Systems, methods, apparatus, and machine-readable media are provided to facilitate lighting device health management. Conditions of at least a portion of an electric light assembly may be monitored with a monitor adapted to be disposed in the electric light assembly. The electric light assembly may include an electric light source and a receptacle adapted to receive the electric light source. Based on the monitoring, data recordings corresponding to operations of the electric light assembly over a period of time may be stored. Reporting data may be created based on the stored data recordings. A communication may be wirelessly transmitted with the monitor toward a system controller that is remote from the electric light assembly. The communication may include the reporting data. The monitor may correspond to the electric light source or a receptacle adapted to receive the electric light source.
Systems, devices and automated processes detect piracy of broadcast television signals through selective delay of decrypted code words that are used to render satellite or other received television signals. Smart cards or similar access control hardware are programmed to selectively delay delivery of cryptographic code words based upon the identity of the receiver device. The delayed delivery of the code words produces intentional glitches in the content rendered by the receiver, thereby allowing viewers of the rendered content to ascertain the identity of the device.
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 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
H04N 21/4623 - Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message]
Described herein are systems and methods for providing hardware based security to software applications in a television receiver. The system can include a television receiver having a trusted hardware environment that includes a security processor and a standard environment that includes an application processor. The security processor can ensure that at least a portion of the software application executed by the application processor is secure. A portion of the software application code can be placed in an interrupt service routine memory space. During execution of the software application, the security processor can security check the portion of the software application in the interrupt service routine memory space, making it trusted code. The security processor can force the application processor to execute the trusted code by triggering an interrupt. Such forced execution can allow the security processor to not only ensure that code is trusted, but that it is executed.
Various arrangements for restricting mobile device usage are presented. A mobile device may collect movement and location sensor data. The mobile device may determine it is being operated within a moving vehicle based on the sensor data. The mobile device may use interaction data indicative of a user's interactions with the mobile device while the mobile device is being operated within the operating vehicle. An in-vehicle mobile device usage profile may be created based on the sensor data and the collected user interaction data. The in-vehicle mobile device usage profile may be analyzed to determine that a user of the mobile device is currently an operator of the moving vehicle. In response to determining that the user of the mobile device is currently the operator of the moving vehicle, access to one or more functions of the mobile device may be restricted.
Described herein are systems and methods for securing transmission of content from a smart card in a host television receiver to a client television receiver. The smart card can receive the encrypted content stream from the television service provider, decrypt the content stream with the global network key, identify the client television receiver as the destination of the content stream, generate a unique key specific to the content stream, encrypt the unique key with a local key known to the client television receiver, encrypt the content stream with the unique key, and transmit the encrypted content stream along with the encrypted unique key to the client television receiver. The client television receiver can then receive the encrypted content stream and the encrypted unique key, decrypt the unique key, decrypt the content stream with the unique key, and transmit the content stream to a display device of the client television receiver.
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 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
Described herein are systems and methods for hardware enforcement of hardware functionality in a client television receiver. An activation message containing an activation code for a specific hardware component within the client television receiver can be transmitted from a television service provider system to a host television receiver having an associated smart card. The smart card can decrypt the activation message, identify the client television receiver as the destination of the activation message, security check the activation message, encrypt the activation message with a local key, and transmit the activation message to a security processor on the client television receiver. The security processor can decrypt the activation message, security check the activation message to ensure it is from the smart card and has not been tampered with, and enable the hardware component within the client television receiver based on the activation code within the activation message.
G06F 21/85 - Protecting input, output or interconnection devices interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
7.
SECURELY PAIRED DELIVERY OF ACTIVATION CODES FROM SMART CARD TO HOST SET-TOP BOX
Described herein are systems and methods for hardware enforcement of hardware functionality in a television receiver. An activation message containing an activation code for a specific hardware component within the television receiver can be transmitted from a television service provider system to a television receiver having an associated smart card. The smart card can decrypt the activation message, security check the activation message, confirm the activation message is intended for the television receiver, encrypt the activation message with a local key, and transmit the activation message to a security processor on the television receiver. The security processor can decrypt the activation message, security check the activation message to ensure it is from the smart card and has not been tampered with, and enable the hardware component within the television receiver based on the activation code within the activation message.
H04N 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
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 21/6334 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
H04N 21/6547 - Transmission by server directed to the client comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
Described herein are systems and methods for providing a targeted and secure software image or other data to a television receiver. The data item can be provided to the smart card through a television service provider distribution system in blocks of data that are small enough to be processed by the smart card. For each block of data, the smart card can decrypt the block of data with a global network key, generate a partial hash representing the block of data, update a full hash with the partial hash, encrypt the block of data with a dynamically generated item key, and transmit the encrypted block of data to the television receiver. Once complete, the smart card can security check the software image including an integrity check using the full hash. If the security check passes, the smart card can transmit the dynamically generated item key to the television receiver.
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining network characteristics are provided. The network characteristics may be used to facilitate changes to how content is delivered over a network, such as to avoid network congestion, to provide improved throughput, or to provide a good (or better) user experience, such as when streaming media. For example, the network characteristics may be determined, in part, by tracking domain name resolution requests by using specially formulated domain names that require resolution at an authoritative name server.
Various arrangements relating to on-board autonomous device deactivation systems are presented. A status signal may be output to a transceiver and transmitted via a satellite antenna to a satellite. A timer may be executed that indicates a time duration that has elapsed since receiving a previous permissible operation message via the transceiver and the satellite antenna. The time duration may be compared with a stored deactivation time. Prior to the time duration reaching or exceeding the stored deactivation time, a permissible operation message indicative of the autonomous device being permitted to continue operation may or may not be received. In response to the receipt of such a permissible operation message, the time duration of the timer may be reset such that operation of the autonomous device is uninterrupted. If such a permissible operation message is not received, the autonomous device may be disabled.
