Abstract: The present invention monitors a user's activities to determine how much attention he is paying to one or more devices. Based on the information gathered about the user's current “attention profile,” a “user-interaction parameter” is set that reflects where the user's attention is focused and, ideally, how much of his attention is given to each device. Then, based on the user-interaction parameter, the user interface of at least one of the user's devices is configured to optimize the user's interactions, given the amount of attention he is currently giving to this user interface. If the user is giving the majority of his attention to the television, for example, then the user interface of a companion device can be configured to emphasize the types of interactions available to a user who is not actively watching the companion device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying information in a hierarchical structure are disclosed. An embodiment provides a method for displaying HFC network monitoring information and alarms in a hierarchical, topological fashion within a network monitoring system.

Abstract: A sequence of picture slices is encoded as reference slices and non-reference slices, wherein the reference slices include B slices, by forming, for each B slice, at least one data packet containing data values derived from brightness and color information pertaining to the slice. The data packet for each B slice includes a header element indicating whether the B slice is a reference slice. The header element of each reference B slice has a value that depends on depth of the reference B slice in a hierarchy of discardability.

Abstract: A client device may receive encoded video via a transport stream based on a video coding protocol. When errors result in receiving the encoded video, the client device may use an Internet Protocol (IP) connection to recover from the error. For example, an encoder may insert markers inband in the transport stream, and a segmenter then segments the video using the markers. The content remains in the form of a continuous transport stream that is compatible with existing transport stream delivery mechanisms. When an error occurs, the client device can then determine a locator for a segment that can be used to recover from the error and requests the segment from a server through the IP connection. The server sends the segment to the client device at the level of the transport stream layer without adding another protocol layer to encapsulate the segment.

Abstract: A method for preparing media content to be streamed to a client divides a stream of the media content at the server into multiple media segments. Each of the multiple media segments is to be stored as an individual file in a memory in a transfer protocol compliant format. A top-level manifest file is generated, which has a plurality of Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The plurality of URLs indicates an ordering of the multiple media segments to recreate the stream of media content. Responsive to a client request received over a network to present the media content in a trick play mode of operation, a modified manifest file is obtained based on the top-level manifest file. The modified manifest file includes a subset of the plurality of URLs indicating an ordering of media segments that create a representation of the stream of media content presentable in the trick play mode of operation.

Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to adjust the group of pictures size for an encoder during encoding operations. In some implementations, group of pictures size can be reduced during periods of higher likelihood of channel change, and increased during periods of lower likelihood of channel change. Such adjustment can facilitate faster display of pictures after a channel change due to anchor frames being more quickly received.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the management of access point transmissions based upon priority of traffic. An access point may periodically cycle between aggressive phases, during which the access point contends for downstream transmission opportunities aggressively, and background phases, during which the access point contends for downstream transmission opportunities passively. The access point may alternate between aggressive and background phases based upon a priority level of received packets, services, and/or clients. The access point may also alternate between aggressive and background phases based upon the congestion level and/or health of an associated network.

Abstract: Power consumption levels of a network device can be adjusted based upon traffic flow at the device. A network device can recognize a situation where the traffic flow associated with a CPE device reaches a level that can be supported by a smaller channel set, and when this situation arises, the CPE device can request and receive an updated, smaller channel set. In response to receiving the smaller channel set, the CPE device can operate using fewer resources, thereby reducing power consumption at the CPE device. When traffic level at the CPE device warrants, the CPE device can request and receive a new or updated, larger channel set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing laser clipping in a CATV network.

Abstract: A method of generating a trick-play stream is provided that includes providing a master trick-play stream having a plurality of groups of pictures, wherein each group of pictures comprises a leading intra-coded frame and a plurality of inter-coded frames, and frames within of each group of pictures encoded with a temporally scalable hierarchical encoding relationship, deriving a trick-play stream from the master trick-play stream for a particular temporal resolution by skipping a consistent pattern of frames from each group of pictures that are not needed to decode other frames at the particular temporal resolution according to the temporally scalable hierarchical encoding relationship, and providing the trick-play stream to a client device, wherein the trick-play stream is packaged to appear to the client device as a standards-compliant adaptive bitrate stream.

Abstract: A system configured to decode video data in a packetized elementary stream (PES) including frames of image data. The system includes a processor configured to receive a transport stream including control information associated with the image data including video metadata parameters associated with application specific functions applicable to the image data. The processor is also configured to receive the PES including the frames of image data in video access units. The processor is configured to retrieve and decode the retrieved video access units using the control information to form a signal including the frames of image data. The system also includes a storage device configured to store the frames of image data and the control information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses can provide for prioritization of customer premise equipment configuration parameters. This can be facilitated by creating a hierarchical list of the different configuration methods (e.g., parameter sources) and applying parameter values from each of the parameter sources to the device in the order in which those parameter sources are included on the hierarchical list.

Abstract: A method for providing programs, the method includes: (i) providing a program multiplex to multiple users device; (ii) considering a removal of at least one program from the multiplex in response to program viewing parameters; (iii) allowing at least one user to respond to a possible removal of the program; and (iv) determining whether to remove the al least one program in response to received user removal responses. A user device that includes a transceiver unit that is connected to a controller, wherein the device is adapted to receive a program multiplex, to receive an indication that at least one program is to be removed from the multiplex, and to selectively transmit a program removal response.

Abstract: Implementing a laser into a system that uses a remote powered combiner or an aggregating combiner (AC) with one or more in-range contributing combiners may provide power to the downstream contributing combiners (CC). The power may be provided on the same fiber that downstream signals and the upstream signals traverse.

Abstract: A system for communicating data signals over an optical transmission path combines forward signals onto a fiber that also carriers return signals. The system includes a return receiver for detecting an optical beat interference (OBI) event. Return signals are received by return receivers, one for each group of users. The fiber is provided to a splitter that distributes the forward optical receivers to the end users (RTx), which each comprise a receiver for the forward wavelength and a transmitter for the return wavelength. The transmitters provide return signals. When multiple transmitters are on at the same time, OBI events can take place when transmitter wavelengths coincide. When the return receiver detects an OBI event, it may signal the end user devices via a forward communication. The end user devices are responsive to the OBI detection signal to adjust a return wavelength to reduce or eliminate OBI.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing live video to multiple client devices is provided herein. In particular, a router is provided that acts on behalf of all client devices in its network. The router serves multiple groups of client devices with each group being formed by client devices having similar bandwidth requirements. The router then requests and receives video chunks from a network. The router then redistributes the video chunks to the multiple client devices using a multicast transmission. In particular, to minimize the demands on the core network, the router sets up a separate multicast to each group. Live video, of the appropriate quality is then multicast to each group.

Abstract: Encoding a video signal including pictures includes generating perceptual representations based on the pictures. Reference pictures are selected and motion vectors are generated based on the perceptual representations and the reference pictures. The motion vectors and pointers for the reference pictures are provided in an encoded video signal. Decoding may include receiving pointers for reference pictures and motion vectors based on perceptual representations of the reference pictures. The decoding of the pictures in the encoded video signal may include selecting reference pictures using the pointers and determining predicted pictures, based on the motion vectors and the selected reference pictures. The decoding may include generating reconstructed pictures from the predicted pictures and the residual pictures.

Abstract: An adaptive bit rate system uses adaptive streaming to deliver content to client devices capable of adaptive bit rate streaming. Techniques for averting or inhibiting ad skipping by an adaptive bit rate client device that receives media chunks from the adaptive bit rate system may include techniques for both live content and on demand content. Techniques include modifying a buffer size for access to trick plays and/or constructing a manifest file with limited content based on ad breaks.