Abstract: A camera system includes: an IP camera that comprises a threadable power connection; a mounting/positioning apparatus connected to the IP camera that physically connects the IP camera to a building structure at an exterior portion of the building structure, wherein the mounting/positioning includes a light socket for supplying power to the IP camera; optionally a WiFi bridge that is electrically connected to an interior power outlet of a building structure; and a wireless router that wirelessly connects with the WiFi bridge or camera for the transmission of data between the wireless router and the WiFi bridge.

Abstract: Enabling an end-user to access home automation features or functionality directly from or via one or more interfaces that might normally be used to access satellite television-related programming and services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing television services and/or presentations to a plurality of televisions located at a customer premises. One such method, among others, includes: receiving by a set-top terminal (STT) located at a customer premises, via a transmission link that is coupled to the STT, a television service that was transmitted from a remote location, and transmitting the television service by the STT, via the transmission link, to a television that is located at the customer premises.

Abstract: A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the characteristics of a device coupled to a client device are disclosed. A method, according to one embodiment, includes driving a display device with a first video output signal formatted according to a first video interface specification; responsive to driving the display device, soliciting user input based on information included in the first video output signal; determining a characteristic of the display device based on the user input; and driving the display device according to the determined characteristic.

Abstract: A cable television settop receiver and method includes a software component and a frequency acquisition method for determining the ability of the operating system/control program in the settop receiver to operate the settop receiver. The software component, referred to as a “bootloader”, executes on the processor contained in the settop receiver and determines the capability and version of the settop receiver operating system/control program. If the bootloader determines that the operating system/control program should be updated, the bootloader initiates a download sequence, the performance of which allows the proper operating system/control program to be downloaded to the settop receiver. The download occurs after receipt, by the settop receiver, of a code version table (CVT). The CVT includes information that the settop receiver uses to determine which frequency to tune to receive the replacement operating system/control program.