Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Other

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Lee R Johnson

Elizabeth A Smith

Howard L Myers

Curt M Kuban

Fitzroy E Williams

Leo Montreuil

Kinney Chapman Bacon

William E Wall

Luis A Rovira

Jay C McMullan, Jr

Jeffrey C Ting

James Michael Blackmon

William Felts, Iii

Elizabath A Smith

Provided herein are at least one embodiment of systems and methods of adaptive disk management for a recording device employing a memory storage device such as hard disk storage so that memory storage device usage is tracked in the recording device and the memory storage device is controlled based on time-based patterns of user behavior.

Method and system for adaptive disk management

Included are embodiments of a method for detecting errors in a set top terminal (STT). At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving error data related to at least one error that occurred in at least one STT and comparing the received error data to at least one signature file, the at least one signature file including a pattern related to at least one documented error. Additional embodiments of the method may also include in response to determining that the received error data does not match the pattern related to at least one documented error, creating a new signature file, the new signature file including at least one pattern associated with the received error data.

Automated analysis of collected field data for error detection

A system for providing interactive services in a subscription television system includes a system controller for controlling the interactive services, a video signal source for transmitting a video signal and a subscriber terminal for receiving a downstream transaction from the system controller and the video signal. The system controller comprises a memory for storing subscriber terminal address data and transaction data, a processor for generating a downstream transaction including subscriber terminal address data and transaction data, a transmitter for transmitting the downstream transaction, and a receiver for receiving an upstream transaction. The subscriber terminal includes memory for storing the downstream transaction, an on screen display generator for overlaying data in place of or superimposed on the video signal, data input circuitry for generating upstream data, and an upstream transmitter for transmitting the upstream data to the system controller. The downstream transaction may include screen data which defines at least one screen to be overlaid in place of or superimposed on the video signal.

Interactive subscription television terminal

A system is described for controlling access to non-volatile memory. The system can include logic configured to determine whether to delay access to the non-volatile memory.

Non-volatile memory access control

An interactive terminal comprises a processor, a local data store connected to the processor, a character generator responsive to processor control for generating a television signal output to an associated television receiver, a key pad or remote control for inputting information to the processor, and a power supply input. The terminal is coupled, via 2-way RF communications, to a central location, designated as the system manager, where the terminal is accessed by polling for monitoring and servicing terminal user requests. The interactive terminal has a local storage capacity for storing a number of character screen commands, accessed from a central data base at the system manager, for use in generating prompting screens displayed on the television receiver. In use, a user may call for a variety of services by operating the input keys of the key pad to cause a prompting screen to be displayed. Screen commands are stored at the terminal according to an assigned priority. The stored screen commands also include pointers which are used by the terminal processor to prefetch screens which will likely follow the current screen in a decision tree structure manner. Thus, screens may be prefetched from the central data base and downloaded for storage at the terminal so that they are available for display if and when called for. If a particular branch of a decision tree is not selected, screens associated with the unselected branch are deleted from terminal memory as needed to make room for new screens. The terminal memory is also controlled so that data is swapped in and out of memory based on its relative priority.

Selective messaging via on-screen display

An interactive terminal comprises a processor, a local data store connected to the processor, a character generator responsive to processor control for generating a television signal output to an associated television receiver, a key pad or remote control for inputting information to the processor, and a power supply input. The terminal is coupled, via 2-way RF communications, to a central location designated as the system manager, where the terminal is accessed by polling for monitoring and servicing terminal user requests. The interactive terminal has a local storage capacity for storing a number of character screen commands, accessed from a central data base at the system manager, for use in generating prompting screens displayed on the television receiver. In use, a user may call for a variety of services by operating the input keys of the key pad to cause a prompting screen to be displayed. Screen commands are stored at the terminal according to an assigned priority. The stored screen commands also include pointers which are used by the terminal processor to prefetch screens which will likely follow the current screen in a decision tree structure manner. Thus, screens may be prefetched from the central data base and downloaded for storage at the terminal so that they are available for display if and when called for. If a particular branch of a decision tree is not selected, screens associated with the unselected branch are deleted from terminal memory as needed to make room for new screens. The terminal memory is also controlled so that data is swapped in and out of memory based on its relative priority.

Storage control method and apparatus for an interactive television

A remote control system including a hand held remote control unit with an alphanumeric information display, for controlling and communicating with a first controlled device, such as a digital music tuner connected to a community antenna television (CATV) cable, and for controlling a selected one of a plurality of second controlled devices, such as CATV set-top units, VCRs, or television sets. A first, high speed, error free display information communications protocol is utilized for transmitting program content or other information from a device, such as the CATV-connected music tuner, to the remote control unit for display. A second or control communications protocol is utilized by the remote control unit for controlling the first controlled device and a selected one of the second controlled devices. The CATV cable-connected music tuner utilizes the 44.1 kHZ Compact Disk (CD) clock signal embedded in digital music signals provided via the cable to derive clocking signals for implementing the display information communications protocol, resulting in an efficient, low cost electronic design.

