Cox Communications, Inc.

Sedna Patent Services, LLC

Worldgate Service, Inc.

Bruce Plotnick

Joseph Ellis Augenbraun

Francis D Palazzo

Chuanming Wang

Joel I Boyarski

Gerard K Kunkel

Errol J D'Souza

George Edward Breen

Aaron Grosky

Ayisha Mertens

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for interactive broadcasting of information such as Internet web pages, television program guide, user account information, or the like on dedicated downstream channels in a cable television system. One embodiment provides picture-in-picture capability using a single tuner. More specifically, a headend includes a scaler application that reduces the size of the video program or a content related web page, which are then combined at the headend in a picture-in-picture format and transmitted over a distribution network to a user.

System and method for broadcasting web pages and other information

A television converter system () comprises a receiver () for receiving a transmission signal from a transmission signal source. A processor () in the converter is capable of executing a plurality of independently executable application programs. A first one of the plurality of programs has a focused execution state. The remaining one or more application programs have a defocused execution state. The processor generates an application program output signal from the application program that currently has the focused execution state. An output provides either the transmission signal or the application program output signal for display on a television display. An input is received, requesting a transfer of focus from the first one of the plurality of programs to a second one of the plurality of application programs. The focus is transferred from the first application program to the second one of the plurality of programs for display on the television display.

System and method to control distribute processing and memory resources among applications in a television terminal

The system and method of the present invention provides access to interactive features of an electronic program guide by a user from within a broadcast advertisement. The method of the present invention comprises receiving the broadcast advertisement comprising audio, video and promotional metadata over a broadcast distribution network. The received promotional metadata is analyzed to determine one or more valid electronic program guide features and present options on a display device corresponding to the one or more valid electronic program guide features. The user selects a presented option for execution.

System and method for providing access to interactive features of electronic program guides from within promotional programming

A data structure stored on computer readable media is presented comprising one or more data tags, each data tag used to provide information regarding a broadcast advertisement. Also provided are one or more electronic program guide action tags, each electronic program guide action tag used to define a valid electronic program guide feature that may be accessed from within the broadcast advertisement. The data structure is operative to provide a link between the broadcast advertisement and an electronic program guide to provide access to electronic program guide features defined by the electronic program guide action tags from within the broadcast advertisement.

Metadata structure for providing access to EPG features from within broadcast advertisements

A system and method for presenting advanced editorial content items to subscribers in a distribution network. The method comprises presenting an electronic program guide comprised of data representing program availability on a broadcast distribution network and a selectable editorial content control to present an editorial content index page. An editorial content index page is presented on a display device within the context of the electric program guide in response to selecting the editorial content control, the editorial content index page comprising one or more links or pointers, such as hyperlinks, to editorial content items. A user selects a pointer to an editorial content item from the set of pointers and the editorial content item is presented on the display device.

System and method for displaying editorial content through television navigation controls and electronic program guides

A method and apparatus for digitally encoding video image data, which is particularly suited for encoding Internet Web pages, eliminates the need for performing time consuming, computationally intensive motion vector searches by taking advantage of prior knowledge regarding the Web page movement. In a first preferred embodiment, a digital video encoder, such as an MPEG encoder, employs Web page scrolling coordinates obtained from a browser application to determine, through calculation instead of searching, motion estimation for all the macroblocks of the present image frame relative to the previous frame. In a second preferred embodiment, the encoder receives information from the browser application that indicates that certain portions of an image, such as a Web page animation window, are continuously changing, and thus should be encoded as an intra frame. The invention may be employed in a cable television system which includes Internet access capabilities that permit system users to download Web pages for viewing on their televisions from a remote browser application located in the cable system's headend.

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Jamison, PA, United States of America

Bruce Plotnick