The Directv Group, Inc.

Directv, LLC

Brian D Jupin

Jorge H Guzman

Sean S Lee

Scott D Casavant

Stephen P Dulac

Drew T Chen

Linh H Nguyen

A system and method of entering a low power mode includes an external tuner module having a first external tuner and a receiving device having a first receiving tuner. The receiving device has a controller determining an unused tuner from one of the first external tuner or first receiving tuner and controls entering a low power mode at the unused tuner.

Method and system for controlling a low power mode for external devices

A system and method for abstracting an external device from a host includes the external device in communication with the host device. The host device includes an abstraction driver communicating with the plurality of different external devices. The host device communicates a control command to the abstraction driver. The abstraction driver communicates abstraction control commands from the abstraction driver to the external device in response to the control command. The external device determines executable code corresponding to the abstraction control commands, performs executable code at the external device and communicates data from the external device to the receiving device.

Method and system for abstracting external devices via a high level communications protocol

A system and method for optimizing communication includes an external device and a host device coupled to the external device. The host device generates a tuning request having a request identifier. The external device receives content. The content has a plurality of identifiers associated therewith. The external device filters content according to the request identifier of the plurality of identifiers to form filtered data and communicating the filtered data to the host device.

Method and system for bandwidth shaping to optimize utilization of bandwidth

A method and system includes a storage devicehaving an interface, a portable media playerin communication with the storage device through the interface. The portable media playerstores a file having a plurality of segments therein. The storage deviceupdates a first segment of the plurality of segments in the portable media playerthrough the interface

Method and system for updating file segments of content on a portable media player device

A system and method for forming an external tuner device and initializing the external device includes an enclosed over-the-air tuner housing having a over-the-air television tuner therein, an input power connector coupled to the housing, an antenna input coupled to the housing, a tuner signal output coupled to the housing and a dual over-the-air tuner circuit module disposed within the tuner housing in communication with the input power connector, the antenna input and the tuner signal output. The dual over-the-air tuner circuit module generates a first tuner signal from a first tuner and a second tuner signal from a second tuner and communicates the first tuner signal and the second tuner signal through the tuner signal output.

Method and system of scaling external resources for a receiving device

A method and system for storing a file on a portable deviceincludes a display, a digital video recorder, a first control deviceand a controllercoupled to the digital video recorder. The controller generates a screen display having a selector for selecting a file to transfer. Upon selecting a file to transfer, storing the file on the portable deviceand storing license information in a memoryof the portable storage device.

Method and system for providing content to a portable media player device and maintaining licensing rights

A system and method for processing multiple streams over a single playback channel includes a receiving device and a tuner module having a first tuner and a second tuner. The first tuner has a first device node within the receiving device associated therewith. The second tuner has a second device node within the receiving device associated therewith. A multiplexer has a playback device module associated therewith. A tuner driver configures the playback device module for a first multiplexer channel and a second multiplexer channel. The tuner module communicates a first tuner signal and a second tuner signal to the receiving device. The playback device communicates first data signals from the first tuner through the first multiplexer channel to a first destination. The playback device communicates second data signals from the second tuner through the second multiplexer channel to a second destination.

Method and system of processing multiple playback streams via a single playback channel

A method and system includes a central locationregistering a portable devicewith a central locationand generating a conditional access signal corresponding to the portable devicein response to registering and transmitting the conditional access signal to a storage device controller. A set top box or storage device controllerreceives the conditional access signal and enables a transfer of a file. The portable devicereceives the file when coupled to the set top box in response to the conditional access signal.

Method and system for securely providing content to a portable media player device

A method and system for communicating text descriptive data has a receiving device that receives a data signal having text description data corresponding to a description of a video signal. A text-to-speech converter associated with the receiving device converts the text description data to a first audio signal. A display device in communication with the text-to-speech converter converts the first audio signal associated with the receiving device to an audible signal.

Method and system for communicating descriptive data in a television broadcast system

A system and method for changing a user interface for added or removed content includes an external device, a display and a host device coupled to the display. The host device controlling the display to display a first user interface associated with the host device. The host device controlling the display to display a second user interface formed using the first interface with content corresponding to the external device.

Method and system for dynamically changing a user interface for added or removed resources

A system and method for removing a portion of a system such as an external device from lower power mode includes a host device and an external device in communication with the host device. The external device is in a low power mode. The host device includes a controller generating a prediction signal in response to an input to an external device and commands the external device from low power mode in response to the prediction signal.

Method and system for predicting use of an external device and removing the external device from a low power mode

A method and system for storing a file on a portable device includes a central locationgenerating a seed in response to a unique portable device identifier, a storage devicehaving an interface wherein the storage devicestores the seed therein. A portable media playeris in communication with the storage devicethrough the interface. The storage devicetransfers files to the portable media playerthrough the interface in response to the seed.

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Germantown, MD, United States of America

Brian D Jupin