Abstract: Local service provider contact information is stored in a gateway 202. A VOIP device 204 establishes a contact method with the gateway to expedite contact with the local service provider. The contact methods between the VOIP device and the gateway can be accomplished with and without user intervention. If the contact information changes or the gateway is moved to a new regional provider, the contact information can be altered without requiring user knowledge or interactions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards an adjusted display interface method and apparatus for displaying the charge condition of a battery in a gateway or similar device. In accordance with implementations of the present principles, a mapping is created between the actual battery charge percentage and a desired battery display condition that includes several conditional display levels configured to avoid user confusion.

Abstract: The present principles of the embodiments generally relate to an apparatus and a method for processing media asset recordings such as, e.g., recording of a television program in an electronic device, such as, e.g., a digital video recorder (DVR). In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention is able to automatically record another occurrence of a requested program as a potential replacement when the original recording of the requested program contains an abnormality such as e.g., an error and/or a program interruption. The potential replacement program may be from a different source such as an internet media service website.

Abstract: A method and system for customer support, wherein a request for customer support is sent via user device comprising a one-touch button for initiating contact with the customer support center. A customer support center receives the request and can initiate communications with a user. The means of communication between the customer support center and the user is based on user information sent with the request.

Abstract: Systems and methods are shown for configuring a cable modem using a dedicated user device that include providing a dedicated port on a cable modem for connecting to a user service device, initiating a configuration connection between the user service device and a cable modem that bypasses the cable modem's authentication process, and changing settings on the cable modem in accordance with input from the user service device.

Abstract: Additional information and/or status messages are routed to a telephone 124 by a gateway device 110 via a caller identification (ID) process. The gateway device determines when a status or information message is available and distributes the message to the telephone when a user answers the telephone. In a similar fashion, a user can call a special telephone number on a plain old telephone system (POTS) 202, hang up the telephone 204 and receive a status/information message as a caller ID message upon a callback by the POTS.

Abstract: Additional information and/or status messages are routed to a telephone 124 by a gateway device 110 via a caller identification (ID) process. The gateway device determines when a status or information message is available and distributes the message to the telephone when a user answers the telephone. In a similar fashion, a user can call a special telephone number on a plain old telephone system (POTS) 202, hang up the telephone 204 and receive a status/information message as a caller ID message upon a callback by the POTS.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards an adjusted display interface method and apparatus for displaying the charge condition of a battery in a gateway or similar device. In accordance with implementations of the present principles, a mapping is created between the actual battery charge percentage and a desired battery display condition that includes several conditional display levels configured to avoid user confusion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with access to emergency services are described. A cable modem/multimedia terminal adapter employing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) can be configured to provide access to emergency services during periods of unavailability of a connection to a network due to software upgrades of the cable modem/multimedia terminal adapter or a VoIP handset, a power outage or a malfunction of the cable modem/multi-media terminal adapter or the VoIP handset. Access to emergency services can be provided through the use of a dedicated button on the cable modem/multimedia terminal adapter and the use of dedicated hardware in the cable modem/multimedia terminal adapter that is configured to initiate operation when a connection to the network is unavailable.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic determination of a call type in a voice over Internet Protocol data network is provided. A 10-digit telephone number for making a telephone call is entered and a look up of the telephone number is performed in a database comprising at least known long distance numbers. If no match exists, the telephone number is transmitted over the data network to a local Call Management Server. If the local call is not successful, the number is automatically transmitted with a pre-pended “I” to a Long Distance Call Management Server. Advantageously, a VoIP system is provided for automatically determining that a number is a long distance call, upon which it will automatically pre-pend a leading “1” to the number and re-transmit the resultant 11 digit number to the appropriate Long Distance Call Management Server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are shown for configuring a cable modem using a dedicated user device that include providing a dedicated port on a cable modem for connecting to a user service device, initiating a configuration connection between the user service device and a cable modem that bypasses the cable modem's authentication process, and changing settings on the cable modem in accordance with input from the user service device.

Abstract: Setting of time in a digital television signal processing device is accomplished by identifying time data that matches or is closest to a user entered time. The identified television channel is then stored by the digital television signal processing device and used as a time source by the digital television channel processing device. The identification of a preferred time source (television channel) for the digital television signal processing device may be performed automatically once the user has manually inputted time information, or it may be performed through user interface such as through an on-screen display. Such identification may include a search of all available television channels having embedded time data.

Abstract: A method of presenting emergency alert textual media data on a display unit includes receiving emergency alert textual media data, storing the received emergency alert textual media data into a memory, superimposing the stored emergency alert textual media data on the display unit at an initial scroll rate, detecting a user operation, and adjusting the scroll rate of the superimposed emergency alert textual media data according to the user operation.

Abstract: A method and system for recording a program in an apparatus that has auxiliary programming information available are described. A program is first selected for recording. A determination is made to see whether the associated auxiliary programming information is available for the selected first program for recording. If the associated auxiliary programming information is not available for the selected first program, then a recording timer is automatically populated with all known recording parameters. All the unknown recording parameters in the recording timer are also populated according to a predetermined algorithm.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory and an operating system running a plurality of applications that are controlled by user signals, means to register the user signals required by each application, means to receive user signals, and means to send each received user signal to the application registered to require that signal. A method of passing user signals to a plurality of applications running with an operating system comprising receiving from each application information on user signals required by that application; saving in a memory the required user signals associated with each application; receiving a user signal from a user interface device; retrieving from the memory applications that require the received user signal; and sending the received user signal to each of the retrieved applications.

Abstract: A method of providing Emergency Alert System event notifications according to configurable notification options includes the steps of configuring the notification options, storing into a memory the configured notification options, receiving Emergency Alert System event information, generating an emergency alert message that corresponds to the Emergency Alert System event information, and transmitting the emergency alert message according to the configured notification options.

Abstract: A method and system for recording a program in an apparatus that has auxiliary programming information available are described. A program is first selected for recording. A determination is made to see whether the associated auxiliary programming information is available for the selected first program for recording. If the associated auxiliary programming information is not available for the selected first program, then a recording timer is automatically populated with all known recording parameters. All the unknown recording parameters in the recording timer are also populated according to a pre-determined algorithm.