Various arrangements for servicing autonomous devices via satellite-based communication links are detailed herein. A satellite transponder stream of data may be monitored via a tuner for an identifier indicative of an autonomous device. An update linked with the identifier may be acquired from the satellite-transmitted transponder stream of data. The acquired update may be stored at least until the autonomous device communicatively pairs with the network-independent maintenance device. The autonomous device may be communicatively paired with the system or device that received the satellite-broadcast update. In response to having acquired the update linked with the identifier from the transponder stream of data and the autonomous device being communicatively paired with the system or device, the acquired update may be transmitted to the autonomous device.
Various arrangements for handling a home automation notification are presented. A home automation event may be determined to have occurred based on wireless data received from a home automation device. An authorized user may be determined to be present at a home at which the home automation host system is installed. Transmission of the home automation notification indicative of the home automation event may be suppressed to various authorized users based on the authorized user being determined to be present at the home. The home automation event may be logged such that an indication of the home automation event and a timestamp are stored locally by the home automation host system.
Various systems and methods for disabling UAVs are presented. An interrogation system may transmit an identifier request message to a UAV. The interrogation system may receive, in response to the identifier request message, a response message that indicates a UAV identifier. The interrogation system may access one or more UAV identifier databases that relate UAV identifiers with airspace definitions. The interrogation system may retrieve from the one or more UAV identifier database systems an airspace definition corresponding to the UAV identifier. The interrogation system may determine that the UAV is to be disabled based on: a location of the UAV, a restricted airspace definition, and the airspace definition corresponding to the UAV identifier. The interrogation system may then transmit a disablement instruction message to the UAV based on the location of the UAV and the airspace definition corresponding to the UAV identifier.
Various arrangements for providing audio calibration are presented. A remote control may determine that it is in position for an audio-based command to be received by the remote control from a user. Via a condenser microphone incorporated as part of the remote control, a calibration sound may be output. The condenser microphone may receive the output the calibration sound in the form of a reflected sound that is an acoustic reflection of the calibration sound. The remote control may analyze an amount of time that has elapsed between outputting the calibration sound and receiving the reflected sound to determine a distance between the condenser microphone and the user. One or more audio input settings may be configured that are used for modifying audio received by the condenser microphone based on the determined distance.
Various arrangements are provided for using an unmanned aerial vehicle with a home automation system. The home automation host system may determine that a home automation event has occurred. The system may determine to perform unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance of the home in response to the home automation event. Deployment of a UAV may be triggered in response to determining to perform the UAV surveillance of the home. Video may then captured by the UAV of a portion of the home, possibly corresponding to the location of the home automation event. The video captured by the UAV of the portion of the home in association with an indication of the home automation event that triggered deployment of the UAV may be recorded.
G08B 13/196 - Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelengthActuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
B64C 39/02 - Aircraft not otherwise provided for characterised by special use
G08B 25/14 - Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
16.
SMART CARD READER WITH ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION
Various embodiments provide a smart card reader that includes a smart card reader body and smart card contacts. The smart card reader body is a single, contiguous piece of electrically dissipative material. As a smart card is inserted in to the smart card reader body and makes contact with portions of the smart card reader body, any electrostatic charge that has accumulated on plastic portions of the smart card is discharged through the smart card reader body itself, and to ground. As a result, damage to circuitry coupled to the smart card reader and an embedded circuit housed in the smart card is avoided.
G01S 13/87 - Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
G01S 5/02 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinationsPosition-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
G06K 7/00 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers
17.
SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR SELECTING ANTENNAS
According to principles of the embodiments as disclosed herein, a device that determines its own orientation and selects an appropriately oriented antenna based on the device's orientation is provided. The device may include a housing including an interior having a base and a top and a first sidewall extending from a perimeter of the base to the top. A plurality of antenna may be coupled to the housing one or more orientation sensors may also be coupled to the housing. A controller may be electrically coupled to each of the plurality of antenna and the one or more orientation sensors, and may be configured to receive information from the one or more orientation sensors, determine an orientation of the housing, and select one of the plurality of antenna to transmit and receive data. A transceiver may be located within the housing and at least one of the plurality of antenna may be being electrically coupled to the antenna.
H01Q 1/00 - Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
H01Q 1/22 - SupportsMounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
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 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
H04N 5/64 - Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers
18.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING ADVERTISEMENTS DURING PLAYBACK OF RECORDED TELEVISION CONTENT
A method for operating a programming receiver is provided. The method displays, by the programming receiver, a sequence of recorded video content comprising a video presentation and a plurality of segments of interstitial content; receives, at the programming receiver, a command to skip one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content; and presents a screen comprising a picture advertisement for the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content, the screen requesting confirmation to skip the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content in the sequence.
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.
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/8547 - Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video streamElementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clockClient middleware
20.
SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A TRANSPORT STREAM FROM SATELLITE TRANSPONDER SIGNALS
Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and methods are described for assembling at least one transport stream from satellite transponder signals. In one example, the method includes capturing at least one satellite feed, the at least one satellite feed including a plurality of transponder signals; demodulating each of the plurality of transponder signals, each demodulated transponder signal corresponding to a transport stream including a plurality of input streams; parsing one or more selected streams from the plurality of input streams; assembling at least one new transport stream from the one or more selected streams; modulating the at least one new transport stream to generate at least one new transponder signal; adding the at least one new transponder signal to a channel stack; and transmitting the channel stack to a receiving device.
H04H 20/00 - Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
H04H 40/90 - Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
H04N 7/20 - Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
H04N 21/222 - Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server or cable television Head-end
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 streamRemultiplexing of multiplex streamsInsertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rateAssembling of a packetised elementary stream
H04N 21/2362 - Generation or processing of SI [Service Information]
21.
REDUCING STARTUP LATENCY IN A VIDEO PLACE-SHIFTING SYSTEM
A method of processing video content is disclosed. An embodiment of the method feeds an original stream of video data to a transcoding engine of a video place-shifting device. The engine receives the original stream at a data rate that exceeds a real time presentation data rate of the original stream. The engine transcodes the received original video data into a streaming video format compatible with presentation capabilities of a remote user device. The controlling causes the engine to transcode the received original video data at a transcoding data rate that exceeds the real time presentation data rate of the original stream. The transcoded video data is provided to a network linked to the remote user device. The video place-shifting device provides the transcoded video data to the network at a network transfer data rate that exceeds the real time presentation data rate of the original stream.
