Abstract: A method for loading a user interface in a television system comprising a decoder and a removable smart card cooperating with the decoder, the decoder comprising a main user interface, the method comprising the steps of loading and storing by the decoder of the totality of a user interface module stored-on the smart card, the user interface module comprising data structures making reference to information destined to a user, the information being stored on the smart card, establishing by the decoder a relation between the main user interface and the stored user interface module in order to enable access by a user to the user interface module, and subsequently exchanging between the decoder and the smart card parts of the information upon commands issued by the user through the user interface module.

Abstract: The program-for-cache determining unit 107 counts the number of contents (a corresponding contents number) that are to use reproduction programs, for each reproduction program transmitted over each channel during the current service period and onward up to the last service period shown in the broadcast information, and determines a reproduction program that has the highest corresponding contents number, as the one to be cached. The program-for-cache determining unit 107 also determines the service period and channel during and over which the determined reproduction program is to be cached.

Abstract: A device for generating audiovisual display signals, including a first input terminal receiving content signals representative of an audiovisual event, the signals including insertion points indicating the output of an advertisement, a second input terminal receiving ad signals representative of an advertisement, a first buffer storing the ad signals, and a processor converting the content signals into display signals of the event and converting ad signals stored in the first buffer into display signals of an advertisement upon detection of an insertion point.

Abstract: A method and device for remote access of power control system of a set-top box allowing for a cable or satellite operator to activate the main power supply of a cable box from a remote location. An externally generated signal is received at the set-top box in standby mode. In one embodiment, if the externally generated signal requires decoding, the externally generated signal is then decoded to determine whether it is for activating the main power supply. If the externally generated signal is for activating said main power supply, the main power supply is activated, placing the set-top box in active mode. Activating the main power supply operates to provide power to the main circuitry. In one embodiment, once the main circuitry is provided with power, the set-top box can receive externally generated information, such as program information and emergency alerts.

Abstract: A software system for use with a Digital Television set-top box. The system uses a software bus application programming interface (API) that is specially designed to make the set-top box compatible with two standard DASE architectures: (1) the architecture wherein the procedural application engine contains the declarative application engine, and (2) the architecture wherein the declarative application engine contains the procedural. An application engine manager uses a function call router to intercept all DASE infrastructure APIs incoming from software applications downloaded by the set-top box from a DTV broadcast. All APIs are routed through the application manager, and all application engines are required to implement the software bus API. A specially-designed software interface also enables the convenient installation of additional applications by simply changing one line of software code.

Abstract: A system and method implemented in an interactive television system for managing modules of interactive television applications. The system transmits modules from a broadcast station to a plurality of receiving stations through various paths, such as broadcast channels and modem channels. The receiving stations have module managers which store module requests and which monitor the various channels for modules corresponding to the requests. When modules are transmitted on the monitored channels, they are matched with the corresponding stored requests. If a module matches one of the requests, or if is an auto-loading module, it is stored in the receiving station. If a module has not been requested and is not an auto-loading module, it is ignored. The stored modules are added to a list of modules available for execution or for use by an executing application, and the corresponding requests are deleted.

Abstract: A converter terminal is configured, for example, to receive and descramble premium cable television channels or to receive data services over the cable network. The converter terminal is configured by transmitting an abbreviated set of configuration data on an out-of-band control channel. This abbreviated set of configuration information includes an instruction to tune the terminal to a higher-bandwidth in-band data channel, which is used to transmit the remainder of the configuration data. With a substantial amount of the configuration information transmitted using a faster connection, configuration can be achieved in less time. In addition, the larger bandwidth facilitates the transmission of multiple sets of configuration information corresponding to different models of cable television converter terminals.

Abstract: A system for distributing digital data over a video channel to a plurality of remotely located client terminals. The system involves selecting a set of digital data to be distributed and converting it to an intermediate format compatible with video broadcast. The intermediate data is then broadcast over a video channel during a time when no video content is being transmitted so that the intermediate format data takes the place of the video content. The intermediate format data is received at a remotely located client terminal where the set of digital data is recovered.

Abstract: A broadcast data receiver (BDR) is provided and a method of using the BDR for the production of a pseudo stable reference control for the reliable generation of composite video signals. The BDR receives video, audio and/or auxiliary data from a broadcaster can stored a part of all of the data in storage means, typically in the form of a hard disk drive. When the BDR is deriving video data from the hard disk due to the BDR being disconnected from the signal feed from the broadcaster, the BDR uses a pseudo stable reference produced by deriving one or more values from stable frequency information embedded in incoming data. The pseudo stable reference is used to control the frequency of a VCXO in the BDR, thereby allowing accurate color sub-carrier frequency generation for the generation of a final video output.

Abstract: A program reception apparatus is provided. A first receiving unit receives a program sent via a first transmission path to a receiver group made up of a plurality of program reception apparatuses. A second receiving unit receives a program sent via a second transmission path different with the first transmission path to a part of the receiver group. A controlling unit controls so that one of the first and second receiving unit receives a program at one time. When the program received under the control of the controlling unit is accompanied with switch information for specifying a program to be received by the other receiving unit, an extracting unit extracts the switch information. When the switch information is extracted by the extracting unit, a switching unit switches reception to the program specified by the switch information.

