Abstract: A switched digital video (SDV) system and method that provides a seamless transition when tuning a set-top box from a first SDV service to a second SDV service. The method detects a set up service trigger in a content stream before a tune request time to transition the content stream from the first SDV service to the second SDV service, and sends a request to set up the second SDV service at a time before the tune request time, where a time difference between the time and the tune request time is greater than a service set up time for the second SDV service. The method detects a tune request in the content stream for the second SDV service, sends a service select request to tune to the second SDV service, and receives the second SDV service at the tune request time.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing targeted advertisements in a switched digital video system. The method monitors a content stream associated with a channel selected by a subscriber, where the content stream includes an advertisement segment having a start time and an end time, and an advertisement replacement opportunity inserted in the content stream. The method detects the advertisement replacement opportunity at a detection time that is prior to the start time of the advertisement segment, and sends a request to select an advertisement replacement for the advertisement segment, thereby broadcasting a service associated with the advertisement replacement prior to the start time for the advertisement segment. The method receives tune data to identify an advertisement replacement stream associated with the advertisement replacement, and tunes to the advertisement replacement at the start time for the advertisement segment.

Abstract: A method and system for managing information using a gateway (130) is disclosed. The network includes a gateway (130) and at least one wireless device (110, 115). The method includes (304) downloading information from a predefined source to a gateway via a broadband link in response to a real time request received from a wireless device. Further, the method includes (306) storing the information within the gateway. Moreover, the method includes (308) transmitting the stored information from the gateway to the wireless device.

Abstract: A method and system that computes viewing statistics for a digital video content stream received at a set-top box. The digital video content stream includes a first segment of video content, a second segment of video content, a third segment of video content, a first timing mark that indicates a transition from the first segment to the second segment, and a second timing mark that indicates a transition from the second segment to the third segment. The method initiates a transmission of the digital video content stream at the set-top box, monitors the transmission of the digital video content stream relative to the first timing mark and the second timing mark, and computes view data for the second segment based on the monitoring of the transmission. The method stores the view data at the set-top box.

Abstract: A device is provided for use with extended content data on a first data stream and second content data on a second data stream. The device includes a processing portion, an acquisition portion and a buffer. The acquisition portion is in communication with the processing portion. The acquisition portion can acquire the first data stream, can transition to the second data stream to receive the second content data and can provide the second content data to the processing portion. The buffer can receive the extended content data. The processing portion can instruct the acquisition portion to transition from the first data stream to the second data stream to receive the second content data. The buffer can further provide the extended content data to the processing portion based on the acquisition portion transitioning from the first data stream to the second data stream. The processing portion can further process the extended content data portion as received from the buffer.

Abstract: A method and system for managing information using a gateway (130) is disclosed. The network includes a gateway (130) and at least one wireless device (110, 115). The method includes (304) downloading information from a predefined source to a gateway via a broadband link in response to a real time request received from a wireless device. Further, the method includes (306) storing the information within the gateway. Moreover, the method includes (308) transmitting the stored information from the gateway to the wireless device.

Abstract: A set top box includes a tuner for receiving a switched digital video (SDV) stream from an SDV source, in which the SDV stream contains content and a default advertisement. The set top box also includes a memory for storing the SDV stream and a controller for generating and outputting an ad catalog to at least one of an ad server and an SDV manager, in which the ad catalog contains information useable by the ad server in identifying one or more alternative advertisements to be played by the set top box during play of the SDV stream in place of the default advertisement, and in which the controller is configured to receive the one or more alternative advertisements and to replace the default advertisement in the SDV stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for recording a program. The method includes storing, in response to a use request, at least one content file that includes first and second program segments that are spliced to form a single program. At least one index file is created and stored. The file index includes program specific information associated with the first and second program segments. The index file also includes an identification of a splice point denoting a transition between the first and second program segments. In addition, a splice index is created and stored. The splice index includes timing information specifying a time at which the splice point occurs.

Abstract: A device (10) and method for converting display information between graphics scales, e.g., between a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The method includes arcuately converting at least a portion of at least one dimension of display information between an arcuate format and a chordal or subtense format by scaling display information between the length of an arc length of a curve having a first endpoint and a second endpoint and a linear line segment of the arc length of the curve from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. For example, for a circular curve, arcuate conversion occurs between the length of an arc having a first endpoint and a second endpoint and the length of the chord or subtense of the arc from the first endpoint to the second endpoint.