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream 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 21/432 - Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk
H04N 21/6373 - Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components for rate control
H04N 21/6379 - Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components directed to server directed to encoder
H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clientsNetwork 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 between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless
22.
SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING RELEVANT PROGRAMMING INFORMATION
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.
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 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
23.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ADDRESSABLE CONTENT
Systems and methods are operable to distribute targeted assets to a plurality of media devices. An exemplary embodiment generates an asset file defined by an asset file time period, wherein target assets are selected for saving into the asset file when the intended initial presentation time of a target asset falls within the asset file time period of the asset file that is being generated. Then, the asset file is communicated to a plurality of media devices at a time in advance of the intended initial presentation times of a target assets of the asset file.
G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
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 encoded video stream 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 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
Methods and systems, such as television receivers, are disclosed for receiving data from remote controls for manipulation of graphical user interfaces. Aspects include providing a seamless transition between absolute and relative navigational schemes to allow for users to more efficiently make use of touch and position sensitive remote controls. Further, aspects include dynamically scaling the touch and position sensitive remote controls outputs to match various grid sizes that may be included in the graphical user interface.
G06F 3/0354 - Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the userAccessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
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
25.
DYNAMIC SCALING OF TOUCHPAD/UI GRID SIZE RELATIONSHIP WITHIN A USER INTERFACE
Methods and systems, such as television receivers, are disclosed for receiving data from remote controls for manipulation of graphical user interfaces. Aspects include providing a seamless transition between absolute and relative navigational schemes to allow for users to more efficiently make use of touch and position sensitive remote controls. Further, aspects include dynamically scaling the touch and position sensitive remote controls outputs to match various grid sizes that may be included in the graphical user interface.
G06F 3/038 - Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
G06F 3/0354 - Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the userAccessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
A television navigation device, such as a digital video recorder (DVR), searches for a television channel program lineup in an electronic program guide (EPG) of a service provider that matches the television channel program lineup for what the television navigation device understands to be that of a particular television channel. The television navigation device then assigns the particular television channel to the service provider's channel identifier of the matching television channel the EPG. This channel identifier will then be used by the television navigation device to command the receiving device associated with the service provider to tune to the particular television channel at the appropriate time.
Auxiliary or enhanced features associated with broadcast television programs are activated using carrier-based active text enhancement (CATE) signals embedded within timed text (TT) associated with the broadcast program. The active text enhancements can be interpreted by the viewer's set top box (STB) or other receiver to activate software applications, video clips, imagery, uniform resource locators (URLs), interactive interface features or the like on either or both of primary or secondary displays. Timed text enhancements can flexibly reference different types of content to provide richer and more powerful viewer experiences for the viewer.
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
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 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
Systems and methods for determining access to a home automation system may include receiving a command from a user to perform a home automation function, and determining a privilege for the user, which may be based on the location of the user. The methods may include comparing the command and the user privilege to an authorization list, where the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions based at least on individual commands and associated privileges. The methods may also include determining whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function.
A method includes receiving aggregated content that includes a plurality of segments by a media device. Each of the segments includes an index indicating a location in a set of assembled media content. The plurality of segments includes at least a first segment, a second segment and a third segment. A first target index location in the first segment and a second target index location in the second segment each indicate a first location in the set of assembled media content. One of the first segment and the second segment is selected for display at the first location according to a stored parameter. The method further includes generating the set of assembled media content including the selected one of the first and second segments in the first location and the third segment in the second location.
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 or resolving scheduling conflicts
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/8541 - Content authoring involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
30.
HIGH DATA TRANSFER SMART CARD READER WITH HEAT SINK
Various embodiments provide a high data transfer smart card reader. In a preferred embodiment, the high data transfer smart card reader includes smart card contacts, a heat sink, a heat conductor, and a heat sink plate. The smart card contacts are configured to contact a pad in a contact area of a smart card to create an electrical connection. The heat sink is configured to physically contact a smart card to dissipate heat. The heat conductor and the heat sink plate are connected to the heat sink to maximize heat dissipation by increasing the surface area of the heat sink. The smart card contacts, the heat sink, the heat conductor, and the heat sink plate are secured to a circuit board by an encasing member.
A commercial-free audiovisual content system allows a viewer to select two or more audiovisual sources such as television channels to view on an audiovisual display. When the system detects that a commercial is being displayed in the audiovisual content of the channel presented on the main part of the screen, the system will immediately switch to display the audiovisual content of another source that is not displaying a commercial.
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming streamUpdating operations, e.g. for OS modules
The disclosure relates systems and methods for analyzing viewing habits on an audiovisual content receiving device such as a set-top box, including both program recording and viewing habits for live programs, and to determine viewer preferences for audiovisual events such as television programs for any given timeslot.
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
H04H 60/29 - Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
Systems and methods for recording multiple broadcast television programs to a single file may include receiving user selection for recording a first media content and a second media content, determining the first media content and the second media content are provided on a single television service, and tuning to the television service to receive the first media content via a tuner of the television receiver. The systems and methods may include recording the first media content as a first permanent recording to a master file, receiving the second media content via the tuner of the television receiver, and recording the second media content as a second permanent recording to the master file.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming streamUpdating operations, e.g. for OS modules
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.
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/2347 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving video stream encryption
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
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.
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or servicesEnd-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
36.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OVERLAYING A DIGITAL MINI GUIDE ONTO A VIDEO STREAM
Systems and methods are described for superimposing a program guide browser onto a video stream. The method includes receiving a request from the client while media content is displayed at the host; in response to the request, transmitting a user interface (UI) to the client; and displaying the UI at the client without interrupting the displayed media content; wherein the UI comprises a horizontally scrollable ribbon. Additional or alternate features may be provided as desired.
Systems, methods and devices are described to provide a content-focused television receiver that allows viewers to select programming from multiple broadcast, stored media, video on demand or other sources based upon the program content itself rather than the source of the program. A set top box or other television receiver device receives a viewer input that identifies a particular television program for viewing. The television receiver device queries for information that identifies one of the different sources that is able to provide the particular television program for viewing, and obtains the program from the identified source for playback to the viewer.
