Abstract: A command and control architecture for a compressed digital television broadcast studio. The architecture includes provisions for session management, real-time control of studio activities, the use of proxy objects to establish communications with objects not providing a high level of control, control of studio filter devices and stream management. The invention includes an object architecture particularly suited to a digital studio.

Abstract: A headend system includes an apparatus. The apparatus comprises receives a plurality of separate MPEG input streams; merges the plurality of separate input streams, and outputs a merged stream that is capable of being processed by a single PID processor in a television converter apparatus.

Abstract: The invention presents for its viewers a distinctive and unduplicated combination of unique television programming joined directly with related interactive services and features. An improved method and apparatus for programming a television network are disclosed. The method and apparatus enables viewers to watch television programming comprised almost wholly of entertainment scenes, view and navigate information, product, merchandise and premium television services lists, directly purchase these products, merchandise and services which are directly related to the comprised programming. Also detailed is the process of attaching and managing the data which attends the broadcast and interactive services, and any sales to the viewer.

Abstract: A digital broadcast sending/receiving system includes a digital broadcast sending apparatus and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus. The digital broadcast sending apparatus multiplexes the audio data and video data of a broadcast program into the transport stream together with preselection control information which controls preselection information image facilitating program preselection, and sends the transport stream to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. On receiving the transport stream, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus extracts the preselection control information, and reproduces a preselection screen on a display in which the preselection information image is superimposed on the video image of the broadcast program. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives from the viewer specification of a program to be preselected.

Abstract: A method of broadcasting a plurality of media to an unlimited number of subscribers through a digital communications network having a limited bandwidth is disclosed. The method selects a first group of digitized media each divided into a plurality of temporally related frames. The method transmits the plurality of temporally related frames of the first group of digitized media through the digital communications network in a compressed format, wherein the transmission includes a header along with each of the plurality of temporally related frames wherein the header identifies the temporal sequence of the frames. The method retransmits the plurality of temporally related frames of the first group of digitized media through the digital communications network in the compressed format immediately upon completion of the step of transmitting the plurality of temporally related frames of the first group of digitized media.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task has been previously handled.

Abstract: A content distribution system composed of a server device for selecting and distributing video scenes according to a user request, and a terminal device for receiving the video scenes from the server device. The server device stores a plurality of content files. Each content file is composed of a plurality of pieces of scene data together with scene additional information regarding playback of each piece of scene data. The server device selects pieces of scene data matching the user request, reads scene additional information from each content file containing the selected pieces of scene data, generates, based on the read scene additional information, selected-scene additional information, and transmits the selected pieces of scene data in association with the generated selected-scene additional information. The terminal device receives and stores the selected pieces of scene data and the selected-scene additional information.

Abstract: An apparatus in a transmit-side stage in a video distribution system, includes: a video decomposer capable to partition a video stream into a plurality of component video streams; a transmit-side processor pool capable to process the component video streams; a partition compensation circuit capable to generate a partition compensation bit stream for distribution along with the compressed bit streams of the component video streams; a marker stage capable to mark the compressed component video streams prior to storage or distribution to a transmission media; and a selection circuit capable to transmit the component video streams for transmission across the transmission media or for storage in a storage device.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for automating user input in an interactive television system. An interactive application is conveyed concurrently with a broadcast programming stream in an interactive television system to a receiver. The interactive application is configured to provide added content to a television viewer upon a request by the viewer. In order to request the display of the available added content, a viewer may provide an indication that the use of a script is desired. Subsequently, a script corresponding to the interactive application is utilized to provide input to the interactive application in lieu of the viewer actively providing the input necessary to display the added content. In addition, a viewer may configure the receiver to indicate default preferences for the use of scripts. The receiver may then utilize a standardized script to provide input to interactive applications having added content available for viewing.

Abstract: An apparatus in a digital network includes the logic for allocating and assigning packet identifiers (PIDs) to digital packets, such as MPEG packets. The logic can reside in a device that transmits a transport stream or a device that controls a transport stream transmitter. In the preferred embodiment, a session number is associated a program and with an output port of a transport stream transmitter; and the session number is unique for that output port. The logic associates a PID from a set of allocated PIDs with the session number. The set of allocated PID values are PMT_PIDs, which are used for identifying the PMT packets, and the set of PMT_PIDs is scalable. In the preferred embodiment, the logic also associates the PMT_PID to the session number using a predetermined scheme. The apparatus also includes logic for assigning a set of PID values to the elementary streams of a program.

