Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

N2 Broadband, Inc.

Other

Ericsson Television Inc.

Time Warner Cable Inc.

Tandberg Television Inc.

Tanderberg Television, Inc.

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Timothy Hall Addington

Ira S Lehrman

Arturo A Rodriguez

Robert O Banker

Dean F Jerding

Azita M Manson

Joseph G Buehl

Robert T Van Orden

Darryl Lanay DeFreese

Bindu Crandall

Sashi Goel

Anthony John Wasilewski

William E Wall

Randolph R Beebe

Gary L Logston

Mark Robertson

Mike L LaJoie

Darryl L Defreese

Valerie Grew Gutknecht

Gerald F O'Carroll, Jr

Valerie Grew Gutnecht

William Edgar Wall

Customizable, multimedia messaging over a subscriber television system utilizing a service independent framework is provided. A multimedia messaging (MMM) server is generally located at a headend of a cable or satellite system, and an MMM client at a communications terminal located remotely with respect to the MMM server. A service provider or operator defines a message configuration to present the message content to subscribers. The message configuration includes parameters that control the presentation of the message content. The MMM server receives an MMM request from a service application, and generates an MMM request which is sent to the communications terminal, particularly, to the MMM client. The MMM client processes the MMM request, including retrieving message content and/or message configuration. The MMM client presents the message to the subscriber. Since the MMM server and MMM client are platform independent, different services may send uniquely generated and designed messages for presentation.

Multimedia messaging configuration and presentation

Flexible systems and methods are disclosed that may be used for provisioning, configuring, and controlling a host embodied in a cable set top box or other digital device attached to a digital communication network, such as cable distribution network. An enhanced services system maintains various host files for various types of hosts that a cable subscriber may purchase and connect to the cable network. The Enhanced Services Server interacts with the host using the host files. The host files may be downloaded from the host manufacturer into a database that distributes the modules as required to the various enhanced services systems. The host may be purchased by the cable subscriber and provisioning may be initiated by the retailer at the time of purchase using a provisioning network interacting with the appropriate cable system serving the subscriber. This abstract is not intended to limit or construe the scope of the claims.

Systems and methods for distributing software for a host device in a cable system

The present invention provides a method for an interactive media services system to provide media to a user through an interactive media services client device. The client device is coupled to a programmable media services server device. The method includes the step of implementing an interactive media guide. Additionally, the client device is implemented to present the interactive media guide to the user. A system operator is provided an interface to the programmable media services server. Control options are provided within the interface to allow the system operator to configure a plurality of rental options available to the user. Finally the interactive media service system is implemented such that the plurality of rental options can be executed by the user in a requested active media session.

Video on demand system with selectable options of configurable random-access control

A personal video service manager can store one or more personal video assets on a server. A personal video asset can include a recording of a broadcast stream of a broadcast asset or an asset that has been pre-authored in a personal video asset format. Upon receiving a request from a subscriber to receive the personal video asset, the personal video service manager can facilitate a connection between the server and the subscriber for distributing the personal video asset from the server to the subscriber.

System and method for distributing network-based personal video

Systems and methods for providing flexible provisioning architectures for a host in a cable system

Systems and methods for provisioning a host device for enhanced services in a cable system

A media manager can insert targeted material into content in accordance with a campaign. A campaign can identify the location in the content where the targeted material should be inserted. A campaign manager can create the campaign and can determine based upon configuration information relating to the media manager, whether the targeted material can be inserted into the content upon the media manager receiving a request for the content.

Method and system for the management of targeted material insertion using a campaign manager

The present invention comprises customizable, multimedia messaging over a subscriber television system, such as a cable or satellite system, utilizing a service independent framework. The present invention comprises a multimedia messaging (MMM) server generally located at a headend of a cable or satellite system, and an MMM client at a communications terminal located remotely with respect to the MMM server. A service provider or operator defines a message configuration that is utilized to present the message content to one or more subscribers. The message configuration includes parameters that control the presentation of the message content. The MMM server receives an MMM request from a service application, and in response thereto, generates an MMM request which is sent to the communications terminal, and more particularly, to the MMM client. The MMM client processes the MMM request, including the retrieval of any message content or the message configuration. The MMM client then presents the message to the subscriber. Since the MMM server and MMM client are platform independent, any number of different services may send uniquely generated and uniquely designed messages for presentation to a subscriber(s).

Systems and methods for multimedia messaging in a cable or satellite subscriber system

A decoder checks a table within its received input signal and tunes to at least one of the listed frequencies to determine its associated service group within a subscriber television system. The associated service group associates the decoder with the modulators, transport streams, and other components providing services and programming to that particular decoder. The decoder transmits its associated service group to the subscriber television system headend. The subscriber television system then knows the services and programming available on that particular decoder. The decoder can periodically verify its associated service group and, if the service group is changed, notify the headend. By establishing decoders for auditing the system, the definition of the service groups can be established or updated when components or configurations are introduced or changed.

System and method for automatically determining service groups in a subscriber network

Systems and methods facilitate the provisioning of a new service in a cable system without requiring that server hardware and/or software be changed to implement the service, or that an equivalent session manager be created in a set-top box. Session requests are generated at the STB and transmitted to the service, which then interprets the request, rather than forwarded from the STB to a server implementing the service, as in conventional systems. To effect the routing to the service the session request contains routing information. Servers facilitating the implementation of services do not know details about, or even the existence of, new services added to the system.

Systems and methods for establishing and administering sessions in digital cable systems

A system for inputting conventional emergency alert messages into a digital subscriber television system. The method allows existing emergency alert equipment to interface with the digital system equipment in the headend of a digital subscriber television system. A unique identifier and the format of the digital emergency alert message allow the input of an emergency alert message and allow for a wide variety of optional data formats, system control options, and data storage options.

Emergency alert system

Video on demand system with parameter-controlled bandwidth deallocation

Growing community of inventors

Roswell, GA, United States of America

Timothy Hall Addington