| COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20130152120 | Method and System of Managing and Allocating Communication Related Resources - A system and method for managing communication. The system and method applying to but not limited to settop boxes (STBs) and other devices used to interface services. The management including any number of features and processes associated with achieving Quality of Service (QoS) across different domains and according to network limitations associated with the same. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130151994 | System and Method for Identifying a User - Systems and methods for identifying a user are disclosed. One aspect comprises providing an address element and a class identifier, receiving a request for a file, wherein the request comprises the address element and the class identifier, comparing the class identifier to a comparator element, providing a first file if the class identifier is within the comparator element, and providing a second file if the class identifier is outside the comparator element. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130151728 | PROVIDING SYNCHRONOUS CONTENT AND SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENCES - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing synchronous supplemental experiences are presented. According to one or more aspects, a video signal may be transmitted to a display device, and a sync signal may be transmitted to at least one other device. The sync signal may include an identifier of a program currently being displayed and a time value indicating a current point in time of the program. In at least one arrangement, the sync signal may cause the at least one other device to access content synchronization data; determine, based on the content synchronization data, that at least one supplemental experience corresponds to the identifier of the program and the time value; and present the at least one supplemental experience to a user. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130148020 | Dynamic Ambient Lighting - Systems, methods, software, and data structures that provide dynamic ambient lighting synchronized to a video program being watched in a premises are described herein. A video program may be associated with a predefined lighting scheme that specifies or identifies a time-sequenced set of lighting effects (e.g., flashing police lights, sunrise, explosion, etc.) that are to be performed by the dynamic ambient lighting system time-synchronously with the video program. Components of the dynamic ambient lighting system may extract the lighting scheme from video data, parse the lighting scheme into individual lighting effects, and then control a single-color or multicolor light source associated with each of a plurality of light channels (e.g., front right, rear right, front left, rear left, center, and burst channel, among others) based on time-sequenced lighting primitives defined by each lighting effect. Light sources may be wirelessly controlled, e.g., using an IEEE 802.15.4 or ZigBee-compliant wireless system. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130147396 | Dynamic Ambient Lighting - Systems, methods, software, and data structures that provide dynamic ambient lighting synchronized to a video program being watched in a premises are described herein. A video program may be associated with a predefined lighting scheme that specifies or identifies a time-sequenced set of lighting effects (e.g., flashing police lights, sunrise, explosion, etc.) that are to be performed by the dynamic ambient lighting system time-synchronously with the video program. Components of the dynamic ambient lighting system may extract the lighting scheme from video data, parse the lighting scheme into individual lighting effects, and then control a single-color or multicolor light source associated with each of a plurality of light channels (e.g., front right, rear right, front left, rear left, center, and burst channel, among others) based on time-sequenced lighting primitives defined by each lighting effect. Light sources may be wirelessly controlled, e.g., using an IEEE 802.15.4 or ZigBee-compliant wireless system. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130147395 | Dynamic Ambient Lighting - Systems, methods, software, and data structures that provide dynamic ambient lighting synchronized to a video program being watched in a premises are described herein. A video program may be associated with a predefined lighting scheme that specifies or identifies a time-sequenced set of lighting effects (e.g., flashing police lights, sunrise, explosion, etc.) that are to be performed by the dynamic ambient lighting system time-synchronously with the video program. Components of the dynamic ambient lighting system may extract the lighting scheme from video data, parse the lighting scheme into individual lighting effects, and then control a single-color or multicolor light source associated with each of a plurality of light channels (e.g., front right, rear right, front left, rear left, center, and burst channel, among others) based on time-sequenced lighting primitives defined by each lighting effect. Light sources may be wirelessly controlled, e.g., using an IEEE 802.15.4 or ZigBee-compliant wireless system. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130144969 | INDIRECT CONTROL OF CONTENT CONSUMPTION IN AN APPLIANCE - Aspects of the disclosure relate to control of consumption of content in an appliance. The content can include linear programming and non-linear assets. Such control can permit (i) changing a channel in the appliance (e.g., a CPE without upstream functionality) and thus selecting a linear-programming asset, a non-linear asset, and so forth, and (ii) controlling consumption of such assets. In one aspect, a device with upstream network connectivity can control the consumption of media in the appliance. The device can leverage data management and control functionality of a service provider network to acquire information related to assets available for consumption and to transmit asset requests to the service provider network, which can transmit content and signaling to the appliance in accordance at least in part with the asset request, thus controlling media consumption in the appliance. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130144750 | CONTENT ON DEMAND EDGE CACHE RECOMMENDATIONS - Methods and systems for providing content and content recommendations are described. Content recommendations for users in a service area may be based on content requests from users within the same service area. Content recommendations over a period of time may dynamically change based on many factors, including: the number of requests for particular content within one or more time frames, the storage location of requested content relative to requesting users, and whether a request occurs within a time period of rapid shift in use and types of content requested. A content recommendation including one or more content recommendations may be provided to users. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130138795 | Cache Eviction During Off-Peak Transactions - Transaction activity of a cache maintaining content may be monitored to determine periods of transaction activity below a first threshold amount of transactions. A period of anticipated transaction activity above a second threshold amount of transactions may be determined. A period of anticipated transaction activity below the first threshold may be selected based upon the monitored periods of transaction activity below the first threshold and the determined period of anticipated transaction activity above the second threshold. Content then may be evicted from the cache during the selected period of anticipated transaction activity. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130129095 | Key Delivery - A multi-hierarchical key system is provided such that users receive timely key renewals when required so that access to authorized content is not disrupted. Timely renewals of keys may occur continuously for various services while minimizing network traffic. The multi-hierarchical key system may be used in an adaptive streaming environment. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130125153 | MEDIA CONTENT DELIVERY - A server can receive information identifying media content to be offered to users at a discount or at a particular time of release. The offer can also include information identifying a minimum number of acceptances by users needed for the offer to be valid. During a predetermined period, if the number of acceptances has reached or exceeded the minimum number needed, the server may transmit a media stream containing the media content to the users. Furthermore, the offer may include multiple tiers of discounts and/or times of release. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130117415 | Adaptive Content Selection - An apparatus, method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for enhancing the quality of content. A determination may be made that a portion of the content received using a base feed or bitrate completed early. In response to that determination, an attempt may be made to download that portion of the content using a differential bitrate or feed corresponding to a higher quality. Another determination may be made whether the differential bitrate or feed download completed early, and if so, then the differential bitrate or feed may be used as a new base bitrate or feed for downloading additional portions of the content. The differential bitrate or feed download may also provide for a secondary playback of the content at higher quality. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130114899 | CONTENT DESCRIPTOR - An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for generating one or more descriptors that may be associated with content. A teaser for the content may be identified based on contextual similarity between words and/or phrases in the segment and one or more other segments, such as a previous segment. An optical character recognition (OCR) technique may be applied to the content, such as banners or graphics associated with the content in order to generate or identify OCR'd text or characters. The text/characters may serve as a candidate descriptor(s). One or more strings of characters or words may be compared with (pre-assigned) tags associated with the content, and if it is determined that the one or more strings or words match the tags within a threshold, the one or more strings or words may serve as a candidate descriptor(s). One or more candidate descriptor identification techniques may be combined. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130113879 | Multi-Depth Adaptation For Video Content - A method and system for transmitting and viewing video content is described. In one aspect a plurality of versions of 3D video content may be generated. Each version of the 3D video content may include a different viewing depth profile for the 3D video content. Data representative of a viewing distance between a viewer of 3D video content and a device may be determined. Based upon the received data, a particular version of the 3D video content of the plurality of versions having a viewing depth profile corresponding to the viewing distance may be determined. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130103634 | RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - A recommendation system is disclosed that in one aspect offers item recommendations to users based on one or more items known to be liked by the users. An item may be recommended to a user if a similarity indicator for the item, established by determining how much more likely than expected the user will like the item based on the user liking another item, exceeds a predetermined threshold. Multiple items may be recommended to a user based on relative similarity indicators. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130101071 | SIGNAL MONITORING PLATFORM - Aspects of the disclosure relate to signal monitoring at edge of a network domain in a network. A monitoring device can evaluate communication quality of information streams in downstream frequency channels, and operation conditions in a telecommunication network. In one aspect, communication quality can be evaluated at the physical layer level or at a higher-layer level containing payload data. In response to an operation issue, the monitoring device can transmit a notification to a node of a distribution platform of the telecommunication network. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130091267 | Smart Gateway - A smart gateway is disclosed for use in a local network for detecting a network configuration, for detecting devices connected to the network, and for providing configurable signal conditioning to correct problems in the network. The smart gateway includes an analysis circuit for testing the electrical properties of different network branches, and includes configurable signal conditioning circuitry for optimizing the performance of the network. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130086202 | Multiple Virtual Machines in a Mobile Virtualization Platform - Systems and methods are described for embodiments of a mobile virtualization platform (MVP) where in some aspects a wireless mobile device including multiple virtual machines (VMs) may receive data from a remote content provider and process/execute the data using an appropriate virtual machine. In some examples, the MVP may facilitate communication between and coordination among different virtual machines in the MVP, such as to facilitate optimization of data processing/execution. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130080620 | RESOURCE MEASUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT - Aspects of the disclosure relate to measuring and managing data traffic in one or more networks. In some embodiments, a monitor may measure the traffic at one or more locations within the network(s) or devices associated therewith to determine whether the traffic exceeds a threshold. When the traffic exceeds the threshold, one or more actions may be taken, such as issuing or transmitting a command or directive. The command or directive may advise a device or an application to throttle or reduce an input or stimulus responsible for generating the traffic. In some embodiments, a throttling may be effectuated to reduce the data traffic. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130073673 | Content Storage and Identification - Content intended for delivery to one or more consuming users may be recorded by a content distribution system. The recording or archival of the content may allow users to retrieve the content at a later time without providing specific instructions to record the content. Storage of the content may include retrieving programming information describing the content and storing the information in association with the content. In one or more arrangements, descriptive data for content may be generated based on user feedback. Additionally or alternatively, content storage may include fragmentation of the content into a number of segments or segments of a specified size. Content may further be paused and resumed between multiple devices, taking into account the capabilities and compatibilities of the devices and a network through which the content is to be delivered. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130064362 | PRESERVATION OF ENCRYPTION - An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for preserving an encryption of data when confronted by an attack, such as a side channel analysis (SCA) attack based on a statistical analysis. In some embodiments, hardware, software, and/or firmware associated with an encryption calculation may be exercised or accessed during a background operation when an actual or real operation is not taking place. During the background operation, dummy values for data and one or more keys may be input to the hardware. A switching between the real operation and the background operation may take place seamlessly such that measurement of a physical characteristic associated with the hardware is indistinguishable in terms of when the real and background operations are active. In this manner, the secrecy of a key used in connection with the real operation may be preserved. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130061276 | Transmitting Signals Using Directional Diversity Over a Network - Methods and systems are disclosed for using a common frequency spectrum for simultaneous upstream and downstream communications in a network by implementing directional diversity techniques. Non-reciprocal coupling devices, such as circulators, may be configured in the network to provide unidirectional transmission of each signal to prevent interference. In some embodiments, feed-forward interference cancellation is utilized to increase signal isolation of upstream and downstream signals. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130054967 | Reoccuring Keying System - A secure communication system or method are disclosed that may employ a constant level of trust between participants and a security management entity. As part of the constant level of trust, a communication policy may cause participants to request key validation every time the participant wishes to take an action that requires use of a key. In this manner, the participant may regularly communicate with the security management, and this regular communication can be further used to implement key renewal and/or rollover procedures. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130051770 | APPLICATION TRIGGERING - An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for, in one aspect, determining when a trigger, such as an application trigger, should be generated. In some embodiments, the application trigger may be generated when a frame included in a feed (e.g., a content feed) matches a specified or indicated frame. In some embodiments, a comparison between the feed and the specified or indicated frame may be based on one or more tolerances or thresholds. In some embodiments, the feed may be split and content (e.g., video) obtained via the split may be combined (e.g., multiplexed) with a trigger. The combined content and trigger may be transmitted to one or more devices, such as one or more user devices. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130051314 | DATA GATHERING FOR A NODE - Methods and systems are disclosed including a mobile device configured for initiating a communication session with a transceiver interface of a node that comprises a network interface. The node may be queried via the communication session for a status report associated with an error, and an instruction may be communicated to the node via the communication session instructing the node to perform an operation. Communication may be established with the wireless access point via the wireless network after communication of the instruction. The transceiver interface may be configured to communicate via a second network to address issues in the wide area network. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130050573 | TRANSMISSION OF VIDEO CONTENT - A method and system for viewing video content is described. In one aspect a data stream may be received having at least two signals of uncorrelated two dimensional (2D) video content. For a first frame of video content, a first video image of the 2D video content of a first signal may be generated. For a second frame of video content, a second video image of the 2D video content of a second signal may be generated and the generated video image may be outputted to a display device. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130046990 | AUTHENTICATION AND BINDING OF MULTIPLE DEVICES - Systems and methods are described that relate to authentication and/or binding of multiple devices with varying security profiles. In one aspect, a first device with a higher security profile may vouch for the authenticity of a second device with a lower security profile when the second device requests access for content from a content provider. The vouching process may be implemented by allowing the first device to overlay its digital signature on a registration request that has been signed and transmitted by the second device. The second device with the lower security profile may access content from the content provider or source for a predetermined time period, even when the second device does not access content through the first device. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130046863 | Prioritizing Local and Network Traffic - According to some aspects as described herein, a user may purchase or otherwise be provided with an accelerated service for selected software applications, devices, and/or ports to experience a high level of communication. The accelerated service may be created, for example, by using a dedicated network data flow such that the user's customer premise equipment (CPE) network access device may put priority traffic in a different upstream data flow than the commonly shared flow, which may involve tagging the traffic upstream to the network with a priority indicator such as a flow identifier. Based on similar factors, the user may also control local priority of data received downstream from the network for distribution to one or more local devices. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130046848 | Multicasting Content - Aspects of the disclosure relate to multicasting content throughout a distribution network. For example, a content server may generate content fragment packets and attribute packets, and transmit the content fragment packets and attribute packets via a multicast transmission to deliver content to one or more user devices. The multicast transmission may conform to a particular protocol suitable for multicasting content fragments. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130041972 | Content Delivery Network Routing Using Border Gateway Protocol - An announcement protocol may allow disparate, and previously incompatible, content delivery network caches to exchange information and cache content for one another. Announcement data may be stored by the respective caches, and used to determine whether a cache is able to service an incoming request. URL prefixes may be included in the announcements to identify the content, and longest-match lookups may be used to help determine a secondary option when a first cache determines that it lacks a requested content. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130036207 | COMMUNICATION HANDLING - An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for abstracting a public facing identity associated with one or more devices, such as user devices. In some embodiments, a unique identity may be associated with a device. A mapping may be used to establish a relationship between the public facing identity and the unique identity. In some embodiments, configuration data may indicate how a communication (e.g., an incoming or outgoing communication) is to be handled or routed. For example, the configuration data may indicate preferences as to which device(s) amongst a plurality of devices is to receive an incoming communication and/or which public facing identity/identities amongst a plurality of public facing identities is to be used in transmitting an outgoing communication. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130036124 | Segmentation of Video According to Narrative Theme - Content items may be segmented and labeled by a theme to provide information, such as audio or video, with greater functionality, accuracy and speed. The segments and other related information may be stored and made accessible to users through, for example, a search service and/or an on-demand service. Also provided is automatic segmentation that may include any one of receiving a textual description of a content item, determining themes within the textual description, determining relevance intervals corresponding to terms of the theme, filtering and/or merging the relevance intervals, and determining a total interval for each theme that represents one or more contextually-coherent segments of the content item. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130029656 | Callback Tokens for Dropped Calls - A method and system that support re-establishing a dropped call or communication is disclosed. A terminal may publish its parameters to other terminals through in-band or out-of-band signaling. Token values may then be determined by a weighted sum of parameters, where the terminal having the largest weighted sum possesses the token. If the call or communication drops, the terminal possessing the token then initiates communication to the other terminals. In addition, a plurality of tokens may be used when there are more than two terminals in a call. The terminals may be partitioned into groups, where one of the terminals in each group possesses a token. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130024881 | ELECTRONICALLY CLIPPING COUPONS - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for electronically clipping coupons are presented. In one aspect, a user request to electronically clip a vendor coupon may be received at a user device, where the vendor may be different from a supplier of the content. Account information associated with the user may be identified. Thereafter, information identifying the electronically clipped coupon and the account information may be transmitted to the vendor. The vendor subsequently may allow the user to redeem the clipped coupon the next time that the user visits the vendor and presents matching account information to the vendor. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130018632 | Monitoring and Using Telemetry DataAANM Field; BrianAACI EvergreenAAST COAACO USAAGP Field; Brian Evergreen CO USAANM Van Doorn; JanAACI Castle RockAAST COAACO USAAGP Van Doorn; Jan Castle Rock CO USAANM Kiok; JosephAACI West ChesterAAST PAAACO USAAGP Kiok; Joseph West Chester PA USAANM Groustra; DanielAACI LittletonAAST COAACO USAAGP Groustra; Daniel Littleton CO USAANM Torluemke; MarkAACI CentennialAAST COAACO USAAGP Torluemke; Mark Centennial CO USAANM Hall; JimAACI CentennialAAST COAACO USAAGP Hall; Jim Centennial CO USAANM Leddy; JohnAACI Bryn MawrAAST PAAACO USAAGP Leddy; John Bryn Mawr PA US - Aspects of the disclosure relate to monitoring and using telemetry information in various ways. For example, a system that monitors telemetry information may include a user that gathers telemetry information of a device and transmits the information to a monitored room. A manager may join a monitored room and monitor the monitored room for particular types of telemetry information. In one example, a manager may determine whether a downstream device is experiencing a network problem, such as a low bitrate. A manager may also transmit commands to the player via the monitored room, which causes the downstream device to operate in accordance with the transmitted command. In one example, a manager may transmit a command that causes a player to decode a particular service. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130016955 | Synchronized Viewing of Media ContentAANM Pejaver; RajaramAACI YardleyAAST PAAACO USAAGP Pejaver; Rajaram Yardley PA US - Aspects of the disclosure relate to enabling a group of users, each at a different location, to view and control synchronized streamed media content. Users may execute trick play commands plays such as pause, rewind, and fast forward so that all users see the same media content including trick play actions. The media content may originate from streaming content servers or from network-DVR servers. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130016781 | Preserving Image Quality in Temporally Compressed Video StreamsAANM Syed; Yasser F.AACI Los AngelesAAST CAAACO USAAGP Syed; Yasser F. Los Angeles CA US - When a temporally compressed video stream is decoded and subsequently re-encoded, quality is typically lost. The quality loss may be mitigated using information about how the source video stream was encoded during the re-encoding process. According to some aspects of the disclosure, this mitigation of quality loss can be facilitated by decoders that output such information and encoders that receive such information. These decoders and encoders may be separate devices. The functionality of these decoders and encoders may also be combined in a single device, such as a transcoding device. An example of the information that may be used during re-encoding is whether each portion of the original stream was intra-coded or non-intra-coded. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130013736 | Data Segment Service - Aspects of the disclosure relate to the delivery of media content over a network. Specifically, aspects are directed to identification and/or extraction of a selected data such as a video clip from content and providing identifying information to a user to retrieve, view, and/or share the selected video clip. Aspects described herein provide the ability to identify a starting point and stopping point of a video clip on a media gateway device and generate a URL that can be used and/or shared in order to access the selected video clip. The URL may identify a stored media clip, or may contain information from which a video clip can be recreated. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130012246 | TEXT ALTERNATIVE TO ESTABLISHED VOICE CALL SESSION - Methods and systems are described wherein an initiating device sends a communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device. In response, the initiating device receives a communication indicating that the initiating device can provide a text message instead of establishing the voice call session. In some cases, the communication may refuse the request voice call session, while in other cases the communication may simply indicate that the recipient device supports text messaging as an alternative to voice mail. As a result of the received communication, the initiating device outputs a text input prompt. After receiving text input in response to the prompt, the initiating device sends a text message containing the received text input. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130010939 | Integration of Voice Chat Services - A communication system provides a user with the ability to redirect telephone calls to a voice chat account and vice versa. In one example, a voice chat gateway may receive communication requests and determine whether communications directed to a first party is to be redirected. If so, the voice chat gateway may reroute the communication request to an appropriate destination. For instance, a user may request that all communications such as telephone calls be rerouted as a voice chat to the user's voice chat account. Alternatively, a user may request that all communications including voice chats be redirected to a telephone number. Users may further be allowed to call a voice chat account through a telephone network and initiate a voice chat with a telephone number through a data network. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20120321278 | NETWORK RECORDER BUFFER - A network digital video recording (nDVR) system may take into account the capabilities of a requesting user's local DVR when managing network recordings. The user's local DVR may include a temporary buffer that is normally used to record what the DVR is tuned to, and may be used for local trickplay functionality such as pausing live television. The nDVR features described herein may track the usage of the user's temporary DVR buffer, and use that in determining what to stream in response to a user's playback request. The nDVR system can also determine if the user's local DVR has an unused tuner at a time of a program recording, and can instruct the user's local DVR to also tune to the program. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120321053 | COMMUNICATIONS VIA A MEDIA CONTENT DEVICE - Various aspects are described that may provide various communications services. These services may provide for the ability of a user to initiate or request a communication with a third party, such as an emergency service party or a vendor, using a network-coupled device that may be pre-associated with a physical address. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120317598 | Multiple Video Content in a Composite Video Stream - A request for a first video may be received from an end user device. A video size for the requested first video may be determined. An unused onscreen location to place the requested first video, within one of a plurality of composite mosaic video streams, may be determined. The unused onscreen location may correspond to a location for insertion of video content for output to an onscreen location of an output device. Information identifying the unused onscreen location may be transmitted to a content source of the requested first video. The requested first video based upon the unused onscreen location information may be received from the content source. The requested first video then may be placed with at least one second video into a composite video stream based upon the unused onscreen location, and the composite video stream may be transmitted to the end user device. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120317225 | MULTI-SOURCE CONTENT RETRIEVAL - An apparatus, method, and system are provided for providing content to a user. In some embodiments the content may be transmitted using a first transmission technique. In some embodiments, when the user “catches up to” the content as it is being received via the first transmission technique, a switch may be made to obtain the content via a second transmission technique, allowing reception of the content via the first transmission technique to be terminated. In some embodiments, a user equipment device may include a buffer that may be used to store the content received via the second transmission technique, which may support earlier termination with respect to receiving content via the first transmission technique. In some embodiments, the buffer may support a rewind operation. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120315008 | Remotely Configuring Content - A system is presented that comprises a third-party ad provider that serves advertisements to different websites being viewed at a plurality of display devices. The advertisements may be from different advertisers, and may include advertisements from a content service provider. The advertisements from the service provider may include a promotion for a video program presented by the service provider and may provide a selectable option for a viewer of the website to have that viewer's DVR service automatically programmed to record the promoted video program. The selectable option may be selected with a single action by the viewer, and all communications, associations between the display device and the DVR service, and programming of the DVR service may occur automatically without intervention by the viewer. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120314593 | Quality of Service in Packet Networks - Methods and systems for providing quality of service over IP networks are disclosed. In one aspect, a flow label field of a header may be divided into first and second portions. The first portion defines a quality of service. The second portion identifies a message flow. Once the first portion defining the quality of service is established by the sending node, no nodes in the transmission path may change the quality of service value. Each node may route packets based on the quality of service field, or may modify the traffic class field of the header based on the quality of service and then route the packet based on the traffic class field. A service provider can use DSCP within its own administrative domain(s), and end users can set and maintain QoS using the methods described herein, thereby providing a framework for end-to-end QoS using IP packets. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120311673 | MEDIA USAGE MONITORING AND CONTROL - Systems and methods of monitoring access to media content across disparate media devices are disclosed. Aspects relate to systems and methods that may be implemented to control access to media content. In one embodiment, rules may define usage parameters of a user for several types of media content and/or disparate media devices. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120311652 | CONTENT SELECTION BASED ON DISPERSION CALCULATIONS - A device, system and method are provided that may allot and manage bandwidth, such as bandwidth associated with broadcast and narrowcast distribution models, in a content distribution network. The device, system and method may include qualification of content or channels for distribution as broadcast content or narrowcast content. In some embodiments, the qualification may be with regard to selection orthogonality. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120311628 | Providing Enhanced Content - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced content are presented. Data including a first program, a first caption stream associated with the first program, and a second caption stream associated with the first program may be received. The second caption stream may be extracted from the data, and a second program may be encoded with the second caption stream. The first program may be transmitted with the first caption stream including first captions and may include first content configured to be played back at a first speed. In response to receiving an instruction to change play back speed, the second program may be transmitted with the second caption stream. The second program may include the first content configured to be played back at a second speed different from the first speed, and the second caption stream may include second captions different from the first captions. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120311618 | ASYNCHRONOUS INTERACTION AT SPECIFIC POINTS IN CONTENT - Systems, devices, and methods for allowing comments to be input at specific points in delivered content are provided. The systems, devices and methods may comprise specific content items, at least one request from a device for interacting with the specific content, and a comment provided by at least one user via the device in relation to the interacted one of the specific content. The comment may be recorded and later provided at the point of the comment to a second user while the second user plays back the specific content. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120311093 | DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT OF AUDIOVISUAL AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS - A device, system and method are provided to dynamically manage bandwidth for audiovisual communications and content distribution. The device, system and method may include dynamic qualification of content or channels for distribution in accordance with one or more distribution models, such as a broadcast distribution model and a narrowcast distribution model (e.g., a multicast distribution model and/or a unicast distribution model). In some embodiments, the qualification may be based on demand as reflected in requests for, or access to, content from user terminals. In some embodiments, based on changes in demand for content, a requalification of the content in terms of one or more distribution models may take place. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120308005 | Media Storage and Playback of Encrypted Content - A content distribution system is disclosed that supports verification of transmission. In some embodiments, a remote probe device captures content and sends the content to a decrypting device so that decryption may be performed. The decrypting device may archive the content and may subsequently send the content to the probe device or to a playback device so that the content may be displayed. Consequently, the content distribution system can verify that specified content (e.g., an advertisement) was correctly distributed according to scheduled information. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120304205 | Monitoring and Activity Reporting of Enhanced Media Content - A monitoring and analysis system is disclosed that gathers and analyzes information about distributed enhanced content delivery to end user or other equipment. The system may establish communications connections along the content delivery system, filter content received from different locations of the system, and compare the received content with an expected content characteristic. Also, a radio frequency signal from the distribution network may be converted into an Internet Protocol (IP) format by a converter so that the transformed signal may be similarly analyzed as other signals from the system. A report may be consequently generated that is indicative of the received enhanced content and any detected discrepancies with respect to expected enhancement events. Identification of the enhanced content may be based on the program association table and the program map table in order to determine the packet ID of the application signals. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120303738 | DYNAMIC DISTRIBUTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTENT - Methods, apparatuses, and software are disclosed for sending only a first video component (e.g., data comprising one of a left or right component) of content to a plurality of client devices. Further aspects provide for sending, responsive to a request from one of the plurality of client devices, both the first video component and a second video component (e.g., data comprising both of the left and right components) to one or more of the plurality of client devices. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120293636 | Automatic 3-Dimensional Z-Axis Settings - Methods and structures related to generation of and display of on screen graphics, such as content, closed captioning, channel number, and volume bar, with 3D video content are described. A computing device may determine a z-axis depth to utilize for display of on screen graphics 3D video content. A video image of the 3D video content and the on screen graphics at the z-axis depth may be generated, and the generated video image may be outputted to a display device. In another example, frames of 3D video content and a z-axis setting profile may be received at a central facility for further processing. The z-axis setting profile may include a z-axis depth value for display of on screen graphics. The z-axis setting profile may be embedded with the frames of 3D video content into a video stream, and the video stream may be transmitted to a customer premises. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120291076 | Method and Apparatus for Hierarchical Distribution of Video Content for an Interactive Information Distribution System - A method and apparatus for storing and distributing video information in an interactive information distribution system by storing video information on either a centralized or de-centralized secondary storage partition in a network of provider and subscriber equipment, and therein distributing the video information to a subscriber having made a request for such video information. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120291063 | MANAGING DATA - An apparatus, method, and system are provided for binding application data associated with an application with content asset data associated with a content asset. In some embodiments, capacity or bandwidth for each of the application data and the content asset data may be allocated in accordance with one or more profiles. The one or more profiles may include horizontal aspects, vertical aspects, linear and non-linear aspects, and the like. In some embodiments, the binding may take place at a content provider location in accordance with early binding practices, at a central location in accordance with late binding practices, and/or at a user equipment device in accordance with user binding practices. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120290952 | ENABLING CHAT SESSIONS - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for enabling chat sessions are presented. In response to detecting that a first user is viewing a first program, a chat invitation may be automatically transmitted to a second user. The chat invitation may identify the first user and the first program, and further may invite the second user to initiate a chat session with the first user. An updated chat invitation may be automatically transmitted in response to detecting that the first user has changed to viewing a second program, and a chat session that has been initiated may subsequently be transferred to another device. Content prioritization settings may be accounted for in transmitting one or more chat invitations, and before a chat invitation is transmitted, it may be determined that a sufficient amount of time has elapsed to suggest that the user will continue viewing the first program. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120288259 | Apparatus And Method For Recording Content - Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for switching streams in response to detecting a start trigger are presented. A program's start trigger indicating that the program is upcoming may be detected on a first stream, and in response to detecting the start trigger on the first stream, a second stream containing the program may be switched to. The program may be a video program. Segment triggers may be detected and may be used to selectively record and/or delete segments of the program according to a priority scheme. Multiple start triggers may be detected at decreasing time intervals. The existence of a recording conflict may be determined based on a program's start trigger and a user may be alerted of the recording conflict. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120287929 | Internet Protocol Multicast Content Delivery - A first device communicates with subscriber devices in an access network. A communication is sent from a subscriber device to the first device requesting that the subscriber device be permitted to join a multicast group associated with data for a desired content. After determining that the subscriber device is authorized to receive that content, the first device sends one or more multicast signaling communications to a second device. The multicast signaling communications instruct the second device to join the requested multicast group and provide an identifier associated with that multicast group. After joining the multicast group and receiving content data packets of that group, the second device encapsulates those received packets in frames according to an access network media access control (MAC) protocol and forwards the MAC frames to the subscriber device. The MAC frames include the identifier provided to the second device by the first device. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120278566 | Intelligent Partitioning of External Memory Devices - Multiple memory devices, such as hard drives, can be combined and logical partitions can be formed between the drives to allow a user to control regions on the drives that will be used for storing content, and also to provide redundancy of stored content in the event that one of the drives fails. Priority levels can be assigned to content recordings such that higher value content can be stored in more locations and easily accessible locations within the utilized drives. Users can control and organize how recorded content is stored between the drives such that an external drive may be removed from a first gateway device and attached to a second gateway device without losing the ability to access the recorded content from the first gateway device at a later time. In this manner, a user is provided with the ability to transport an external drive containing stored content recordings between multiple different gateway devices such that the recordings may be accessed at different locations or user premises. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120275581 | Stateful Home Phone Service - This application describes a system and associated method for routing messages, such as phone calls. The destination of incoming calls may be determined based on a variety of factors, such as the state of the callee's security system, the date and time, the identity of the caller, and the number of recent call attempts by the caller. Potential destinations include all or a subset of the phones associated with a subscriber and outside phones, such as cellular phones operated by third parties. The rules used to route calls may be defined or modified via a web interface. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120275450 | Obtaining Services Through a Local Network - A local network gateway may exchange signaling data for a voice communication session with an external network. The gateway may also exchange internal signaling information relating to that voice communication session across logical ports within the local network gateway using a local signaling protocol. A voice communication session can be established between the local gateway and an external network and bridged to local communication sessions between the local gateway and end points. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120266222 | PROVISIONING USING A GENERIC CONFIGURATION - An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for provisioning a user equipment device (UED). The UED may be configured to receive a generic configuration and (dynamically) derive settings specific to the UED that would otherwise have been received in the configuration. The UED may execute one or more applications to derive the settings specific to the UED. A first application may enable the UED to dynamically learn a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and IP address of a node. A second application may enable the UED to generate authentication credentials for the UED. A third application may enable the UED to determine a port or ports that are authorized for service and a port or ports that are not authorized for service. A fourth application may enable the UED to determine a number associated with the UED. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120266204 | Virtual Channel Map Masking - Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for adding or removing virtual channels from a terminal. A controller may send a virtual channel map to one or more terminals. The controller may also send a bitmask to one or more terminals. Each bit of the bitmask may indicate whether a virtual channel should be ignored. The channels that a terminal is permitted to receive may be altered by updating the bitmask. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120256735 | REMOTE CONTROL INTERFERENCE AVOIDANCE - Computer readable media, methods and apparatuses may be configured for determining a rate of signal pulses transmitted by a device and a transmission interval occurring between a first of the signal pulses and a second of the signal pulses, detecting selection of a command by a user, and transmitting at least a portion of the command during the transmission interval. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120243537 | TRANSMISSION OF CONTENT THROUGH ACCESS NETWORK - A computing device in an access network is disclosed that transmits content including data blocks. For each multicast transmission over an access network, the computing device stores the data block of content currently being transmitted. As transmission of the next succeeding data block of content begins, the computing device replaces the previously stored data block of content with the next succeeding data block of content, such that the computing device continually stores and replaces successive data blocks of content in a multicast transmission. When the computing device receives from a new user device a request for the content that the computing device is already transmitting to other user devices, the computing device transmits in unicast to the requesting user device the data block of content currently being transmitted to the other user devices, which the computing device has stored. Following this unicast transmission, the computing device initiates a multicast transmission forwarding the content including the data blocks to the requesting user device. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120230186 | Network Congestion Analysis - A network monitoring and network congestion analysis can be performed based on a comparison of data packets at multiple different network nodes installed at different locations on a communication path. A downstream network node may be installed at a user location while an upstream network may be installed at an access router further up the network. A network congestion analyzer may receive data packet information including timestamps from both network nodes, and may compare the data packet information to group the data packets into application flows and match the corresponding packets from the different network nodes. Based on the data packet matching, the network congestion analyzer may calculate packet loss, packet delay, packet delay variation, and perform other network congestion analysis techniques for the application flows corresponding to a user's various devices and the applications executing on those devices. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120226770 | Delivery of Content - Systems and methods are provided for a pull model for delivery of data such as content metadata among interconnected content delivery networks (CDNi), allowing for accurate metadata information in appropriate edge servers in a large CDNi system. When a request for an asset in a CDN (CDN A) is to be served by another, interconnected CDN (CDN B), a link to the location where the metadata is stored within CDN A can be provided along with the request for CDN B to serve the content to the user. The link can be passed to the appropriate edge device in CDN B, which can retrieve the metadata to set up and support the content session. The encrypted information can also be passed recursively by CDN B to other CDNs with which it is interconnected. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120224572 | System and Method for Improved In-Browser Notification - Systems and methods for sending/receiving improved in-browser notification messages are provided. The notification messages are overlaid on HTTP traffic on port | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120222063 | Dynamic Content Packaging - To be accessed on different media players, requested content must be delivered in a format that is supported by the requesting device. A dynamic content packager for encrypting and packaging requested content for different requesting devices at the time of consumption is disclosed. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120210382 | Content Archive Model - An archive model can be used for managing networked storage of recorded content, such as network DVR (digital video recorder) content. Content may be initially recorded to an active storage device, with individual duplicate copies recorded for each requesting user, and subsequently archived to an archive storage device. For playback, the content can be reconstituted into the active storage device prior to delivery to the requesting user. Content can be predictively reconstituted in anticipation of user needs, and the reconstitution capacity of the system can be dynamically reallocated for load balancing. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120210356 | Image Sampling from Multicast Streams - The disclosed methods and system may gain access to a plurality of content streams, and periodically capture still images from each stream. The captured stills may be stored in a predetermined location, and the location may be made available to various clients. By discovering the locations, application clients can issue requests to receive the latest image for a current stream, and use that image to improve a user interface or enhance a user experience in consuming the content. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120204216 | Home Gateway Expansion - As described herein, a gateway device may include one or more expansion ports to add functionality. The added functionality can be of any desired type, such as adding telephone call routing capabilities, or high-definition radio capabilities. The added functionality can include new wireless communication abilities, such as adding Bluetooth capability, and the combination may allow greater networked communication. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120201368 | Origination and Destination Based Routing - One or more aspects of the disclosure relate to various functions and processes related to routing of calls based on origination and/or destination information. In one aspect, a method may comprise receiving a request for a call session, and the request may include an indicator that may indicate whether to route a call based on origination and/or destination information of the call session. Based on the indicator, a routing element may determine whether the call session should be routed based on origination information and/or destination information. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120182386 | Video Content Generation - The features relate generally to acquiring, formatting, and distributing video content to a variety of devices in multiple geographies. Some features described herein relate to preserving the stereoscopic effect for the formatting and distribution of 3D video content. Additionally, features described herein relate to customized and/or dynamic generation of a 3D stream based on a user device and/or user preferences. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120173746 | Quality of Service for Distribution of Content to Network Devices - A gateway device configured to receive IP video content may select and use transmission methods that maintain a certain quality of service for delivering the content. A transmission method may be selected based on a network to which the client device is connected. The gateway device may select a network through which the content is to be delivered depending on a variety of factors including bandwidth availability, client compatibility, quality of service provided and the like. A gateway device may further be configured to convert multicast transmissions to unicast, to provide dynamic storage of content for pre-positioning and other purposes and/or to provide other functions. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120169487 | SECURITY SYSTEM - Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for expanding the functionality of a security system are disclosed. The security system may be integrated with a vehicle security system. For example, a vehicle security node of a vehicle may transmit a signal that may be received by the security system. The security system may authenticate the vehicle security node and integrate the vehicle security node into its network. Various information may be communicated in both directions between the security system and the vehicle security node. The vehicle security node may communicate with an alarm panel that may include a dock for connecting a portable device. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120159558 | Cache Management In A Video Content Distribution Network - Cache management techniques are described for a content distribution network (CDN), for example, a video on demand (VOD) system supporting user requests and delivery of video content. A preferred cache size may be calculated for one or more cache devices in the CDN, for example, based on a maximum cache memory size, a bandwidth availability associated with the CDN, and a title dispersion calculation determined by the user requests within the CDN. After establishing the cache with a set of assets (e.g., video content), an asset replacement algorithm may be executed at one or more cache devices in the CDN. When a determination is made that a new asset should be added to a full cache, a multi-factor comparative analysis may be performed on the assets currently residing in the cache, comparing the popularity and size of assets and combinations of assets, along with other factors to determine which assets should be replaced in the cache device. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120154679 | USER-CONTROLLED SYNCHRONIZATION OF AUDIO AND VIDEO - Devices, methods, and computer-readable media having program instructions for performing functions are described for synchronizing audio and video components of a media program. If audio and video components of an audiovisual program and routed through different processing devices, such as a home theater system, the viewer of the audiovisual program may perceive a synchronization mismatch between the audio and video components. As described herein, the viewer is provided with the ability to adjust a delay of one of the components relative to the other component, such that synchronization is achieved. In some variations, a user interface is provided to give the viewer feedback concerning the relative delay between one component and the other. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120151042 | Apparatus, System and Method for Resolving Bandwidth Constriction - An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for resolving bandwidth constriction using multiple bandwidths and/or multiple content delivery paths. The apparatus, system and method may include recording requested video content and/or delivering the recorded video content to resolve bandwidth constriction using alternate bandwidths or delivery paths. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120148215 | Data Segment Service - Aspects of the disclosure relate to the delivery of media content over a network. Specifically, aspects are directed to identification and/or extraction of a selected data such as a video clip from content and providing identifying information to a user to retrieve, view, and/or share the selected video clip. Aspects described herein provide the ability to identify a starting point and stopping point of a video clip on a media gateway device and generate a URL that can be used and/or shared in order to access the selected video clip. The URL may identify a stored media clip, or may contain information from which a video clip can be recreated. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120131672 | Secure Notification on Networked Devices - A system, device and method to securely notify a user of a compromise of a device are provided. The system, device and method may include a detection device adapted for determining a compromise of the device communicatively coupled to the first path, a user database including at least information regarding the device and other devices associated with the user, and the secure signal path to at least one of the other devices. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120120807 | Congestion Management In A Shared Network - A shared channel used to communicate between a cable modem termination system and multiple cable modems is managed to prevent and/or reduce the impact of congestion. If the average channel utilization is above a near-congestion threshold, a cable modem in an extended high consumption state is assigned a reduced data transmission priority for managed traffic. Priority for that cable modem is restored to a default preferred level when the channel usage by that cable modem drops below a predetermined level or when the average aggregate channel utilization by all cable modems drops below the near-congestion threshold. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120117591 | Frequency Redirection for Inband Signaling - A channel remapping pre-notification (RPN) message is transmitted in each of multiple frequencies prior to movement of data associated with one or more virtual channels to one or more different frequencies. The RPN message is also sent prior to transmission of a Virtual Channel Table (VCT) reflecting channel movement. If a receiving device is unable to find data associated with a selected channel subsequent to the channel movement, the stored RPN information can be used to identify a new frequency for that selected channel. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120114305 | RE-ADDRESSABLE ALTERNATE CONTENT - Providing re-addressable alternate video content to consumers during trickplay modes of operation. For example, providing first video content for standard playback to a consumer; receiving a first consumer request for a first trick mode operation during the standard playback of the first video content; responsive to the first consumer request, providing addressable second video content, different from the first video content, to the consumer; receiving, during providing of the addressable second video content, a second consumer request for a second trick mode operation on the addressable second video content; and responsive to the second consumer request, providing addressable third video content, different from the first and second video contents, to the consumer. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120099795 | Detection of Transitions Between Text and Non-Text Frames in a Video Stream - Detecting the start of a credit roll within video program may allow for the automatic extension of video recordings among other functions. The start of the credit roll may be detected by determining the number of text blocks within a sequence of frames and identifying a point in the sequence of frames where a difference between the number of text blocks in frames occurring before the point and the number of text blocks in frames occurring after the point is greatest and exceeds a specified threshold. Text blocks may be identified within each frame by partitioning the frame into one or more segments and recording the segments having a pixel of a sufficiently high contrast. Contiguous segments may be merged or combined into single blocks, which may then be filtered to remove noise and false positives. Additional content may be inserted into the credit roll frames. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120099494 | CONTENT TRANSMISSION ARCHITECTURE - An apparatus, method, and system are provided for combining and processing broadcast and narrowcast content on a common platform. The broadcast and narrowcast content may be processed, routed, encrypted, and transmitted. In some embodiments, a modulator may be used modulate the broadcast content and the output from that modulator may be coupled to an input of one or more interface cards. The inputs of the one or more interface cards may also be coupled to outputs from a plurality of modulators that may be configured to modulate the narrowcast content. In this manner, a reduction in resources may be obtained. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120096492 | TRANSMISSION OF VIDEO SIGNALS - An apparatus, method, and system are described for transmitting a television program signal. A portion of a local frequency spectrum may be determined to be free, or relatively unused. A user selection of a television program or broadcast programming channel may be received from a program lineup in an electronic programming guide. The selected program may be selected from a gateway, translated, and transmitted over the portion of the frequency spectrum determined to be free. The translation may include converting a signal from the gateway into a National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) signal or a mobile TV signal. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090009 | Video Assets Having Associated Graphical Descriptor Data - Graphical descriptor data associated with a particular video asset may include data for one or more graphical descriptor images and graphical descriptor metadata related to each graphical descriptor image. The graphical descriptor images can be simultaneously presented on a display screen with the video asset content and used to navigate to different content in that video asset. The graphical descriptors can also be used to navigate to content of one or more different assets. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120084806 | Key Derivation for Secure Communications - A security system is disclosed in which a device-specific key value is provided to a security processing device, and then used to derive additional derived keys for use in secured communications. In response to identifying a compromise of the derived keys, the system can be instructed to derive new or replacement derived keys for use in the secured communications. In some embodiments, the security system can be used in a video reception device, to decrypt encrypted video content. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084463 | Delivering Content in Multiple Formats - Content may be received at an edge location in one format, but delivered to a terminal on an access network in another format. The received content may be transcoded at the edge location. The transcoded content may be stored, or immediately delivered. The transcoded content may be fragmented prior to storage. Multiple copies of the transcoded content may be maintained in multiple formats. These formats may be aligned with one another such that delivery of the content can include delivering portions of the content in one format and other portions of the content in another format. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084461 | Data and Call Routing and Forwarding - A system and method for determining an order in which to communicate with a list of numbers and/or addresses for a particular contact is disclosed. Each caller that communicates with the contact may specify a different order for the contact's various phone numbers and other addresses. A communication management system may then automatically dial the numbers or use messaging addresses to initiate data communications in the specified order when the initiating party attempts to communicate with the contact. The order may specify simultaneous and/or sequential use of numbers or addresses. Alternatively or additionally, the communication management system may dynamically and/or automatically determine the communication order or a portion thereof. The automatic determination of the order may be based on a communication history or communication receiving of the initiating party. In some arrangements, the order may be partially manually defined and partially automatically defined. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120075997 | Subscriber Access Network Architecture - A subscriber network architecture includes a packet processing node that communicates with a network backbone and with a plurality of access nodes. The access nodes also communicate with a plurality of subscriber devices. The packet processing node controls Quality of Service (QoS) levels for the subscriber devices, routes user data to subscriber devices based on downstream communication channels of the access nodes and QoS levels, and receives data from subscriber devices (via the access nodes) for forwarding across the network backbone. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120066707 | SECURING PROPERTY - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for securing property are presented. Video content viewed by a user may be detected, and the user may be automatically prompted to change settings on a security system based on the detecting. A comparison of the current time with the duration of the video content may serve as the basis for such prompting. Additionally, a premise security system may be placed in a learning mode. Changes in position of a security sensor may be detected and used to set a permitted range of motion for the sensor. Further, a plurality of security sensor profiles may be stored, and each profile may identify a different predefined permitted range of motion of a sensor. The addition of a new sensor to a premise may be detected, and a user may be prompted, on a display, to identify a profile to be used for the new sensor. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120059954 | PROVIDING ENHANCED CONTENT - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced content are presented. Data including a first program, a first caption stream associated with the first program, and a second caption stream associated with the first program may be received. The second caption stream may be extracted from the data, and a second program may be encoded with the second caption stream. The first program may be transmitted with the first caption stream including first captions and may include first content configured to be played back at a first speed. In response to receiving an instruction to change play back speed, the second program may be transmitted with the second caption stream. The second program may include the first content configured to be played back at a second speed different from the first speed, and the second caption stream may include second captions different from the first captions. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120036195 | ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONFERENCE - An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided for associating content with a conference. A viewer of content may elect to partake in a conference and may select one or more options associated with the conference. The viewer may be authenticated and billed based on the viewer's participation in the conference. The viewer may be assigned to a conference group based on a location of the viewer and/or the viewer's selections of conference options. A lookup may be performed to determine conference parameters, comprising one or more of a terminal identifier associated with the viewer, a conference code identifier and a participant code. A conference setup message may be transmitted to one or more of a switch and a customer premise equipment device (CPE) based on the conference parameters. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120026097 | Reconfiguring Remote Control Behavior - Aspects of the disclosure relate to a remote control which may include one or more buttons configured to provide input to the remote control upon being activated, a transmitter for transmitting data, a receiver for receiving data, a processor and memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the two-way remote control to perform a method for configuring repeat transmission behavior of one or more of the buttons of the two-way remote control. Further, the receiver may be configured to receive data from a device configured to be controlled by the remote control and the data may include instructions for configuring the repeat transmission behavior of the one or more buttons of the two-way remote control. Additionally, the two-way remote control may configure the repeat transmission behavior of the one or more buttons of the two-way remote control based on the data received from the device. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120020651 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECORDING CONTENT - Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for switching streams in response to detecting a start trigger are presented. A program's start trigger indicating that the program is upcoming may be detected on a first stream, and in response to detecting the start trigger on the first stream, a second stream containing the program may be switched to. The program may be a video program. Segment triggers may be detected and may be used to selectively record and/or delete segments of the program according to a priority scheme. Multiple start triggers may be detected at decreasing time intervals. The existence of a recording conflict may be determined based on a program's start trigger and a user may be alerted of the recording conflict. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120014262 | Automated Network Condition Identification - Performance data relating to each of multiple network devices distributed in a geographic region is analyzed. That data can include values for various parameters measured automatically by routine polling of subscriber devices and/or network elements serving those subscriber devices. Measured parameter values can then be stored in a database and made available, together with information about subscriber device locations, to one or more analysis servers that analyze different portions of the network. As part of that analysis, groups of devices experiencing performance problems are identified based on device location. Information about those groups is then communicated and can be made available for, e.g., monitoring by service personnel. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120011542 | Linear Interactive Television Data Insertion - A method and system is presented for utilizing an automation server and/or a traffic control manager in the content origination workflow to control a multiplexer, data carousel, and/or packager of an interactive television (iTV) system to synchronize the content (audio, video) with the interactive application data. Further, other aspects provide methods and systems for network ad insertion to generate iTV enhanced advertisements by placing a local ad splicer in the network to allow for splicing of both iTV enhanced advertisements and splicing of iTV applications into an MPEG-2 transport stream. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011109 | Automatic Segmentation of Video - Content items may be segmented and labeled by topic to provide for the capture, analysis, indexing, retrieval and/or distribution of information within information rich media, such as audio or video, with greater functionality, accuracy and speed. The segments and other related information may be stored in a database and made accessible to users through, for example, a search service and/or an on-demand service. Automatic segmentation may include receiving a text representation, calculating relevance intervals based on the text representation, determining a nodal representation based on the relevance intervals, and determining segments of the content item based on the nodal representation. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120002109 | ALTERNATE SOURCE PROGRAMMING - An apparatus, method, and system are provided for associating or tying an audio source/content to visual/video content. A request to tie a selected audio source to visual/video content may be received. Upon receiving the request, the selected audio source may be tied to the visual/video content. Audio received from the selected audio source may be substituted for audio associated with the visual/video content. One or more synchronization techniques/methods may be used to synchronize audio content with visual/video content. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110314500 | Method and System for Providing a Program Guide and Multiple Video Streams Using Slice-Based Encoding - Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces. The program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes encoding a first set of slices for each of a plurality of graphics pages; and encoding a second set of slices for each of a plurality of video streams. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110314107 | Downloading a Code Image to Remote Devices - A server downloads a code image to remote devices so that the remote devices are performing properly in accordance with an updated version of the code image. The server may include an application server that targets devices and informs the targeted devices about a multicasting session. The targeted devices subsequently join the multicast session supported by a multicasting server and extract the code image from the multicast session. After the multicast session has been completed, the downloading center polls the targeted devices to determine which devices have successfully downloaded the code image. The server may repeat the download to devices that did not successfully download the code image by subsequently scheduling a subsequent multicasting session or by individually sending the code image to the devices. Portions of the code image may be sent in multicasting messages based on a depth level and interval. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110310772 | Concurrency Method for Forecasting Impact of Speed Tiers on Consumption - A forecast model processes performance data from a site, e.g., a cable modem termination system (CMTS), to obtain a set of concurrency equations for existing speed tiers that is based on an observed subscriber bandwidth for the site. A new set of concurrency equations is obtained for new speed tiers so that a new subscriber bandwidth can be predicted for the new speed tiers. Based on the new subscriber bandwidth, expected subscriber growth, and changes in data consumption, the site is reconfigured with additional ports based on the forecast. This process can be repeated for the other sites. Sites may be grouped together based on the observed subscriber bandwidth. A new subscriber bandwidth may be predicted for the group with the new speed tiers so that additional ports can be configured for each of the sites in the group. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110296477 | NETWORK MANAGEMENT - A system and method are disclosed for managing networks. Devices in a neighborhood may communicate with a termination server (TS) at a local office. The devices may also communicate locally with one another using a second, localized network. As an alternative to obtaining network communication and initialization data from the TS, the devices may consult with devices on the local network to determine if such devices have the initialization data available for use. Through the local network, the devices may also share tuning resources with one another, so that neighboring devices may use each others' resources to render or record additional content when their own resources are otherwise unavailable. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110296463 | RANKING SEARCH RESULTS - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for ranking search results are presented. According to one or more aspects, two or more search results may be ranked based on the extent to which each search result matches at least one search criterion and based on the amount of time that content corresponding to each search result will remain available. Content with less availability time remaining may be ranked higher than content with more availability time remaining. The ranking may also be based on a genre of the content being ranked, and availability may be weighted differently in ranking content of different genres. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110289536 | Communication for One Way Devices - A system and method of performing data communication upstream to the network central location is provided. A system and method for providing one way devices with video and/or services distributed using switched digital video can be provided. A system may include a one way device, a gateway device, a user operated communication device, and/or a network central location. Such systems and methods allow for greater functionality, customization and/or interactivity to users of one way devices, which do not communicate data from the one way device upstream to a network central location. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110288912 | Content Recommendation System - A content recommendation system is disclosed that allows users to identify friends, recommend content to friends, and receive awards for influencing friends. Interfaces can be used to display rankings of recommended programs, user profiles and their awards, and dynamic chats relating to specific content. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110286447 | ASCERTAINING PER-HOP NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS - A tool that may be used for querying and obtaining per-hop information along a network path, and/or for verifying the host name of each hop against a data repository such as the DNS. The query and response may be transmitted in, e.g., the destination options header of data packets, such as an IPv6 destination options header. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110280256 | Dynamic Assignment of Signals to Ports in an Access Platform - Signals may be forwarded to a variety of ports for transmission. The signals may be modulated for transmission. The forwarding of signals to ports may be accomplished by forwarding the signals to one or more signal modulators using a processing unit. The mapping of signals to ports may change responsive to a triggering event. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110280241 | Control of Multicast Content Distribution - A local router stores a content distribution map that specifies a plurality of permitted multicast groups. The local router receives communications from user devices on an access-network side of the local router. Those received communications identify multicast groups for which user devices wish to receive data. The local router ascertains if those identified multicast groups are permitted multicast groups specified by the stored content distribution map. For multicast groups ascertained to be permitted multicast groups, the local router sends communications across a network-side interface requesting membership in those multicast groups. The local router may then receive data for those multicast groups and forward that data to user devices. For multicast groups identified in user device communications ascertained not to be permitted multicast groups, the local router sends no communications across the network-side interface requesting membership. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110274179 | Grid Encoded Media Asset Data - Metadata can identify temporal segments of content associated with a media asset and can identify asset data types. In response to a request for a particular asset, a central office may identify a data type and a temporal segment based on metadata associated with the request. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110274148 | Managing Upstream Transmission in a Network - A bandwidth allocation and monitoring method may divide available bandwidth on a shared communication medium into a plurality of discrete tones that can be individually allocated to modems on an as-needed basis. The effective modulation rate that a particular modem can use for each discrete tone can be monitored over time using a schedule of pilot tones transmitted from the modems on different tones at different times. The schedule may define representative pilot tones, in which case effective modulation rates for neighboring tones may be inferred from a determined effective modulation rate of a pilot tone. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110274029 | Wireless Range Extender - As described herein, Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) is used to connect a range extender to a base Wireless Access Point (WAP). The MoCA based range extender may be outside the wireless range of the base WAP. In an embodiment, the MoCA based range extender may be in a wireless dead zone of the WAP. The MoCA range extender may support at least the same wireless bands as that of the base WAP. The MoCA based range extender may be automatically discovered in the network and may receive the configuration without intervention. Firmware also may be upgraded from the service provider network through the WAP. The MoCA range extender and its clients may communicate with other devices in the local network as well as other devices in the Authorized Service Domain controlled by the service provider. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110273625 | Intelligent Remote Control - A content access device and system may allow portable remote devices to be paired with a variety of different devices, allowing remote control through a network connection. Content access devices may expose application program interfaces, allowing incoming network traffic to control operation of the device much in the same way that a local infrared remote would. Routing content commands through an external application server may also yield other benefits, such as allowing more customized selection of information and advertising content to users based on their viewing history. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110271313 | Multi-Mode Modem - A modem system may include modems that have multiple upstream transmitters for transmitting signals upstream in a communication network. In some embodiments herein, one or more of those upstream transmitters may be retasked to transmit downstream signals for reception at devices within a modem's premises. The downstream signal may be modulated differently from its original modulation as received by the modem, and may be modulated in a manner that can be received by legacy components on the premises, such as analog televisions. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110264912 | MANAGED SERVICES ENVIRONMENT PORTABILITY - A device and method for forming a portable network environment outside a managed network environment for sharing content is provided. A portable network device enables authorized consumption of content outside a managed environment. The portable network device may have an internal rechargeable battery and support wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi. The portable network device may act as a Wi-Fi base station allowing access to authorized Wi-Fi clients via a mesh network. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110261889 | Remote User Interface - An interactive user interface, such as a remote terminal user interface, is compressed prior to transmission to a video client. The compression may be performed independently of any other video that may be simultaneously transmitted to the video client. At the client side, two compressed video streams (remote user interface and video content) may be decompressed independently of each other. In some cases, technology already existing in some client devices, such as picture-in-picture (PiP) capability, may be leveraged to decompress the received compressed remote user interface without needing to modify the hardware of those client devices. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110258665 | Viewing and Recording Streams - A system and method of providing content in a digital video network are disclosed. The system may detect the resolution capability of a user's device, and automatically configure electronic program guide (EPG), viewing and/or recording options accordingly. User preferences may also be used. Record and viewing requests may result in tuning to and decoding different datastreams. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110258463 | LOW POWER PAGING OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS - Systems, apparatuses, and methods are configured to monitor signals received via a transmission medium by a paging monitor to detect an activity trigger. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are further configured to, in response to detecting the activity trigger, cause, by the paging monitor, a main receiver to transition from an energy conservation mode to an active mode to monitor the transmission medium for data traffic. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110258324 | Management of Shared Access Network - Information from multiple sources can be communicated to a policy server. Based on that information, the policy server can determine allocation of bandwidth, transmission priority and/or other network resources based on preferences and/or service selections provided by a subscriber and communicate information about those determinations to other network elements for policy implementation. The information provided to a policy server for determining network resource allocation can include information about one or more applications executing at a customer equipment device, information about access network bandwidth usage, information about services for which one or more devices is authorized, and/or information about network conditions. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110255447 | Inbound Call Screening for Particular Accounts - A system and method for improving the handling, management, and retention of particular accounts. An allowable calling number list is generated via a suitable mechanism such as a call center. The allowable calling number list is utilized by telephone number management server to manage inbound call access to suspended accounts. Account representatives are given access to the suspended numbers. Additionally, certain emergency inbound calls may be permitted from select numbers. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110243563 | Binary Modulation Node - Digital information can be carried on the fiber leg of an access network using binary modulation. Binary modulated data received at an O/E node can then be modulated onto an analog waveform using quadrature amplitude modulation or some other technique for modulating an analog waveform and transmitted over, for example, the coaxial leg of the network. The O/E node may also receive an analog signal, over the coaxial leg, modulated to carry upstream data from subscriber devices. The O/E node may demodulate the upstream signal to recover the upstream data and forward that upstream data over the fiber leg using a binary modulated optical signal. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110243214 | INDUCING RESPONSE SIGNATURES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Methods and systems are provided in which a network induces different distortions in signals traversing different segments of the network. The distortions may be used to identify locations on the network of devices that transmit and receive the signals. The distortions may be reflected in equalization coefficients programmed into transmitting or receiving devices, which may be used to pre or post filter the signals to compensate for the distortions. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110242276 | Video Content Distribution - A stereoscopic production solution, e.g., for live events, that provides 3D video asset distribution to multiple devices and networks is described. In some embodiments, live or recorded 3D video content may be accessible by different service providers with different subscribers/users and protocols across a network of the content provider. A first video signal corresponding to a first video feed for one eye of a viewer may be received and a second video signal corresponding to a second video feed for the second eye of the viewer may be received. The first video signal and the second video signal may be encoded. The encoded first video signal and the encoded second video signal may be transmitted independently over a network. The two video signals may be received and frame synced at an off-site location for eventual rendering to a display device. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110222549 | Home Gateway Expansion - As described herein, a gateway device may include one or more expansion ports to add functionality. The added functionality can be of any desired type, such as adding telephone call routing capabilities, or high-definition radio capabilities. The added functionality can include new wireless communication abilities, such as adding Bluetooth capability, and the combination may allow greater networked communication. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110219239 | PC Secure Video Path - A system and method are disclosed for creating a secure video content path, or a protected media content bus, within an unsecure personal computer. A portable security module, or electronic key safe, may be inserted into a personal computer that has different internal components for processing secure and unsecured content. The security module may establish a secure encrypted link with a secure video processor of the personal computer, and may use the personal computer's network interface to request authority to receive secured content. The security module may provide content keys to the secure video processor to access secured content received over an external network. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110216173 | Impairments To 3D Experiences - Systems and methods for impairing video content to a user are described. Video content may be outputted to a user via at least one output device. Such video content may be video content associated with a video game. A determination may be made as to whether a simulated impairment to the video content is required. Upon determining that a simulated impairment is required, impaired video content may be outputted to the user via the at least one output device. The at least one output device may include an output device for the left eye of the user and an output device for the right eye of the user. The impaired video content then may outputted to the output device for the left eye while the video content, without simulated impairment, may be outputted to the output device of the right eye. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110211812 | Program Segmentation of Linear Transmission - Content streams may be segmented to provide automatic extraction and storage of content items without intervening commercials or other unrelated content. These content items may then be stored in a database and made accessible to subscribers through, for example, an on-demand service. Automatic segmentation may include the identification of program boundaries, segmentation of a content stream based on the boundaries and the subsequent classification of the segments into content types. For example, audio and video duplication detection may be used to identify commercials since commercials tend to repeat frequently over a relatively short amount of time. A system may further identify an end of program indicator in a video stream to determine when a program ends. Accordingly, if a program ends after a scheduled end time, a recording device (e.g., the program is being recorded) may automatically extend the recording time to capture the entire program. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110209169 | Method and System for Protecting Cable Televisions Subscriber-specific Information Allowing Limited Subset Access - A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings. The cable provider anonymizes and encrypts the information for all households as the cable provider does not know which households are sampled households. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110202956 | DISPOSITION OF VIDEO ALERTS AND INTEGRATION OF A MOBILE DEVICE INTO A LOCAL SERVICE DOMAIN - A handset or other end device in a local service domain receives video service notifications. The video service notifications can provide information to a user of the end device about a video service (e.g., a television program or a movie) available within a local network. The video service notification can include a request for a response to the notification, with the request having a corresponding URI or other type of link to cause a desired action (e.g., to commence recording or playing content associated with a particular video service). A mobile device configurable for direct communication in a wide area wireless network can join a local service domain and receive services through a gateway of that local service domain. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110199914 | System and Method for Capacity Planning on a High Speed data Network - The present disclosure describes a method and system for monitoring the bandwidth utilization on a high speed data network port over time. According to the method described herein, measurements of the bandwidth utilization on the port may be taken over a predetermined time interval and analyzed to determine whether the utilization measurement equals or exceeds a predetermined upper threshold. If the port exhibits high bandwidth utilization within the time interval, an alert may be set for further monitoring of the port or for port augmentation. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197071 | Determining Response Signature Commonalities - An analyzer can obtain data regarding signal characteristics in each of multiple communication channels within an access network. The analyzer can use that data to create signatures corresponding to each of the multiple channels. Based on similarities between signatures, the analyzer may then identify clusters of signatures associated with devices that share channels or portions of channels. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110194597 | MODULATION ANALYSIS AND DISTORTION IDENTIFICATION - An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to generate a symbol placement associated with a transmission scheme by transforming a retrieved set of equalization coefficients. Symbols included in the symbol placement may be analyzed and quantified in terms of their distance from a decision boundary. Symbols may be synthesized on an iterative basis in order to obtain visibility into the underlying performance of the transmission scheme over time. If equalization is unable to reduce a signal impairment below a threshold value within a predetermined amount of time, then a determination may be made that a non-linear distortion source is present in a network or communication system. Signals received from a plurality of user terminals may be compared with one another in order to determine a probable location or cause of the non-linear distortion. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110194418 | IDENTIFICATION OF A FAULT - An apparatus, method, and system are provided for determining a location of an error source. Equalization coefficients may be retrieved and an average period of time between localized peak amplitudes may be determined. The average period of time may be multiplied by a velocity of propagation associated with a communication channel to determine an approximate location of the error source. The equalization coefficients may correspond to the inverse of the frequency response associated with the communication channel and may be updated over time using replacement or combination (e.g., convolution) techniques. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110188439 | CONTROL PLANE ARCHITECTURE FOR MULTICAST CACHE-FILL - A multicast content delivery system can use both multicast and unicast streams to efficiently use available bandwidth to deliver content. Available multicast content can be identified to gateways serving consumption devices, and the gateways can receive requests for unicast content deliver, but honor the requests with multicast group sessions. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110177800 | Text Alternative to Established Voice Call Session - Methods and systems are described wherein an initiating device sends a communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device. In response, the initiating device receives a communication indicating that the initiating device can provide a text message instead of establishing the voice call session. In some cases, the communication may refuse the request voice call session, while in other cases the communication may simply indicate that the recipient device supports text messaging as an alternative to voice mail. As a result of the received communication, the initiating device outputs a text input prompt. After receiving text input in response to the prompt, the initiating device sends a text message containing the received text input. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110176555 | CONTROLLING NETWORKED MEDIA CAPTURE DEVICES - Disclosed embodiments allow media players and other electronic devices that operate under a first protocol to control the media capture devices that operate with a second protocol which may not be configurable to communicate with the first protocol. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a network device may store and/or render content within a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network and/or assist in content delivery for a DLNA device on a network. In another embodiment of the disclosure, a media capture device uses the Internet Protocol. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110150102 | Transmission of Compressed Data Stream with Compensation Values - In a data transmission system such as a television service provider system, compensation value data corresponding to information lost during lossy compression of program content (which may or may not already be compressed prior to the lossy compression) may be sent to a customer along with the lossy-compressed content. At the customer end, the compensation value data may be used during decompression to provide higher quality content to the customer than would otherwise be experienced without access to the compensation values. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110142042 | Internet Protocol Multicast Content Delivery - A first device communicates with subscriber devices in an access network. A communication is sent from a subscriber device to the first device requesting that the subscriber device be permitted to join a multicast group associated with data for a desired content. After determining that the subscriber device is authorized to receive that content, the first device sends one or more multicast signaling communications to a second device. The multicast signaling communications instruct the second device to join the requested multicast group and provide an identifier associated with that multicast group. After joining the multicast group and receiving content data packets of that group, the second device encapsulates those received packets in frames according to an access network media access control (MAC) protocol and forwards the MAC frames to the subscriber device. The MAC frames include the identifier provided to the second device by the first device. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110134918 | Representing and Searching Network Multicast Trees - Methods and systems are disclosed for receiving data from each of a plurality of components in a network, the components being arranged as a plurality of multicast trees, the data from each of the components indicating a structure of a portion of the network and at least one attribute associated with the respective component. The disclosure further provides for determining, based on the data, a structure of at least some of the multicast trees, receiving search criteria, and determining which of the multicast trees meet the search criteria. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110116513 | Communication Terminal With Multiple Virtual Network Interfaces - A communication terminal communicates protocol data units across a first virtual interface and a shared interface. The first virtual interface corresponds to an upper layer protocol and a first logical network. The shared interface corresponds to a lower layer protocol. The terminal also communicates protocol data units across a second virtual interface and the shared interface, with the second virtual interface corresponding to the upper layer protocol and a second logical network. The first logical network can be a wide area network that includes devices within a premises and devices outside a premises, and the second logical network may be a local area network that only includes devices within the premises. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116420 | Method and System for Locating a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Device Connected to a Network - A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110113462 | FAILOVER WITH REDUNDANT MULTICASTS FOR SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO - A method and system for delivering content is provided. In one example, responsive to a request by a client device identifying a video program, the system is configured to determine different first and second network paths for delivery of the video program from a content source; deliver the video program via the first network path to the client device; and responsive to a change in status of the video program being delivered via the first network path, deliver the video program via the second network path to the client device. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110106962 | Network Interface to Content Source - Disclosed are systems and methods in which a media player is connected via an interface device over a network to a source of content. Some conventional media players such as DVD players and televisions are equipped with hardware to render content disposed on and playable from a removable memory device, in particular a SD card. A memory card may be equipped with networking functionality, in particular, WI-FI networking, to enable connectivity over a local area wireless network. The memory card further may be provided with a processor. By providing an interface device that includes a processor, networking functionality, and storage, with suitable software on the storage, the media player may be connected over a network to locally networked or remote content sources. In some embodiments, the interface device also includes its own locally stored content. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110099291 | Address Couplet Communication Filtering - A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed that provide an approved address couplet listing for communication handling. An inbound communication including sender and recipient field entries may be compared as a pair or couplet against the listing to determine whether the inbound communication should be discarded, subjected to additional (spam related) processing, or forwarded for storage or delivery purposes. The comparison may take place in conjunction with one or more hashing functions. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110091025 | Service Entry Device - A system is described in which, in some embodiments, a centralized service entry device may be used to coordinate communications going into and out of a home or premises. The service entry device may be physically connected to a plurality of external access networks, such as a cable television coaxial or fiber connection and a twisted-pair wire connection, and may coordinate access to those networks by a plurality of in-home devices. Within the home, the system may include a plurality of client devices to assist in the coordination of communications with devices in different rooms within the home. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110085564 | Gateway for Transporting Out-Of-Band Messaging Signals - A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) having a gateway configured to output signals on over data tunnels for transfer over a cable network to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). Each data tunnel is preferably characterized as a one-way data stream of out-of-band (OOB) messaging signals. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110058553 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY IN A NETWORK WITH MULTIPLE PACKET PROTOCOLS - Methods and systems are provided for routing or forwarding packet data conforming to two different communication protocols simultaneously in a computer network. The first protocol may be a legacy protocol, such as IPv4, with routing being performed in a manner that maintains legacy behavior and functions. Such functions may include network address translation. The second protocol may be a newer protocol, such as IPv6, with the routing or forwarding being performed through reduced complexity bridging that enables simplified connectivity of second protocol devices. The bridging performed typically requires less memory and processing power than traditional routing techniques such as those implemented for the first protocol. Reduced memory and processing power requirements enable the second protocol routing functions to be added to legacy equipment that would not otherwise be able to support routing of the second protocol packet data. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110047016 | DISTRIBUTION OF E-COUPONS TO USER DEVICES - A method and system for determining which of a plurality of users may be sent an e-coupon. More particularly, a computing device may determine which of a plurality of users are watching a particular program or advertisement on television and may determine a corresponding e-coupon to be sent to the users watching the particular program. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110044446 | Prioritized Call Sessions - A local network call handling device is configured to establish multiple concurrent call sessions between local network end devices and an external network. When a prioritized end device attempts to establish a call session, the call handling device may initially determine if a first call session identifier is available. If so, the call session can be established using that first identifier. If the first identifier is in use for a call session of another end device, the call handling device may either use a different call session identifier for the prioritized end device session or may drop a pre-existing call session to free an identifier for use in connection with the prioritized end device. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110044304 | Wireless Gateway Supporting A Plurality of Networks - In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are illustrated for an apparatus comprising a modem component, a wireless communications component, at least one processor, and at least one tangible electronic memory storing data and numerous computer-executable modules to enable wireless hotspots with multiple network identifiers. Examples of at least some of the computer-executable modules includes, but is not limited to an input module, network identifier module, session management module, network management module, automatic location management module, authentication module, bandwidth negotiation module, billing interface module, and activity-based location module. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110037902 | Device, system and method to provision, configure and operate video generation equipment - A video generation device, system and method. The device, system and method may perform the configuration of the video generation device, and thus may include a configuration file and a file format. The device, system and method may include at least one processing unit communicative with at least one cable modem, at least one application specific output generated from the processing unit, and a plurality of inputs to at least one processing unit for receiving at least a video input, a management input, and a configuration input, wherein the configuration input may include configuration information for processing the other received inputs. In embodiments, the video input, the management input, and the configuration information may be processed by at least one processing unit to at least one application specific output. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110029392 | Search Result Content Sequencing - Systems and methods for generating and receiving a sequenced listing of pieces of content are described. A request to search for assets may be received. A first listing of assets associated with the request may be received. Data representative of assets stored within an edge server associated with the user may be received. A first group of assets of the first listing of assets that are stored within the edge server based upon the received data representative of assets stored within the edge server and a second group of assets of the first listing of assets that are not stored within the edge server based upon the received data representative of assets stored within the edge server may be determined. A second listing of assets may be generated where at least one asset of the first group is sequenced separate from at least one asset of the second group. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110026704 | Identity Management and Service Access for Local User Group Based on Network-Resident User Profiles - A profile-based system is employed to manage user identities and preferences, devices, content and/or other aspects of service delivery. The user profiles may be maintained in one or more servers or other elements located in an external network access via a customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway of a local network. The profiles can be used to map users to identities, devices, services, and other features that affect the manner in which a particular user communicates with (or through) the external network. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110016488 | Communication Signaling Engine - A verbal request for an action to be performed in connection with a user's set-top box may be received by a Program Content Manager (PCM) from a voice-enabled input/output device such as a VoIP-enabled device or a mobile communication device. Alternatively, the user may request an action via email, text message, and the like. The PCM receiving the action request may execute, or schedule the request for later execution, depending on whether the request is for a real-time or future action. The user may also request to send an alert or a program recording request to others. Recipients may be able to request further alerts or confirm a program recording invitation if certain criteria are met. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110013537 | Concurrency Method for Forecasting Impact of Speed Tiers On Consumption - A forecast model processes performance data from a site, e.g., a cable modem termination system (CMTS), to obtain a set of concurrency equations for existing speed tiers that is based on an observed subscriber bandwidth for the site. A new set of concurrency equations is obtained for new speed tiers so that a new subscriber bandwidth can be predicted for the new speed tiers. Based on the new subscriber bandwidth, expected subscriber growth, and changes in data consumption, the site is reconfigured with additional ports based on the forecast. This process can be repeated for the other sites. Sites may be grouped together based on the observed subscriber bandwidth. A new subscriber bandwidth may be predicted for the group with the new speed tiers so that additional ports can be configured for each of the sites in the group. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20100332941 | Variable Interleave Data Transmission - In cable modem termination systems (CMTS) and other information transmission systems, a method for changing the interleave depth associated with each data stream is provided. This may be done dynamically, and for any subset of downstream devices such as modems. The interleave depth may be set on an individual device level. Embodiments may decrease data receiving latency on devices that do not suffer from error rates, such as caused by burst noise, while maintaining throughput on devices with high error rates. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100332558 | Verification of Semantic Constraints in Multimedia Data and in its Announcement, Signaling and Interchange - A collection of well-formed, but possibly semantically invalid, binary encoded multimedia data components or packages as well as the binary encoded announcement, signaling, and interchange protocols used in their transmission are converted into one or more well-formed extensible markup language (XML) files. Such XML files may then be validated according to one or more pre-defined XML schemas, or similar schema languages, in order to verify that the data and protocol structures and substructures adhere to prior defined semantic constraints. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100325660 | RE-ADDRESSABLE ALTERNATE CONTENT - Providing re-addressable alternate video content to consumers during trickplay modes of operation. For example, providing first video content for standard playback to a consumer; receiving a first consumer request for a first trick mode operation during the standard playback of the first video content; responsive to the first consumer request, providing addressable second video content, different from the first video content, to the consumer; receiving, during providing of the addressable second video content, a second consumer request for a second trick mode operation on the addressable second video content; and responsive to the second consumer request, providing addressable third video content, different from the first and second video contents, to the consumer. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100325217 | System and Method for Improved In-Browser Notification - Systems and methods for sending/receiving improved in-browser notification messages are provided. The notification messages are overlaid on HTTP traffic on port 80 for IP addresses provisioned to receive the notification messages from various sources, including weather, emergency broadcast, and police stations. A load balancer within the end-to-end system allows HTTP traffic on port 80 to be forked from non HTTP traffic on port 80 to selectively insert notification messages. The notifications are inserted by an internet content adoption protocol (ICAP) server in communication with other devices within the system. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100319017 | Portable Media Asset - A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed that provide for a secure download of a media asset from a video-on-demand server responsive to a user request. The media asset may be routed to a recorder device for storage purposes. The media asset may also be streamed to a set top box for (simultaneous) playback on, e.g., a television. The media asset may subsequently be played from the storage on one or more media players. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100317443 | Distributed Network Game System - Methods and systems for providing network-based games to otherwise non-networked devices are provided herein. A network server may provide video game execution and rendering capabilities in accordance with video game software on the server, and may transcode video game output into a media stream for sending to a remotely located media player in use by a user playing the video game. The transcoded media stream is in a format displayable by the media player. The media player may include an expansion card providing wireless network access to the media player for communication with the network gaming server, and may further relay the transcoded media stream received from the network gaming server to the media player, as well as relay user input from a game controller back to the network gaming server. Alternatively, the game controller may communicate directly with the network gaming server. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100313230 | Testing a Content-Delivery System - A content delivery networked is monitored to verify operation of control channels for the delivery of content to a customer. Monitoring includes joining a connection with at least one control channel in the network, decoding content of a signal in the control channel, determining whether the decoded content complies with a pre-determined rule corresponding to content transmitted in the control channel, and producing a report indicating whether the decoded content is compliant with the rule. In addition, a graphical user interface (GUI) displays the status and results of testing the control channel. The GUI is configured to perform generating a display representing testing status of a plurality of DSG tunnels in a first frame and test results of the DSG tunnels in a second frame and providing details of a DSG tunnel test when selected by a user. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100306401 | Switched Multicast Video Streaming - A system and method for improving media delivery and display. By utilizing a memory buffer in a DVR or similar device, and broadcasting linear content at a rate other than 1×, services like video on demand or regular broadcasters can be more versatile. For example viewers can start over without launching a separate VOD session. If part of the linear content requested is not in the buffer, a switched multicast stream can be sent to with the proper section of content. Other receivers on the network may also receive the stream and buffer the content if the content is related to what a viewer is viewing. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100306319 | Network Event Triggered Software Updates - Systems and methods may provide for identifying a network event trigger generated in response to a network event being identified due to receipt of a message, from a client device, comprising a request for or to extend a configuration parameter. The systems and methods may further provide for identifying a software update for software of the client device in response to the network event trigger, and communicating a software update message comprising the software update to cause updating of the software of the client device. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100303222 | Stateful Home Phone Service - This application describes a system and associated method for routing messages, such as phone calls. The destination of incoming calls may be determined based on a variety of factors, such as the state of the callee's security system, the date and time, the identity of the caller, and the number of recent call attempts by the caller. Potential destinations include all or a subset of the phones associated with a subscriber and outside phones, such as cellular phones operated by third parties. The rules used to route calls may be defined or modified via a web interface. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100299713 | Distributed Network Performance Monitoring - A probe is configured to monitor one or more communication parameters on one or more downstream frequency channels carried on a communication medium of an access network. Results of repeated monitoring are stored over a predetermined period. At the conclusion of the monitoring period, data reports reflecting the stored results are transmitted in upstream frequency channels carried on the same medium. The probe can also be configured to send immediate messages if a parameter exceeds predefined limits and can store a plurality of monitoring programs and can be reprogrammed remotely. The probe can be contained within a cable tap if the medium is, e.g., a coaxial cable. Numerous probes can be deployed throughout an access network so as to provide monitoring data from each of many locations over a prolonged period. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100296643 | Integration of Voice Chat Services - A communication system provides a user with the ability to redirect telephone calls to a voice chat account and vice versa. In one example, a voice chat gateway may receive communication requests and determine whether communications directed to a first party is to be redirected. If so, the voice chat gateway may reroute the communication request to an appropriate destination. For instance, a user may request that all communications such as telephone calls be rerouted as a voice chat to the user's voice chat account. Alternatively, a user may request that all communications including voice chats be redirected to a telephone number. Users may further be allowed to call a voice chat account through a telephone network and initiate a voice chat with a telephone number through a data network. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100283915 | Frequency Redirection for Inband Signaling - A channel remapping pre-notification (RPN) message is transmitted in each of multiple frequencies prior to movement of data associated with one or more virtual channels to one or more different frequencies. The RPN message is also sent prior to transmission of a Virtual Channel Table (VCT) reflecting channel movement. If a receiving device is unable to find data associated with a selected channel subsequent to the channel movement, the stored RPN information can be used to identify a new frequency for that selected channel. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100269179 | Security Client Translation System and Method - Systems and methods for controlling the use of audio, video and audiovisual content are provided. Usage rights and entitlement translation permit numerous devices to store and view media content. The usage rights may be encoded in the content or otherwise bound to the content. Security packages may be created by mapping Conditional Access System entitlements to DRM in hardware security elements. Playback devices are configured to access the translated usage rights and verify rights prior to the viewing of media. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100254386 | ACCESS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE HAVING DISSIMILAR ACCESS SUB-NETWORKS - A subscriber network architecture includes a packet processing node that communicates with a network backbone and with a plurality of access nodes. The access nodes communicate with a plurality of user devices. The packet processing node controls Quality of Service (QoS) levels for the subscriber devices, routes user data to devices via the access nodes and receives data from devices via the access nodes for forwarding across the network backbone. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100251313 | BI-DIRECTIONAL TRANSFER OF MEDIA CONTENT ASSETS IN A CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK - Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software for using a network to efficiently distributing media content assets from a virtually unlimited content library and/or other storage to a plurality of client devices, as well as bi-directional local content sharing between head ends, and dynamic distribution and generation of media content assets within the network. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100251312 | Selection of a Proxy Device for a Network - Multiple devices in a user's premises may each be configured to separately communicate with an external network, but the signal strength available to each may vary significantly depending on the wiring of the premises. The disclosure provides methods wherein the various devices may coordinate with one another, and determine which among them has the best signal connection and the most available capacity, and a subset of the devices may be chosen to act as network proxies to relay communications to/from the other devices in the premises. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100250773 | DYNAMIC GENERATION OF MEDIA CONTENT ASSETS FOR A CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK - Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software for using a network to efficiently distributing media content assets from a virtually unlimited content library and/or other storage to a plurality of client devices, as well as bi-directional local content sharing between head ends, and dynamic distribution and generation of media content assets within the network. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100250772 | DYNAMIC DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA CONTENT ASSETS FOR A CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK - Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software for using a network to efficiently distributing media content assets from a virtually unlimited content library and/or other storage to a plurality of client devices, as well as bi-directional local content sharing between head ends, and dynamic distribution and generation of media content assets within the network. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100246582 | Subscriber Access Network Achitecture - A subscriber network architecture includes a packet processing node that communicates with a network backbone and with a plurality of access nodes. The access nodes also communicate with a plurality of subscriber devices. The packet processing node controls Quality of Service (QoS) levels for the subscriber devices, routes user data to subscriber devices based on downstream communication channels of the access nodes and QoS levels, and receives data from subscriber devices (via the access nodes) for forwarding across the network backbone. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100246421 | Automated Network Condition Identification - Performance data relating to each of multiple network devices distributed in a geographic region is analyzed. That data can include values for various parameters measured automatically by routine polling of subscriber devices and/or network elements serving those subscriber devices. Measured parameter values can then be stored in a database and made available, together with information about subscriber device locations, to one or more analysis servers that analyze different portions of the network. As part of that analysis, groups of devices experiencing performance problems are identified based on device location. Information about those groups is then communicated and can be made available for, e.g., monitoring by service personnel. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100246401 | Congestion Management in a Shared Network - A shared channel used to communicate between a cable modem termination system and multiple cable modems is managed to prevent and/or reduce the impact of congestion. If the average channel utilization is above a near-congestion threshold, a cable modem in an extended high consumption state is assigned a reduced data transmission priority for managed traffic. Priority for that cable modem is restored to a default preferred level when the channel usage by that cable modem drops below a predetermined level or when the average aggregate channel utilization by all cable modems drops below the near-congestion threshold. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100218208 | Method and Apparatus for Generating Alternative Commercials - The features herein pertain to methods, systems, and apparatus for providing alternate content to consumers of digital media during trick modes of operation comprising generating digital media content in a first file for standard playback for consumption by a consumer, generating at least one trick file corresponding to the first file, the trick file comprising content different than content in the first file, and mapping the trick file to a trick mode of operation in connection with the first file. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100205261 | MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY OF PROFILE DATA - Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for securely retaining profile data and the use of such data for the targeted delivery of content. In one embodiment, a unique profile that represents the user location and is keyed to profile attributes selected from both a first set of data collected from the user location and the second set of profile data collected from an external source, is generated. The key does not allow a third party to identify the end-user location or a user associated with the end-user location. Electronic content transmitted to end-user locations may be encoded such that it may only be accessed by an authorized user and/or on a specific electronic device at the user location. A graphical user interface may be utilized to allow a third-party to provide selection criteria for determining user locations to receive targeted content. Further aspects of the invention relate to an electronic device configured to present targeted content to a user at a user location. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100125882 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND USING VIDEO PLAYLISTS WITHIN A NETWORK - The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for creating and using video playlists within a network. In accordance with the invention, a user is enabled to create a playlist comprising a plurality of video segments and store the playlist for later access and viewing. In some implementations, the user may upload playlists to the network in order to permit other users to view the playlist and, if desired, watch the playlist's contents. In other implementations, the content provider or third parties may create playlists and make the contents available for viewing. In yet other implementations, the content provider or a third party may insert advertisements into a playlist's contents. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125875 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING VIDEO AND VIDEO-RELATED CONTENT AT SUB-ASSET LEVEL - A method and apparatus for delivering an ordered list of items of supplemental content to a consumer comprising determining a context of a portion of media selected for consumption, determining consumer preference information corresponding to the consumer, generating the ordered list of items of supplemental content as a function of the context and of the consumer preference information. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100122276 | Method and System for Protecting Cable Television Subscriber-Specific Information Allowing Limited Subset Access - A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings. The cable provider anonymizes and encrypts the information for all households as the cable provider does not know which households are sampled households. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100115572 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DIGITAL CONTENT - A method of providing access to content based upon one or more adequately-credentialed keys being proximate to a certain location, said method comprising: (a) acquiring credential information from at least one key tagged with credential information using a credential acquisition device (CAD) at said certain location; (b) confirming that said credential information meets requirements for receiving said content; and (c) providing access to said content after steps (a) and (b). | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100100940 | System and Method for Supporting Multiple Identities for a Secure Identity Device - A multiple-identity secure device (MISD) persistently stores a single identification code (a “seed identity”). The seed identity need not be a network address, and may be stored in an integral memory of the device, or on an interchangeable card received in a physical interface of the MISD. The MISD is provided with a transformation engine, in hardware or software form, that is subsequently used to generate one or more unique identities (e.g., network addresses) from the stored seed identity using predefined logic. The generated identities may be dynamically generated, e.g., in real-time as needed after deployment of a device into possession of a subscriber/customer/user, etc., or may be securely stored in the MISD for subsequent retrieval. The transformation engine may generate a unique identity in accordance with an addressing scheme identified as a default setting, a global/network setting, or as determined from a received data transmission. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20090313355 | System Method and Apparatus for Portable Digital Identity - Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user's digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory. | 12-17-2009 |
