Panasonic Technologies, Inc.

Judson A Hofmann

A method and apparatus for receiving, organizing and presenting program information to a display device in a home from at least two outside sources such as CATV, telephone companies (TELCOs) and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) is disclosed. A distribution network is established within the home using, for example, a consumer electronics bus (CEBus). First, a plurality of signals each from a different outside source and each being associated with information for constructing a program information database for the respective source are received. Next, the separate streams of program information for each outside source are integrated into a single merged database, entries of which can be accessed as a function of user supplied criteria. Additionally, information may be appended to each record of the entries in the separate streams of program information which indicate source and/or cost, and, finally, the information contained in the merged database is presented via the CEBus to a user for viewing and function selection.

Method and apparatus for managing multiple outside video service

A network configuration communication system and method comprising at least one brouter for automatically broadcasting its address and other network configuration information and at least one remote control device for receiving brouter broadcasts and automatically updating its network configuration storage locations. The remote control device may also be equipped to send requests for information for automatically transmitted response by proximate network brouters.

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Mendham, NJ, United States of America

Judson A Hofmann