Patent ID: 6493876
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
Apparatus for activating television services, said apparatus comprising:an input device for selecting a set-top terminal television channel; memory; a first table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of set-top terminal channel numbers and a plurality of first pointers, each channel number associated with a first pointer; a second table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of identifiers and a plurality of second pointers, each identifier identifying a type of television service, each identifier associated with a second pointer, and each said first pointer pointing to one of said identifiers; and a third table stored in said memory that includes at least one parameter for accessing a source of one of said television services, said parameter pointed to by one of said second pointers; and a central processing unit in communication with said input device and coupled to said memory; wherein said central processing unit displays contents of said source in response to receiving a selected television channel from said input device, said central processing unit using said first, second, and third tables to associate said selected television channel with said source.