Abstract: A switch apparatus is used in the transmission of a redundant Cable TV (CTV) signal. The redundant CTV signal can be a symmetric split linked redundant CTV signal or an asymmetric split linked redundant CTV signal. The switch apparatus is capable of handling both the symmetric and asymmetric redundant CTV signal where primary channels are split into multiple parts. The asymmetrical splitting of the primary channels is where one part contains more channels than another part. The switch apparatus includes a plurality of switches and a monitor device to detect a failure in the split signal path before the split signals are combined to be transmitted to downstream end-users. Upon detecting a failure, the switches are switched from primary channels to secondary channels by a controller. After the signal is returned, the switches are switched back to the primary channels. A delay timer may be included in the switch apparatus to avoid incidental or temporary signal recovery.

Abstract: A news information content list may be updated dynamically by first altering the content list at a feed station server. More specifically, the content list may be altered by implementing one or more revisions thereto. The content list is comprised of an ordered sequence of stories, with each story being comprised of any one or combination of text elements, metadata, and one or more references to media objects. Next, the revisions implemented to the content list are packaged into a message and transmitted to one or more field stations. These revisions are used in updating copies of the content list at the field stations. Thus, media objects and the like are transmitted only when they are modified, not when they are included or moved in multiple other content lists. A content list at a field station is processed in a similar manner. Specifically, one or more revisions to a content list at a feed station are received via a message at a field station.

Abstract: A television signal distribution device comprises a plurality of downgoing cables (1-4) corresponding to signals received from various satellites (10-40). Signals received by terrestrial transmission (50, T) are added to each of these cables. Digital data signals received from different satellites are converted to a lower frequency in down-converters (DC1-DC5) and together brought to within the range of the terrestrial signals (T). For each group of users there is provided a converter (94) for putting the digital data signals into a customary frequency band which can be used by a standard satellite modem (95).

Abstract: Metadata for a programming event may be generated by receiving descriptive information and timing information for the programming event and analyzing this information to determine category goodness of fit scores for the programming event corresponding to categories of a classification hierarchy. The information is further analyzed to determine keywords associated with the programming event. The category goodness of fit scores and keywords may be stored along with time data and descriptive data for the programming event as metadata for the programming event. Goodness of fit scores may also be generated for the keywords. Related embodiments may pertain to a device implementing such processing. Keyword metadata may be generated using candidate keywords taken from descriptive data associated with the programming event. The candidate key words may be provided individually as inputs to a classification tool configured to generate goodness of fit scores for categories of a classification hierarchy.

Abstract: Metadata for a programming event may be generated through an interactive process. A system may receive data corresponding to a programming event. The data may include descriptive information and timing information. The system may then generate preliminary metadata for the programming event from the received data. The system may provide the preliminary metadata to a system user, and then receive user specified metadata responsive to the preliminary metadata. The preliminary metadata may include one or more of categories of a classification hierarchy, goodness of fit scores associated with the categories, keywords, goodness of fit scores associated with the keywords, and a title. Related embodiments may pertain to a system implementing such methods. Further related embodiments may pertain to methods and systems in which a system user is enabled to approve preliminary metadata provided by the system.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting system capable of causing any of physical channels selected by a broadcaster to be received as one of the channels available to users which is different from the physical channel selected by the broadcaster. For each of programs of each of the channels available to said users, a program information record comprising PSI (program specific information) is stored in a data base. The broadcaster is permitted to include, in the PSI, channel mapping information whose mapping destination is a channel (or a program) to be received instead of the channel for which said program information is intended. The program information records is inserted in broadcast transport streams on schedule and, if necessary, immediately after the broadcaster have included the channel mapping information in the PSI data.

Abstract: An enhanced television system (e.g., ATVEF-based) conveys enhancement data using an in-band, video watermark, channel. The system desirably is implemented using a layered architecture, so that the watermark nature of the communications channel is transparent to other layers that employ the enhancement data. Due to the in-picture nature of the communications channel, systems employing the detailed technology are not subject to some of the compatibility issues that are present with prior art techniques.

