Patent ID: 8429699

Claim:
A method for adapting to resource constraints of a digital home communication terminal (DHCT), said method comprising steps of: determining by the DHCT whether one of a resource-constrained mode or a non-resource constrained mode is to be initiated, the DHCT capable of operating in the non-resource constrained mode and a plurality of resource constrained modes; responsive to determining that one of the resource-constrained modes is to be initiated, operating the DHCT in the determined resource-constrained mode, including: retrieving a set of reconstructed decompressed video frames from a first portion of a memory component, wherein the memory component stores compressed video frames in a distinct second portion, wherein the set of video frames corresponds to a video picture stored in the first portion; and transferring the set of retrieved reconstructed decompressed video frames to a display device while downscaling the video picture in transit to the display device.