Abstract: An apparatus performs a data caching operation responsive to a channel change event which reduces channel change times. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a cache memory operative to cache an incoming data stream responsive to a channel change command. A processor is operative to find program specific information included within the incoming data stream. A decoder is operative to decode the cached data stream responsive to the processor finding the program specific information.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus using a system level clocking scheme to remove jitter from multi-media packets distributed over an asynchronous network. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with jitter introduced in an asynchronous network by using various time stamps to synchronize a client device clock to a headend clock and to control the data flow in the client device to match the rate that the data is received by a broadband receiver coupled to the headend. The present invention allows the client device to synchronize to a selected one of a plurality of headend clock by including a clock adjustment factor along with the time stamps. The time stamps are added at the physical layer so that the time stamps correspond to the time the data packets are placed onto and received from the asynchronous network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a second transport stream included within a first transport stream and reducing timing anomaly imparted to the second transport stream within the context of a front-end device subject to random access via a data bus, illustratively a PCI bus. A first transport stream is received from a transport medium, the first transport stream having disposed therein packets associated with a second transport stream. The first medium tending to impart jitter to the first transport stream. Those packets associated with the second transport stream are extracted from the first transport stream and adapted to reduce jitter, and launched via a second transport medium, the launched adapted packets forming a jitter-reduced second transport stream.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal containing a plurality of original pictures. The invention includes the steps of, in response to a trick mode command, selectively repeating (216) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal having the original pictures and at least one repeated original picture and selectively displaying (218) at least a portion of the original picture and at least a portion of the repeated original pictures in accordance with a predetermined sequence to avoid a vibration artifact. Each original picture and each repeated original picture can contain at least two fields.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and/or method of use as described herein provide generated menu data to a display device for initial network parameter configuration data input of the apparatus. The apparatus, in one form, includes a text generator for input of initial network parameter configuration data therein. This system, apparatus and/or method require only a small amount of boot ROM to implement.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal containing a plurality of original pictures. The invention includes the steps of, in response to a trick mode command, selectively repeating (216) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal having the original pictures and at least one repeated original picture and selectively displaying (218) at least a portion of the original picture and at least a portion of the repeated original pictures in accordance with a predetermined sequence to avoid a vibration artifact. Each original picture and each repeated original picture can contain at least two fields.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus using a system level clocking scheme to remove jitter from multi-media packets distributed over an asynchronous network. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with jitter introduced in an asynchronous network by using various time stamps to synchronized a client device clock to a headend clock and to control the data flow in the client device to match the rate that the data is received by a broadband receiver coupled to the headend. The present invention allows the client device to synchronize to a selected one of a plurality of headend clock by including a clock adjustment factor along with the time stamps. The time stamps are added at the physical layer so that the time stamps correspond to the time the data packets are placed onto and received from the asynchronous network.

Abstract: A universal interface module for use between heterogeneous networks for reserving processing power of a system processor includes a physical connection block having at least two ports for making a physical connection between networks. A gating device is coupled to the connection block and distributes packets of information of different formats to appropriate networks. A packet processing device is coupled to the gating device for adding and removing data and addressing information from the packets. An application demultiplexer is coupled to the packet processing device and distributes data and control signals to applications to be run on a system processor.

Abstract: A user-side receiver system includes a gateway device, which provides an interface between a subscriber-based network, and an output device. A storage system is disposed externally from the gateway device and is coupled to the gateway device through a network interface. The storage system provides memory for storage of data streams transmitted from the network to the gateway device. The network interface links the gateway device to the storage system to cooperatively access and store data to/from the storage system in a way that limits access to the data by a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a second transport stream included within a first transport stream and reducing timing anomaly imparted to the second transport stream within the context of a front-end device subject to random access via a data bus, illustratively a PCI bus. A first transport stream is received from a transport medium, the first transport stream having disposed therein packets associated with a second transport stream. The first medium tending to impart jitter to the first transport stream. Those packets associated with the second transport stream are extracted from the first transport stream and adapted to reduce jitter, and launched via a second transport medium, the launched adapted packets forming a jitter-reduced second transport stream.