Remote control for digital music terminal with synchronized

A system and method for using two simple transactions to enable the disconnection of unauthorized receiver terminals. This is accomplished in accordance with the invention by sending an addressed transaction to every known valid receiver terminal giving each one the current authorization code. After this command has been sent several times to each valid receiver terminal, a global transaction is sent to all terminals containing the current and previous authorization codes. If any receiver terminal receiving this transaction does not find a match between its stored authorization code and either of the transmitted authorization codes, it will deauthorize itself. Once into the transmission cycle, the current authorization code will become the previous authorization code and a new authorization code will be generated. The global command will be sent periodically while all the valid receiver terminals are updated with the new authorization code. Since the global command is constantly sent for checking the receiver terminals to see if they are valid and disconnecting unauthorized receiver terminals, it is not necessary in accordance with the invention to provide a send authorization phase and a check authorization phase for purposes of disconnecting unauthorized receiver terminals as in the prior art.

Authorization code lockout mechanism for preventing unauthorized

A system and method for disabling the output of a data transmission system when a relatively high error rate is detected in the transmitted signal. The error muting technique of the invention functions as the digital equivalent of a leaky integrator with hysteresis. In particular, the signal quality of the received data transmission is monitored, and a predetermined value is added to an accumulator or error counter when an error is detected. This value varies depending upon the nature of the detected error such that more serious errors are given greater error values. The error counter is also decremented by one or some other amount at a programmable time interval in accordance with the maximum acceptable error rate. The error count (accumulator sum) is continuously compared to a programmable error threshold, and if the threshold is exceeded, the output of the data transmission system is disabled, or in the case of a digital audio transmission system, is muted. Once disabled or muted, the output is not reenabled or unmuted until the error counter is decremented all the way down to a lower limit such as zero. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the error counter is decremented at a different rate when the output of the data transmission system has been disabled or muted so that the system may be more or less rapidly returned to normal operation.

Digital audio data muting system and method

A cable television transaction terminal comprises a keyboard for entry of selection and field completion data and a teletext screen generator for actuating a visual display of teletext screens comprising selection items or completion fields. Each screen is uniquely identified and stored in terminal memory prior to display with an associated key template for defining selection and field completion data. A review of transactions is actuated by display of a first teletext screen and entry of an associated key response. Payment for transaction is actuated by display of a second teletext screen and entry of an associated key response. For example, a hotel guest may check out of a hotel room without visiting the front desk via the cable television terminal in his room or order room service for delivery at a particular time.

Cable television transaction terminal

A method of transferring data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network is disclosed. First random numbers are respectively generated for each of the remote terminals. A mask value is then determined. The random numbers associated with the remote terminals are compared with the mask value to determine whether a respective terminal attempts to transfer data to the central location. In a disclosed embodiment the method is used to locate new terminals in a hotel or hospital system.

Terminal polling method

A terminal apparatus for use in a cable television system which provides a plurality of channels capable of being tuned for display at a television receiver is provided. The apparatus includes a memory for storing data for generating a plurality of predetermined character screens and for storing deauthorization data, a character generator for generating character screens from the stored character screen data at the television receiver, a deauthorization mechanism responsive to the deauthorization data in the memory for deauthoring selected ones of the plurality of channels, and a controller for controlling the memory and the character generator, and for composing at least one predetermined character screen for display at the television receiver in accordance with the deauthorization of a channel by the deauthorization mechanism.

Terminal authorization method

An interactive room status/time information system is provided having a terminal associated with a television comprising a processor for processing data, an associated memory for storing operation data and control algorithms, a keypad with remote control for inputting information, a character generator responsive to the processor for generating a multiple character, multiple line display, a power supply input, and a cable transmission link for communication at television frequencies with a system manager. A maid or inspector can send status information from a hotel/hospital room terminal over a cable television system to a system manager location. The status of a room for occupancy is determined by a two-step procedure. Input from both a maid and an inspector must be received before a room has a ready-for-occupancy status. Screens of compiled room status and historical data can be displayed at the system manager. Also, certain screens of room status data may be displayed on an associated television at the room terminal. Functions can be performed at the system manager location including searching stored status information for historical data of a particular room or maid. In accordance with a further time control feature of the present system, a hotel guest may actuate a wake-up mode of operation of a room terminal through a terminal keyboard or remote control. The system manager subsequently polls the terminal to determine if the room terminal is properly operating or if the wake-up alarm has been responded to. If not, hotel personnel may be dispatched to the room.

Interactive room status/time information system

Apparatus for use in a television terminal selectively provides a background audio or video signal or both to accompany display of a screen of textual information. The apparatus comprises a tuning circuit for tuning to a predetermined background channel determined by user selection of a particular textual information screen for display. As a result, dinner music may accompany textual informative screens related to the choice of a meal. Alternatively, instructions on how to purchase a movie might be accompanied in the background by the movie. Either the movie picture or the sound or both may accompany the instruction screen.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Lee R Johnson