Abstract: A common communication language that can address all the applications running in a multitude of set top boxes (STBs) or client devices and application servers. The present invention, DATP protocol encapsulates a Meta language that provides a generic portable communication application programmer interface that requires light processor utilization and is well suited for a typical STB possessing limited processing power. DATP requires relatively few processing cycles compared to typical Internet communication protocols. DATP reduces the overhead of the communication protocol handler at the STB and makes the communication protocol handler common for all STBs applications. The preferred DATP protocol is portable for all STBs since it is written in a native language that interfaces with the underlying operating system of the STB. A SGW (SGW) performs as a DATP server. The SGW translates between DATP messages and standard communication protocols.

Abstract: A service gateway provides a proxy between a client protocol and a plurality of standard communication protocols. The service gateway provides asymmetrical routing, data compression and encryption to optimize client processing power and communication link bandwidth. The service gateway enables content translation between clients and service providers. The service gateway keeps track of client available memory and sequence numbers in messages to generate error codes when applicable. A store and forward message capability is provided along with abstract session identifiers. The service gateway supports user datagram protocol.

Abstract: A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes.

Abstract: A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes.

Abstract: A service gateway provides a proxy between a client protocol and a plurality of standard communication protocols. The service gateway provides asymmetrical routing, data compression and encryption to optimize client processing power and communication link bandwidth. The service gateway enables content translation between clients and service providers. The service gateway keeps track of client available memory and sequence numbers in messages to generate error codes when applicable. A store and forward message capability is provided along with abstract session identifiers. The service gateway supports user datagram protocol.

Abstract: A service gateway provides a proxy between a client protocol and a plurality of standard communication protocols. The service gateway provides asymmetrical routing, data compression and encryption to optimize client processing power and communication link bandwidth. The service gateway enables content translation between clients and service providers. The service gateway keeps track of client available memory and sequence numbers in messages to generate error codes when applicable. A store and forward message capability is provided along with abstract session identifiers. The service gateway supports user datagram protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described to reduce delay when changing channels in a television environment. The method may comprise receiving a plurality of television channels from a remote content provider wherein each channel includes channel information used to display the channel. At least one channel of the plurality of channels may be identified as a stored channel and channel information of the at least one stored channel may be stored in storage (e.g. in a circular buffer). Thereafter, upon selection of the stored channel, the stored channel information is accessed for display. In an example embodiment, the storage may be updated to maintain a most recently received I-frame and subsequent MPEG signals of the stored channel. Accordingly, when changing channels it may not be necessary to wait for the next I-frame to display a newly selected channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method enable multicasting a reply to a request for a module to a plurality of receivers on an interactive television network. Requests for multiple modules are packaged into a single request to be transmitted to a broadcast service provider. A request is multicast to a plurality of receivers on the interactive television network and the response to the request is multicast to the plurality of receivers. A user device determines whether to request a module by accessing a list of modules to be multicast by the broadcast service provider within a specific time period. The user device determines whether to perform an action upon accessing a directory listing modules present in a carousel of a broadcast service provider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described to reduce delay when changing channels in a television environment. The method may comprise receiving a plurality of television channels from a remote content provider wherein each channel includes channel information required to display the channel. At least one channel of the plurality of channels may be identified as a stored channel and channel information of the at least one stored channel may be stored in storage (e.g. in a circular buffer). Thereafter, upon selection of the stored channel, the stored channel information is accessed for display. In an example embodiment, the storage may be updated to maintain a most recently received I-frame and subsequent MPEG signals of the stored channel. Accordingly, when changing channels it may not be necessary to wait for the next I-frame to display a newly selected channel.

Abstract: A common communication language that can address all the applications running in a multitude of set top boxes (STBs) or client devices and application servers. The present invention, DATP protocol encapsulates a meta language that provides a generic portable communication application programmer interface that requires light processor utilization and is well-suited for a typical STB possessing limited processing power. DATP requires relatively few processing cycles compared to typical Internet communication protocols. DATP reduces the overhead of the communication protocol handler at the STB and makes the communication protocol handler common for all STBs applications. The preferred DATP protocol is portable for all STBs since it is written in a native language that interfaces with the underlying operating system of the STB. A SGW (SGW) performs as a DATP server. The SGW translates between DATP messages and standard communication protocols.