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 capabilities
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
38.
COMMUNICATIONS SIGNAL ISOLATION ON MULTI-PORT DEVICE
Automated processes, devices and systems isolate signals received on first and second ports from each other using staggered time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes. Additionally or alternately, port and/or client identifiers can be included within communications propagating in multiple TDMA schemes, thereby allowing host and/or client devices to verify that communications are received on the intended ports. By logically isolating the communications of the multiple TDMA schemes and/or by providing identifying information within propagated communications, crosstalk between the two schemes can be substantially reduced or eliminated, often without substantial modifications to the hardware configuration of the system.
Methods, devices and systems are provided for provisioning an output device for use with a media device to produce synchronized audio and video portions of media content. An exemplary method involves a media device identifying a device type associated with the output device, obtaining synchronization settings for the device type from a server via a network, and presenting audiovisual content in accordance with the synchronization settings obtained from the server.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video streamElementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clockClient middleware
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
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 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
H04N 21/41 - Structure of clientStructure of client peripherals
H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video streamRemultiplexing of multiplex streamsExtraction or processing of SIDisassembling of packetised elementary stream
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
H04L 12/24 - Arrangements for maintenance or administration
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04N 21/237 - Communication with additional data server
A scheduled programming recommendation system narrows down a user's electronic program guide to a short list of about a dozen recommended programs. The list is customized to the user's own interests according to a point scoring algorithm that compares program data with data from the user's viewing history. The content receiver is programmed to offer alternatives to users while engaged in a program, or within a short time interval near the end of a program. If the user switches to another ongoing program, there is an option to start the new program at the beginning. This option is made possible by a feature of the scheduled programming recommendation system that automatically records recommended programs in a background memory location, separate from the user's recorder memory space. Only recommended programs are automatically recorded. Access to recorded content is provided exclusively via the recommended list.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
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 21/45 - 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 or resolving scheduling conflicts
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 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
Characteristics of speech in a first audio portion of media content in a first language are retrieved, the first audio portion being related to a video portion of the media content. A second audio portion is stored related to the video portion, the second audio portion including speech in a second language. Characteristics of the speech are used to modify the second audio portion.
G11B 27/034 - Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals on discs
G11B 27/10 - IndexingAddressingTiming or synchronisingMeasuring tape travel
G11B 27/28 - IndexingAddressingTiming or synchronisingMeasuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording
An RJ-45 insertion and extraction tool is disclosed that allows a user to plug and unplug an RJ-45 connector from an RJ-45 socket in a quick and easy way that does not disturb other cables plugged into adjacent sockets.
H01R 43/26 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device
H01R 13/62 - Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
43.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING TRAVEL DISTANCE OF A HEAT SINK
A heat sink embodiment has at least one anti-rocking tab that extends outwardly and downwardly from an edge of the body portion of the heat sink. A leading lower edge of the anti-rocking tab is above a top surface of the motherboard when the heat sink is being affixed to the motherboard over a flip chip. During installation of the heat sink to the motherboard, a travel distance limit is imposed by the leading lower edge of the anti-rocking tab, thereby limiting a force that is applied to the die of the flip chip so that an edge and/or a corner of the die of the flip chip is not crushed, or such that the die of the flip chip is not cracked.
Systems, devices and processes are described to adapt segment requests placed by an autonomous media player [130] operating on a client device [120] during media streaming to compensate for fluctuations in the bandwidth consumed by the requested segments due to variances in the underlying video content. By providing predictive data [107] about the bandwidth consumption of upcoming video segments [106], client devices can adapt requests for future segments accordingly. Further, indicia [141] of predictive data can be shared between players operating within shared bandwidth to assist players needing additional bandwidth for upcoming video sequences.
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
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
Methods and systems are provided for authenticating a user for access to restricted content. An exemplary method involves providing a plurality of selectable regions on a display, authenticating the user based at least in part on a user input that corresponds to a selectable region that includes a portion of authentication information, and providing the restricted content to the display after authenticating the user. Each selectable input region of the plurality of selectable regions includes a plurality of characters. In exemplary embodiments, the characters of one or more selectable input regions are randomized.
Summaries of video programs can be automatically created by identifying and compiling repeated portions of the program content. In many programs (such as broadcasts of sporting events), the most interesting portions of the event are often repeated more than once during the course of the program. By automatically identifying the replayed portions of the video presentation, then, a highlight summary of a television broadcast can be automatically created. Repeated imagery can be automatically identified by comparing metric values representing the contents of video frames. This technique can be implemented within a set top box or other television receiver that is operated by a viewer, thereby providing a high level of flexibility and convenience.
A system includes a remote device, a client device, and a server. The server is configured to measure a signal strength of the client device relative to the server and transmit signal strength measurement data representing the signal strength. The remote device is configured to output a representation of the signal strength in accordance with the signal strength measurement data. A method includes measuring a signal strength of a client device relative to a server, transmitting signal strength measurement data representing the signal strength to a remote device, and outputting via the remote device a representation of the signal strength in accordance with the signal strength measurement data.
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 21/41 - Structure of clientStructure of client peripherals
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
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 21/6547 - Transmission by server directed to the client comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
H04N 17/04 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details for receivers
H04B 17/23 - Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms or audible means
A first computing device is configured to receive a request for validation, to generate, based on the request, a virtual data entry mechanism that includes randomly arranged data entry elements, and to provide the virtual data entry mechanism to a second computing device.
A system includes a microphone array having a plurality of microphones. The system further includes a camera configured to capture stream video and a processing device configured to steer the microphone array based at least in part on the video acquired by the camera. A method includes receiving video captured by a camera, processing the video, and steering a microphone array using signal processing where the steering direction is defined by the processed video.
