Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) hub is described. This A/V hub determines display instructions specifying information to be displayed on a display in an A/V display device that includes icons associated with content sources. These content sources are located at arbitrary or different locations in a structure, including locations external to an environment of the A/V hub and the A/V display device. Then, the A/V hub provides the display instructions to the A/V display device for display on the display.

Abstract: Per-viewer engagement-based video optimization is disclosed. A request for content associated with a first client is received. A model associated with the first client is obtained. The obtained model comprises at least one of behavior and playback preferences of a viewer associated with the first client. The obtained model is used to determine, for the first client, an optimal set of instructions usable to obtain content. A different set of instructions is determined to be optimal for a second client. The optimal set of instructions determined for the client is provided as output. The first client is configured to obtain content according to the optimal set of instructions determined for the first client.

Abstract: Techniques for low latency streaming, for example in a broadcasting environment, are described herein. In some examples, one or more individual renditions may be encoded into multiple rendition versions associated with different respective latencies. Also, in some examples, one or more individual renditions may be encoded into multiple rendition versions having different respective amounts of forward error correction (FEC), for example by an edge node of a video streaming service. Also, in some examples, video may be broadcast using a protocol that does not require retransmission of lost packets, such as Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC), which is commonly used for point-to-point transmissions. Also, in some examples, one or more servers may receive quality of service feedback information from each player to which video content is transmitted. The one or more servers may use this feedback information to select and switch between appropriate renditions and rendition versions for each player.

Abstract: Dynamically adjusting upstream and/or downstream spectrum usage by a Remote PHY node. Cable modem association information for a Remote PHY node is dynamically determined remotely from across a network. The association information identifies which cable modems serviced by the Remote PHY node are physically connected to each of the Remote PHY node ports. Remote PHY node ports are remotely and dynamically assigned to upstream device port and/or downstream device port of a Remote PHY device comprised within the Remote PHY node. Based on the association information, each of the node port of the Remote PHY node may be reassigned to a different upstream device ports and/or downstream device ports of the Remote PHY device. This reassignment may be performed to achieve load balancing of upstream and/or downstream traffic sent between a plurality of cable modems served by the Remote PHY node and a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS).

Abstract: Intelligent assistant may integrate into social networks and devices to enable efficient messaging within group message threads. Various neural networks may be created and learning behaviors may be modeled to generate custom and context and intent specific intelligent assistants. The social network conversational intelligent assistant agent may be in an always on listen state to join conversations or may be commanded to join a group messaging thread on demand by one or more participants. Various widgets may be enabled to disappear and appear with the chat messages dynamically based on user conversations. A bot directory and marketplace may be enabled to allow for a plurality of assistants to be used across platforms including voice, text, group chat, enterprise messaging, and social networks.

Abstract: An advertisement scheduler receives a commercial break schedule generated from a completed assignment of one or more spots that correspond to the deals comprising advertiser's orders to place the spots into one or more commercial breaks in the commercial break schedule based on constraints and placement requirements. The advertisement scheduler may determine representative liability per pending spot for the deals and reshuffle the placement of the spots based on the representative liability of the deals in order to minimize liability associated with the deals. The advertisement scheduler may reshuffle the placement of the spots for maximum delivery of candidate deals, where the reshuffle is based on a forecast of expected viewership associated with the deals, and a pacing computation of cumulative demographics guaranteed at a particular point in time, modify the forecast based on weighting factor, and generate a finalized commercial break schedule based on the reshuffling.

Abstract: A modular video server includes a Video Blade module and a separate physical layer module. The Video Blade performs video processing functions, such as video encoding and decoding, resizing, slow motion, and color space conversion, and the physical layer module implements the physical layer for input and output of video from devices external to the video server. The modular design permits the type of Video Blade and the type of physical layer module to be specified independently of each other, with each type of Video Blade being compatible with each type of physical layer module. This reduces the effort and cost of providing new video servers that support evolving video processing requirements and new video transmission standards.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for real-time blocking of content from an organization activity timeline of an organization. The content blocked can be, for example, activities, or contributions to those activities. The organization activity timeline is displayed within a user interface to show activities involving a particular external contact and one or more users of the organization. The disclosed methods and systems can be used to control which activities or contributions to activities are displayed in the organization activity timeline. One or more identifiers can be added to one or more blacklists. New activities are evaluated for inclusion in the organization activity timeline. Any new activity that includes an identifier (or contributions to that new activity) can be blocked so that it does not appear in the organization activity timeline.

Abstract: A reception apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory is configured to store an application program that is to be executed in coordination with audio visual content. The circuitry is configured to receive the audio visual content and acquire trigger information used to control operation of the application program. The circuitry is configured to acquire an application information table including expiration information, and control the operation of the application program according to the trigger information and the application information table. The circuitry is further configured to manage storage of the application program in the memory based on the expiration information included in the application information table.

Abstract: A method and system for micro-cloud computing is described. An application serving node, which is a specifically configured piece of customer premises equipment such as a set-top box, is the server for a micro-cloud network. Various user devices that form part of the micro-cloud network, such as television sets and smart phones, communicate with the application serving node. The application serving node is configured with software that allows various heterogeneous types of data to be obtained and streamed to the user devices in multiple ways. The application serving node performs much of the processing necessary for such content streaming itself and thus represents an edge-based network architecture.

