Abstract: A method of providing a menu for video content is disclosed and may include delivering a looping video clip over a first video channel. The looping video clip may be configured to be displayed on a video plane. The method may also include delivering side channel data over a second video channel. The side channel data may include two or more navigable menu elements that may be configured to be displayed on a graphics overlay plane.

Abstract: A method of providing a menu for video content is disclosed and may include delivering a looping video clip over a first video channel. The looping video clip may be configured to be displayed on a video plane. The method may also include delivering side channel data over a second video channel. The side channel data may include two or more navigable menu elements that may be configured to be displayed on a graphics overlay plane.

Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: A method of providing a menu for video content is disclosed and may include delivering a looping video clip over a first video channel. The looping video clip may be configured to be displayed on a video plane. The method may also include delivering side channel data over a second video channel. The side channel data may include two or more navigable menu elements that may be configured to be displayed on a graphics overlay plane.

Abstract: An example television Widget movement method involves receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in Display mode, display Widget representations on a display; receiving a command from the remote controller that establishes one of the plurality of displayed Widget programs as being in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, where the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode, wherein when the Widget is in Move Mode, the Widget representation is responsive to navigation commands from the remote controller to move about the display, and wherein such movement is animated using a 3 dimensional graphics engine. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method of providing a menu for video content is disclosed and may include delivering a looping video clip over a first video channel. The looping video clip may be configured to be displayed on a video plane. The method may also include delivering side channel data over a second video channel. The side channel data may include two or more navigable menu elements that may be configured to be displayed on a graphics overlay plane.

Abstract: In a TV system with a modular configuration that permits licensed primary modules such as disk players and personal video recorders to be removably slid into engagement with receptacles in the TV housing, an adapter primary module is provided that is formed with secondary receptacles for receiving secondary modules. The secondary modules have USB ports, Ethernet ports, and memory card slots in a configuration that can be designed by entities other than the TV manufacturer, with the secondary modules having to conform to proprietary licensed interfaces in the adaptor module to ensure a degree of control by the TV manufacturer.

Abstract: In a TV system with a modular configuration that permits licensed primary modules such as disk players and personal video recorders to be removably slid into engagement with receptacles in the TV housing, an adapter primary module is provided that is formed with secondary receptacles for receiving secondary modules. The secondary modules have USB ports, Ethernet ports, and memory card slots in a configuration that can be designed by entities other than the TV manufacturer, with the secondary modules having to conform to proprietary licensed interfaces in the adaptor module to ensure a degree of control by the TV manufacturer.

Abstract: In certain implementations, a method of automatically changing an attribute defining operation of a television system involves determining that a plurality of short range radio frequency (RF) transceiver devices have entered RF range of the television system, the television system having a short range RF transceiver compatible with that of the short range RF transceiver device; binding the short range RF transceiver devices to the television set to establish an identity (ID) for the short range RF transceiver devices; determining a priority of each of the plurality of identified short range RF devices; at the television system, looking up a functional attribute associated with the identity having the highest priority; and setting the television parameter according to an attribute associated with a short range RF device having highest priority. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: A television Widget movement method involves providing access to a plurality of Widget programs to a television Widget host processor; receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in a Display mode, display Widget representations on a display; receiving a command from the remote controller that establishes one of the plurality of displayed Widget programs as the Widget program that is currently in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, wherein the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: Control information is exchanged between a component and a remote control device using RFID and then transmitted to a TV using RFID so that the TV can display components to be controlled and/or remote control device buttons and/or functions of remote control device buttons for particular components to be controlled, to train the user.

Abstract: A beacon method for use in a wireless communication network involves populating a beacon frame's channel identification data with accurate data associated with use of a particular channel for wireless communication; populating the beacon frame's network identification data with data including at least one false data element wherein it can be determined if an intruder has attempted to connect to the network by detecting the false data element in the intruder's attempt to connect to the network, where the beacon network identification data are intended to identify the network using the particular channel; storing the beacon frame in a computer readable storage medium; and transmitting the beacon frame over a channel to be reserved. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An example television Widget movement method involves receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in Display mode, display Widget representations on a display; receiving a command from the remote controller that establishes one of the plurality of displayed Widget programs as being in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, where the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode, wherein when the Widget is in Move Mode, the Widget representation is responsive to navigation commands from the remote controller to move about the display, and wherein such movement is animated using a 3 dimensional graphics engine. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television Widget movement method involves providing access to a plurality of Widget programs to a television Widget host processor; receiving a dedicated command from a remote controller that activates the plurality of Widget programs, wherein the Widget programs, when in a Display mode, display Widget representations on a display; receiving a command from the remote controller that establishes one of the plurality of displayed Widget programs as the Widget program that is currently in focus; and receiving a command from the remote controller that places the Widget program that is currently in focus in a Move Mode, wherein the Widget representation can be moved about the display while in Move Mode. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An Internet-enabled TV can display thumbnails of audio-video content available from an Internet server for selecting content to be displayed on the TV by a user manipulating a remote control. Internet information loading rules and thumbnail navigation rules are disclosed.

Abstract: In certain implementations, a method of automatically changing an attribute defining operation of a television system involves determining that a plurality of short range radio frequency (RF) transceiver devices have entered RF range of the television system, the television system having a short range RF transceiver compatible with that of the short range RF transceiver device; binding the short range RF transceiver devices to the television set to establish an identity (ID) for the short range RF transceiver devices; determining a priority of each of the plurality of identified short range RF devices; at the television system, looking up a functional attribute associated with the identity having the highest priority; and setting the television parameter according to an attribute associated with a short range RF device having highest priority. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A wireless home entertainment system consistent with certain embodiments has at least one server having at least one manipulable authentication element thereon, wherein the manipulable authentication element is not a general purpose data entry element. At least one component is in wireless communication with the server. A User Interface is used for selecting an authenticated component to be de-authenticated. A person can cause the server to regard an authenticated component as being de-authenticated by manipulating the authentication element while a component to be de-authenticated is selected using the user interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.