A method for synchronized utilization of an electronic device is provided. The method receives closed captioning data from an audio/video content receiver for a set of audio/video content; retrieves detail for a first event occurring in the set of audio/video content, wherein the first event is indicated by the received closed captioning data; and presents content to a user, using the electronic device, based on the retrieved detail.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video streamElementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clockClient middleware
H04N 21/41 - Structure of clientStructure of client peripherals
A method for adjusting actual timing data associated with closed captioning data for audio/video programming is provided. The method receives a first set of closed captioning data and a first set of actual timing data associated with the first set of closed captioning data, for the audio/video programming; obtains theoretical timing data for the first set of closed captioning data; calculates a timing offset between the first set of actual timing data and the theoretical timing data; and adjusts a second set of actual timing data, based on the calculated timing offset.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video streamElementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clockClient middleware
A secondary television receiver device includes one or more television tuners that can be integrated into a whole-home television receiving system. The secondary device that is enhanced with tuner capability registers the tuners with a primary receiver, which allocates tuners from available sources as needed. The tuned video stream may be directed to the primary television receiver for storage, trick play or other features prior to re-transmission to the ultimate viewing device. Alternatively, the received video stream may be directly rendered to a video display attached to the enhanced secondary receiver.
H04H 40/90 - Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
A mobile device includes an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the mobile device and at least two speakers, each configured to output sound according to an audio signal. The mobile device further includes a processing device configured to group at least two of the speakers into a speaker pair based on the orientation detected by the orientation sensor.
Systems, methods and devices are described to encode, deliver and playback a placeshifted media stream via the Internet or another network. The media stream is appropriately encoded at a quality level (e.g., at a bit rate, frame rate, resolution, etc.) that allows content to be delivered faster than it is played back. This sort of “faster than real time” encoding allows the placeshifted media stream to be buffered at the remote device for more effective performance.
Embodiments detailed herein may involve a first status update of a home automation device installed as part of a home automation system in a home being received. An entry of a plurality of entries in a master home automation model may be updated based on the first status update of the home automation device. The master home automation model may be maintained by the home automation host system. The plurality of entries may correspond to home automation device characteristics of the plurality of home automation devices. A numerical identifier used to track status updates related to the home automation system in the home may be incremented. Within the master home automation model, the incremented numerical identifier may be assigned to the updated entry in the master home automation model.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computerOutput arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
H04M 11/04 - Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
56.
DETECTION AND MITIGATION OF WATER LEAKS WITH HOME AUTOMATION
Automation control for water leaks is provided. First sensor readings from first sensors disposed about water supply lines at a home to detect a first type of metrics indicative of water flow may be received and recorded over a first time period. Second sensor readings may be received from a second sensor. A first correlation between the first sensor readings and the second sensor readings may be identified. A first activity profile may be generated based on the first correlation. A first water use profile may be generated based on the first activity profile. First thresholds may be identified based on the first water use profile and may be retained in association with the first activity profile. Water use at the home may be monitored with the first sensors and activity at the home may be monitored with the second sensors. A water leak condition may be determined.
Enabling an end-user to access home automation features or functionality directly from or via one or more interfaces that might normally be used to access satellite television-related programming and services.
Various arrangements are provided for earning and using credit. Via one or more tuners, a first commercial may be received and stored, wherein the first commercial comprises video and audio. The commercial may be output for presentation for viewing by a user of the television receiver system, wherein the first commercial is associated with a first predefined amount of credit. It may then be confirmed that the first commercial has been viewed by the user. In response to confirming that the first commercial has been viewed by the user, an account of the user may be credited with the first predefined amount of credit. This credit may be used for viewing other content, such as pay-per-view (PPV) content, services, and/or products.
A system includes a server configured to monitor wireless interference between at least two media content delivery devices. The server coordinates communication with the media content delivery devices to reduce wireless interference, and the communication is coordinated according to requirements of media content requests received from the media content delivery devices. A method includes monitoring wireless interference between at least two media content delivery devices and coordinating communication with the media content delivery devices to reduce wireless interference.
A light switch plate (32) includes a wireless transmitter (36) for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly (50). The light switch plate (32) is placed over a conventional light switch (22) and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch (22). The light switch plate (32) includes a further switch (40) which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter (36) to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly (50).
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.
TDMA communications between a host device and a number of clients on a communications channel are dynamically adapted to allocate or de-allocate time slots in response to changes in the number of active clients. The system initially operates in a startup mode in which the host device transmits a startup message on the communications channel and assigns a timeslot in a TDMA cycle in response to connection requests received from each of the requesting clients. After exiting the startup mode, the system operates in a normal mode in which the host device initiates the TDMA cycle by transmitting a polling message on the communications channel that indicates a number of timeslots occurring within that particular TDMA cycle. The host changes the number of timeslots indicated in the polling message to responsively adapt duration of the TDMA cycle as the number of clients communicating via the communications channel changes.
Arrangements for providing available playback options for missed portions of broadcast content may be presented. A request to present an electronic programming guide that comprises indications of a plurality of television programs currently being broadcast may be received. A missed portion of each television program of the plurality of television programs may have already been broadcast. For each television program of the plurality of television programs, a plurality of content resources from which the missed portion of each television program of the plurality of television programs may be retrievable may be analyzed. A first source from the plurality of content resources from which the missed portion of a television program is retrievable may be identified. The electronic programming guide may be configured and output to comprise an indication of availability of the missed portion of the television program.
A mobile device may be registered to participate in selection of television programming for presentation by a display device external the mobile device. An indication of selection of particular television programming for presentation by a display device may be received from the mobile device. A determination may be made, based on the indication of selection, whether a collective indication of selection tally of the particular television programming is greater than a collective indication of selection tally of other television programming. The particular television programming may be output for presentation by the display device when the particular television programming has a collective indication of selection tally greater than a collective indication of selection tally of other television programming.
An enhanced smartcard reader having a row of first reading contacts, a row of second reading contacts, and a row of third reading contacts. The first reading contacts have arm portions that are cantilevered off a first mounting member of the reader, the second reading contacts have arm portions that are cantilevered off a second mounting member of the reader, and the third reading contacts have arm portions that are cantilevered off a third mounting member of the reader. The third mounting member is located vertically distanced from the second mounting member, and the arm portions of the third reading contacts directly overlay the arm portions of the second reading contacts.
