particular user profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically displaying personalized interactive media guidance application screens based on the time of day are provided. The interactive media guidance application may monitor user interactions with the user equipment, and identify individual user profiles for different times of day. Using this information, the interactive media guidance application may partition the day into day parts, each associated with a user profile. The interactive media guidance application may also create or select a plurality of personalized interfaces or configurations for displaying media guidance information, where each interface or configuration reflects the interests of an identified user profile. When a user accesses the interactive media guidance application, the interactive media guidance application may identify the user profile associated with the current day part, and display the personalized interface or configuration associated with the identified user profile.

Abstract: A display indicator is provided on a set-top appliance to indicate application layer connectivity between a client device and a server belonging to a hosted service. This connectivity optionally reflects synchronization state of a service related database on the appliance and its replica on the server. A second indicator on the appliance displays the completion status of an ongoing download.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to send information to a video-on-demand (VOD) server. A VOD client device retrieves this information and performs download of multimedia content using this information for subsequent viewing. In one embodiment, this information is provided to the VOD server by a content server upon a user's request made from a computer system other than the VOD client device. In another embodiment, this information is provided to the VOD server by a user's computer system other than the VOD client device; such information having been obtained by the user's computer system from the content server.

Abstract: Multimedia content, including user requested programs, advertisements, electronic program guide and other content deemed to be of interest to a user to a client device is downloaded and stored on a client device on the basis of storage space availability for logical group(s) to which the content belongs. Such content may be speculatively downloaded and an indication of immediate availability for viewing provided to the user.

Abstract: An aggregated program guide contains entries of programs available for downloading and viewing including details such as network location of the programs and download status. The guide further contains information about viewing rights and is made available for download from a network server different from content servers on which the programs are available for download.

Abstract: Rules concerning whether or not to insert advertisement and/or allow trick mode capabilities during playback of locally stored content downloaded from a content provider's or a VOD service providers server are communicated to the client device and may be specified by a variety of mechanisms including a Web-page based tool for a content provider to edit and for a VOD service provider to review and modify such rules. The client device stores and applies the rules during playback of the content.

Abstract: A display indicator is provided on a set-top appliance to indicate application layer connectivity between a client device and a server belonging to a hosted service. This connectivity optionally reflects synchronization state of a service related database on the appliance and its replica on the server. A second indicator on the appliance displays the completion status of an ongoing download.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus and method for stabilizing the imaging of a high-performance optical system prone to imaging instabilities from thermal effects. Thermal instabilities within the lens, such as convection, can result in image placement errors in a high-performance optical system. The apparatus includes a heating element arranged on the upper surface of the optical system to provide heat to one or more gas-filled spaces in the optical system. An insulating blanket covers a portion of the optical system to uniformize the heating of the optical system and increase efficiency of the apparatus. The gas in the spaces is heated so that the warmer gases reside near the upper portion of the optical system, while the cooler gases reside near the lower portion of the optical system. This creates a stable thermal environment within the lens system, thereby stabilizing the imaging. Optionally gas can be flowed over the lower surface to keep heat from heating the lower portion of the optical system.

Abstract: A carpet installation device having multiple adjustment features to facilitate carpet installation. These features include a base member of variable length having carpet gripping spikes mounted on the bottom thereof. A winch support mounted on said base member for receiving a winch. The winch includes a winch cable for connecting the winch to a remote anchor. The winch being able to stretch the carpet by pulling said base member toward said anchor. An additional carpet adjusting tool is moveably mounted on the base member for adjusting carpet sections. The carpet adjusting tool includes carpet gripping spikes thereon and linkage operated movement for stretching small sections of carpet between the spikes on the base member and those on the carpet adjusting tool.

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus and method for stabilizing the imaging of a high-performance optical system prone to imaging instabilities from thermal effects. Thermal instabilities within the lens, such as convection, can result in image placement errors in a high-performance optical system. The apparatus includes a heating element arranged on the upper surface of the optical system to provide heat to one or more gas-filled spaces in the optical system. An insulating blanket covers a portion of the optical system to uniformize the heating of the optical system and increase efficiency of the apparatus. The gas in the spaces is heated so that the warmer gases reside near the upper portion of the optical system, while the cooler gases reside near the lower portion of the optical system. This creates a stable thermal environment within the lens system, thereby stabilizing the imaging. Optionally gas can be flowed over the lower surface to keep heat from heating the lower portion of the optical system.