Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications, that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In one example, a media content item is played for presentation to the user. An interactive application associated with the media content item is available for interaction by a user during the playing of the media content item. During the playing of the media content item, a first indication that the user is interacting with the interactive application is received. In response to the first indication, the playing of the media content item is suspended. During the suspending of the playing of the media content item, a second indication that the user has stopped interacting with the interactive application is received. In response to the second indication, the playing of the media content item is resumed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for the transmission and reception of targeted content. Using the systems and methods, a wide variety of different types of content can be targeted to a single client or a group of clients. The methods and systems utilize action handlers to handle different types of content. Further, the system can distribute packets with different rates depending on their priority.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for the transmission and reception of targeted content. Using the systems and methods, a wide variety of different types of content can be targeted to a single client or a group of clients. The methods and systems utilize action handlers to handle different types of content. Further, the system can distribute packets with different rates depending on their priority.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for the broadcast and reception of targeted content. Using the systems and methods, a wide variety of different types of content can be targeted to a single client or a group of clients. The methods and systems utilize application handlers to handle different types of content. Further, the system can distribute packets with different rates depending on their priority.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for selecting and conveying ads in an interactive television system. An ad stream is conveyed concurrently with a broadcast programming stream in an interactive television system. The ad stream includes multiple streams of ads wherein each stream of ads includes multiple ads. An ad selector mechanism detects programming and ad requests. Requests may be indicated by a viewer, a received cue, or by an interactive application. Based on programming and ad selection data, a viewer profile is created which may be used to select targeted ads for display. In response to a detected request, the ad selector mechanism searches the ad stream for an ad to meet the request. An ad is selected according to a viewer profile or a particular viewer action. The selected ad may be used to meet the request by filling an unused avail or by providing further information to a viewer. A particular ad may appear in more than one of the multiple streams and at different start times.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for managing data in a distributed computing system. A television system is configured to convey audio/video/interactive data to receiving devices. Data conveyed to the receiving devices are structured as modules, with a main directory module indicating those modules which make up, or are used by, a particular application. Changes to data being conveyed to receiving devices are initially indicated by conveying delta directory modules to the receiving devices which identify updates to a corresponding main directory module. Changes indicated by a delta directory module are applied to the corresponding main directory module, which in turn may effect changes in the data used by the application. Delta directories may generally only include sufficient information to identify the changes and may be smaller than the corresponding main directory.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for the broadcast and reception of targeted content. Using the systems and methods, a wide variety of different types of content can be targeted to a single client or a group of clients. The methods and systems utilize application handlers to handle different types of content. Further, the system can distribute packets with different rates depending on their priority.

Abstract: A system to enable authoring of content within an interactive television environment communicates, from a source system, television content to a receiver system, the television content to be presented to a user by the receiver system. Authoring data, associated with the television content, is also communicated from the source system to the receiver system. An authoring application is communicated from the source system to the receiver system, the authoring application being executable by the receiver system to enable the user to author content utilizing the authoring data. The authoring application may include messaging logic to enable the inclusion of the content in a message.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for managing resources in a receiving device. A privileged application-level resource advisor may be included in individual receivers which are manufactured by different hardware manufacturers, each possibly having different resources, and each possibly running operating systems and/or middleware written by different vendors. The advisor is configured to communicate with the middleware and/or operating system of a receiving device in order to affect resource usage. Subsequent to detecting a resource contention problem, the resource advisor may determine how to resolve the contention problem. Subsequent to being authenticated by the middleware and/or operating system, the resource advisor may then affect the resolution by itself, or it may affect the resolution by providing input to the operating system, middleware, or other resource managing component of the IRD.

Abstract: A system and method implemented in an interactive television system for restricting or controlling the access rights of interactive television applications and carousels. The system broadcasts modules from a broadcast station to a plurality of receiving stations, which execute applications containing the modules. In one embodiment, the applications utilize a credential consisting of a producer identification number (ID) and an application ID for each of the grantor and grantee applications, an expiration date, a set of permission data, a producer certificate and a signature. An application requesting access and a carousel granting access may be identified by respective producer and application IDs. The credential utilizes public key encryption to ensure the integrity of the credential. The producer and application IDs may be replaced with wildcards so that rights may be granted to a group of producers or applications.