Abstract: A combination cremation urn and ornament comprises a base adapted to receive cremation ashes therein, an upstanding post mounted to an upper surface of said base and extending upwardly therefrom, and a decorative ornament that is three-dimensional an entire 360 degrees about a vertical axis of said decorative ornament, said decorative ornament having a hole extending upwardly from a bottom thereof into said decorative ornament, said post received in said hole as said decorative ornament is positioned on said base to secure said decorative ornament to said base.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing defragmentation of content in a content delivery network (CDN). In an example, a manifest available to the content delivery node with respect to a particular content as well as segment files stored in a database cache of the content delivery node are analyzed to determine if any segment files referenced by the manifest are absent from the database cache. If so, one or more delivery rules associated with the content delivery node based on historical ABR asset delivery patterns may be applied to determine representations of the absent segment files that satisfy the one or more delivery rules. After determining compliant representations of the absent segment files, they may be pulled from another content delivery node of the CDN (e.g., a parent node or an edge server node).

Abstract: A combination cremation urn and ornament comprises a base adapted to receive cremation ashes therein, an upstanding post mounted to an upper surface of said base and extending upwardly therefrom, and a decorative ornament that is three-dimensional an entire 360 degrees about a vertical axis of said decorative ornament, said decorative ornament having a hole extending upwardly from a bottom thereof into said decorative ornament, said post received in said hole as said decorative ornament is positioned on said base to secure said decorative ornament to said base.

Abstract: A system and method for effectuating fast channel change in an adaptive streaming environment. A plurality of adjacent channels may be predicted relative to a current streaming channel engaged by a client device. Upon prioritizing the adjacent channels, the client device may be configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for a subset of the prioritized adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, video player buffer status, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content at a select bitrate for rendering.

Abstract: Providing bitrate control for delivering media content to a plurality of virtual display (VD) screens presented in a virtual reality (VR) environment effectuated by a VR device of a subscriber based on detecting a movement in a point of view with respect the VD screens' placement within the VR environment. Each VD screen is configured to receive a media content channel. Responsive to detecting the movement, angular distance of each of the VD screens relative to a reference axis is computed. Weights to each of the media content channels may be assigned or updated based on the angular distance of the corresponding VD screens relative to the reference axis. Bandwidth of a managed bandwidth pipe may be (re)allocated based on the relative weights of the media content channels for delivering the media content channels to the subscriber's VR environment responsive to selecting single bitrates for the media channels.

Abstract: A system and method for effectuating fast channel change in an adaptive streaming environment. A plurality of adjacent channels may be predicted relative to a current streaming channel engaged by a client device. Upon prioritizing the adjacent channels, the client device may be configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for a subset of the prioritized adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, video player buffer status, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content at a select bitrate for rendering.

Abstract: A system and method for providing bitrate control for delivering media content to a plurality of virtual display (VD) screens presented in a virtual reality (VR) environment effectuated by a VR device of a subscriber based on detecting a movement in a point of view with respect the VD screens' placement within the VR environment, wherein each VD screen is configured to receive a media content channel. Responsive to detecting the movement, angular distance of each of the VD screens relative to a reference axis is computed. Weights to each of the media content channels may be assigned or updated based on the angular distance of the corresponding VD screens relative to the reference axis. Bandwidth of a managed bandwidth pipe may be (re)allocated based on the relative weights of the media content channels for delivering the media content channels to the subscriber's VR environment responsive to selecting single bitrates for the media channels according to a channel bandwidth annealing mechanism.

Abstract: A combination casket and ornament comprises a casket shell having a pair of keyhole-shaped grooves in a corner thereof, an L-shaped adapter having a leg and a foot, the leg having a pair of studs on a rear side thereof each of which is received in a respective one of the keyhole-shaped grooves, and a decorative ornament that is three-dimensional an entire 360 degrees about a vertical axis of the ornament, the ornament positioned on the foot of the L-shaped adapter.