Abstract: Audio data processor, having: a receiver interface for receiving encoded audio data and metadata related to the encoded audio data; a metadata parser for parsing the metadata to determine an audio data manipulation possibility; an interaction interface for receiving an interaction input and for generating, from the interaction input, interaction control data related to the audio data manipulation possibility; and a data stream generator for obtaining the interaction control data and the encoded audio data and the metadata and for generating an output data stream, the output data stream having the encoded audio data, at least a portion of the metadata, and the interaction control data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for insertion of assets into a stream of content (e.g., audio and/or video programming). Such assets may be targeted to network users separate from the surrounding content and deliveries thereof confirmed. Among other things, these systems and methods enable a new advertising paradigm based on guaranteed delivery of targeted commercial impressions. In this regard, the systems and methods generally provide assets with broadcast network programming (e.g., via actual insertion and/or switching to an asset channel) based on actual audience observations. For example, asset providers may wish to target assets for delivery according to specific audience classifications (e.g., gender, income level, locale, age, etc.). Programming providers, such as television programmers and radio programmers (e.g., standard tower broadcast radio and satellite radio), may receive information from broadcast network users and insert the assets into available bandwidth based on that information.

Abstract: The subject disclosure describes identifying a table associated with a set-top box that receives services from equipment of a video head-end office, where the table indicates that the set-top box has requested a video stream that would exceed a first number of video streams allocated to the set-top box and would exceed a bandwidth configuration, detecting a conflicting event according to information in the table, reconfiguring the bandwidth configuration allocated to the plurality of set-top boxes to resolve the conflicting event, determining a second number of video streams requested by the plurality of set-top boxes when the conflicting event occurred, determining a third number of video streams to resolve the conflicting event based on a difference between the first number of video streams and the second number of video streams, and instructing the equipment to provide the third number of video streams to the set-top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Various arrangements generating a customized channel are presented. A customized channel may be generated for a user. The programming for the customized channel may be gathered from different sources. The programming may be selected and scheduled based on user preferences, interests, and viewing habits of the user. The user viewing habits and preferences for programming may be used to refine the schedule and programming of the customized channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting and delivering content are provided. More particularly, content can be delivered to an output device from a user device through a device adaptor, such as an over-the-top (OTT) device. The OTT device or devices available to the user device are determined by a communication server. In particular, the OTT device or devices available to the user device are limited to those OTT devices associated with an output device in the user's room, or that the user is otherwise authorized to access.

Abstract: A cable television (CATV) entry adapter includes an input port configured to connect to a CATV network, a first output port, a second output port, a first splitter connected to the first output port, and a second splitter connected to the second output port. The first splitter and the second splitter are configured to connect to subscriber devices at a subscriber premises. The entry adapter is configured to transmit signals in a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) bandwidth but not signals in a CATV bandwidth to the subscriber devices that are configured to be connected to the first splitter. The entry adapter is configured to transmit the signals in the MoCA bandwidth and the signals in the CATV bandwidth to the subscriber devices that are configured to be connected to the second splitter.

Abstract: A media appliance and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall. A panel forms a front portion of the housing and the panel includes vents and the panel may be mounted substantially flush with the wall. A media player, which includes a set-top box, is disposed within the housing. A pair of ports, disposed within openings defined by the housing, are configured to receive respective connectors. The pair of ports are coupled to the media player and one port is configured for providing a connection to a television and the other port is configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television, as well as power for the media player.

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a memory for storing identification information corresponding to at least one external mobile terminal, a communication unit for receiving first EPG data from an external server or first external display device, a display for displaying EPG on the basis of the received first EPG data and a controller configured to: control the display to display identification information corresponding to the at least one external mobile terminal according to a first command, transmit to the first external display device, a signal for a viewing reservation of the specific program according to the first command, and control the communication unit to transmit to a first external mobile terminal corresponding to specific identification information, first viewing reservation information on the specific program according to a second command for selecting the specific identification information from the displayed identification information.

Abstract: A method and system for micro-cloud computing is described. An application serving node, which is a specifically configured piece of customer premises equipment such as a set-top box, is the server for a micro-cloud network. Various user devices that form part of the micro-cloud network, such as television sets and smart phones, communicate with the application serving node. The application serving node is configured with software that allows various heterogeneous types of data to be obtained and streamed to the user devices in multiple ways. The application serving node performs much of the processing necessary for such content streaming itself and thus represents an edge-based network architecture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inserting local content of interest in an all digital content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content delivery network comprises a cable television or satellite network, and an RF channel thereof is separated or isolated from an incoming multiplex of all-digital content transmission. The separated RF channel is demodulated to provide a multiplexed transport stream, and packets corresponding to one or more programs from the transport stream are replaced with packets obtained from local compression and encoding of analog programming such as e.g., personal, educational and government (PEG) programming. The inserted programming may also contain closed captioning and emergency data alerts. The resulting encoded transport stream is then re-inserted into the multiplex, modulated, and put back onto the RF channel. In an alternate embodiment, space is reserved within the downstream multiplex so as to avoid having to remove an existing program stream.