Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Webtv Networks, Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Steven Wasserman

David Hendler Sloo

Stephen G Perlman

Peter T Barrett

Daniel Danker

Grant Mohr

Daniel John Zigmond

James Armand Baldwin

Phillip York Goldman

Donald M Gray

J Wiltse Carpenter

Toby E Farrand

Systems and methods are described for intelligent default selection of characters to be entered via an on-screen keyboard. Based on one to several criteria, a character most likely to be selected for entry via the on-screen keyboard during a search request is determined and a selector is positioned at that particular character. If that character is indeed the character the user wishes to enter, the user does not have to execute any navigation steps to enter the character, but can&#x2014;with a single actuation&#x2014;enter that character. In many instances, the user will only have to enter the selection without first having to navigate to the selection. As a result, the number of times buttons need to be actuated by the user to enter a character string can be significantly reduced.

Intelligent default selection in an on-screen keyboard

In one implementation, a method is described that may include applying at least one of a capitalization rule and a spacing rule to a word obtained from compressed electronic program guide (EPG) data. The compressed EPG data includes a plurality of word encoding values and a plurality of character encoding values. Each of the capitalization and spacing rules may be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one said word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to one or more character encoding values. The capitalization and spacing rules may also be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to at least one other word encoding value. An output is made of the obtained word to which there has been applied at least one of the capitalization rule and the spacing rule.

EPG data

Systems and methods described herein related to dynamically adjusting levels of detail of content event descriptions contained in an EPG according to a user's behavior. Predictions are made based on the user's behavior as to which content events the user may desire to see a more detailed description for. Rankings are assigned to future events based on the user's behavior. When it comes time to update the EPG (i.e., download event descriptions for one or more new time periods), the rankings are utilized to determine which events should have event descriptions of a greater detail stored for them. Memory is more efficiently utilized by having high level event descriptions available for events in which the user is likely to be interested and low level event descriptions available for events in which the user is probably not interested.

Dynamic adjustment of EPG level of detail based on user behavior

Overlaying visual interface information atop a video signal without obscuring desired features of the video signal. The video signal may contain one or more pre-selected features, such as text. Two or more display sections equally divide the video signal, and any pre-selected features in the video signal are identified as residing in particular display sections. Depending on the nature of the features, the selected visual interface information is placed atop the video signal in a display section not containing any pre-selected features so as not to cover or obscure the features or is placed over specified features that do not significantly contribute to the video signal, such as blank or static screen regions. A hierarchy of preferred display sections for placing the visual interface information may be created to optimize the placement thereof. The methods for overlaying visual interface information find particular application with interactive television systems.

Selectively overlaying a user interface atop a video signal

Subject matter includes methods of using conventional set-top boxes that receive streaming video modulated on coaxial cable rather than over an IP-based LAN as nodes in a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary adapter is used to integrate a conventional set-top box into a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary filter is used to reserve frequencies for communications between a conventional set-top box and a hub and to prevent communications from leaving a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary content protection method provides a way of encrypting program content on the media network in a manner that a conventional set-top box can decode.

Media network using set-top boxes as nodes

Systems and methods for utilizing a back channel as a feedback system to regulate the quality of broadcast. A signal source transmits a signal corresponding to the broadcast to one or more home entertainment systems. The displaying, recording or utilization of the broadcast is tracked at the individual home entertainment systems. The tracked information is transmitted in either real time or on a deferred basis from home entertainment systems as feedback across a back channel. The quality of the broadcast is regulated and/or optimized as a result of the feedback. As such, the broadcast can be dynamically restructured by modifying the bandwidth of the broadcast, by changing the modulation of the broadcast, by changing the encoding scheme of the broadcast, by varying parameters of the encoding scheme of the broadcast, by redistributing satellite channels to take full advantage of transponders available in a satellite television system, etc. The feedback also informs the operators and broadcasters as to when a disruption can be made on the broadcast so that the effect of the disruption is minimized.

Regulating the quality of a broadcast based on monitored viewing behavior information

Systems and methods for verifying the authorization of a server to provide network resources to a client. At selected times, the client asserts an authorization interrupt, which will disable some or all non-essential functions of the client unless the server's authorization is verified within an allotted period of time. The client creates a client message by generating a random number and combining it with a client identifier and a value that specifies the current time. The client message is encrypted and sent to the server. Only authorized servers can decrypt the client message and create an encrypted service message that includes the random number. The service message can also contain an authorization code specifying the services that the client may receive, and an expiration count indicating when the authorization procedure will be repeated. The client receives and decrypts the service message. If the random number in the service message is found to be the same as the random number in the client message, the server is authorized, and the client is enabled to exhibit a selected level of functionality. The client can be associated with a smart card or another intelligent peripheral that verifies the authorization of the server in behalf of the client.

Verification of server authorization to provide network resources

A method and apparatus for utilizing a high bandwidth communications channel for broadcasting network data during off-peak hours is disclosed. A demodulation unit includes, 1) a standard television broadcast signal receiver, the signal having a plurality of channels; 2) a partitioning unit configured to partition at least one channel of said plurality of channels into a plurality of variable size sub-channels; 3) a modulating unit configured to modulate a variety of different types of information into said plurality of sub-channels; and 4) a transmitter configured to transmit said plurality of sub-channels over a high bandwidth communications channel during off-peak hours.

Utilizing a high bandwidth communications channel for broadcasting network data during off-peak hours

A system for distributing digital data over a video channel to a plurality of remotely located client terminals. The system involves selecting a set of digital data to be distributed and converting it to an intermediate format compatible with video broadcast. The intermediate data is then broadcast over a video channel during a time when no video content is being transmitted so that the intermediate format data takes the place of the video content. The intermediate format data is received at a remotely located client terminal where the set of digital data is recovered.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Steven Wasserman