Abstract: A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited

Abstract: A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited

Abstract: A method for examining an electronic representation of an item for a watermark, the method including examining at least a first electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with a first watermark definition, receiving a signal indicating that a second watermark definition is to be used for examining electronic representations, and examining at least a second electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with the second watermark definition. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A viewer response method for use with an interactive telecommunications system. The viewer response method includes accumulating a user interaction history of a user of the system, the user interaction history including user interaction information associated with a plurality of user interaction events and providing user-sensible feedback, based at least in part on the user interaction history.

Abstract: Authenticating a communication device utilizing a slim tag comprising fewer elements than an ordinary authentication tag. The slim authentication tag utilizes at least one of the components of its host communication device in order to establish a communication session with a second communication device. The second communication device may communicate with an authentication server for authenticating the host communication device.

Abstract: A subscriber unit for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information from said television network, an icon-based guide generator for producing a program guide including an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide, the icon-based hierarchical program guide including a plurality of hierarchically-arranged screens each including at least one icon. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited

Abstract: A method for examining an electronic representation of an item for a watermark, the method including examining at least a first electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with a first watermark definition, receiving a signal indicating that a second watermark definition is to be used for examining electronic representations, and examining at least a second electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with the second watermark definition. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user, receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited

Abstract: A method for examining an electronic representation of an item for a watermark, the method including examining at least a first electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with a first watermark definition, receiving a signal indicating that a second watermark definition is to be used for examining electronic representations, and examining at least a second electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with the second watermark definition. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: This invention discloses an entertainment system for providing entertainment to a user thereof, the system including an entertainment source (110), for providing entertainment in a distributable form, entertainment apparatus (110), for distributing the entertainment and a plurality of entertainment delivery units (100), each entertainment delivery unit including receiving apparatus for receiving the entertainment from the entertainment source via the entertainment distribution apparatus. Such that at least one of the plurality of entertainment delivery units includes personalization apparatus (130), adapted to receive a removable personalization element (140), including personalization information, and at least one of the plurality of enter.

Abstract: This invention discloses an entertainment system for providing entertainment to a user thereof, the system including an entertainment source for providing entertainment in a distributable form, entertainment distribution apparatus for distributing the entertainment and a plurality of entertainment delivery units, each entertainment delivery unit including receiving apparatus for receiving the entertainment from the entertainment source via the entertainment distribution apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of entertainment delivery units includes personalization apparatus adapted to receive a removable personalization element including personalization information, and the at least one of the plurality of entertainment units personalizes the entertainment based on the personalization information, and the personalization information includes at least one of the following: entertainment preference information; gaming information; and telecommunications information.

Abstract: A method for examining an electronic representation of an item for a watermark, the method including examining at least a first electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with a first watermark definition, receiving a signal indicating that a second watermark definition is to be used for examining electronic representations, and examining at least a second electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with the second watermark definition. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method for examining an electronic representation of an item for a watermark, the method including examining at least a first electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with a first watermark definition, receiving a signal indicating that a second watermark definition is to be used for examining electronic representations, and examining at least a second electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with the second watermark definition. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A viewer response method for use with an interactive telecommunications system. The viewer response method includes accumulating a user interaction history of a user of the system, the user interaction history including user interaction information associated with a plurality of user interaction events and providing user-sensible feedback, based at least in part on the user interaction history.

Abstract: A subscriber unit for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information from said television network, an icon-based guide generator for producing a program guide including an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide, the icon-based hierarchical program guide including a plurality of hierarchically-arranged screens each including at least one icon. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A viewer response method for use with an interactive telecommunications system. The viewer response method includes accumulating a user interaction history of a user of the system, the user interaction history including user interaction information associated with a plurality of user interaction events and providing user-sensible feedback, based at least in part on the user interaction history.

Abstract: A subscriber unit for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information, a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer, an intelligent agent for customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide including customized program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

Abstract: In a digital television recording method, programs are selected for recording based on analysis of program schedule information, user preferences, and the priority of previously recorded programs if there is insufficient memory.

Abstract: This invention discloses a symbol-display subscriber unit for use with a broadcast system, the broadcast system including a headend and a network operative to transmit a composite signal from the headend to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the composite sigincluding an encoded broadcast signal encoded in accordance with a plurality of control words (CWs) and a plurality of encryption control messages (ECMs), each of the plurality of ECMs being associated respectively with one of the plurality of CWs and including CW generating information, the multiplicity of subscriber units including at least one said symbol-display subscriber unit, said symbol-display subscriber unit including: a receiver receiving the composite signal from the network, security apparatus in operative engagement with the receiver, the security apparatus receiving each of the plurality of ECMs from the receiver and generating the associated CW from the CW generating information comprised within each said ECM.