Abstract: The CATV system (8) according to the invention comprises a primary station (2) and a secondary station (4). The CATV system (8) has a frequency band (12) with a plurality of substantially equally spaced and sized frequency channels (10). The CATV system (8) is arranged for transmitting data signals in at least part of the frequency channels (10) from the primary station (2) to the secondary station (4). The secondary station (4) comprises acquire means for acquiring a frequency channel (10) in which at least part of the data signals are transmitted. The acquire means are arranged for scanning the frequency band (12) in frequency steps which are substantially equal to the size of the frequency channels (10) from a starting frequency until a frequency channel (10) carrying data signals is found. In this way it is possible to acquire a frequency channel (10) relatively fast.

Abstract: User interfaces for a number of services offered by an information distribution system. In one method, first (e.g., interactive program guide) and second (e.g., video-on-demand) applications are provided to support a first and second user interfaces for first and second services, respectively. A control mechanism coordinates the passing of control between the applications. A root application supports communication between the first and second applications and a hardware layer. The control mechanism may be implemented with first and second message queues maintained for the first and second applications, respectively. Control may be passed to an application via a (launch) message provided to the associated message queue. Each application is operable in an active or inactive state. Only one application is typically active at any given moment, and this application processes key inputs at the terminal. The transition between the active and inactive states may be based on occurrence of events.

Abstract: A switched telecommunication access system for providing video data to gateway devices.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for supporting broadband communications services is provided, and more specifically, a broadband communications network interface unit and power source therefor, The broadband communications network interface unit of the present invention permits multiple services being provided to a subscriber to be combined and provided, supported, and controlled collectively by the network interface unit. Moreover, the present invention provides power for the network interface unit that permits lifeline services, such as telephone, to continue even during potential power outages to the system.

Abstract: A system for wireless remote control of a gateway and ordering or invocation of services provided by a headend. The remote control includes a video display and user input device or keyboard and can decompress and display compressed streaming video in some embodiments. Some species of the remote control can act as web browsers, appliance control, TIVO function control, an IP telephony telephone, a cellular telephone and/or an MP3 player. In some embodiments, the gateway and/or headend can implement TIVO-like functions under control from a wireless remote of custom design or implemented on a Personal Digital Assistant.

Abstract: A method of upstream communication over a linear broadband network includes the steps of generating an upstream baseband signal and modulating it onto an upstream wireless radio frequency carrier to produce a first upstream modulated carrier signal. The modulated carrier signal is transmitted wirelessly, received, and demodulated to reproduce the information integrity of the upstream baseband signal. The signal is then modulated onto an upstream linear broadband radio frequency carrier for transmission on the linear broadband network. Advantageously, noise that accumulates at the subscriber premises is removed from the upstream signal prior to presentation of the signal to the upstream path of the linear broadband network. A system for communicating over a linear broadband network includes network access interface devices coupled to the linear broadband network.

Abstract: Most cable television systems in the United States (over 75% as of this application) are structured for one-way only service between the cable headend and the user. With more and more services being introduced that require a two-way connection with the user (e.g. impulse-pay-per-view, home shopping, Internet access), it has become necessary for more and more cable systems to upgrade to a two-way capability at considerable cost and over a fairly long period of time. The typical short-term solution to the lack of two-way capability is to send request backlinks over he user's telephone line. The problem with this solution is that when used, it ties up the telephone line and requires an additional telephone connection to be located near the cable set-top-box or modem. A more practical solution is the hub centered backhaul invention described herein. With this invention, users can operate their cable systems as if they were two-way systems, with all available interactive capabilities available.

Abstract: An authoring system for interactive video has two or more authoring stations for providing authored metadata to be related to a main video data stream and a multiplexer for relating authored metadata from the authoring sources to the main video data stream. The authoring stations annotate created metadata with presentation time stamps (PTS) from the main video stream, and the multiplexer relates the metadata to the main video stream by the PTS signatures. In analog streams PTS may be created and integrated. In some embodiments there may be multiple and cascaded systems, and some sources may be stored sources. Various methods are disclosed for monitoring and compensating time differences among sources to ensure time coordination in end product. In different embodiments transport of metadata to an end user station is provided by Internet streaming, VBI insertion or by Internet downloading.

Abstract: A video graphics system wherein a large quantity of video data is independently and selectively made available to plural video display devices. The large quantity of video data can be contributed to by plural sources of video data of differing formats. Further, the display devices can also be of varying types, each requiring a different input data format. A multi-sourced video distribution element, also referred to as a hub, serves as an interface between one or more sources of video display data and one or more video display devices. One source of data can be identified as a base image, and other sources of data can be utilized for overlay images integrated into the base image. The base image and any integrated overlay images are provided on a pixel bus internal to the hub. The hub can then be configured as an interface to one or more types of video display devices and/or to another hub.

Abstract: Most cable television systems in the United States (over 75% as of this application) are structured for one-way only service between the cable headend and the user. With more and more services being introduced that require a two-way connection with the user (e.g. impulse-pay-per-view, home shopping, Internet access), it has become necessary for more and more cable systems to upgrade to a two-way capability at considerable cost and over a fairly long period of time. The typical short-term solution to the lack of two-way capability is to send request backlinks over he user's telephone line. The problem with this solution is that when used, it ties up the telephone line and requires an additional telephone connection to be located near the cable set-top-box or modem. A more practical solution is the hub centered backhaul invention described herein. With this invention, users can operate their cable systems as if they were two-way systems, with all available interactive capabilities available.

Abstract: A broadcasting service system and a delay broadcasting method in broadcasting service using the broadcasting service system, any of audiovisual systems is connected to a broadcasting set when any audiovisual system request a repeater station to view program contents broadcasted by a broadcast station, and advertisement contents stored in a advertisement contents storage are broadcasted to the audiovisual systems connected to the broadcasting set. An advertisement effect measurer measures an advertisement effect on the basis of a number of the connected audiovisual systems viewing the advertisement contents and a broadcasting time of the advertisement contents and allows the broadcasting set to start of the broadcasting of the program contents to the connected audiovisual systems only when the measured advertisement effect meets a predetermined target advertisement effect.

Abstract: A cable television control apparatus includes a television channel access controller connected at a node of a cable television network between the network and at least one subscriber household. All available cable television channels, including premium channels, can be transmitted by the headend without scrambling. Each access controller receives channel selection signals, such as television tuner local oscillator signals, from within subscriber households. The controller detects the channel selection signal and identifies selected channels. A channel filtering system is tuned in accordance with the detected selection signal to pass only selected channels to subscribers while blocking all other channels.