Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling devices, including controller and actuators are disclosed. Actuators may be devices where remote control of the device or devices is convenient, such as lights, window shades, fans and similar items. In one method, a user sends a command to a controller and to an actuator. The controller also sends a proxy update to a second controller that is also in communication with the actuator. The proxy controller, also in contact with the actuator, now has knowledge of the state or position of the actuator and is in a better position if the proxy controller is asked to assume control of the actuator. In another method, an actuator or controller may also receive a trigger setup, asking the actuator to tell the controller when an action occurs, but not to take action until receiving a further command from the controller.

Abstract: A method of reducing latency in a screen mirroring application, comprises receiving, by a receiver from a source device, an audio stream output by the source device; receiving, by the receiver from a processor, a video stream displayed on a first screen at the source device; receiving, by a receiver, audio and video time stamps; discarding, by a controller, the audio and video time stamps; outputting, by a decoder to a second display, the audio stream and video streams independent of timing indicated by the audio and video time stamps.

Abstract: A method of reducing latency, comprising generating a vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC); detecting whether at least a part of a picture has been received; synchronizing the generation of the vertical synchronization signal to a video decoding upon detecting receiving of the at least a part of the picture.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with an electrical device, wherein the electrical device comprises a home control device, enabling the mesh network to perform channel adjustment, transmitting data through the mesh network between the first node and a second node in the mesh network, wherein the transmission utilizes channel adjustment; and performing an action based at least in part on the transmitted data.

Abstract: A method for selecting a picture prediction mode from a candidate pool of picture prediction modes for video compression takes advantage of similarity in implementation between SKIP and DIRECT modes and one other inter-picture prediction modes, namely, the 16×16 partition mode. The SKIP/DIRECT modes are considered if and only if the final prediction information of the 16×16 partition mode, including motion vector, reference picture index, and prediction direction, is the same as that of the respective SKIP and/or DIRECT modes. The same motion prediction, reference picture index and prediction direction are used for the 16×16 partition mode and the SKIP/DIRECT modes, and therefore, the same interpolation scheme can be used for both SKIP/DIRECT and 16×16 partition modes.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sensing a change in a network topology using a discovery node in a mesh network; transmitting an explore frame, based at least in part on the sensed change, from the discovery node to a destination node using an intermediate node; receiving a response to the explore frame from the destination node; determining at least one functional network route from the discovery node to the destination node based at least in part on route information received in association with the response to the explore frame, wherein the route information includes a node path; and transmitting an instruction to the destination node from the discovery node based on a reverse node path.

Abstract: To reduce artifacts caused by quantization errors in image compression systems, an offset is added to quantized samples at low frequency sections of a macroblock. A decoder uses the offset after decoding to bring the decoded sample closer to the original pre-encoded and pre-quantized sample, thereby compensating for quantization errors.

Abstract: A system and method combine an entropy coding algorithm like Huffman or arithmetic coding with a fixed length coding scheme and can improve the compression performance in a fixed rate compression scheme. The fixed length code assigns codes with a fixed length to symbols that have the highest probability of occurrence. Therefore, fixed length coding is used if all symbols in the sequence are from the set of symbols that have the highest probability values. Otherwise an entropy coding algorithm (e.g. Huffman coding) is used to encode quantized symbols.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sensing a change in a network topology using a discovery node in a mesh network; transmitting an explore frame, based at least in part on the sensed change, from the discovery node to a destination node using an intermediate node; receiving a response to the explore frame from the destination node; determining at least one functional network route from the discovery node to the destination node based at least in part on route information received in association with the response to the explore frame, wherein the route information includes a node path; and transmitting an instruction to the destination node from the discovery node based on a reverse node path.