Abstract: A method (30) and apparatus (10) for scaling selected areas of a graphics display. The method (30) includes removing distortion-sensitive information from the graphics display, scaling or converting the format of the distortion-nonsensitive information, such as from one aspect ratio to another, and then compositing the removed distortion-sensitive information with the scaled distortion-sensitive information. Alternatively, the removed distortion-sensitive is scaled, distortion-free, before combining it with the scaled distortion-nonsensitive information. The apparatus (10) uses a recognition comparator (16) to identify distortion-sensitive information, a graphics remover (18) to remove the distortion-sensitive information, a first scaler (22) to scale the distortion-nonsensitive information, a second scaler to provide distortion-free scaling of the distortion-sensitive information, and a compositer (26) to combine the distortion-sensitive information with the scaled distortion-nonsensitive information.

Abstract: A set top terminal is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving (i) switched digital video (SDV) programs over a broadband access network, at least one of the SDV programs including a primary advertisement and (ii) a plurality of alternative advertisements that are each substitutable for the primary advertisement. The set top terminal also includes a processor operationally associated with the receiver/tuner. The processor is configured to selectively cause a first of the alternative advertisements to be rendered instead of the primary advertisement when the first alternative advertisement better matches a prescribed condition than the primary advertisement.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium are disclosed that allow a set top box to receive control messages transmitted using multicasting. The set top box is programmed with either an address or a URL that it uses to obtain the control messages directly, or obtain other messages that carry the multicast address. In other implementations, a specialized offer message is transmitted to the set top box in response to a discover message. Embedded within the specialized offer message is the multicast address being used to multicast the control messages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for scaling graphics images using multiple graphics pages or surfaces. The method includes separating an input graphics page into one or more distortion-nonsensitive video page portions and one or more distortion-sensitive video page portions, scaling the distortion-nonsensitive pages using a first scaling algorithm, scaling the distortion-sensitive page portions using a second (distortion-free) scaling algorithm, and compositing the scaled page portions. The apparatus includes a plurality of scalers to scale the distortion-nonsensitive video page portions using the first scaling algorithm and the distortion-sensitive video page portions using the second, distortion-free scaling algorithm. The apparatus also includes a compositor to combine scaled distortion-nonsensitive and scaled distortion-sensitive video page portions.

Abstract: A method and device for converting graphics display information from a first display format to a second display format using partial scaling and area expansion and fill. The method includes scaling the graphics display information from the first format to an intermediate format that is larger than the first format but smaller than the second format. The method also includes expanding one or more dimensions of the intermediate display format and filling in the expanded areas in a manner that increases the scaled display information to that of the second display format. The device includes a scaler for scaling the display information from the first format to the intermediate format and an extender for increasing the display information from the intermediate display format to the second display format.

Abstract: A set top terminal is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications network and a decoder for decoding the programming content provided by the receiver/tuner. The set top terminal also includes a database capable of storing a plurality of viewer profiles each containing at least one viewer preference associated with a registered viewer. The viewer preference reflects a programming or user configuration preference of the registered viewer. A processor is operationally associated with the receiver/tuner, the decoder, and the database and a user interface operationally associated with the processor. The processor is configured to operate in accordance with each of the viewer profiles.

Abstract: A method (30) and apparatus (10) for scaling selected areas of a graphics display. The method (30) includes removing distortion-sensitive information from the graphics display, scaling or converting the format of the distortion-nonsensitive information, such as from one aspect ratio to another, and then compositing the removed distortion-sensitive information with the scaled distortion-sensitive information. Alternatively, the removed distortion-sensitive is scaled, distortion-free, before combining it with the scaled distortion-nonsensitive information. The apparatus (10) uses a recognition comparator (16) to identify distortion-sensitive information, a graphics remover (18) to remove the distortion-sensitive information, a first scaler (22) to scale the distortion-nonsensitive information, a second scaler to provide distortion-free scaling of the distortion-sensitive information, and a compositer (26) to combine the distortion-sensitive information with the scaled distortion-nonsensitive information.

Abstract: A system (20), method (60) and apparatus (28) for distributing Video-On-Demand (VOD) content to one or more client devices (28). The system (20) has a more distributed network architecture compared to conventional VOD system architectures, which allows VOD content to be delivered to the client devices (28) more efficiently. The system (20) includes a resource management controller (24) coupled to one or more content servers (22) and coupled to a plurality of client devices (28) via a distributed network link (32). The resource management controller (24) controls the delivery of VOD content to a requesting client device (28) from the one or more servers (22) and/or one or more client devices (28) configured as host client devices. Client devices (28) configured as host client devices can not only request video content from servers and other client devices, but also can transmit video content stored therein to other client devices.