Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.

Verizon Services Corporation

Laszlo T Erdely

Anthony Cruz

Gwendolyn Mahon Thaxter

Gregory K Sherrill

A device includes a keypad that further includes first keys related to selecting television channels associated with a set top box and a second key related to requesting a television listing. The device further includes an infra-red transceiver that transmits a request for television listing information to a set top box based on user selection of the second key, and receives television listing data, from the set top box, that includes program information related to a plurality of channels over a period of time. The device also includes a color display unit that displays the television listing data.

Remote control with TV listing display

Uninterrupted digital communications are provided between a central office and a customer premises by using a high-pass or bandpass filter to bypass local loop generation equipment. In many present-day telecommunications installations, local loop generation equipment may be placed in series with a communications path that runs between the central office and the customer premises. This communications path is adapted to convey digital signals as well as voice information and/or other types of baseband communications signals. In order to avoid interference between baseband signals and digital signals, each of these signals is allowed to occupy only a specified portion of the frequency spectrum. When activated, the local loop generation equipment breaks the entire communications path, interrupting voice signals, as well as any digital signals which may be carried thereon. The techniques disclosed herein solve the problem of interrupted digital communications by bridging a frequency-selective filter across the local loop generation equipment so as to provide an alternate path for digital signals around the activated local loop generation equipment. In cases where the digital signals occupy frequencies above baseband, the frequency selective filter may be implemented using a high-pass filter and/or a bandpass filter. In this manner, a digital communications path between the central office and the customer premises is provided at all times.

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Crofton, MD, United States of America

Laszlo T Erdely