Abstract

A set-top box or other receiving device may detect such channels that the EPG cursor visits frequently, visits for relatively long periods of time or that are frequently displayed on the screen in the electronic program guide (EPG), or otherwise frequently visited or viewed. The system determines that such channels are those that the user is likely to return to when browsing the EPG in the future and then adapts the EPG to present such channels on top of the EPG together with each other separately from the other full list of channels presented in the. This may be performed each time the EPG is opened. A customized EPG having the particular group of channels presented according a specific identified user's previous channel browsing activity may also be generated.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices to stream media content are described. A user interface is presented to a user via a media device. When the media device has determined that an interaction with the user interface has occurred (e.g., the user has begun scrolling through a list, or has performed a keyword search), the media device requests, from a media content source, a subset of first media content based on the interaction with the user interface and prior to selection of the first media content via the user interface. The subset of first media content is then displayed in response to the selection of the first media content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04L 65/612 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for unicast
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/438 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to control operation of a portable media device based on machine readable information of a graphical artifact shown on a display concurrently with presentation of a video portion of a media content event. A portable media device, using a portable media device provisioned with an image capture device, captures at least one image that includes the display that is presenting the graphical artifact and the video portion of the media content event, identifies the graphical artifact in the captured at least one image, determines the machine readable data based on the identified graphical artifact, and operates the portable media device to perform at least one operation based on the determined machine readable data.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/40 - Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of, or interaction with, content, e.g. STB [set-top-box]; Operations thereof
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/4223 - Cameras
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot

Abstract

A virus scanning router may manages a local network, including routing network traffic between devices on the network and routing network traffic being sent to and from such devices via an external communication system. The virus scanning router remotely scans for viruses the files stored on one or more such devices on the network. The virus scanning router may be a device trusted by the other devices on local network to facilitate the virus scanning router reading and scanning one or more files stored on such devices for viruses. The virus scanning router also takes corrective actions such as isolating the infected device or isolating an affected network zone to which the remote device belongs.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 21/56 - Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• G06F 21/55 - Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures

Abstract

Video content is processed for delivery using an automated process that allows for convenient packaging of encrypted or digital rights management (DRM) protected content in a manner such that the packaged content can be efficiently stored in a content delivery network (CDN) or other content source for subsequent re-use by other media clients without re-packaging, and without excessive storage of unused content data.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/2347 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving video stream encryption
• G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
• H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/6334 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

Abstract

A virtual set-top box (vSTB) for executing a middleware component, designed originally for use with the physical STB, including emulating hardware capabilities of the physical STB to process IPTV content received over a connection for presenting the IPTV content on a display of the electronic device.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• H04N 21/218 - Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
• H04N 21/4143 - PC [Personal Computer]
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/443 - OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
• H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
• H04N 21/643 - Communication protocols
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• H04N 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
• H04N 21/426 - Internal components of the client

Abstract

A method for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements may include receiving an indication regarding a content playback mode change (e.g., a change from a skip or fast-forward mode to a pause or rewind mode) occurring during playing of a media content segment such as a television program or movie. The method then proceeds to associate the playback mode change with a sub-segment of the television program, such as an advertisement or commercial, and a level of interest of a user in the advertisement or commercial is determined based on the associated content playback mode change. An item, such as an advertisement or promotional offer can be selected to be presented to the user based on the determined level of interest of the user in the advertisement or commercial. Systems for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements include devices and components configured to perform or enable such methods.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• G06Q 30/0242 - Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/658 - Transmission by the client directed to the server
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content

Abstract

Media device systems and methods are operable to identify media content events. An exemplary embodiment receives a user defined keyword tag, associates an identifier of a media content event with the user defined keyword tag, stores the user defined keyword tag and the associated identifier in a database, receives a user specification of the user defined keyword tag, conducts a search of the user defined keyword tags in the database for instances where the user defined keyword tag of the second user specification matches with the stored user defined keyword tag of the first user specification, and generates a return message that indicates the associated identifier of the media content event for each instance where the user defined keyword tag matches with the stored user defined keyword tag.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/738 - Presentation of query results
• H04N 21/8405 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors represented by keywords
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
• H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
• G06F 16/48 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• G06F 16/435 - Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles

Abstract

A remote control system and related method for controlling a video device are presented. The remote control system contains a plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern that correspond to user selectable options displayed on a display screen arranged in the same grid pattern. The user selects options on the screen by pressing the corresponding button on the remote control.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• G08B 6/00 - Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• G08C 17/02 - Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals

Abstract

A system for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines provides a manufacturing machine user interface that facilitates receiving quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine from a user. For quality assurance purposes, the computer system of the manufacturing machine may decide whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. The computer system of the manufacturing machine may also decide to disable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information provided is incomplete, out of date, or otherwise insufficient to indicate the manufacturing machine is ready for safe and effective operation. In some embodiments, one or more client systems, telecommunications devices, and/or personal digital assistant (PDA) devices on which the user interface is displayed and with which the manufacturing machine is in communication may enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control (DNC), flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), integrated manufacturing systems (IMS), computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)

Abstract

A computer implemented method for inserting advertisement content into a program content stream includes receiving, by a headend content server, the program content stream. The program content stream includes an advertisement insertion cue. The method further includes detecting the advertisement insertion cue in the program content stream, and the advertisement insertion cue indicates an insertion point in the program content stream for inserting an advertisement. The method further includes modifying the advertisement insertion cue to indicate an expiration date and time for playout of a first advertisement content to be inserted into the program content stream, and inserting the first advertisement content into the program content stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/222 - Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server or cable television Head-end
• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices may generate speech files that reflect emotion of text-based content. An example process includes selecting a first text from a first source of text content and selecting a second text from a second source of text content. The first text and the second text are aggregated into an aggregated text, and the aggregated text includes a first emotion associated with content of the first text. The aggregated text also includes a second emotion associated with content of the second text. The aggregated text is converted into a speech stored in an audio file. The speech replicates human expression of the first emotion and of the second emotion.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 3/16 - Sound input; Sound output
• G10L 13/04 - Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers - Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management
• G06F 40/117 - Tagging; Marking up ; Designating a block; Setting of attributes

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for maintaining a programming lineup of adaptive-bitrate content streaming is provided. The apparatus includes a timeline module configured to maintain a programming lineup of media content available over a network. The media content may comprise a plurality of streamlets. The apparatus also includes at least one data module configured to maintain multi-bitrate streamlet information. The system includes the apparatus and a client module configured to acquire content based upon the programming lineup provided by the timeline module. The method includes maintaining a programming lineup of media content available over a network, and maintaining multi-bitrate streamlet information.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 65/70 - Media network packetisation
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to present an enhanced electronic program guide (EPG). The enhanced EPG comprises a reduced size video, a mini guide, a single channel guide bar, and an optional preview guide bar.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/8549 - Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods control presentation of audio-only content that is broadcast to a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives media content that is currently received in a channel of a broadcasted media content stream; determines whether the currently received channel is a type of channel that provides audio/visual content or a type of channel that provides audio-only content; controls presentation of the received media content using at least one audio/visual content control function in response to determining that the currently received channel is the type of channel that provides audio/visual content; controls presentation of the received media content using at least one audio-only content control function in response to determining that the currently received channel is the type of channel that provides audio-only content, wherein the at least one audio/visual content control function is different from the at least one audio-only content control function.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof

Abstract

An exemplary geographic playlist system includes a plurality of mobile devices with global positioning systems that provide geographic location information of the mobile device to a geographic location playlist device. The geographic location playlist device has a database of geographic playlist information that includes at least a unique identifier for each one of a plurality of media content events and at least one associated geographic location for each of the plurality of media content events. The geographic location playlist device determines a current geographic location of the mobile device, compares the geographic location of the mobile device with the geographic locations residing in the database, and generates user geographic playlist information that includes the identifier of media content events that has an associated geographic location that matches with the determined geographic location of the mobile device. A geographic playlist is then presented to the user of the mobile device.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/9537 - Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

An automated test platform is disclosed for use in developing and troubleshooting customized software for multimedia content receivers. The automated test platform allows developers to script test cases that permit interaction with multiple content receivers at the same time. The test platform can be applied generally to any client-server system. The automated test platform is used to create scripts, run the scripts on multiple content receivers, and view test results. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided that allows technicians without any programming experience to build and run complex interactive test sequences in a modular fashion. Such an automated test platform can be used to test cable and satellite television set top boxes, as well as DVD players, streaming media receivers, and game consoles.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 11/263 - Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences
• G06F 11/22 - Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for restricting user devices from accessing a communication network. In one implementation, multiple user devices are assigned to a user profile. At least one access parameter is designated for the user profile. An access device monitors data usage, time usage, and content usage of each of the devices associated with the user profile. In some examples, the access device may consolidate the data usage and time usage of all of the devices. If one or more of the consolidated data usage, consolidated time usage, or content usage violates the access parameter of the user profile, the access device restricts at least one of the multiple user devices from accessing the communication network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 67/50 - Network services
• H04L 67/306 - User profiles
• H04L 9/40 - Network security protocols

Abstract

A Wi-Fi mesh network uses a co-axial radio frequency (RF) cable to communicate between a central Wi-Fi mesh network node and one or more satellite Wi-Fi mesh network nodes instead of communicating wirelessly over the air between those nodes. In an example embodiment, the Wi-Fi signals are down-converted to a ˜500 MHz frequency range at the central Wi-Fi mesh network node and then passed through the RF cable. At the receiving end, the down-converted signal is then up-converted back from the ˜500 MHz frequency range to one of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or 6 GHz frequency bands, which may then be wirelessly transmitted via Wi-Fi chipset of the satellite Wi-Fi mesh network node.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04B 3/06 - Control of transmission; Equalising by the transmitted signal
• H04B 7/06 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing media mosaics are described. One embodiment provides a media mosaic management method in a media device. The method generates a mosaic filter based on a program selected from a first media mosaic. The mosaic filter is used to identify related programs for presentation in a second, customized media mosaic.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
• H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
• H04N 21/278 - Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
• H04N 21/2187 - Live feed

Abstract

A computing device is programmed to receive, first and second user indicia of interest for media content. The computing device is further programmed to receive first user data related to a media content item. Based at least in part on the first and second user indicia of interest and the first user data, the computing device is further programmed to generate output that the first user recommend the media content item to the second user.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 67/50 - Network services
• G10L 15/02 - Feature extraction for speech recognition; Selection of recognition unit
• G10L 15/30 - Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• H04L 67/12 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Haptic feedback remote control systems and methods are provided. A method for providing haptic feedback to a user of a haptic feedback remote control device includes receiving, by a receiving device, an electronic command issued from the haptic feedback remote control device. The receiving device transmits a haptic feedback command to the haptic feedback remote control device. Based on the received haptic feedback command, the haptic feedback remote control activates a haptic feedback device, within the haptic feedback remote control, to provide a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/47 - End-user applications

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced video encoding identify patterns in sequences of raw digital video frames to extract features and identify the type of content represented by the extracted features. The system simulates many outcomes of encoding the sequence of digital video frames by using various different encoding strategies to find the relative best encoding strategy for each sequence of frames. As the encoder processes video, it passes digital video frames to a modeling system which determines whether the video, or video having that same type of content, has been previously observed by the system. The system then selectively applies a saved encoding strategy that had been determined by the system to be particularly suitable for encoding the same sequence of video frames or that same type of content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 19/136 - Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
• H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
• H04N 19/196 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding being specially adapted for the computation of encoding parameters, e.g. by averaging previously computed encoding parameters
• H04N 19/40 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• H04N 19/184 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being bits, e.g. of the compressed video stream
• G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
• H04N 19/103 - Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode
• H04N 19/14 - Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation
• H04N 19/177 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a group of pictures [GOP]

Abstract

A remote control system and related method for controlling a video device are presented. The remote control system contains a plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern that correspond to user selectable options displayed on a display screen arranged in the same grid pattern. The user selects options on the screen by pressing the corresponding button on the remote control.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• G08B 6/00 - Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• G08C 17/02 - Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• G08C 23/04 - Non-electric signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A content output device identifies a set of content including both high definition content and standard definition content. The content output device determines whether an associated presentation device is capable of presenting high definition content. The content output device then filters the set of content accordingly responsive to determining whether the presentation device is capable of presenting high definition content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/47 - End-user applications
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals

Abstract

An apparatus for multi-bit rate content streaming includes a receiving module configured to capture media content, a streamlet module configured to segment the media content and generate a plurality of streamlets, and an encoding module configured to generate a set of streamlets. The system includes the apparatus, wherein the set of streamlets comprises a plurality of streamlets having identical time indices and durations, and each streamlet of the set of streamlets having a unique bit rate, and wherein the encoding module comprises a master module configured to assign an encoding job to one of a plurality of host computing modules in response to an encoding job completion bid. A method includes receiving media content, segmenting the media content and generating a plurality of streamlets, and generating a set of streamlets.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 65/70 - Media network packetisation
• H04L 65/1101 - Session protocols
• H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• G06F 16/182 - Distributed file systems
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04L 67/60 - Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
• H04L 65/1069 - Session establishment or de-establishment
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04L 65/61 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• H04N 7/24 - Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation
• H04L 67/568 - Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS
• H04L 47/12 - Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• H04L 65/65 - Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• H04L 47/80 - Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• G06F 16/71 - Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures

Abstract

A system and method are provided of minimizing network bandwidth used from an external network by client peers in a local network. The method can include the operation of organizing a plurality of clients each having media streamlets and a client parent in a structure within the local network. Mapping information propagates through the structure. The mapping information represents local streamlet locations as stored by the plurality of clients. Another operation is retrieving a local streamlet from a client identified in the mapping information as having the local streamlet for the requesting client.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• H04N 21/222 - Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server or cable television Head-end
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
• H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• H04N 21/4402 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
• H04N 21/643 - Communication protocols
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS
• G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
• H04L 65/60 - Network streaming of media packets
• H04L 67/2885 - Hierarchically arranged intermediate devices, e.g. for hierarchical caching
• H04L 67/01 - Protocols
• H04L 67/61 - Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• H04L 67/104 - Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• H04L 67/1074 - Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks for supporting data block transmission mechanisms
• H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
• H04L 67/56 - Provisioning of proxy services
• H04L 67/568 - Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Disclosed is an over-the-air (OTA) antenna meter application (“meter app”) that wirelessly connects to an OTA antenna meter (“meter”) installed with an OTA antenna and presents information that facilitates a user in installing the OTA antenna at the premises of a customer. For example, the meter app can help the user in pointing and peaking the OTA antenna for one or more broadcast channels, e.g., those selected by the customer. The meter app can store installation information of the OTA antenna for various installations, which can be used in generating a recommendation of, or predicting, installation information for installing the OTA antenna at a specified address. The predicted installation information can include broadcast channels that would be available for reception at the specified address and their signal strength, a specific location of installation on the premises, or whether a pre-amplifier and/or filter is required.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
• H04H 60/32 - Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• H04W 76/10 - Connection setup
• H04B 1/10 - Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• H04B 17/318 - Received signal strength
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04M 1/72412 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to present a sporting event on a display based on a determined level of viewer engagement and a determined team preference of the viewer. An exemplary embodiment presents a neutral viewpoint video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a neutral team preference, alternatively presents a first team alternative video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a preference for the first team, or alternatively presents a second team alternative video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a preference for the second team.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/218 - Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• H04N 21/4223 - Cameras
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
• G06V 40/20 - Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition

Abstract

Method, systems, and computer-readable media are provided to facilitate content discovery based on augmented context. A first set of images of a graphical display may be acquired and analyzed to identify visual characteristics of an object represented. Attributes of the object may be identified. Specifications may be transmitted to the television receiver and/or a remote data source in order to pull matching information. A user-selectable interface element may be generated for presentation as an option to take an action relating to the object represented. A visual output of the interface element may be output as an overlay on the first set and/or a second set of images displayed by the computing device. A user selection responsive to the outputting of the visual output of the at interface element may be processed. A communication may be transmitted to the television receiver to cause the action responsive to the user selection.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/4147 - PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
• H04N 21/4223 - Cameras
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• G06T 1/00 - General purpose image data processing
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data

Abstract

Media content presentation systems and methods are operable to present media content received by a media device, wherein the media device comprises a plurality of tuner systems. An exemplary embodiment tunes the plurality of tuners to receive different broadcasting media content streams each comprising a streaming media content event; communicates the streaming media content events from the receiving tuner to a corresponding tuner buffer of the tuner system; and stores a portion of the streaming media content events into the corresponding tuner buffers. When a user selection is received for presentation of one of the streaming media content events, the selected one of the streaming media content events are presented to a user of the media device.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
• H04N 21/426 - Internal components of the client
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/438 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, processes, and computer-readable mediums for facilitating the use of drones are described. For one embodiment, such a system includes a user element having a user application computer program configured to instruct a user interface device to facilitate use of user data and use of mission parameter(s) for a proposed drone mission. An owner element includes an owner application computer program configured to facilitate use of owner data and use of at least one drone parameter. A fleet system element is communicatively coupled to the user element and to the owner element and includes a computer system processor configured to facilitate use of a fleet record and use of at least one fleet parameter.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/02 - Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
• H04L 67/125 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks involving control of end-device applications over a network
• G06Q 30/0645 - Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• B64C 39/02 - Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use
• H04L 9/40 - Network security protocols
• B64U 101/00 - UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications

Abstract

A computing device includes program instructions to select, based on indicia of interest for media content for each of a plurality of users, a first user and second user to engage in an interaction related to a media content item. The computing device further includes programming to select a topic related to the media content item for the interaction and initiate the interaction between the first and second user based on the topic.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 67/50 - Network services
• H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS
• H04L 65/612 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for unicast

Abstract

Systems, methods, machine-readable media, and media device are provided to facilitate seamless flow content splicing to dynamically insert particularized content items in television programming content. A plurality of particularized content items may be received and stored in a content store. First content that corresponds to television programming may be received and processed to detect a first set of color characteristics of video content. A subset of the particularized content items may be selected based on matching a second set of color characteristics of the subset of the particularized content items to the first set of color characteristics of the video content corresponding to the television programming. The first content may be output for display. Then, the subset of the particularized content items may be output for display in succession so that display of the subset of the particularized content items directly follows display of the first content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams

Abstract

An apparatus for multi-bitrate content streaming includes a receiving module configured to capture media content, a streamlet module configured to segment the media content and generate a plurality of streamlets, and an encoding module configured to generate a set of streamlets. The system includes the apparatus, wherein the set of streamlets comprises a plurality of streamlets having identical time indices and durations, and each streamlet of the set of streamlets having a unique bitrate, and wherein the encoding module comprises a master module configured to assign an encoding job to one of a plurality of host computing modules in response to an encoding job completion bid. A method includes receiving media content, segmenting the media content and generating a plurality of streamlets, and generating a set of streamlets.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 65/70 - Media network packetisation
• H04L 47/80 - Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• H04L 47/12 - Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• G06F 16/71 - Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• G06F 16/182 - Distributed file systems
• H04N 7/24 - Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS
• H04L 65/61 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• H04L 65/65 - Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• H04L 65/1101 - Session protocols
• H04L 67/60 - Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
• H04L 67/568 - Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• H04L 65/1069 - Session establishment or de-establishment
• H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities

Abstract

A smart multimedia content receiver automatically resizes video images based on the content being displayed on the TV screen. Such a self-formatting content receiver includes on-board image processing capability that provides continuous video analysis to detect changes in program formatting and convert each frame as it is received in real time, as opposed to processing and re-releasing an entire program or movie, or relying on the viewer to re-format programs manually. In response to detecting a change, aspect ratio adjustments are made as needed. Because the self-formatting content receiver has access to the video data before it is displayed, such automatic on-the-fly adjustments ensure that the viewer's experience during program changes is seamless and without distortion. Subscribers can influence decisions made by the content receiver by pre-setting viewer preferences for aspect ratio adjustment.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04W 28/08 - Load balancing or load distribution
• H04L 47/215 - Flow control; Congestion control using token-bucket
• H04L 47/127 - Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion by using congestion prediction
• H04L 47/125 - Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering

Abstract

Various systems, devices and methods automatically identify advertisements or other portions of television or other media content prior to broadcast using automated content analysis. Information about identified content may be used for any number of different purposes, including advertisement identification; advertisement replacement; second screen browsing or augmentation of identified content; tracking of times or places that ads or other content are viewed; and many others.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• H04N 21/233 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• H04N 21/8352 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving content or source identification data, e.g. UMID [Unique Material Identifier]
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs

Abstract

Systems and methods provide presentation control of media content. An exemplary embodiment receives media content that is currently received in a broadcasted media content stream; presents on a display a first presentation area, wherein the first presentation area presents a video portion of the media content; receives a user command that initiates a video presentation trick function; and presents in response to the user command a second presentation area, wherein the second presentation area presents the video portion of the media content in accordance with the video presentation trick function, and wherein the first presentation area and the second presentation area are concurrently presented on the display.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• G11B 27/00 - Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• G11B 27/10 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel

Abstract

Three dimension (3D) model generation systems and methods are operable to generate 3D model data corresponding to images of a physical object of interest that are viewed in a presenting media content event. An exemplary embodiment receives a user request that is associated with an interest by the user to obtain a 3D model of a physical object of interest that is being shown in a scene of a currently presenting media content event. A plurality of video image frames are selected from the scene. Then, 3D model data of the physical object of interest is generated based on at least the selected video image frames of the scene.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06T 7/579 - Depth or shape recovery from multiple images from motion
• H04N 1/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details thereof
• H04N 21/4728 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content for selecting a ROI [Region Of Interest], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/4722 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
• B29C 64/386 - Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• B33Y 50/00 - Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• H04M 1/00 - Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
• H04N 5/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details of television systems
• B24D 7/16 - Bushings; Mountings

Abstract

A content selection menu is generated and provided to a user. The content selection menu includes a plurality of audiovisual (AV) programs that are provided for user selection. The AV programs may be positioned in the content selection menu in accordance with their associated score for content attributes. Upon providing the content selection to a user, the user may select a program for viewing or the user may indicate interest in a program. If the user indicates interest in a program a second content selection menu is generated based at least in part on the attributes of the program of interest.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for presenting relevant programming information. A viewing action of an audiovisual event is detected on a receiving device. Data associated with the viewed audiovisual event is then retrieved. The retrieved data includes at least receiving device information and audiovisual event information. The retrieved data is then stored in a historical viewing database, and at least one scoring table is generated from the data in the historical viewing database. Programming information for a plurality of candidate audiovisual events that are available to be viewed is then organized based at least in part on the at least one scoring table and a selected time, and the organized programming information is output to a presentation device.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
• H04N 21/40 - Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of, or interaction with, content, e.g. STB [set-top-box]; Operations thereof
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection

Abstract

An exemplary geographic playlist system includes a plurality of mobile devices with global positioning systems that provide geographic location information of the mobile device to a geographic location playlist device. The geographic location playlist device has a database of geographic playlist information that includes at least a unique identifier for each one of a plurality of media content events and at least one associated geographic location for each of the plurality of media content events. The geographic location playlist device determines a current geographic location of the mobile device, compares the geographic location of the mobile device with the geographic locations residing in the database, and generates user geographic playlist information that includes the identifier of media content events that has an associated geographic location that matches with the determined geographic location of the mobile device. A geographic playlist is then presented to the user of the mobile device.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/9537 - Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

Systems and methods of media devices are operable to receive appointment information from an electronic device, wherein the appointment information is defined by a time period for a scheduled appointment for a user, and wherein the scheduled appointment requires the user to be at a remote location that is remote from a location of the media device such that the user is unable to manually operate or use their media device. The media device is configured to automatically modify at least one operation of the media device based on the received appointment information that is associated with the scheduled appointment.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
• G06Q 10/1093 - Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 5/782 - Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations

Abstract

A set-top box or other receiving device may detect such channels that the EPG cursor visits frequently, visits for relatively long periods of time or that are frequently displayed on the screen in the electronic program guide (EPG), or otherwise frequently visited or viewed. The system determines that such channels are those that the user is likely to return to when browsing the EPG in the future and then adapts the EPG to present such channels on top of the EPG together with each other separately from the other full list of channels presented in the. This may be performed each time the EPG is opened. A customized EPG having the particular group of channels presented according a specific identified user's previous channel browsing activity may also be generated.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering

Abstract

A method for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements may include receiving an indication regarding a content playback mode change (e.g., a change from a skip or fast-forward mode to a pause or rewind mode) occurring during playing of a media content segment such as a television program or movie. The method then proceeds to associate the playback mode change with a sub-segment of the television program, such as an advertisement or commercial, and a level of interest of a user in the advertisement or commercial is determined based on the associated content playback mode change. An item, such as an advertisement or promotional offer can be selected to be presented to the user based on the determined level of interest of the user in the advertisement or commercial. Systems for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements include devices and components configured to perform or enable such methods.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04H 60/32 - Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• G06Q 30/0242 - Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/658 - Transmission by the client directed to the server
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content

Abstract

A computer implemented method for inserting advertisement content into a program content stream includes receiving, by a headend content server, the program content stream. The program content stream includes an advertisement insertion cue. The method further includes detecting the advertisement insertion cue in the program content stream, and the advertisement insertion cue indicates an insertion point in the program content stream for inserting an advertisement. The method further includes modifying the advertisement insertion cue to indicate an expiration date and time for playout of a first advertisement content to be inserted into the program content stream, and inserting the first advertisement content into the program content stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• H04N 21/222 - Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server or cable television Head-end
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for adaptive content splicing with respect to content corresponding to a televised event are disclosed. First content may be received and may be determined to correspond to an event that is televised. One or more indicators of one or more state changes with respect to the event may be detected. A content composite may be created. An adaptable content item received from a first system may be processed. A content object re may be processed. The adaptable content item may be modified based at least in part on the content object to form the content composite. The creating the content composite may be a function of rules mapped to a current geolocation. Second content corresponding to the programming content may be received. The second content may be output for display in conjunction with the content composite.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data

Abstract

Media content recommendation systems and methods are operable to recommend one or more media content events to a user based on identified changes in the user's emotional state during a life event that is experienced by the user.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/8405 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors represented by keywords
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• A61B 5/00 - Measuring for diagnostic purposes ; Identification of persons
• A61B 5/16 - Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times
• A61B 5/374 - Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• A61B 5/378 - Visual stimuli

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) object manufacturing systems and methods are operable to manufacture printed 3D objects corresponding to user-selected physical objects of interest shown in a media content event that have been viewed by a user, wherein at least one 3D printer that is accessible by the user of the media device is operable to manufacture the printed 3D object corresponding to the viewed physical object of interest.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 19/048 - Monitoring; Safety
• B33Y 30/00 - ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Details thereof or accessories therefor
• B33Y 50/02 - Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• G06T 19/00 - Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
• G06V 20/64 - Three-dimensional objects

Abstract

An embodiment for recording a channel that is communicating a program of interest identifies a selected program for recording as a program of interest based upon a characteristic of the selected program, the characteristic of the selected program corresponding to at least one characteristic associated with the program of interest; records an advance period corresponding to a period before a beginning of the program of interest, and records a following period corresponding to a period after a conclusion of the program of interest.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/4147 - PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/47 - End-user applications
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to control presentation of an erotica-related media content event. An exemplary embodiment is a media device that receives information from a user sensor that is configured to sense a physical characteristic of a user viewing the erotica-related media content event, and automatically changes presentation of the erotica-related media content event based on the received information corresponding to the sensed physical characteristic of the viewing user.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/4402 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to present an enhanced electronic program guide (EPG). The enhanced EPG comprises a reduced size video, a mini guide, a single channel guide bar, and an optional preview guide bar.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 7/18 - Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/8549 - Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof

Abstract

Media content event access systems and methods are operable to indicate media content event access options. An exemplary embodiment presents a first listing that indicates a plurality of user-specified media content events of a user's watch list, receives user input corresponding to a selection of one of the user-specified media content events indicated on the first listing, presents a second listing indicating access information, wherein the second listing presents access information that informs the user of at least one access option that may be selected by the user to cause the media device to access the selected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events, and wherein the second listing presents content attribute information that informs the user of at least one attribute of the selected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events that is provided by the associated content source.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for selectively obscuring a rendering of a media stream. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a request to render the media stream. The media stream is accessed through a first media source. A content identifier is identified for an event within the requested media stream. Based upon the content identifier, it may be discovered that the event is accessible through at least one second media source. The rendering of the requested media stream may then be obscured and a notification provided to a user that the event within the requested media stream is accessible through at least one second media source.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
• H04N 21/40 - Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of, or interaction with, content, e.g. STB [set-top-box]; Operations thereof
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection

Abstract

Media device systems and methods are operable to identify media content events. An exemplary embodiment receives a user defined keyword tag, associates an identifier of a media content event with the user defined keyword tag, stores the user defined keyword tag and the associated identifier in a database, receives a user specification of the user defined keyword tag, conducts a search of the user defined keyword tags in the database for instances where the user defined keyword tag of the second user specification matches with the stored user defined keyword tag of the first user specification, and generates a return message that indicates the associated identifier of the media content event for each instance where the user defined keyword tag matches with the stored user defined keyword tag.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/73 - Querying
• G06F 16/738 - Presentation of query results
• H04N 21/8405 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors represented by keywords
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
• H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
• G06F 16/48 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• G06F 16/435 - Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• H04N 21/85 - Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• H04N 21/858 - Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object or by creating a hotspot

Abstract

Systems and methods control presentation of audio-only content that is broadcast to a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives media content that is currently received in a channel of a broadcasted media content stream; determines whether the currently received channel is a type of channel that provides audio/visual content or a type of channel that provides audio-only content; controls presentation of the received media content using at least one audio/visual content control function in response to determining that the currently received channel is the type of channel that provides audio/visual content; controls presentation of the received media content using at least one audio-only content control function in response to determining that the currently received channel is the type of channel that provides audio-only content, wherein the at least one audio/visual content control function is different from the at least one audio-only content control function.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof

Abstract

A remote control having an ultraviolet light emitting device for disinfecting the outer surfaces of the remote control is disclosed. In particular, the remote control may include an ultraviolet transmissive housing and internal ultraviolet emitting light emitting diodes. The ultraviolet transmissive housing allows the light from the internally mounted ultraviolet emitters to pass through the remote control's housing and kill bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms on the outer surface of the remote control by employing methods to automate safe and effective operations of ultraviolet light.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• A61L 2/10 - Ultraviolet radiation
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• G06F 1/3231 - Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• H02J 50/10 - Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling
• H05B 45/18 - Controlling the intensity of the light using temperature feedback

Abstract

A system and method are provided of minimizing network bandwidth used from an external network by client peers in a local network. The method can include the operation of organizing a plurality of clients each having media streamlets and a client parent in a structure within the local network. Mapping information propagates through the structure. The mapping information represents local streamlet locations as stored by the plurality of clients. Another operation is retrieving a local streamlet from a client identified in the mapping information as having the local streamlet for the requesting client.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
• H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• H04N 21/222 - Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server or cable television Head-end
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
• H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• H04N 21/4402 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
• H04N 21/643 - Communication protocols
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
• G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
• H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS
• H04L 65/60 - Network streaming of media packets
• H04L 67/2885 - Hierarchically arranged intermediate devices, e.g. for hierarchical caching
• H04L 67/01 - Protocols
• H04L 67/61 - Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• H04L 67/104 - Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• H04L 67/1074 - Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks for supporting data block transmission mechanisms
• H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
• H04L 67/56 - Provisioning of proxy services
• H04L 67/568 - Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for selectively obscuring a rendering of a media stream. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a media stream with a receiving device, receiving event data associated with the media stream, generating identification data based at least in part on the event data, presenting the media stream and identification data on a presentation device, receiving at least one participant selection from a user interface device, retrieving participant information based on the at least one participant selection, and presenting the participant information on the presentation device.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 67/63 - Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• H04L 67/306 - User profiles
• H04L 65/611 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for multicast or broadcast
• H04L 67/52 - Network services specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for streaming or otherwise delivering media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network using a RS-DVR system involves receiving, at the RS-DVR system, a request for a portion of the media content from a media player on a client device via the network, receiving, at the RS-DVR system, the portion of the media content from an origin server on the network, buffering the portion of the media content at the RS-DVR system, and transmitting the portion of the media content to the media player on the client device. The portion of media content may be transmitted using a modified transport layer protocol, and in some embodiments, marked as non-cacheable.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
• H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
• H04N 21/2187 - Live feed
• H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/4147 - PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
• H04L 65/612 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for unicast
• H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS
• H04N 21/438 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/658 - Transmission by the client directed to the server
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04L 67/63 - Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• H04L 43/0876 - Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• H04L 43/0888 - Throughput
• H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/2747 - Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/643 - Communication protocols
• H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
• H04B 1/16 - Circuits
• H04L 25/03 - Shaping networks in transmitter or receiver, e.g. adaptive shaping networks
• H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• H04N 21/238 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
• H04N 21/237 - Communication with additional data server
• H04N 21/278 - Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access

Abstract

Volume limiting systems and methods are operable to limit volume output from media presentation devices. An exemplary embodiment detects a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device, and wherein the microphone is remotely located from the at least one controlled media presentation device; compares a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit; generates a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and communicates the volume output limit command to the media presentation device. The media presentation device then reduces a volume level of its audio output. In some instances, volume may be limited during user specified periods.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 3/16 - Sound input; Sound output
• H03G 7/00 - Volume compression or expansion in amplifiers
• H03G 3/32 - Automatic control in amplifiers having semiconductor devices the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• G06F 3/04842 - Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
• H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced video encoding identify patterns in sequences of raw digital video frames to extract features and identify the type of content represented by the extracted features. The system simulates many outcomes of encoding the sequence of digital video frames by using various different encoding strategies to find the relative best encoding strategy for each sequence of frames. As the encoder processes video, it passes digital video frames to a modeling system which determines whether the video, or video having that same type of content, has been previously observed by the system. The system then selectively applies a saved encoding strategy that had been determined by the system to be particularly suitable for encoding the same sequence of video frames or that same type of content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 19/136 - Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
• H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
• H04N 19/196 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding being specially adapted for the computation of encoding parameters, e.g. by averaging previously computed encoding parameters
• H04N 19/40 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• H04N 19/184 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being bits, e.g. of the compressed video stream
• G06V 10/44 - Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components
• G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
• G06V 30/194 - References adjustable by an adaptive method, e.g. learning
• H04N 19/103 - Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode
• H04N 19/14 - Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation
• H04N 19/177 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a group of pictures [GOP]
• G06F 16/783 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using metadata automatically derived from the content