Abstract: The approach of the present invention is to take advantage of similarity in implementation between SKIP and DIRECT modes and one other inter-picture prediction modes, namely, the 16×16 partition mode. The SKIP/DIRECT modes are classified into two groups, one involving inter-picture prediction in one temporal direction in which prediction is chosen from either past or future recon pictures, and the other involving prediction in two temporal directions in which prediction is constructed as a superposition of both past and future recon pictures. The first group requires interpolation for only one direction, whereas the latter requires interpolation for both directions, thus requiring roughly twice as much data processing power than the first group. The 16×16 partition mode also allows both prediction schemes, either past or future, or a superposition of past and future. The SKIP/DIRECT and 16×16 partition modes all apply the same motion vector on the entire block unit.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sensing a change in a network topology using a discovery node in a mesh network; transmitting an explore frame, based at least in part on the sensed change, from the discovery node to a destination node using an intermediate node; receiving a response to the explore frame from the destination node; determining at least one functional network route from the discovery node to the destination node based at least in part on route information received in association with the response to the explore frame, wherein the route information includes a node path; and transmitting an instruction to the destination node from the discovery node based on a reverse node path.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present disclosure improved capabilities are described for delivering a command to a group of computing devices, comprising sending a message from a controller to a first of a plurality of computing devices, wherein the plurality of computing devices are on the same network, and where the message includes a plurality of bit-wise addresses and a command. The message is then broadcast from the first of the plurality of computing devices to the remaining of the plurality of computing devices. The execution of the command amongst the executing each of the plurality of computer devices is made with low time-latency due to the near-simultaneous delivery of the message to the plurality of computing devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, executable software product, and system for performing a test of an audio/video playback device are described. The audio/video playback device includes at least one main processor, interfaces, and additional processors. The main processor(s) communicate with the additional processors through the interfaces. The method, software product, and system include monitoring at least part of the interfaces for communications between the main processor(s) and the additional processors. The method, system and software product also include storing the communications in a raw format during the test. The method, software product and system also include translating the communications from the raw format to human-readable format after the test concludes and displaying the human-readable format of the communications. In some aspects, the method and system also include reading and storing run time data during the test such that the reading and storing is Heisenberg-friendly.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for using a node in a mesh network to perceive a plurality of channels within a mesh network; selecting a first channel from the plurality of channels within the mesh network with the node; remaining on the first channel with the node for a predefined duration; remaining on the first channel beyond the predefined duration in order to receive a message if a signal is detected during the predefine duration; and selecting a second channel with the node once the predefined duration has elapsed without the signal detected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packet detection using cross-correlation in the presence of frequency offset. The method comprises: segmenting a received signal; and cross-correlating each segment with an expected signal. The apparatus comprises a slicer that segments a received signal; and a cross correlator that cross-correlates each segment with an expected signal.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type; activating the first node at a predefined interval to detect the presence of a message of the communication type in a transmission from a second node in the mesh network; continuing to activate the first node at the predefined interval if the transmission from the second node does not conform to the associated communication type of the first node; activating the first node beyond the predefined interval if the associated communication type is detected in the transmission from the second node; and receiving a message at the first node from the second node following detection of the associated communication type.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sending a single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network; sending the single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network; using the first node to detect the single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and interpreting this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the single cast frame from the first node to the second node. An additional method described herein may send a second single cast from the second node to a third node in a mesh network, interpret detection of the second single class frame within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the first single cast frame from the first node to the second node.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for using a primary controller in a mesh network to instruct a static update controller to enable node information server functionality to form a static update controller information server. Capabilities are described for using the static update controller information server to enable other controllers in the mesh network to command other nodes in the mesh network on behalf of the static update controller information server, to distribute an installation process to a plurality of controllers in a mesh network, and the like.

Abstract: A system and method of geometrical predistortion of a graphical source signal is provided in which the graphical source signal is merged with an input video signal for display on a display device. The input video signal is received at a hardware scaler device and a predistorted video signal is generated there from. A warping map is calculated using a programmed processor and a graphics source signal is then predistorted, in software, using the warping map to generate a warped graphical overlay signal. The predistorted video signal from the hardware scaler is then merged with the warped graphical overlay signal from the programmed processor.

Abstract: A method for contrast enhancement of a video signal comprises receiving a video signal frame, gathering statistics about the video signal frame, calculating the effective input dynamic range of the video signal frame, calculating the effective output dynamic range of the video signal frame, and constructing a transform to enhance the picture in the video signal frame by mapping the effective input dynamic range to the effective output dynamic range via the transform.