Arris Enterprises LLC

Digeo, Inc.

Arris Group, Inc.

Tobin Farrand

Hubert E Kolde

Steven Jay Young

A method implemented on a multi-tuner receiver system coupled to a plurality of multimedia nodes is disclosed, comprising: monitoring user input on the multi-tuner receiver system; identifying a first channel which the user is likely to select based on the user input; and speculatively tuning to the first channel using a first tuner prior to the user selecting the first channel.

System and method for speculative tuning

Methods and systems for monitoring and budgeting television viewing in order to influence and manage television-viewing habits in a manner that promotes self-monitoring. Example embodiments provide a Content Viewer Control System ('CVCS'), which enables devices and systems connected to a head-end, such as through a standard set-top box or a media center, to track and potentially control differing aspects of television viewing according to a viewing budget. For example, the CVCS can allow tracking and control over what content is viewed according to a variety of criteria, during which time periods, and for what duration on an individual or on a per-location basis, and/or based upon other configurable parameters. In summary, the CVCS receives notification of content as potential viewing events, compares a potential viewing event to stored viewing budget 'allocations,' and reconciles the potential viewing event against the viewing budget. In one example embodiment, the CVCS comprises an interface to the content display and control components, a viewing event tracker component, and a viewing event reconciler engine. The viewing event tracker receives notification of content to be viewed (a potential viewing event), extracts pertinent information, and forwards the extracted information to the viewing event reconciler engine. The viewing event reconciler engine reconciles the forwarded information against budget data and/or rules and sends content control instructions to the interface. The CVCS optionally contains a data repository with the viewing budget or interfaces to an external data repository.

Method and system for managing television viewing habits

Video data encoded according to new compression standards may be processed by an existing client terminal using an adaptive module that transcodes the video data into a format compatible with the processing capabilities of the client terminal. Further, the adaptive module may compress video files stored in the client terminal according to a new or advanced compression standard, in order to expand the storage capacity of the hard drive of the client terminal. Further still, the adaptive module may support high-resolution graphic video streams (e.g., for interactive games) by including a graphics engine and encoder to render the video streams compatible for processing by the client terminal. Thus, broadband content providers are spared the expense of upgrading the decoder and/or hard drive of their subscribers' terminals, if not the entire client altogether, in view of evolving compression standards.

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Los Altos Hills, CA, United States of America

Tobin Farrand