摘要:
An apparatus for increasing the functionality of a set top converter for use with a program delivery system comprises a circuit card electronically connected to a set top converter. Information and data are passed between the circuit card and the set top converter. The circuit card includes means for generating menus which identify programs and channels, means for sequencing through menus; and means for selecting a program or channel through the generated menus in response to a user command.
摘要:
A telephone call identification is carried out by receiving a telephone signal with a set top terminal, processing the received telephone signal and displaying the processed telephone signal.
摘要:
A novel multiple channel architecture (265) is designed to allow targeted advertising directed to television terminals (220) connected to an operations center (202) or a cable headend (208). Program channels carry television programs. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware (262, 275, 297), databases (301) and processing hardware (285, 293) and software to accomplish these functions. During commercial breaks in the television programs, advertisements, which are also broadcast on the program channel, are displayed. However, additional feeder channels carry alternate advertising that may be better suited for certain viewing audiences. The operations center (202) or the cable headend (208) generate a group assignment plan (293, 299) that assigns the television terminals (220) to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A switching plan (291) is then generated that instructs the television terminals (220) to remain with the program channel or to switch to one of the altemate feeder channels during the program breaks. The television terminals (220) record which channels were viewed during the program breaks, and report this information to the cable headend (208) and the operations center (202). The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits.
摘要:
An apparatus for increasing the functionality of a set top converter for use with a program delivery system comprises a circuit card electronically connected to a set top converter. Information and data are passed between the circuit card and the set top converter. The circuit card includes means for generating menus which identify programs and channels, means for sequencing through menus; and means for selecting a program or channel through the generated menus in response to a user command.
摘要:
A novel advanced set top terminal capable of digital decompression, displaying picture-on-picture, outputting multiple video channels, outputting multiple audio signals, outputting multiple audio channels corresponding to a single video channel, and other advanced functional capabilities for use in a television program delivery system is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for upgrading existing set top terminals to provide these advanced functional capabilities. The invention is particularly useful in television program delivery systems providing advanced functional capabilities using a set of hardware upgrades and/or an expansion card. Specifically, the invention is an ungradable system that supports displaying picture-on-picture, multiple video channels, multiple audio signals and multiple audio signals corresponding to a single video channel, among other features and capabilities through the use of internal software, hardware upgrades, an upgrade module and/or expansion cards. The upgraded hardware generally includes microprocessors, various output ports, tuners, demodulators, demultiplexors, decryptors and memory.
摘要:
An apparatus for increasing the functionality of a set top converter for use with a program delivery system comprises a circuit card electronically connected to a set top converter. Information and data are passed between the circuit card and the set top converter. The circuit card includes means for generating menus which identify programs and channels, means for sequencing through menus; and means for selecting a program or channel through the generated menus in response to a user command.
摘要:
The present invention is an operations center 202 that organizes and packages television programs for transmission in a television delivery system 200 . The center is capable of receiving, storing, packaging and delivering countless programs in various signal formats. The center's primary components are a receiver 300, system controller 312, video storage 308 , computer assisted packaging system 316 , and ouptut equipment 320 . The components can receive, convert, store, select, retrieve, encode and otherwise process multiple program signals, gather program identities of analog and/or digital programs, generate menus, package programs efficiently based on subscriber needs and the available bandwidth, and output packaged program products to multiple remote sites 208 . To perform these functions, the CAP 316 creates program lineups, menus, instructions on the packaging of programs, and/or allocates available bandwith. In the preferred embodiment, the packages program products contain programs, control information, and menus.
摘要:
The present invention is an operations center 202 that organizes and packages television programs for transmission in a television delivery system 200 . The center is capable of receiving, storing, packaging and delivering countless programs in various signal formats. The center's primary components are a receiver 300, system controller 312, video storage 308 , computer assisted packaging system 316 , and ouptut equipment 320 . The components can receive, convert, store, select, retrieve, encode and otherwise process multiple program signals, gather program identities of analog and/or digital programs, generate menus, package programs efficiently based on subscriber needs and the available bandwidth, and output packaged program products to multiple remote sites 208 . To perform these functions, the CAP 316 creates program lineups, menus, instructions on the packaging of programs, and/or allocates available bandwith. In the preferred embodiment, the packages program products contain programs, control information, and menus.
摘要:
A novel advanced set top terminal capable of digital decompression, displaying picture-on-picture, outputting multiple video channels, outputting multiple audio signals, outputting multiple audio channels corresponding to a single video channel, and other advanced functional capabilities for use in a television program delivery system is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for upgrading existing set top terminals to provide these advanced functional capabilities. The invention is particularly useful in television program delivery systems providing advanced functional capabilities using a set of hardware upgrades and/or an expansion card. Specifically, the invention is an ungradable system that supports displaying picture-on-picture, multiple video channels, multiple audio signals and multiple audio signals corresponding to a single video channel, among other features and capabilities through the use of internal software, hardware upgrades, an upgrade module and/or expansion cards. The upgraded hardware generally includes microprocessors, various output ports, tuners, demodulators, demultiplexors, decryptors and memory.
摘要:
An apparatus for increasing the functionality of a set top converter for use with a program delivery system comprises a circuit card electronically connected to a set top converter. Information and data are passed between the circuit card and the set top converter. The circuit card includes means for generating menus which identify programs and channels, means for sequencing through menus; and means for selecting a program or channel through the generated menus in response to a user command.