Abstract: A data receiving apparatus comprises a receiving unit which receives data, a storage unit which stores received data, and a CPU which secures in the storage unit an exclusive memory area exclusively usable by a service provider or a broadcasting provider.

Abstract: A television receiver includes an LCD unit and an EEPROM in which broadcasting program selection information for controlling a tuner section and channel numbers are stored in a coordinated relationship and program-relating information for executing object processing programs and the channel numbers are stored in a coordinated relationship. A control section accepts a selective input of a channel number from a user through a key operation section and reads out information corresponding to the accepted channel number from the EEPROM. When the read out information is the broadcasting program selection information, the tuner section is controlled based on the information, but when the readout information is the program-relating information, a program corresponding to the program-relating information is executed.

Abstract: A multimedia device whose functions can be extended and a method for extending functions are provided. The multimedia device has a backplane unit having a plurality of connectors provided thereon, each of the connectors having a predetermined signal standard; a main board unit, which is plugged into a connector of the backplane unit, for processing an MPEG transport stream input from an extension board into a predetermined signal form, and selecting an extension board; and an extension board, which is attachable to any one of the connectors of the backplane, excluding the connector into which the main board unit is plugged, for transmitting an MPEG transport stream processed by an independent module to the main board unit when selected by the main board unit.

Abstract: A receiver, such as that used in broadcasting, is provided with a simplified structure for storing and updating the receiver's control program and for preventing a loss of the control program because of a power outage during such updating. The structure includes a first storage means comprising an erasable, non-volatile memory and a second storage means comprising a volatile memory. The control program is stored in the first storage means and is executed to download and store a second program in the second storage means. The second program then is executed to download and store an updated version of the control program in the first storage means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus of providing supplementary service information for A/V contents written in a recording medium. This method has a recording medium containing Presentation Language data, which have to be included like as in a digital television signal for supplementary service information in accordance with Advanced TV Enhancement Forum or Digital TV Application Software Environment standard, and reproduces, if a disk reproduction is requested, the Presentation Language data as well as requested A/V data and provides them for a connected external device such as a digital television. As a result, various video information and functions provided with Presentation Language data by a recording medium can be realized at a digital television set being able to accept Presentation Language data.

Abstract: Primary content data is received from an external source and subsidiary data is obtained which corresponds to the primary content data, wherein the subsidiary data is independent of the primary content data. The subsidiary data is provided synchronous to the primary content data.

Abstract: A data receiving-processing apparatus including a receiver for receiving an extended function program or data transmitted thereto, a processor for processing the received data, a first storage such as a read-only memory for storing a basic program used to execute the data processing and an ID code to identify the apparatus and having a branch for the extended function program, a second storage such as a nonvolatile memory for storing the extended function program in a compressed state, a third storage such as a volatile memory for storing the extended function program in an decompressed state, and a decision maker for making a decision as to whether the ID code has predetermined content. The received data is processed in accordance with the basic program stored in the first storage and, after the extended function program stored in the second storage is read out at the branch in the basic program, the data is processed in accordance with the extended function program.

Abstract: An ON-timer channel setting apparatus of a digital broadcast receiver in which a user sets an ON-timer channel and a TV receiver is turned on at a pre-set time, includes: a tuner for tuning a received signal through an antenna; a TP demux unit for separating the signal tuned by the tuner into an audio, a video and a data signals and outputting the same; an A/V decoding unit for converting the signal received from the TP demux unit into an audio and a video signals; a display unit for displaying the audio and the video signals outputted from the A/V decoding unit on a screen; and a controlling unit for parsing the data signal received from the TP demux comparing and controlling the detected data information and the channel information set by a user, and outputting data information of an active channel in a form suitable to be displayed to the display unit.

Abstract: A data transmitting method comprising the steps of generating parameter setting data for various items of hardware, embedding the parameter setting data into a control code and transmitting that control code. The parameter setting data sets parameters for a plurality of hardware versions and includes parameter setting data common to at least first and second hardware versions, parameter setting data limited to a first hardware version, and parameter setting data limited to a second hardware version. Thus, the first version of hardware utilizes parameter setting data intended for it while the second version of hardware utilizes parameter setting data intended for it.

Abstract: A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for transmitting a video signal and picture correction information therefor via a satelite or like transmission system. Mechanisms for, receiving a transmitted video signal and correction information and for processing a received video signal based on the correction information before display are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system whereby a user-configurable universal remote control has its device library, that is the code data needed to operate various electronics devices, supplied separately from a releasable readable media storage device, such as a Smart Card. The universal remote control is built with a reader slot into which the customer can insert separately purchased Smart Cards to configure the remote control for exactly those electronic devices he/she wishes to control. A signal transmitting system, such as for example a cable television operator, which provides services to a number of individual receiver sets, and wherein the sets each include an associated remote control unit, the method of controlling the functions and operation of each set with relation to said system by utilizing a Smart Card which cooperates with the remote control unit to selectively control, enable and disable the functions, options and/or equipment of the individual subscriber.