General Instrument Corporation

Arris Enterprises LLC

Chris Del Sordo

Jack M Birnbaum

Kenneth P Miller

Stephen A Allinson

Albert Fitzgerald Elcock

Charles R Hardt

Robert Charles Booth

Donald Tavoletti

James M Moss

Jeffrey T Davis

Rocky C Torsitano

David A Prezuhy

Robert Gazda

Ed Walls

Ernie Schmitt

Michael Difiglia

Thomas F Bates

Mark A Erinoff

A server includes a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a memory to cause the server to: receive a client position signal; predict a future position of a client device based on a client device position signal providing location and velocity information about the client device; instruct a first access point device to provide a first Wi-Fi hotspot network with a first SSID, currently in use by the client device with another access point device, based on the predicted future position of the client device; and instruct a second access point device, which was previously providing a second Wi-Fi hotspot network with the first SSID, to stop providing the second Wi-Fi hotspot network with the first SSID after instructing the first access point device to provide the first Wi-Fi hotspot network with the first SSID.

Wi-Fi power reduction system, method and media

A method is provided for recording a switched digital video (SDV) program received over a content delivery system. The method includes receiving a single program digital transport stream on a first SDV channel. The single program digital transport stream includes at least one program elementary stream and associated program specific information. The program elementary stream and the associated program specific information are stored. In response to a force tune request, a second SDV channel is tuned to on which a subsequent portion of the single program digital transport stream will be provided. After tuning to the second SDV channel, subsequent portions of the program elementary stream are stored in a content file in which previous portions of the program elementary stream are stored.

Method and apparatus for recording and rendering programs that cross SDV force tune boundaries

A software interface () is provided to enable television settop middleware () and operating system (OS) software () to control and interact with core settop system software () in a subscriber television terminal to facilitate the provision of desirable digital television services, including authentication and authorization.

Programming interface for configuring a television settop terminal

A software interface () is provided to enable television settop middleware () and operating system (OS) software () to control and interact with core settop system software () in a subscriber television terminal to facilitate the provision of desirable digital television services, including service acquisition (e.g., acquisition of a pay-per-view movie), system information management, settop configuration and control, return path for polling, download capability, and non-volatile memory management.

A method and apparatus for providing abstraction layers in the hierarchical structure of a set-top terminal to enable the set-top's firmware to be compatible with different operating systems. An operating system (OS) kernel interface is provided using a first OS abstraction layer that is OS-independent, and a second abstraction layer that is OS-dependent. The interface enables the terminal's firmware to access the kernel's set of functions independently of the OS. The abstraction layers provide an interface for kernel functions for the following kernel constructs: Timers, Threads, Memory, Synchronization and Messaging. The invention benefits terminal manufacturers and developers as well as network operators by allowing set-top firmware to run without modifications due to a change in the set-top's OS.

Kernel abstraction layer for digital television set-top box firmware

A method and apparatus for detecting a hardware configuration in a digital terminal, and, in response, selecting a corresponding executable software path for initializing the hardware. All terminals in a digital communication network, such as a television network, are provided with a single common set-top firmware/software object that contains all software components required to run on all hardware platforms. The total amount of software needed at the terminals is reduced over prior art schemes since the common software object includes software that is common to the different hardware component types only once, instead of providing a different object for each hardware type which results in duplication of the common software. The software from the software object can execute on platforms with different hardware components and circuits. This provides freedom to the network operator to select terminals with reduced cost components, e.g., from different manufacturers. Additionally, the system avoids the need to provide different software to the terminals based on their hardware platform type.

Dynamic detection of hardware configuration in a digital terminal

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Souderton, PA, United States of America

Chris Del Sordo