Abstract: A combination casket and ornament comprises a casket shell having a pair of keyhole-shaped grooves in a corner thereof, an L-shaped adapter having a leg and a foot, the leg having a pair of studs on a rear side thereof each of which is received in a respective one of the keyhole-shaped grooves, and a decorative ornament that is three-dimensional an entire 360 degrees about a vertical axis of the ornament, the ornament positioned on the foot of the L-shaped adapter.

Abstract: A system and method for providing bitrate control for delivering media content to a plurality of virtual display (VD) screens presented in a virtual reality (VR) environment effectuated by a VR device of a subscriber based on detecting a movement in a point of view with respect the VD screens' placement within the VR environment, wherein each VD screen is configured to receive a media content channel. Responsive to detecting the movement, angular distance of each of the VD screens relative to a reference axis is computed. Weights to each of the media content channels may be assigned or updated based on the angular distance of the corresponding VD screens relative to the reference axis. Media content channels on the VD screens outside the subscriber's field of view may be time-shifted.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a back scrubbing device that can selectively dispense a lotion, soap, or medicinal substance to a user. The device includes a rear support that can be secured to a surface of a tub or shower via an array of suction cups. An elastomeric padding is secured to the rear support. The padding is soft and includes a curvature to accommodate a user with a spinal curvature, which will fit the natural lordosis and kyphosis curvature. A series of bristles are secured to the outer surface of the padding. A dispenser is optionally included for allowing the soap, lotion, or medicinal substance to be applied to the bristles. The entire apparatus is machine washable.

Abstract: A system and method for effectuating fast channel change in an adaptive streaming environment. A plurality of adjacent channels may be predicted relative to a current streaming channel engaged by a client device. Upon prioritizing the adjacent channels, the client device may be configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for a subset of the prioritized adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, video player buffer status, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content at a select bitrate for rendering.

Abstract: An Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) Quality of Experience (QoE) Management Unit manages bandwidth usage and QoE at a customer premises where multiple client devices independently download content from multiple providers. An overall virtual pipe to the premises includes a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) inner pipe, a non-HTTP inner pipe, an ABR inner pipe, and a non-ABR inner pipe. The Unit determines a data cap for a current billing cycle; and determines, based on policy management settings and the data cap for the current billing cycle, at least one of: a bandwidth cap for the overall virtual pipe, a bandwidth cap for the HTTP inner pipe, a bandwidth cap for the non-HTTP inner pipe, a bandwidth cap for the ABR inner pipe, and a bandwidth cap for the non-ABR inner pipe. Responsive to the determination of the bandwidth caps, the Unit throttles traffic within at least one of the inner pipes.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing defragmentation of content in a content delivery network (CDN). In an example, a manifest available to the content delivery node with respect to a particular content as well as segment files stored in a database cache of the content delivery node are analyzed to determine if any segment files referenced by the manifest are absent from the database cache. If so, one or more delivery rules associated with the content delivery node based on historical ABR asset delivery patterns may be applied to determine representations of the absent segment files that satisfy the one or more delivery rules. After determining compliant representations of the absent segment files, they may be pulled from another content delivery node of the CDN (e.g., a parent node or an edge server node).

Abstract: A system and method for effectuating fast channel change in an adaptive streaming environment. A plurality of adjacent channels may be predicted relative to a current streaming channel engaged by a client device. Upon prioritizing the adjacent channels, the client device may be configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for a subset of the prioritized adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, video player buffer status, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content at a select bitrate for rendering.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing defragmentation of content in a content delivery network (CDN). In an example, a manifest available to the content delivery node with respect to a particular content as well as segment files stored in a database cache of the content delivery node are analyzed to determine if any segment files referenced by the manifest are absent from the database cache. If so, one or more delivery rules associated with the content delivery node based on historical ABR asset delivery patterns may be applied to determine representations of the absent segment files that satisfy the one or more delivery rules. After determining compliant representations of the absent segment files, they may be pulled from another content delivery node of the CDN (e.g., a parent node or an edge server node).