Abstract: An example of a server includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform operations. The operations comprise encoding segments of a video stream at a variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned a first value. The variable bitrate is assigned a second value in response to a load on the processor exceeding a threshold load. The segments of the video stream are encoded at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value. The assigning the variable bitrate the second value can include applying a bitrate-decrease function to the first value. Assigning the variable bitrate the second value reduces the load on the processor.

Abstract: Media streaming to a phone, tablet or other mobile device is improved by adapting requests for content in anticipation of the device's future location. If a device is expected to pass through an area with poor wireless signal quality, then requests for media content can be pre-emptively obtained beforehand at places and times where the available bandwidth is more favorable. Further, requests for content may be delayed during lower bandwidth conditions if the device is expected to soon encounter more bandwidth. Content requests can be therefore optimized (or at least improved) based upon the expected bandwidth that will be encountered during the anticipated upcoming movement of the device.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes and described herein to improve the generation of video content in video production systems. In general, the systems, devices and processes facilitate the incorporation of one or more remotely captured video streams into an output video stream for use in video conferencing. Specifically, the systems, devices and processes provide for the use of a dynamically adjustable time clock delay to generate a relatively low latency output video stream suitable for use in video conferencing. The use of dynamically adjustable time clock delay allows one or more input video streams to be generated by one or more remote video-capture devices, transmitted to a video access point device, and selectively combined at the video access point device into the output video stream with relatively low latency suitable for video conferencing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a media stream transmitted from an encoding system to a remotely-located media player that requests segments of the media stream. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of encoding a media stream provided from an encoding system to a remotely-located client includes establishing a data connection with the client and acquiring, from the client, client information including a client identifier, a public internet protocol (IP) address, and geographical location associated with the client. The method further includes determining, based on the client information, whether historical bit rate data is available in a historical bit rate data store provided by the encoding system. If such historical bit rate data is available, an initial bit rate parameter is set for the media stream and the media stream is encoded at the encoding system according to the initial bit rate parameter and transmitted to the client.

Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to detect an improper external power supply. An example includes a processor in communication with an internal battery. The processor receives an indication that the internal battery is receiving power from an external power supply. The processor determines a first output current of the internal battery. An error is generated indicating the internal battery receives insufficient power from the external power supply. The error indicates the external power supply is faulty in response to the internal battery intermittently discharging while receiving a power from the external power supply.

Abstract: A method for media content streaming includes: determining, from a plurality of media content items, multiple predicted media content items and multiple playback positions, based on history data of a user; transcoding a portion of each of the multiple predicted media content items to generate multiple passive adaptive streamlets for each of the multiple predicted media content items at different bitrates; receiving a command to start playback of a first predicted media content item selected from the multiple predicted media content items; outputting a first passive adaptive streamlet selected from the multiple passive adaptive streamlets of the first predicted media content item; while outputting the first passive adaptive streamlet, requesting, receiving, and transcoding a second portion of the first predicted media content item to generate an active adaptive streamlet of the first predicted media content item; immediately following outputting the first passive adaptive streamlet, outputting the active adapt

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving satellite broadcasting services by enhancing set-top box (STB) signal reception during weather conditions that obstruct the transmission of RF signals from one or more satellites to a receiving antenna (e.g., a dish antenna) are described. To prevent loss of satellite broadcasting services, an enhanced STB signal system may be arranged between the receiving antenna and an STB in order to provide an enhanced signal to the STB in the event that the RF signals received by the receiving antenna are not able to be decoded. The enhanced STB signal system may transmit an enhanced signal to the STB instead of a signal that was only derived from the receiving antenna. The enhanced signal may comprise a combination of signals that derive from other receiving antennas different from the receiving antenna, as well as the signal derived from the receiving antenna.

Abstract: A satellite internet system includes an edge device that services a neighborhood or relatively close terrestrial area. The edge device receives satellite transmissions, and caches at least some of the received content in a disk drive or other local data storage. In some implementations, the data cached in local storage relates to popular media programs or other content that is likely to be requested by multiple customers operating within range of the edge device. The edge device communicates with customer devices in the area via a terrestrial wireless network. Customer devices obtain cached data directly from the edge device via the terrestrial network, when possible, rather than receiving a dedicated stream of the same data via satellite, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption on the satellite link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote debugging perform remote debugging of a receiving device, such as a set-top box or other connected media player, even when the receiving device is located behind a firewall. The receiving device has a persistent outbound connection with a message server. Since it is an outbound connection, it connects across firewall restrictions. A remote debug machine sends a message via the message server to the receiving device over a network. The message carries the command/operation to be executed by the receiving device. The receiving device, which receives the command, executes the command and sends the output of the command to a debug data upload server to which the remote debug machine has access.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that utilize machine learning techniques to dynamically adjust the placement of secondary content that is displayed across numerous user devices over time are described. The user devices may comprise electronic computing devices, such as a mobile phones and digital televisions. The secondary content may be displayed within open slots of webpages or display screens in response to being selected for display during a real-time bidding process for the open slots. In some cases, in response to a bid request for an open slot within a webpage or display screen, a computer-implemented bid generation system for determining the selection and placement of secondary content may identify the secondary content to be displayed within the open slot, determine a bid amount for the identified secondary content, and transmit a bid response that includes the bid amount and the identified secondary content.

Abstract: Automated processes, computing systems, computing devices, and other aspects of a data processing system improve reliability in transmitting digital media content over a network using resource constrained hardware. Media content may be received from a media source and used to generate data segments. A reference to a first segment of the media content stored in the buffer is written to a message queue. A computing device switches into copy data mode in response to the number of references in the buffer being greater than or equal to a first threshold value. A second segment of the media content is written directly to the message queue.

Abstract: A method for brand recognition in video by implementing a brand recognition application coupled to a streaming media player, for identifying an observed set of brands streamed in a broadcast video; receiving, by the brand recognition application, a broadcast video stream of a series of images contained in consecutive frames about an object of interest; extracting a set of brand features from each of image received by applying a trained brand recognition model with neural networks in order to detect one or more features related to each displayed object of interest in each frame, wherein the object of interest is associated with a brand image contained video content displayed to a viewer; and displaying, by a graphic user interface, information from the brand recognition application comprising at least time detected of the brand image in the video content of the broadcast video.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and program products are provided enabling Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) optimization upon initialization of a streaming video session. In embodiments, the method includes launching a streaming media interface application in response to user input. Substantially concurrently with application launch, the client media receiver further transmits a request over a communications network to a streaming media server for a sample video stream. As the video stream is received, the client media receiver plays the sample video stream as, for example, a background process. When subsequently receiving user input selecting streaming content for end user viewing, the client media receiver determines an optimized ABR setting based upon a recent ABR value of the sample video stream. The client media receiver transmits a request to the streaming media server for user-selected content stream at the optimized ABR setting and then presents the content stream for end user viewing.

Abstract: An automated process for multi-feed video systems comprises receiving a plurality of video feeds from a plurality of video-capture devices. The video feeds each have a quality parameter set to an initial value. A priority feed is selected from the video feeds. A quality parameter of the priority feed is set to a priority value in response to selecting the priority feed. The video-capture devices are instructed to format the video feeds based on the quality parameter of each video feed. The quality parameter for each video feed comprises a bitrate or a resolution for the video feed. The priority feed is streamed as a video output. The video feeds are displayed for selection in an interface, and the interface comprises a map including a location of the video-capture devices.

Abstract: An antenna position determination system determines a position for an antenna to communicate with a broadcast tower and present the antenna to a user via augmented reality. The antenna position determination system receives information indicating one or more broadcast towers including a location for each broadcast tower. The antenna position determination system selects a broadcast tower of the one or more broadcast towers and receives an image of an antenna. The antenna position determination system determines a position for the antenna to communicate with the selected broadcast tower based on the image of the antenna and the selected broadcast tower. The antenna position determination system presents the determined position of the antenna to a user via an augmented reality user interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving the delivery of streamed audiovisual content derived from over-the-air digital television signals by reducing streaming start latency are described. In response to detecting a request from a client device to begin a streaming session for a video stream captured by an over-the-air antenna, a streaming device in communication with the client device via a wired or wireless networking connection may transmit a reduced resolution version of the video stream to the client device, establish encryption and decryption keys for a secure connection with the client device while the reduced resolution version of the video stream is transmitted to the client device, communicate a point in time after which an encrypted version of the video stream will be transmitted to the client device, and transmit the encrypted version of the video stream to the client device starting at the point in time.

Abstract: Media streaming connections are maintained even when media playback is paused or otherwise temporarily halted through the use of dummy segments that are delivered via the media streaming connection, thereby preventing non-use of the connection. In some implementations, the dummy segments are requested by the media client device. In other implementations, dummy segments are transmitted by the media server device when no other requests are received, when notification of paused playback is received, or when conditions otherwise warrant. The dummy segments may be relatively blank, contain redundant imagery, or otherwise be easily compressible to reduce bandwidth consumption on the network. Received dummy segments are recognized and discarded by the media player device, as appropriate.

Abstract: An example method includes the steps of receiving an encoded video packet including a packet header and generating a modified packet header. The modified packet header is generated by setting a first value in the packet header to indicate zero reference frames, and by setting a second value in the packet header designating an i-frame as unused for reference. The i-frame is decoded in response to the modified packet header to extract the i-frame without caching the i-frame in a decoded picture buffer. A thumbnail image is generated and includes an image from the i-frame. The thumbnail image is stored directly in memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating setting of television program series recording priority ranking include functionality that monitors television series program viewing habits of a user for a plurality of different television program series. The system then changes television program series recording priority rankings to resolve recording conflicts based on the monitoring of the television series program viewing habits. In some embodiments, the system first sends a notification to the user of an option to upgrade a recording priority ranking. Additionally, the system may record television program episodes whose recordings were skipped due to them having a lower recording priority ranking. The system may record such skipped television program episodes during the next time slot in which a skipped episode is rebroadcast and does not conflict with a higher priority broadcast.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling consumption of data, the system including a data consumption device, an acquisition device and a back-end server. Information relating to a user is acquired, and an assessment whether the user is in a predetermined physical state is made. In response to assessing that the user is in the predetermined physical state, a signal is transmitted to reduce the data consumed by the data consuming device.