Abstract

A method of providing customized commercial content to a user includes providing first commercial content to a user, determining, using an integrated virtual environment device, whether the user substantially viewed the first commercial content, and providing second commercial content to the user based on the first commercial content and whether the user substantially viewed the first commercial content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• G06Q 30/02 - Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Haptic feedback remote control systems and methods are provided. A method for providing haptic feedback to a user of a haptic feedback remote control device includes receiving, by a receiving device, an electronic command issued from the haptic feedback remote control device. The receiving device transmits a haptic feedback command to the haptic feedback remote control device. Based on the received haptic feedback command, the haptic feedback remote control activates a haptic feedback device, within the haptic feedback remote control, to provide a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/47 - End-user applications

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for restricting user devices from accessing a communication network. In one implementation, multiple user devices are assigned to a user profile. At least one access parameter is designated for the user profile. An access device monitors data usage, time usage, and content usage of each of the devices associated with the user profile. In some examples, the access device may consolidate the data usage and time usage of all of the devices. If one or more of the consolidated data usage, consolidated time usage, or content usage violates the access parameter of the user profile, the access device restricts at least one of the multiple user devices from accessing the communication network.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 67/50 - Network services
• H04L 67/306 - User profiles
• H04L 9/40 - Network security protocols

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 12/911 - Network admission control and resource allocation, e.g. bandwidth allocation or in-call renegotiation
• H04L 12/66 - Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol

Abstract

A computing device is programmed to receive, first and second user indicia of interest for media content. The computing device is further programmed to receive first user data related to a media content item. Based at least in part on the first and second user indicia of interest and the first user data, the computing device is further programmed to generate output that the first user recommend the media content item to the second user.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
• G06F 9/54 - Interprogram communication
• H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
• H04L 67/50 - Network services
• G10L 15/02 - Feature extraction for speech recognition; Selection of recognition unit
• G10L 15/30 - Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• H04L 67/12 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• G10L 25/63 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups specially adapted for particular use for comparison or discrimination for estimating an emotional state
• H04L 67/306 - User profiles

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided to automatically identify advertisements or other portions of a broadcast television stream before the stream is distributed via a cable, DBS, IPTV or other medium. The television broadcast is received at the data processing system, and audio content of the television broadcast is analyzed to generate an audio fingerprint of a portion of the audio content. The identified audio fingerprint are compared to audio fingerprints stored in a database to thereby identify the portion of the television broadcast based on the generated audio fingerprint. By identifying the contents of an actual broadcast prior to redistribution of the broadcast, additional actions may be taken that are unique to the identified content.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/8358 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving watermark
• H04N 21/233 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/8352 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving content or source identification data, e.g. UMID [Unique Material Identifier]
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

Abstract

Disclosed is an over-the-air (OTA) antenna meter application (“meter app”) that wirelessly connects to an OTA antenna meter (“meter”) installed with an OTA antenna and presents information that facilitates a user in installing the OTA antenna at the premises of a customer. For example, the meter app can help the user in pointing and peaking the OTA antenna for one or more broadcast channels, e.g., those selected by the customer. The meter app can store installation information of the OTA antenna for various installations, which can be used in generating a recommendation of, or predicting, installation information for installing the OTA antenna at a specified address. The predicted installation information can include broadcast channels that would be available for reception at the specified address and their signal strength, a specific location of installation on the premises, or whether a pre-amplifier and/or filter is required.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
• H04H 60/32 - Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• H04W 76/10 - Connection setup
• H04B 1/10 - Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• H04B 17/318 - Received signal strength
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04M 1/72412 - User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A remote control system and related method for controlling a video device are presented. The remote control system contains a plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern that correspond to user selectable options displayed on a display screen arranged in the same grid pattern. The user selects options on the screen by pressing the corresponding button on the remote control.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• G08B 6/00 - Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• G08C 17/02 - Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• G08C 23/04 - Non-electric signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Video content is processed for delivery using an automated process that allows for convenient packaging of encrypted or digital rights management (DRM) protected content in a manner such that the packaged content can be efficiently stored in a content delivery network (CDN) or other content source for subsequent re-use by other media clients without re-packaging, and without excessive storage of unused content data.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/2347 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving video stream encryption
• G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
• H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/6334 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

Abstract

Various embodiments facilitate the creation and presentation of a virtual experience. In one embodiment, the virtual experience is assembled from user model data corresponding to a three-dimensional representation of a user, user movement data corresponding to at least one movement characteristic of the user, user voice data corresponding to at least one vocal characteristic of the user, environment data corresponding to a three-dimensional representation of a location, and event data corresponding to a captured event at the location. The virtual experience is a virtual recreation of the captured event at the location, with the three-dimensional representation of the user, the vocal characteristic of the user, and the movement characteristic of the user inserted into the captured event.

IPC Classes  ?

• G11B 27/031 - Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/854 - Content authoring
• G02B 27/01 - Head-up displays
• G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer

Abstract

Systems and methods of a media device are operable to perform a channel change operation. An exemplary embodiment receives a first data table from a data table server, wherein the first data table comprises first control information used to perform a channel change operation such that the media device reconfigures itself to change to a new channel from a currently presenting channel or to a new media content event from a currently presenting media content event. The exemplary embodiment later receives a second data table after initiation of the channel change operation, wherein the second data table is broadcast to the media device in one of a plurality of received broadcasting media content streams that has the new media content event, and wherein the second data table comprises second control information that corresponds to at least some of the first control information used to perform the channel change operation.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/438 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/6332 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client
• H04N 21/6336 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client directed to decoder
• H04N 21/2362 - Generation or processing of SI [Service Information]
• H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to notify a user of content availability. An exemplary embodiment receives a content availability notification request that specifies at least one content of interest, searches current electronic program guide (EPG) information to identify the content of interest, determines that the information identifying the specified content of interest is unavailable based upon the search of the current EPG information, generates a content availability reminder that is associated with the specified content of interest, monitors a content database to determine an availability of the specified content of interest identified in the content availability reminder, determines that the specified content of interest is available when the monitored content database indicates availability of the specified content of interest, and generates a content availability reminder notification that indicates at least a title of the specified content of interest.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• G06F 16/435 - Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/47 - End-user applications
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors

Abstract

A method for social viewing of media content includes transmitting, to multiple users, media content when the multiple users are members of a common group associated with a social media site (i.e., “friends” or the like) while providing, to the users, an interaction region configured to allow the first user and the second user to share comments with each other regarding the media content via an interaction stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• G06Q 10/10 - Office automation; Time management
• G06Q 50/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
• H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are provided for delivering media content from different types of content sources to different destination devices across an outdoor/indoor interface using an outdoor hub device. An exemplary hub device includes a first input interface to receive a broadcast signal, a second input interface to receive a telecommunications signal from a telecommunications network, and an output interface. The device further includes a content stream management module coupled to the first input interface and the second input interface to multiplex broadcast and telecommunications content into a multiplexed content stream, an encapsulation module coupled to the content stream management module to encapsulate the multiplexed content stream into a packetized multiplexed content stream, and a communications interface coupled to the encapsulation module and the output interface to transmit the packetized multiplexed content stream to an indoor gateway device via the output interface.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 41/50 - Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04L 41/00 - Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• H04H 20/63 - Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
• H04L 69/321 - Interlayer communication protocols or service data unit [SDU] definitions; Interfaces between layers
• H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
• H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices to authorize access to a simultaneous media streams are described. After a first media stream is initiated with a first client device, an authorization service receives a request to establish the simultaneous second media stream with a second client device. The service determines whether the second client device is at a geographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and grants or denies access to the second simultaneous stream accordingly.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
• G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are described to process timed text that is associated with media or other video programming. Pre-set data that describes the particular format of the timed text that is associated with a program is initially received and stored at the media receiver prior to receiving the program with encoded timed text. The timed text that is associated with the received program is interpreted according to the pre-set data previously stored at the media receiver, and the program with the interpreted timed text is output to a display for presentation to the viewer.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
• H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• H04N 7/088 - Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval the inserted signal being digital
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

Abstract

An embodiment for recording a channel that is communicating a program of interest identifies a selected program for recording as a program of interest based upon a characteristic of the selected program, the characteristic of the selected program corresponding to at least one characteristic associated with the program of interest, records an advance period corresponding to a period before a beginning of the program of interest, and records a following period corresponding to a period after a conclusion of the program of interest.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/4147 - PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 21/47 - End-user applications
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are described for wireless communication. In one example a first wireless signal is received in a first radio frequency spectrum using a first antenna exterior to a building. The first wireless signal is associated with a first wireless protocol. The first wireless signal is converted into a first intermediate signal associated with a coaxial protocol. The first intermediate signal is transmitted to an interior of the building using a coaxial cable. The first intermediate signal is converted into a second signal associated with a second wireless protocol. The second signal is then transmitted in a second radio frequency spectrum using a second antenna interior to the building. The second signal is transmitted using the second wireless protocol.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04W 88/06 - Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• H04W 76/22 - Manipulation of transport tunnels
• H04L 12/66 - Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• H04W 16/26 - Cell enhancers, e.g. for tunnels or building shadow
• H04W 84/12 - WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing media mosaics are described. One embodiment provides a media mosaic management method in a media device. The method generates a mosaic filter based on a program selected from a first media mosaic. The mosaic filter is used to identify related programs for presentation in a second, customized media mosaic.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
• H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
• H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
• H04N 21/232 - Content retrieval operation within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays
• H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
• H04N 21/278 - Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
• H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
• H04N 21/2187 - Live feed

Abstract

Disclosed is an over-the-air (OTA) antenna meter application (“meter app”) that wirelessly connects to an OTA antenna meter (“meter”) installed with an OTA antenna and presents information that facilitates a user in installing the OTA antenna at the premises of a customer. For example, the meter app can help the user in pointing and peaking the OTA antenna for one or more broadcast channels, e.g., those selected by the customer. The meter app can store installation information of the OTA antenna for various installations, which can be used in generating a recommendation of, or predicting, installation information for installing the OTA antenna at a specified address. The predicted installation information can include broadcast channels that would be available for reception at the specified address and their signal strength, a specific location of installation on the premises, or whether a pre-amplifier and/or filter is required.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04B 17/336 - Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• H04B 17/318 - Received signal strength
• H04W 4/02 - Services making use of location information
• G06F 3/04847 - Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• H04W 72/00 - Local resource management
• G06F 16/29 - Geographical information databases
• H04W 72/30 - Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are described for wireless communication. In one example a first wireless signal is received in a first radio frequency spectrum using a first antenna exterior to a building. The first wireless signal is associated with a first wireless protocol. The first wireless signal is converted into a first intermediate signal associated with a coaxial protocol. The first intermediate signal is transmitted to an interior of the building using a coaxial cable. The first intermediate signal is converted into a second signal associated with a second wireless protocol. The second signal is then transmitted in a second radio frequency spectrum using a second antenna interior to the building. The second signal is transmitted using the second wireless protocol.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04M 7/00 - Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• H04B 7/155 - Ground-based stations

Abstract

A mobile device running a mobile application accesses a remote content receiver to request the remote content receiver to retrieve a particular recording timer, and upon receiving the recording timer from the remote content receiver, establishes a radio communication link with a second mobile device and transfers the recording timer to the second mobile device over the established radio communication link. The radio communication link is preferably the Near Field Communication (NFC) link.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 5/76 - Television signal recording
• H04N 21/4227 - Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• H04W 76/14 - Direct-mode setup
• H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• G11B 15/02 - Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• H04N 21/4147 - PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
• H04N 9/88 - Signal drop-out compensation

Abstract

A receiving device may assign a remote-control device of the receiving device to a special mode by storing an association of an identifier unique to the remote-control device with the particular special mode. The receiving device may receive a command from the remote-control device and determine that there has been a special mode assigned to the remote-control device based on the stored association of the identifier unique to the remote-control device with the particular special mode. The receiving device will then interpret the command received from the remote-control device according to how commands are to be processed in the special mode. The receiving device having the remote-control device assigned to the special mode may cause the receiving device to execute a different command or process than it would have normally performed when receiving such a command from a remote-control device that is not assigned to the special mode.

IPC Classes  ?

• G08C 17/02 - Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link

Abstract

Methods and devices produce an audio representation of aggregated content by selecting preferred content from a number of sources. The sources are emotion-tagged. The emotion-tagged preferred content sources are converted into audio files. A set of audio files corresponding to the converted preferred content is generated. The preferred content is individually converted into the audio files. The generated set comprises non-aggregated content.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 3/16 - Sound input; Sound output
• G10L 13/04 - Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers - Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management
• G06F 40/117 - Tagging; Marking up ; Designating a block; Setting of attributes
• G10L 13/10 - Prosody rules derived from text; Stress or intonation

Abstract

A computer implemented method for inserting advertisement content into a program content stream includes receiving, by a headend content server, the program content stream. The program content stream includes an advertisement insertion cue. The method further includes detecting the advertisement insertion cue in the program content stream, and the advertisement insertion cue indicates an insertion point in the program content stream for inserting an advertisement. The method further includes modifying the advertisement insertion cue to indicate an expiration date and time for playout of a first advertisement content to be inserted into the program content stream, and inserting the first advertisement content into the program content stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
• H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
• H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• H04N 21/222 - Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server or cable television Head-end
• H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists

Abstract

A method of transmitting data on an antenna includes: receiving an indication of orientation of a housing from an orientation sensor, the housing having an antenna coupled thereto; determining an orientation of the housing based on the indication of orientation the housing; actuating an electric motor to change an orientation of the antenna based on the orientation of the housing; electrically connecting the antenna to a transmitter; and transmitting data from the transmitter on the antenna.

IPC Classes  ?

