Advanced set top terminal for cable television delivery systems

An advanced set top terminal with digital decompression and menu generation capabilities for use with a television program delivery system having digitally compressed program signals and a control information stream carrying menu content information, each set top terminal stores menu content information used to generate menu displays, the advanced set top terminal comprising:

• a means for storing the menu content information;
• a means for receiving the digitally compressed program signals and the control information stream;
• a first signal processing means, connected to the receiving means and storing means, for processing the control information stream to produce processed control information, whereby the processed control information is used to update the stored menu content information to produce updated menu content information;
• a means, connected to the storing means, for generating the menu displays using the updated menu content information, whereby the menu displays produce subscriber options for selection of other menus and television programs;
• a means, electronically connected to the generating means, for selecting the other menus and the television programs;
• a means, electronically connected to the selecting means, for tuning to one of the digitally compressed television programs signals to produce a tuned television program signal;
• and
• a second signal processing means, connected to the tuning means, for processing the tuned television program signal to produce a video signal and audio signal for television display and listening.

A method for enhancing the functionality of a decompression box for use in a television program delivery system, the enhanced functionality using a control information stream that provides the decompression box with menu generation capability, the decompression box initially having the capability to produce decompressed video, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an electronic connection to the decompression box so that the control information stream containing graphics, text and menu generation information may be received from the decompression box;
• demultiplexing the received control information stream into graphics, text, and menu generation information;
• combining portions of the text and graphics information, to produce a menu generation signal, wherein the menu generation information is used in the combining step;
• and
• transferring the produced menu generation signal to the decompression box, whereby the transferred menu generation signal is processed for display.

A method for upgrading a set top converter for use in a television program delivery system, the set top converter having video decompression capability and an expansion card slot adapted to receive a menu generation card, the set top converter upgradeable for enhanced functionality that provides the set top converter with menu generation capability using a control information stream received from a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an electronic connection to the set top converter for receiving the control information stream;
• demultiplexing the control information stream into graphics and text, whereby the control information stream is received from the set top converter;
• decompressing the graphics to produce decompressed graphics that may be used to generate menus;
• and
• connecting the menu generation card to the set top converter;
• and
• using the menu generation card to combine the text and decompressed graphics to produce a menu generation signal, whereby the menu generation signal is output to the set top converter to be processed for display.

A method for enhancing the functionality of a cable-ready television for use in a cable television program delivery system, the cable-ready television having an electronic interface that accommodates the enhanced functionality using a control information stream, the enhanced functionality providing the cable-ready television with menu generation capability, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the control information stream from the cable-ready television through the electronic interface;
• demultiplexing the control information stream into graphics, text and menu generation information that includes information on program packaging and menu content;
• combining the graphics, text and menu generation information to produce a menu generation signal;
• and
• transferring the menu generation signal to the cable-ready television through the electronic interface, whereby the menu generation signal is processed for display.

An apparatus for enhancing the functionality of a set top converter for use in a television program delivery system, wherein the apparatus uses a control information stream received from a remote location to provide the set top converter with menu generation capability, the set top converter having the capability to produce decompressed video, comprising:

• an interface means for providing an electronic connection to the set top converter so that the control information stream may be received by the apparatus from the set top converter;
• a means, connected to the interface means, for demultiplexing the control information stream into graphics and text;
• and
• a means, connected to the demultiplexing means, for combining the text and graphics to produce a menu generation signal,
• whereby the menu generation signal is processed by the set top converter for display.

An upgrade module for enhancing the functionality of a decompression box for use in a television program delivery system, the enhanced functionality using a control information stream that provides the decompression box with menu generation capability, the decompression box initially having the capability to decompress video, the upgrade module comprising:

• an electronic connection to the decompression box, whereby the control information stream may be received from the decompression box;
• a demultiplexer, wherein the control information stream is demultiplexed into graphics and text;
• a combiner, electronically connected to the demultiplexer, wherein the combiner uses the demultiplexed graphics and text to produce a menu generation signal;
• and
• a microprocessor, electronically connected to the combiner, wherein the microprocessor causes the menu generation signal to be transferred to the decompression box to be processed for display.

An upgraded set top converter for use in a television program delivery system, the set top converter upgraded for enhanced functionality that provides the set top converter with menu generation capability using a control information stream received from a remote location, the upgraded set top converter comprising:

• an expansion card interface, wherein the control information stream is received from the remote location and wherein the expansion card interface can accept a card;
• and
• a menu generation card, electronically connected to the expansion card interface, and comprising:
• a combiner, whereby a menu generation signal is produced by the combiner and output through the expansion card interface to be processed for display of a menu.