A system for securely providing adaptive bit rate streaming media content on-demand may include a security sever of a program distributor that selects, based on a received authorized request, which of a differently encrypted stored versions of a "special segment" of the requested program to deliver to the receiving device during the transmission of the requested program. The selection may be based on a pseudo-random selection process per request for the program based on an identifier of the request associated with the remote control device. The selection of which of the differently encrypted stored versions of the "special segment" of the ordered program to deliver may be= based on the current session. The secure remote then sends to the receiving device the correct decryption key for the receiving device to decrypt the particular encrypted version selected of the "special segment" to be sent to the receiving device.
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
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 21/41 - Structure of clientStructure of client peripherals
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 21/658 - Transmission by the client directed to the server
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
Systems, devices and methods are provided to support efficient and secure delivery of a media stream or content file to a mobile phone, tablet, computer or other remote device (120). Most of the media stream's content (140) is received directly from a content source (107) for efficient bandwidth allocation, but at least a portion (144) of the stream is delivered from a set top box, television receiver, or other home device (112) that is located at the customer's premises to preserve the security of the stream. The portion (144) that is delivered from the home device (112) may be a key portion of the stream that is essential to the playback of media stream.
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network componentsNetwork 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'sCommunication protocolsAddressing
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
68.
CHUNKING OF MULTIPLE TRACK AUDIO FOR ADAPTIVE BIT RATE STREAMING
Systems, devices and methods are provided to support multiple audio tracks in an adaptive media stream. Segments of the adaptive stream are encoded so that the player is able to locate and request a specific one of the available audio tracks using byte range requests or the like. Audio content can be removed from video segments, or at least moved to the end of the segments so that a byte range request obtains just the video content when the default audio is not desired. The audio content can be obtained from a separate audio segment. Indeed, multiple audio tracks can be packaged into a common audio segment so that byte range requests can obtain just the particular audio track desired.
Systems, devices and methods are provided to support placeshifting of adaptive media streams. A home device acts as an intermediary that passes requests for segments of an adaptive stream from a remote device to a content source. The content source responds with the requested segments, which are forwarded to the remote device. A connection service may be provided to facilitate placeshifting sessions between home and remote devices.
A method for creating an announcement stream for a geographic region is provided. The method receives, at a designated computer system (206), characterizing metadata for a first audio/video stream (105); analyzes a second audio/video stream (102) to obtain characterizing metadata for the second video stream; compares, with the computer system, the characterizing metadata for the first video stream to the characterizing metadata for the second video stream to generate offset data; and calculates timing information corresponding to segment boundaries for the second video stream using the offset data.
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 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/4545 - Input to filtering algorithms, e.g. filtering a region of the image
G11B 27/28 - IndexingAddressingTiming or synchronisingMeasuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording
71.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AVOIDING MISSING TELEVISION PROGRAMMING WHEN CHANGING BETWEEN TELEVISION CHANNELS
A buffering and playback manager of a receiving device facilitates a user avoiding missing television programming on a television (TV) channel when the user is changes to another TV channel. When a user returns to a previously visited TV channel, a TV channel buffering and playback manager is configured to continue the television programming from a point the TV program was at when the user had de-selected that TV channel. The TV programming of the previously visited TV channel starts or continues to be stored in a buffer when the receiving device de-selects that TV channel. Upon returning to that TV channel, the TV program data stored in the buffer is played on the TV channel instead of the live broadcast being played on that TV channel.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/4335 - Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions
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 21/45 - 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 or resolving scheduling conflicts
72.
PLAYBACK STALL AVOIDANCE IN ADAPTIVE MEDIA STREAMING
Methods, systems and devices are described to avoid stalling during playback of an adaptive media stream delivered to a media player device over a network. The media device requests segments of the media stream that are received in a buffer. Buffer utilization is monitored over time to determine a rate of change, and future segment requests are adjusted based upon the determined rate of change in the buffer utilization. By making adjustments based upon the rate of change in buffer utilization, sudden changes that could otherwise affect the viewer's experience can be avoided.
Systems and methods for implementing a Transport I/O system are described. Network encrypted content may be received by a device. The device may provide the network encrypted content to a secure processor, such as, for example, a smart card. The secure processor obtains a network control word that may be used to decrypt the network encrypted content. The secure processor may decrypt the network encrypted content to produce clear content. In embodiments, the secure processor may then use a local control word to generate locally encrypted content specific to the device. The device may then receive the locally encrypted content from the secure processor and proceed to decrypt the locally encrypted content using a shared local encryption key. The Transport I/O system ensures the protection of the network control word by maintaining the network control word on the secure processor.
H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clientsNetwork 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 between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless
74.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING AND EXTRACTING COMMAND AND CONTROL DATA
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for assembling and extracting command and control data. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the command and control data is segmented and inserted into multiple packet headers. The header packets are identified by flags such as "First portion," "Middle portion," "Last portion," or "Null Byte." When a receiver extracts the command and control data from the headers, it tracks the flags associated with the headers. The command and control data is saved to buffer in association with its associated flag. The receiver uses the flags to determine when all command and control data headers have been received. The command and control data is then reconstructed and used to decrypt audio visual content.
Various systems, methods and devices adaptively manage the multicast delivery of multiple media programs. Each of the media programs is encoded into multiple media streams, each stream having a different bitrate, frame rate, resolution or other encoding parameter. A computer receives feedback about the delivery of the multiple streams and automatically adapts the number of streams available for at least one of the multiple media programs in response to the received feedback. This allows resources to be applied to those multicast streams having the greatest user demand.
A media device may be configured for receiving data from one or more satellites. The media device may include one or more processors and one or more storage devices. A first tuner of a media device may tune to a first data stream that came from a first satellite transponder. A second tuner of the media device may tune to a second data stream that came from a second satellite transponder. The first data stream and the second data stream may be derived from source data based at least in part on a data distribution scheme. The data distribution scheme may include distributing at least portions of the source data with the first data stream and the second data stream. The first data stream and/or the second data stream may be processed to store and/or output for presentation content.
Methods, systems and devices are described to improve the performance of adaptive media streaming sessions. A media player device proactively requests segment data representing a media stream over multiple simultaneous network connections. Delivery of the requested segment data on each of the plurality of simultaneous connections is monitored, and subsequent requests for segment data are adapted based upon the monitored delivery of the requested segments on each of the plurality of simultaneous connections.
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
H04N 21/6373 - Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components for rate control
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 21/437 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
78.
DETECTION OF REMOTE CONTROL FOR CONFIGURATION OF UNIVERSAL REMOTE
A system and method for detection of a remote control for configuration of a universal remote control is provided. The system and method compare a received identifying signal from a first remote control to a database of known remote control signals and corresponding remote control programming codes. The system and method then select a corresponding remote control programming code for programming the universal remote control.
Methods and apparatus for dynamic volume punch through in a home entertainment system that includes a client device that receives programming signals coupled to an audio/video amplifier, and a television coupled to the audio/video amplifier. A remote control that communicates over a radio frequency interface with the client device "punches through" volume adjustment commands from a user to either the audio/video amplifier or to the television depending on the power state of the audio/video amplifier. The remote control receives the information indicating this power state from the client device that detects the power state of the audio/video amplifier through a bidirectional bus in a cable interface, for example, HDMI-CEC bus. The volume is "punched through" to the audio/video amplifier or to the television over a second communication link, for example an infrared optical interface.
H04Q 9/00 - Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
80.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURELY PROVIDING STREAMING MEDIA CONTENT ON-DEMAND
A system for securely providing streaming media content on-demand may include a plurality of receiving devices in which each receiving device may request the same or different streaming media content (e.g., stored at a content storage system of a content delivery network) on-demand using VOD or other available on-demand services and/or applications associated with, in communication with or running on the respective receiving devices. In response, the content storage system of the content delivery network will encrypt the requested content uniquely for each received request (e.g., according to an encryption key that is unique for each or virtually each request) and deliver the encrypted requested content to the appropriate respective receiving device of the receiving devices. The respective receiving devices will then each decrypt the streaming content as it is being received according to the corresponding decryption key communicated from a respective individual secure remote to the respective receiving device.
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 21/41 - Structure of clientStructure of client peripherals
H04N 21/418 - External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 21/4405 - 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 encoded video stream scene graphs involving video stream decryption
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or servicesEnd-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/2347 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving video stream encryption
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 21/266 - 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
Notification controls regarding television viewing are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a notification condition can be created and by one or more components of a notification system. Actions regarding viewing of television content are then monitored and compared with the notification condition. Once the notification condition is satisfied, a notification is sent, which can be in real time or near-real time, as the television is being watched. Notification conditions may be satisfied with any of a variety of triggers, and the notifications can be sent in a variety of forms to any of a variety of devices. The notification system can redirect a television to a predetermined television channel and/or request authorization to access certain content. Notification controls can be created, viewed, and/or managed using any of a variety of devices.
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 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, 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 21/6334 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling each wideband tuner of a television converter device such as a set-top box to receive transponders from any satellite location and provide a unique feed per television converter device (e.g., per set-top box) input, giving each television converter device tuner its own set of six, eight or more transponders. The capacity of transponder stacking in the digital domain is extended to a system and method to make use of wideband tuner/demodulators. Each television converter device has a single wideband tuner/demodulator for six, eight or more transponders with each transponder being from any of all possible satellite locations. Bandwidth to each television converter device is thereby usefully increased.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video streamElementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clockClient middleware
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network componentsNetwork 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'sCommunication protocolsAddressing
83.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING VIEWER INTEREST IN CONTENT AND ADVERTISEMENTS
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.
Various arrangements for descrambling multiple television channels concurrently are presented. A set-top box may receive a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. A previously-received locally- stored networking information table may be accessed that associates each of the multiple television channels with the same entitlement control message, as indicated by a packet identifier. An entitlement control message having the same packet identifier may be received. A smartcard may be used to decrypt the entitlement control message having the same packet identifier to obtain a first control word and a second control word. Scrambled data packets corresponding to the multiple television channels may be descrambled using the first control word and the second control word. These television channels may be stored and/or output for presentation by the set-top box.
H04N 7/08 - 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
85.
FACILITATING CONCURRENT RECORDING OF MULTIPLE TELEVISION CHANNELS
An arrangement for grouping multiple television channels for recording is presented. Television channel usage data indicative of television programs being requested by users of the television receivers may be received. The television channel usage data may provide usage data for television channels being transmitted using a plurality of transponders. The television channel usage data may be analyzed to determine a grouping of television channels. Based on the television channel usage data, a television channel may be reassigned from a first transponder to a second transponder for transmission to the plurality of television receivers such that the grouping of television channels are transmitted using the second transponder.
H04H 40/90 - Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
Various arrangements are described that may cause a recording of a television channel to be stored. The recording of the television channel may include a plurality of television programs. A graphical playback status element may be displayed via a display device. The graphical playback status element may indicate a start point for each television program of the plurality of television programs within the recording of the television channel.
A television receiver including a tuner and one or more processors may be presented. The television receiver may be configured to tune the tuner to a television channel. The television receiver may be configured to create and store an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over a period of time. The television receiver may be configured to, after a predefined period of time, select the omnibus channel file for deletion. The television receiver may be configured to determine a television program to receive extended storage. The television receiver may be configured to store a portion of the omnibus channel file as an individual program file, wherein the portion of the omnibus channel file corresponds to the television program. The television receiver may be configured to, after storing the portion of the omnibus channel file, delete the omnibus channel file.
A first user interface may be presented comprising a single selection option that enables recording of multiple television channels. A first user input, in response to the first user interface may be received enabling the option for recording of the multiple television channels. Data indicating a time period during which a television channel of the multiple television channels is to be recorded may be received from a television service provider. A record timer for the television channel of the multiple television channels may be set based on the user input enabling recording of multiple television channels and the data indicating the time period. The television channel of the multiple television channels may be recorded based on the record timer.
Various arrangements for encrypting multiple television channels are presented. A first television channel of a plurality of television channels to be protected via a first entitlement control message (ECM) using a first encryption scheme may be designated. The plurality of television channels may be transmitted using a single transponder stream. A second television channel of the plurality of television channels to be protected via a second ECM encrypted using a second encryption scheme while the first television channel of the plurality of television channels is protected using the first encryption scheme may be designated. The first and second ECMs may be transmitted to a plurality of television receivers. Data from the first ECM may be used for descrambling of the first television channel by the plurality of television receivers. Data from the second ECM may be used for descrambling of the second television channel by the plurality of television receivers.
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.
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] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
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
91.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFYING OPERATING STATES BASED ON MONITORED HDMI CEC COMMUNICATIONS
Systems and methods provide control of operating states of an electronic device. A first exemplary electronic device detects a consumer electronic control (CEC) communication sent from a second electronic device to a third electronic device, the CEC communication communicated over high-definition multimedia (HDMI) connectors communicatively coupling the first electronic device, the second electronic device and the third electronic device; determines, based on information in the CEC communication, whether the CEC communication is one of a first kind of CEC communication or a second kind of CEC communication; in response to determining that the CEC communication is one of the first kind of CEC communication, transitions the first electronic device to a predefined operating state; and in response to determining that the CEC communication is one of the second kind of CEC communication, maintains the first electronic device in a current operating state.
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network componentsNetwork 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'sCommunication protocolsAddressing
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
92.
DIFFERENTIATING BOOKMARKS IN CONTENT ACCESS LISTS SHARED AMONG MULTIPLE CONTENT PLAYER DEVICES
A content player accesses content via a content access list shared by a network of players. The content is stored by one or more of the players. One or more of the players may be thin clients that can access content stored by other players but cannot themselves store content. The content access list lists available stored content. The content player associates a bookmark with the content and includes identification information that identifies the requestor related to generation of the bookmark. When the content player presents the content access list, bookmarks associated with content included in list are also be along with the identification information. In some implementations, the requestor related to generation of the respective bookmark may be the content player that generated the bookmark, the specific user that entered input that prompted generation of the bookmark, and/or a combination thereof.
A control device transmits a first type of signal and a second type of signal as part of transmitting an instruction. An electronic device receives the first signal and determines the control device is paired with another device. The electronic device displays a notification indicating such as well as a prompt requesting confirmation to pair the control device. Upon receiving an affirmative response, the electronic device notifies the other device, which transmits unpairing information to the control device. The control device then unpairs from the other device. The other device also transmits pairing information to the control device via the electronic device and the control device utilizes the information to pair with the electronic device. In some implementations, the other device may receive a request to locate the control device. In response, the other device displays that the control device has been paired with the electronic device.
H04Q 9/00 - Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
H04B 7/24 - Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts
94.
ASSISTING USE OF CONTROL DEVICES WITH DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES
A remote determines an acknowledgement is not received for a command transmitted to a first device, broadcasts a discovery message, receives a response from a second device that received the discovery message and a proximity signal from the remote, and configures itself to control the second device. The remote may also transmit an acknowledgement to the second device. The second device may notify the first device. In various implementations, configuration information in the response may include pairing information and the remote may unpair itself from the first device and pair with the second device. In some implementations, the remote may include a table for controlling devices and the remote may utilize an entry in the table for the second device instead of the first device. In various implementations, the remote may receive responses to the discovery message from multiple devices and may select one to configure itself to control.
A remote control is powered by multiple batteries connected in series. The remote control includes a voltage comparison circuit configured to compare a midpoint voltage from a node connecting two of the batteries to a reference voltage. The remote control is able to determine if there is a non-uniform drain rate in the batteries based on the comparison.
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
H02H 7/00 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions
H04Q 9/00 - Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
96.
EASY RF REMOTE CONTROL PAIRING FOR NETWORKED SET TOP BOXES
A television service provider system includes a first set top box, a second set top box, and a remote control. The remote control transmits an infrared pairing signal which is only received by one of the set top boxes. The receiving set top box pairs itself to the remote control. The non receiving set top box is not paired to the remote control. The remote control then transmits control signals to operate the receiving set top box. The control signals are received by both set top boxes, but are executed only by the set top box that is paired to the remote control.
Content receivers may simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to perform memory jumping operations within files having the simultaneously recorded multiple instance of content stored therein. The memory jumping operation may jump locations within the file corresponding to a predetermined memory jumping operation timeframe, and in order to account for the variability in the recording bit rate and therefore the playing of the instance of content, the jump locations in the memory jumping operation may be dynamically adjusted based on recording bit rates.
A method for displaying content stored in a block of multiplexed content, the multiplexed content including a plurality of instances of content where each instance of content includes an associated content identifier, the method including receiving, at a content receiver, content identifying information for the content and instructions for displaying the content, determining a selected content identifier based on the content identifying information, selecting the block from one or more blocks based on the selected content identifier, scanning the block for a content identifier and encountering the content identifier, comparing the encountered content identifier to the selected content identifier, and processing an instance of content associated with the encountered content identifier where the encountered content identifier corresponds to the selected content identifier. A system for displaying and a system for storing multiplexed content are also described.
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
A receiver accumulates characteristic information by tracking content being presented. When the receiver determines to present a menu of recorded content, the receiver analyzes the accumulated information to rank the recorded content based on a frequency of the characteristics and sorts the menu based at least one the analysis. The receiver may present an instance of content when it is selected. In some implementations, the instances of content are recorded as part of recording multiple instances of content received via at least one broadcast wherein the multiple instances of content are all included in a same frequency band of the broadcast and are all encoded utilizing a same code word. In one or more implementations, the menu may include content information for one or more of the instances of content in the menu, such as the number of related instances of content also stored by the content receiver.
A method for recording multiple pieces of content with a single tuner. A content delivery network can include multiple channels organized into bands with several channels per band. These bands can be transmitted on an up-link such as to a satellite. The bands can be relayed to receivers at the end user locations. The end user receivers can tune to one, two, or some other fraction of the total number of transmitted bands. When a user selects a program to view and/or record, a tuner of the receiver tunes to the band that includes the channel that includes the program. The method prompts the user regarding the other channels that form the set of channels on that band, and solicits input for recording one or more concurrent programs of the band, which can all be recorded on the single receiving tuner.
H04N 7/08 - 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
