Reprogrammable set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus

A terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

• a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information, wherein the information includes menu data;
• a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;
• a first memory location, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;
• a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data;
• a second memory location, operably connected to the processor, that stores the menu generating instructions, wherein menu generating instructions are reprogrammable and the terminal receives a reprogramming signal that reprograms the menu generating instructions;
• and
• means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the video and the generated menus to a display device.

A terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

• a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information, wherein the information includes menu data;
• a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;
• a first memory location, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;
• a microprocessor, operably connected to the first memory, that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data;
• a second memory location, operably connected to the processor, that includes reprogramming software;
• and
• an output device, operably connected to the microprocessor, that outputs the video and the generated menus to a display device.

A terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

• a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information;
• a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;
• memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;
• a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the information;
• an output device, operably connected to the microprocessor, that outputs the generated menus to a display device;
• and
• wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.

A terminal that stores programs locally, comprising:

• a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information;
• a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;
• memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;
• a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt the display of the information;
• means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the information to a display device;
• and
• wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.

A terminal that stores programs locally, comprising:

• means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving information;
• means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;
• means, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, for storing the program signal;
• means for executing instructions that prompt the display of the information;
• and
• means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the information to a display device, wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.

A terminal that stores programs locally, comprising:

• means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving information;
• means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;
• means, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, for storing the program signal;
• means for generating menus using the received information;
• and
• means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the information to a display device, wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.