Abstract: A video system is comprised of: a) a single supervisor processor, and multiple co-processors which are selectable in number and are coupled via a bus to the single supervisor processor; b) a supervisor memory which is coupled to the supervisor processor and which stores a respective portion of each of several video streams; c) a control program in each co-processor which selectively reads the stored video stream portions from the supervisor memory and sends each video stream portion that is read to a different viewer; and d) a control program for the single supervisor processor, which dynamically updates the stored portion of each video stream in the supervisor memory and which services external requests to change the respective viewers of each video stream. In this video system, the number of co-processors is selectable; the number of video streams which are sent by each co-processor is selectable; and, the number of viewers per stream is selectable.

Abstract: A system that relates annotations captured at an event and continuous signal recordings, such as video recordings, of the event in such as way that once the recordings and annotations are distributed to a remote site, an operator does not have to manually identify the time intervals of individual segments that are identified in the annotations. Prior to distribution to the remote sites, the annotations that are collected for the event are processed to identify a series of time segments, including a time interval of the signal recordings. The time reference for these identified time intervals is based on the signal recordings themselves, for example, being relative to a time reference marks that are introduced into the video recordings before they are distributed to the remote site, or being based on an recorded time signal.

Abstract: Primary and secondary servers are coupled together for furnishing a backed-up video streaming function for outputting a series of video content presentations to a user group. The primary server functions as the primary provider of the video files and the secondary server is arranged to operate as a “hot stand-by” to back-up the primary server. In the event the primary server is disabled, the secondary server takes over for the primary server in furnishing video content in accordance with a common playlist. When the secondary server goes down for any reason, the illustrated methodology effectively re-synchronizes the video content and the video stream of the secondary server with that of the primary server such that the secondary server is enabled to resume the back-up function without interruption of the video file streaming process being carried on by the primary server.

Abstract: A system and method implemented in an interactive television system for scheduling delivery of modules of interactive television applications from a broadcast station to a receiving station. In one embodiment, the system calculates a start time from a predetermined end time and transmission interval for a module. In other embodiments, a transmission interval may be calculated instead of being predetermined, or all of the scheduling information may be explicitly provided to the broadcast station. The module is packetized and transmission of the packets for the module is begun at the corresponding start time. All of the packets except the last packet are transmitted within the transmission interval (i.e., between the start time and the delivery time.) The greater the transmission interval, the greater the flexibility the broadcast station has to schedule delivery of the packets and modules. The last packet is held until the scheduled delivery time and is then transmitted.

Abstract: An interactive television system for selectively retrieving video images or teletext pages from a remote transmitter (1). User requests are communicated to the transmitter through the telephone network (5). The selected images (e.g., teletext pages) are provided with an image address (a personal teletext page number) and transmitted through a broadcast medium (4). A broadcast receiver (6) captures, stores and displays images having a particular address in a further autonomous manner. In order to prevent co-viewers from tracing the image address and thus watching personal information intended for an individual user on their broadcast receivers (3), the image address is modified whenever a new image is transmitted. Prior to transmitting the image, the address is communicated to the individual user through the telephone network and applied (84,61) to the broadcast receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that generates a time-multiplexed channel surfing signal at television head-end sites. The system includes circuitry that receives channel feeds which are analog signals or digitally encoded signals. The channel feeds are segmented and segments from each feed are combined to produce a combined channel feed which is transmitted with the channel feeds.

Abstract: The program guide data collection and delivery device for collecting and delivering program guide data of a plurality of broadcasting stations respectively broadcasting their own programs collects own-station EPG data from a plurality of program guide data transmitting devices respectively corresponding to each of the broadcasting stations, and delivers all-station EPG data to a plurality of program guide data providing devices. By this configuration, the rate of inter-access among the stations is not made high regardless of a frequent modification of EPG data of the broadcasting stations, and the program guide viewers of one station can be provided with the latest EPG data of other stations without changing the individual system configuration, even when there is an increase in the number of broadcasting stations within the whole system.

Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which local information may be distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment. The local information contain information that is directed toward the particular users in a local area. The local information may be displayed automatically by cycling global information and local information.