• H01Q 3/02 - Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• H01Q 21/24 - Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction
• H01Q 1/22 - Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
• H04N 5/64 - Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers
• H01Q 3/04 - Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• H01Q 1/00 - ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS - Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
• H01Q 3/24 - Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

An RF antenna arrangement has the same or slightly larger footprint as the RF shield for radio chips on a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board, a digital processor, a radio chip(s), a radio frequency shield, a lid, and an RF antenna arrangement(s). The lid has the same or slightly larger footprint as the RF shield, which enables the lid to fit on the RF shield. The RF antenna is formed as an integral part of the lid. The apparatus also includes an RF transmission coaxial cable(s) having a first end physically and electrically connected to the RF antenna arrangement(s) and the surface of the lid, and a second end electrically coupled to an RF connector. By forming the antenna arrangement(s) from the lid, this invention solves the space constraint problems of antenna placements for wireless device applications. Additionally, this invention is cost-effective and simple to manufacture.

IPC Classes  ?

• H01Q 1/24 - Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
• H01Q 5/371 - Branching current paths  
• H01Q 1/52 - Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure
• H05K 9/00 - Screening of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic fields
• H01Q 1/44 - ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS - Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna
• H01Q 1/22 - Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
• H01Q 1/38 - Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support
• H01Q 1/48 - Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises

Abstract

Various embodiments facilitate voice control of a receiving device, such as a set-top box. In one embodiment, a voice enabled media presentation system (“VEMPS”) includes a receiving device and a remote-control device having an audio input device. The VEMPS is configured to obtain audio data via the audio input device, the audio data received from a user and representing a spoken command to control the receiving device. The VEMPS is further configured to determine the spoken command by performing speech recognition on the obtained audio data, and to control the receiving device based on the determined command. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

IPC Classes  ?

• G10L 15/26 - Speech to text systems
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for maintaining a programming lineup of adaptive-bitrate content streaming is provided. The apparatus includes a timeline module configured to maintain a programming lineup of media content available over a network. The media content may comprise a plurality of streamlets. The apparatus also includes at least one data module configured to maintain multi-bitrate streamlet information. The system includes the apparatus and a client module configured to acquire content based upon the programming lineup provided by the timeline module. The method includes maintaining a programming lineup of media content available over a network, and maintaining multi-bitrate streamlet information.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
• H04L 65/70 - Media network packetisation
• H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
• H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
• H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to present a sporting event on a display based on a determined level of viewer engagement and a determined team preference of the viewer. An exemplary embodiment presents a neutral viewpoint video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a neutral team preference, alternatively presents a first team alternative video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a preference for the first team, or alternatively presents a second team alternative video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a preference for the second team.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/218 - Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
• H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
• H04N 21/4223 - Cameras
• H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
• G06V 40/20 - Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition

Abstract

A computing device is programmed to receive data collected from communications of a user. The computer identifies portions of the collected data including a keyword selected from a list of media content elements or lists of keywords associated with each of the media content elements. The computer associates each portion with a media content element. The computer further determines a score for each media content element based on at least one of the number of references, words included in the portion of collected referring to the media content element, and the voice quality of the portion of collected data referring to the media content element. Based on the scores, the computer assigns media content elements to the user. The computer recommends media content items to the user based at least in part on the media content elements assigned to the user.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/435 - Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to record a media content event at a media device. An exemplary embodiment grabs a series of subsequently received image frames from the media content event that is being recorded after a monitored real time reaches a closing credits monitor time, wherein the closing credits monitor time is a recording end time less a predefined duration. The embodiment then analyzes each of the image frames to identify an occurrence of text presented in the analyzed image frame, determines that the identified text corresponds to closing credits of the media content event if the at least one attribute of the identified text matches a corresponding predefined closing credits attribute, and initiates an end of the recording of the media content event in response to determining that the identified text corresponds to the closing credits of the media content event.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
• H04N 21/4147 - PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
• H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
• G06T 7/20 - Analysis of motion
• H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
• G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to increase brightness output from a display. An exemplary embodiment detects a predefined user action of a remote control, and then increases brightness of a currently presented image that is being presented on the display in response to detecting the predefined user action so that an ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display is increased.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
• H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• G09G 5/00 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
• G09G 5/02 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed

Abstract

A system for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines provides a manufacturing machine user interface that facilitates receiving quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine from a user. For quality assurance purposes, the computer system of the manufacturing machine may decide whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. The computer system of the manufacturing machine may also decide to disable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information provided is incomplete, out of date, or otherwise insufficient to indicate the manufacturing machine is ready for safe and effective operation. In some embodiments, one or more client systems, telecommunications devices, and/or personal digital assistant (PDA) devices on which the user interface is displayed and with which the manufacturing machine is in communication may enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 19/41 - Numerical control (NC), i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by interpolation, e.g. the computation of intermediate points between programmed end points to define the path to be followed and the rate of travel along that path
• G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control (DNC), flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), integrated manufacturing systems (IMS), computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)

Abstract

Applications executing on phones, tablets and other client devices can be designed to authenticate with network services, but reliably identifying a client device that is not previously known to the service can be difficult. A television receiver or other trusted device that is previously known to the service, however, can act as an intermediary for initially delivering the client's identifying data to the authentication service. After the authentication service has received reliable identifying information about the client from another trusted device, the service is able to directly authenticate the client device in subsequent transactions by requesting and verifying receipt of the same secret identifier.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04L 9/08 - Key distribution
• H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
• H04L 9/40 - Network security protocols

Abstract

A mobile device includes a first display portion, a second display portion and a graphics processor. The first display portion is viewable while the second display portion is obscured when the mobile device is in a retracted configuration. Both display portions are viewable when the mobile device is in an expanded configuration. The graphics processor may be coupled to each display portion and configured to generate a first image for display on: the first display portion when the mobile device is in the retracted configuration; at least one of the display portions while the mobile device is in the expanded configuration; and at least one of the display portions while the mobile device transitions between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration. The second display portion may be a flexible display material, such as an OLED display and with the first display portion may be a single sheet OLED display.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 1/16 - Constructional details or arrangements
• H04M 1/02 - Constructional features of telephone sets

Abstract

A virus scanning router may manages a local network, including routing network traffic between devices on the network and routing network traffic being sent to and from such devices via an external communication system. The virus scanning router remotely scans for viruses the files stored on one or more such devices on the network. The virus scanning router may be a device trusted by the other devices on local network to facilitate the virus scanning router reading and scanning one or more files stored on such devices for viruses. The virus scanning router also takes corrective actions such as isolating the infected device or isolating an affected network zone to which the remote device belongs.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 21/56 - Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• G06F 21/55 - Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures

Abstract

An exemplary geographic playlist system includes a plurality of mobile devices with global positioning systems that provide geographic location information of the mobile device to a geographic location playlist device. The geographic location playlist device has a database of geographic playlist information that includes at least a unique identifier for each one of a plurality of media content events and at least one associated geographic location for each of the plurality of media content events. The geographic location playlist device determines a current geographic location of the mobile device, compares the geographic location of the mobile device with the geographic locations residing in the database, and generates user geographic playlist information that includes the identifier of media content events that has an associated geographic location that matches with the determined geographic location of the mobile device. A geographic playlist is then presented to the user of the mobile device.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/9537 - Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries