Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus, systems (e.g., a gateway device) and/or methods are described for providing an anti-distraction mode to control a plurality of connected devices in an establishment. In the gateway device, a list of connected devices that are connected to the gateway device is determined by the gateway device in response to anti-distraction mode being activated in the gateway device. Each connected device comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the gateway device. A policy is stored at the gateway device for all of the connected devices when a triggering condition occurs, and activation of anti-distraction mode is received in the gateway device. In response to the anti-distraction mode being activated in the gateway device and in response to the gateway device detecting that the triggering condition occurs, the gateway device reduces features or outputs of at least one of the connected devices.

Abstract: An opening station for facilitating box opening may include a scanning station, an edge opening station, and a conveyor assembly. The scanning station is configured to measure a length “L”, height “H”, and/or width “W” of a substantially square box having a top, a bottom, two sides, and two edge portions. The edge opening station is configured to perform perforation operations on at least one of the two edge portions. A complete box opening system may include the scanning station, edge opening station, conveyor, and at least one of a top opening station and a side opening station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conversation management system that manages conversations about a content using blockchain technology. The content management system can use the blockchain technology to validate the conversations, and provide a content provider of the content a secured access to the validated conversations. The validation of the conversations can ensure that the conversations are not fake, e.g., provided by real people and not generated using bots. A conversation about the content is added as a block to the blockchain upon validation, and once added may not be modified, and therefore, the content provider may be assured that the conversation is secure and genuine. The content provider can use the knowledge obtained from the validated conversations in making future content.

Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to anchor points or other references in the programming itself.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for facilitating the following operations are disclosed. A first content composite that is configured with a containerization object may be transmitted. The containerization object may be configured with one or both of containerization specifications and a container flag to facilitate performance of operations by an endpoint media device with respect to the first content composite. The first content composite may include a set of one or more audio and/or video packets corresponding to audio and/or video content. One or more communications corresponding to one or more indications of one or more detected operations associated with the endpoint media device may be received consequent to the endpoint media device performing the operations. Based at least in part on the one or more communications, a set of observation data mapped to the endpoint media device and the first content composite may be aggregated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including a content receiver and an antenna coupled to the content receiver. A camera is mounted on the antenna. The content receiver includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver to: output a control signal to the camera mounted on the antenna, receive image data from the camera mounted on the antenna, determine that the image data received from the camera mounted on the antenna indicates a potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna, and output a message indicating that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna device has been detected, in response to determining that the image data received from the camera mounted on the antenna indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna.

Abstract: A process may include detecting an incident within a building, determining a first radius of a user device from a node by wirelessly coupling the user device and the node, determining the first radius based on a signal property of the coupling; determining a second radius of the user device from a second node by wireless coupling the user device and the second node and based on a signal property of the second coupling; determining a third radius of the user device from a third node by wireless coupling the user device and the third node, and based on a third signal property of the coupling; and first calculating, based on the first radius, the second radius, and the third radius, a current location of the first user device within the building. The first node may be a node for a Wi-Fi mesh system.

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for facilitating watch parties are described. For at least one embodiment, a system may include a sync server; a first user device communicatively coupled to the sync server; a second user device communicatively coupled to the sync server; and a content source providing a content. The sync server may transmit the content as each of a first content to the first user device and as a second content to the second user device. The sync server may be configured to adjust a first bit rate for the first content and, upon adjusting the first bit rate, the first content and second content may be respectively provided to each of the first user device and the second user device such that the devices can substantially simultaneously and separately present the first content to the first user and the second content to the second user.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for networked aggregation of distributed localized particulate air pollutant (LPAP) sensors. For example, a large number of sensors is distributed over a geographic region. Each sensor can detect local levels of one or more LPAPs, and can communicate the detected levels over one or more communications networks. A system can receive data samples for the LPAP levels from the sensors and can compute LPAP scores that are mapped to respective sub-regions of the geographic region. The computation can be a function of aggregating respective LPAP levels for at least those LPAP sensors in a particular sub-region of the geographic region, and also as a function of comparing the aggregation against an identified set of trigger thresholds for the LPAP of interest. In some cases, the computed and mapped LPAP scores can be output for display, for example, as a heat map, or the like.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus, systems and/or methods are described for independently controlling an audio stream relative to a video stream in audio trick mode. In one example, an audio stream and a video stream is received, where the audio stream comprises frames that correspond to corresponding frames of the video stream. The audio and video streams are played from a first time to a second time at a first speed. An input to time shift the audio stream independent of the video stream is received, and after receiving such, the audio stream is time shifted to the first time. Then, the audio stream may be re-played from the first time to the second time at a second speed different from the first speed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, media devices, and non-transitory, machine-readable media to facilitate asynchronous wireless media transfer are disclosed. A request for video service from a content provider system via a wireless network may be received. A media device may be configured to provide an asynchronous session for subsequent video content transfer. The configuring may utilize a network layer and a transport layer without utilizing a presentation layer and an application layer. Specifications of asynchronous session parameters may be created to define delivery operations with the asynchronous session. An encrypted token, corresponding to the specifications, may be created. Opening of the asynchronous session may be requested by transmitting the encrypted token to the content provider system from the transport layer. At the session layer, the asynchronous session may be started for video content delivery in accordance with the specifications of the asynchronous session parameters.

Abstract: A facility for generating and displaying information regarding the packaging of individual media asset files associated with multiple scheduled presentations of interstitial media assets is provided. Scheduling information is received regarding future scheduled media presentations for each of a plurality of media assets via one or more content channels. Based at least in part on the received scheduling information, one or more package files are generated such that each package file includes a plurality of media asset files, each corresponding to at least one of the future scheduled media presentations, for distribution to a plurality of distinct media receivers. Database information is generated regarding the generating of the one or more package files, such that the database information includes a completion time associated with the generating of each package file.

Abstract: An antenna includes a folding mechanism for configuring the antenna into at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration. When in the first configuration, the antenna is configured for operational use. When in the second configuration, the antenna is configured for shipping in a package. A locking apparatus secures the antenna in either configuration. The folding mechanism and the locking mechanism configure the antenna into the first configuration. A method for preparing for shipment an antenna having a reflector with a width, a height, and depth, a backing structure coupled to the reflector, a first swivel plate, coupled to the backing structure, a feed arm bracket coupled to the first swivel plate, and a feed arm coupled to the feed arm bracket. The first swivel plate facilitates yaw rotations of the feed arm bracket, relative to the backing structure.

Abstract: A method includes determining that data out of a peripheral device has been interrupted. In response, control signals are transmitted that cause power to not be supplied to the peripheral device and then cause power to be supplied to the peripheral device. If the peripheral device is determined to not be outputting data, whether data into the peripheral device has been restored is determined. If it is not, control signals are transmitted that cause power to not be supplied to a router and then cause power to be supplied to the router. If the router is determined to be outputting data, control signals are transmitted that cause power to not be supplied to a wireless access point that is coupled to the modem and then cause power to be supplied to the wireless access point. Whether the wireless access point is outputting data is determined.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to multi-user screen sharing. In some embodiments, a method for media content screen sharing includes receiving a first media content item selection from a first user and receiving a second media content item selection from a second user. The method can further include generating a multi-content video signal, wherein the multi-content video signal includes the selected first media content item and the selected second media content item. The multi-content video signal can be displayed to both the first user and the second user. The method can include causing a first electronic device of the first user to display a first portion of the multi-content video signal that corresponds to the selected first media content item, and causing a second electronic device of the second user to display a second portion of the multi-content video signal that corresponds to the selected second media content item.

Abstract: A method for episode-specific digital video recording includes receiving a user selection of an episode of a program series to record after an initial broadcast of the episode; searching a guide database to identify a scheduled instance of a rebroadcast of the episode; if the scheduled instance is identified, determining if a digital video recording of the episode is available at the scheduled instance of the rebroadcast; if digital video recording is available, storing an instruction to record the episode at the scheduled instance of the rebroadcast; if the digital video recording is not available, repeating the searching to identify an alternative scheduled instance of the rebroadcast of the episode; and storing the instruction to record the episode if the alternative scheduled instance of the rebroadcast of the episode is identified; and if the scheduled instance is not identified, setting a timer to repeat the searching at a future time.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for experience-adaptive interaction with uncertain measurable events (UMEs), such as in a sports wagering context. A back-end wagering system of a television service provider system is disposed in a television network to provide subscribers with subscription content services for live event content and UME interaction services for viewing and placing wagers on live event content with a UME book provider. Embodiments can build data spaces at least of available live event content and wagerable UMEs being provided for the live event content. Embodiments can assign a wager experience score to a subscribers based on experience level with UME interactions, and can use the built data space and the wager experience score to generate an experience-tailored set of wager offers for the subscriber. The set of wager offers can then be presented to the subscriber in an experience-tailored UME interaction interface.

Abstract: Processes, systems, and devices generate a training set comprising a first presentation having a first visual aid and a first audio description. The first visual aid and the first audio description are based on initial data retrieved from a first data source using a first indexing technique. The machine-learning system is trained using the first presentation and the initial data retrieved from the first data source using the first indexing technique. The machine-learning system generates a second presentation having a second visual aid and a second audio description. The second visual aid and the second audio description are based on refreshed data retrieved from the first data source using the first indexing technique. The machine-learning system presents the second presentation via an avatar in a virtual meeting room. The avatar is generated by the machine-learning system to present the second visual aid and the second audio description.

Abstract: Embodiments are related to faster provisioning of targeted advertisements at a set-top box (STB) via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the STB and a remote server. The disclosed IP-based advertisement distribution system enables targeted advertisements to be pulled from the remote server efficiently, causing the advertisements to be made available within a short time frame (e.g., less than one day from the time when the advertisements are available). The disclosed methods enables a STB to determine whether to retain existing targeted advertisements, discard them, or provision newly-available advertisements. The targeted advertisements can depend on various factors such as demographic information of an owner of the STB, lifestyle information of the owner of the STB, etc.

Abstract: A satellite provider system receives a provider stream including break cue data. The satellite provider system generates adjusted break cue data by adjusting time stamps in the break cue data. The satellite provider system inserts the break cue data, the adjusted break cue data, and break description data into the provider stream in data packets all having a same packet identification. The satellite provider system broadcasts the provider stream from a satellite transponder.