Exporting data from a digital home communication terminal to a client device

#This invention relates in general to television systems, and more particularly, to the field of subscriber television systems.

#Cable television systems are now capable of providing many services in addition to analog broadcast video. In implementing enhanced programming, the home communication terminal (“HCT”), otherwise known as the settop box, has become an important computing device for accessing various video services. In addition to supporting traditional analog broadcast video functionality, digital HCTs (or “DHCTs”) now also support an increasing number of two-way digital services such as video-on-demand.

#A DHCT is typically connected to a cable or satellite television network and includes hardware and software necessary to provide various services and functionality. Preferably, some of the software executed by a DHCT is downloaded and/or updated via the cable television network. Each DHCT also typically includes a processor, communication components and memory, and is connected to a television

#The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a non-limiting example of a subscriber television system.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a non-limiting example of the internal configuration of the DHCT depicted in FIG. 1.

#In one embodiment of the invention, a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) receives a request for certain data from a client device and then exports the requested data to the client device. In another embodiment of the invention, a DHCT receives user input requesting that certain data be exported to a client device. The user input may be provided via, for example, a remote control device. After receiving the user input, the DHCT exports the requested data to the client device. The exported data may comprise, for example, a schedule of television presentations that are broadcast to the DHCT. If the client device is a personal computer, then it can be used to display, sort, rearrange, browse through, search, filter, format, and/or initiate the printing of the data received from the DHCT.

#The preferred embodiments of the present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are examples, among others, of systems and methods of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention, which may be embodied in many different forms, should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a non-limiting example of a subscriber television system (STS) 100. In this example, the STS 100 includes a headend 110 and a DHCT 200 that are coupled via a subscriber television network 130. The DHCT 200 is typically situated at a customer's premises, and may be a stand-alone unit or integrated into another device such as, for example, a television 140. The customer's premises may be a user's residence or place of business. The DHCT 200 receives signals (video, audio and/or other data) from the headend 110 through the network 130 and provides any reverse information to the headend 110 through the network 130. The network 130 may be any suitable means for communicating television services data including, for example, a cable television network or a satellite communication network.