The Directv Group, Inc.

Deanna R Kidd

Raynold M Kahn

Hanno Basse

Stephen P Dulac

Peter M Klauss

Maria G Popoli

David N Schlacht

Steven Kasakitis

Ranny Q Sue

Jeffrey L Sharkey

Michael R Munsell

Tokunbo Labisi

Frank A Palase

Thomas H James

Sui-Ky Ringo Ling

Mitchell B Wasden

Xavier Riley

Mitch C Jacobs

Aspandyar M Jijina

An P Vuong

Darren J Wolford

Howard M Buckley

Haydee C Silva

A communication systemincluding a host devicein communication with an external devicethrough a pair of interfaces. The external device has an application code image moduletherein. The host deviceincludes an application execution areaand a resource application programming interface (API). The host devicestores the application code image in the application execution area. The application code image controls a function in the host deviceusing the resource application interface. When the function is performed, the application code image may be removed from the host device

Method and apparatus for generating an overlay code for a set top box from an external device

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at broadcast headends in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method includes generating a broadcast signal, receiving an authorization request to download a program from a receiver station, determining an authorization for the download and sending the authorization to a point-to-point content delivery server.

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at broadcast headends in pay delivery systems

A system includes a content processing system receiving row ad metadata for a row ad, communicating the row ad to a user device and communicating program guide information to a user device. The program guide information defines a plurality of rows. The user device populates a row from the plurality of rows in response to the metadata and displays the row ad and the program guide on a display associated with the user device.

Method and system for generating row advertising in a program guide

A system for delivering satellite signals to a plurality of display platforms. A system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a first transmission system for delivering the satellite signals to a first display platform via at least one satellite, and a second transmission system, coupled to the first transmission system, for delivering at least a portion of the satellite signals to at least one second display platform, the first transmission system and the second transmission system transmitting in a substantially simultaneous manner, wherein the second transmission system transmits a data stream formatted for compatibility with the at least one second display platform.

Mobile streaming processing system for video and audio content

A conditional access system generating a permission packet in response to the content request. The permission packet has information for a user device to access content through a connection of a content delivery network so that in response to the permission packet, a first connection from the content delivery network to the user device may be opened by the user device.

Method and system for using a website to perform a remote action on a set top box with a secure authorization

A system and method includes a user device and a content processing system receiving content from a content provider, assigning a material identification to the content, receiving content information different than the content, associating the content information and the content and communicating the content information and material identification to the user device. The user device forms a menu from the content information and associated material identification, generates a menu selection from the menu, and communicates the material identification associated with the menu selection to the content processing system. The content processing system communicates the content corresponding to the menu selection to the user device.

Method and system for associating content and content information in a menu structure

A communication systemand method of operating the same includes a website, a computing deviceaccessing the websiteand selecting a content request from the website, a conditional access systemcoupled to the websitegenerates a permission packet in response to the content request. A user devicereceives the permission packet. In response to the permission packet, the user deviceforms a connection to the user devicein response to the permission packet through a communication network

A system includes a user device and a content processing system establishing a provider homepage template and a plurality of content categories. The content processing system receives a first plurality of content and a first plurality of metadata from a first content provider, receives a first plurality of content categories corresponding to each of the respective first plurality of content. The content processing system receives a second plurality of content and a second plurality of metadata from a second content provider and receives a second plurality of content categories corresponding to each of the respective second plurality of content at a content processing system. The content processing system also receives homepage information for a first provider and communicates the first plurality of metadata, the second plurality of metadata, the first plurality of content categories and the second plurality of content categories to the user device. The user device forms a first menu structure with the first homepage information and the first plurality of metadata corresponding to the first content provider without the second plurality of metadata and forming a second menu structure with at least some of the first plurality of metadata and at least some of the second plurality of metadata and at least one of the first and second content categories.

Method and system for using various content and content information in multiple menu structures

A communication system and method for operating the same includes a group of user devices and a content delivery network in communication with the group of user devices. The content delivery network selects a plurality user devices from the group of user devices, divides the content into a crucial portion and a non-crucial portions, and encrypts the crucial portions differently for each of the user devices in the group using conditional access encryption. The content delivery network communicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices, communicates the encrypted crucial portion to the plurality of user devices separately from the non-crucial. The plurality of user devices assembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content.

Method and apparatus for file sharing between a group of user devices with separately sent crucial portions and non-crucial portions

A communication systemincludes a group of user devices, a satelliteand a content delivery networkin communication with the group of user devices. The content delivery networkselects a plurality of user devicesfrom the group of user devices, divides content into a crucial portion and non-crucial portions, communicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices using a peer-to-peer network until all non-critical portions are received. After communicating the non-crucial portions, the content delivery networkcommunicates the crucial portion to the plurality of user devicesthrough the satellite. The plurality of user devices assembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content. In addition, security information may be first transmitted through the satellite to the user devices so that a peer-to-peer network may be established. Thereafter, the non-crucial portion are exchanged through the peer-to-peer network.

Method and apparatus for file sharing between a group of user devices with crucial portions sent via satellite and non-crucial portions sent using a peer-to-peer network

A system and method for distributing requested content includes a content management systemand a devicesuch as a set top box that selects a selection corresponding to content in the content management systemand transmits a first material identification to the content management system. The content management systemtransmits the content to the device with a second material identification associated therewith. The devicereceives the content and the second material identification and compares the first material identification to the second material identification. When the second material identification corresponds to the content, the device continues downloading the content. When the second material identification does not correspond to the content, downloading of the file is discontinued. A content prefix may also be used alone or in combination with the material identification. The content is prevented from being transmitted if the content prefix does not correspond to the content type.

Method and apparatus of verifying that requested content matches content to be downloaded

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at content servers in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving an authorization for a program download, receiving a request to download the program from a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a broadcast signal, and transmitting the program to the receiver via point-to-point communication signal.

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at content servers in pay delivery systems

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at receivers in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example receiver station includes a receiver interface to receive a broadcast signal, and a controller to, for a selected program, generate an authorization request and a content request. The example receiver station also includes a network interface to transmit the authorization request, to transmit the content request to point-to-point content delivery server, and to receive the program from the point-to-point content delivery server.

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at receivers in pay delivery systems

A communication systemincludes a group of user devicesand a content delivery networkin communication with the group of user devices. The content deliver networkselects a plurality user devices from the group of user devices, divides the content into a crucial portion and a non-crucial portions. The content delivery networkcommunicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices and communicates the crucial portion to the plurality of user devices separately from the non-crucial portions and at each of the plurality of user devices. The plurality of user devicesassembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content.

Growing community of inventors

Long Beach, CA, United States of America

Deanna R Kidd