Abstract: A method for recording pushed interactive data streams of a program. A pushed data stream is broadcast to a receiving station. The data stream includes one or more data objects. The data stream may also reference to live data objects which are intended for immediate consumption and become obsolete thereafter. The data stream may include a file table and object properties corresponding to the data objects. When the data stream is received by the receiving station, the individual data objects are extracted from the data stream. The data objects, accompanying object properties and the file table are then stored on a storage device. Data objects which are external to the data stream or to the program (e.g., data objects from other carousels) are retrieved and are also stored. Live data objects are not stored, but references to these data objects are stored, so that when the program is replayed, current versions of the referenced live data objects can be used.

Abstract: A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes.

Abstract: A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes.

Abstract: A system and method for reprogramming a device using programming data that is transmitted over a broadcast network. In one embodiment, a smart toy works cooperatively with an interactive television system to provide an easy-to-use means for reprogramming the toy. The interactive television system has a broadcast station that transmits a carousel of data modules over a unidirectional broadcast link to a group of receiving stations. A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in the receiving station and a corresponding transceiver in the toy provide a bidirectional communications link communicates over which the data modules are transmitted from the receiving station to the toy. The data modules (e.g., data files or application code) are used to reprogram the smart toy. Particular ones of the data modules are selected, either manually or by filtering them according to user preferences, and the toy is reprogrammed with the selected modules.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing user profiles in an interactive television system. An interactive television system includes a broadcast station, a set-top box, and a remote mobile or fixed unit. The system is configured to create and/or update a user profile in response to an access made in a first access mode. In response to detecting a user access in a second access mode, the system accesses the user profile, selects data based at least in part on the user profile, and transmits the data to the user.

Abstract: A system and method implemented in an interactive television system for selectively controlling the verification of interactive television content delivered to a receiver wherein a notification is provided to the receiver to identify content which can be trusted and, when trusted content is delivered to the receiver, verification procedures on the trusted content are inhibited. The notification may be delivered prior to or with the trusted content, and it may be delivered via the same transmission means as the content or by some separate delivery means. The notification may identify the trusted content positively or negatively and may use wildcards in the identification. The trusted content may be identified by its source (e.g., a trusted channel) or by reference to the content itself. The notification may contain an expiration time beyond which is no longer valid.

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 configuring a receiver as a proxy to transcode data and provide for intercommunication among secondary devices. In one embodiment, a proxy receiver in a viewer's home is configured to perform transcoding and other processing to enable use of services by secondary devices which would otherwise not be able to utilize such services. In addition, the proxy receiver may be configured to provide communication between devices which would otherwise not be able to communicate with one another. In one embodiment, the proxy receiver includes a receiver configured to receive programming signals, an I/O interface configured to communicate with a secondary device, and a transcode subsystem. The transcode subsystem is configured to detect received data, determine a target secondary device of the received data, determine a target data format corresponding to the target secondary device, and initiate transcoding of the received data to the target data format.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for recreating particular data at a remote location within a television system. While watching television, a viewer tags a particular television program which is deemed of interest. The viewer then generates a message including an edit list which identifies the tagged program material and conveys the message to a remote location. The message is received at the remote location by a receiving device. The receiving device is configured to then capture and record the identified program material in response to processing the message. Capture of the identified program material may begin immediately, or may be scheduled for a later time. The receiving device is configured to either determine when the identified program material will next be broadcast, or may be configured to generate a request for the program material from a remote content server. The message may identify a single program, or multiple program selections taken from one or more programs.

Abstract: A system and method for the simultaneous transmission and rendition of multiple encoded digital video signal streams in an interactive television application are disclosed. Simultaneous transmission and rendition of multiple encoded digital video signal streams in an interactive television application generally comprises modifying at least one of the multiple encoded video streams broadcast from a broadcast center for repositioning the at least one of the multiple encoded video stream for display, interleaving the modified multiple encoded video streams comprising the at least one modified encoded video stream into a single composite interleaved video stream, and outputting the single composite video stream. The method may further comprise receiving the multiple encoded video streams from a broadcast center. Each of the multiple encoded video streams is preferably encoded using MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression technology.