Abstract: Privacy control in a connected environment is described. An assistant device can detect speech spoken by a user. The speech can include a hardware activation phrase that indicates whether the user intends for at least a portion of the speech to be provided to local resources or cloud resources. The speech can then be provided to the appropriate resource based on the hardware activation phrase.

Abstract: A contextual user interface based on playback of media content is described. An assistant device can determine that a display device (e.g., television) within its environment is playing back media content on different channels. The channels being switched among can be provided to a server, which can provide back information regarding the media content being played back on those channels. The assistant device can then generate buttons on the user interface providing the information regarding the media content and also causing the display device to switch channels upon their selection.

Abstract: A contextual user interface based on environment is described. An assistant device can determine that speech has been spoken and determine the context of an environment of that speech. A user interface can then be generated based on the context of the environment and the content of the speech. Different context can result in different user interfaces being generated.

Abstract: Ambient assistance is described. An assistant device can operate in an active experience mode in which a response to a user's speech is provided if it includes a hardware activation phrase. Based on characteristics of the environment, the mode can be adjusted to a passive experience mode in which a response to speech is provided even if it does not include the hardware activation phrase.

Abstract: The present disclosure contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for controlling a variety of disparate home devices coupled to the framework and/or ambient operating system (AmbientOS). This home application programming interface (API) exposes the operation of the home devices in a natural and intuitive manner, facilitating control of unknown devices by high level commands. The home devices are contextually responsive to API commands. Additionally, the home application programming interface can customizing an application developed to control devices in an environment to control the devices in the environment via an assistant device with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

Abstract: The present disclosure contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for enabling developers to program and control a variety of disparate devices coupled to the framework and/or ambient operating system. The Home API can expose operation of the devices in a natural and intuitive manner, facilitating control of unknown devices by high-level commands.

Abstract: Management of devices on a wireless network is described. An assistant device can determine that a device is missing configuration settings to access resources within a connected environment. Characteristics of that device can be determined and configuration settings to a selection of the resources can be provided based on the characteristics.

Abstract: The present disclosure contemplates a variety of methods and systems for enabling users to automatically expand the set of commands a user can issue. An assistant device can receive a user instruction via microphone and determine a voice activatable command and device description. The assistant device can then identify that no adapter associated with the voice activatable command and device description is available. The user can be prompted to provide a second voice activatable command or a second device description which can then be used to identify an adapter. The assistant device can store the voice activatable command or the device description in association with the identified adapter.

Abstract: Management of devices on a wireless network is described. An assistant device can determine how a user used resources and/or devices outside of an environment. Based on how the user used those resources and/or devices, configuration settings of local devices within the environment can be updated to provide new resources or settings.

Abstract: Management of devices on a wireless network is described. An assistant device can determine that another device is missing configuration settings to use a wireless network. Using another wireless network employing a different protocol, the missing configuration settings can be provided.

Abstract: Facilitating a conversation using resources of devices within an environment is described. A user within an environment can be determined to be engaged in a conversation with another person via a mobile device. Characteristics of the environment can be determined and devices that can provide playback of content of the conversation or receive content of the conversation can be identified based on the characteristics of the environment. Playback of content and receiving of content can then be provided using the resources of the devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for enabling developers to program and control a variety of disparate devices coupled to the framework and/or ambient operating system. The Home API can expose operation of the devices in a natural and intuitive manner, facilitating control of unknown devices by high-level commands.

Abstract: Receiving and sending videos over a network such as the Internet. In one implementation, users upload videos to a web site in a variety of formats. The videos are transcoded and other users can view the videos by indicating their desire to do so on the site. In one embodiment, a video is streamed to the watching user using Flash and the user watches the video via a Flash player, for example, a flash player in his browser.

Abstract: A data stream recorder system, for multi-stream recording and retrieval of utilizes a number of gateways, each for sending and receiving packets containing streaming multimedia content data at real-time rates via a packet data network. A session manager communicates via the network with source client devices and receiver client devices, to establish and control recording and retrieval sessions. The manager assigns sessions to the gateways for the sending and receiving of the packets to and from client devices. Content is distributed across storage devices associated in storage nodes. Each of the gateways receives packets containing content data at real time rates during a recording session and distributes the received packets from the session across all of the storage nodes. A scheduler of each respective storage node distributes content data from packets distributed to the respective storage node, across all of the digital storage devices of the respective storage node.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention provide a video database client application configured to execute on a wireless communication device or a device with a small display screen. The video database client application includes a user interface including user interface components designed to access video information and view videos using the wireless communication device. The video database client application includes a video player module to integrate and control a native video player within the user interface. The video database client application further includes a video database interface module adapted to retrieve videos and video information from the video database. The video database interface module functions to pre-fetch information from the video database based on anticipated user information needs.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention provide a video database client application configured to execute on a wireless communication device or a device with a small display screen. The video database client application includes a user interface including user interface components designed to access video information and view videos using the wireless communication device. The video database client application includes a video player module to integrate and control a native video player within the user interface. The video database client application further includes a video database interface module adapted to retrieve videos and video information from the video database. The video database interface module functions to pre-fetch information from the video database based on anticipated user information needs.

Abstract: A data stream recorder system, for multi-stream recording and retrieval of utilizes a number of gateways, each for sending and receiving packets containing streaming multimedia content data at real-time rates via a packet data network. A session manager communicates via the network with source client devices and receiver client devices, to establish and control recording and retrieval sessions. The manager assigns sessions to the gateways for the sending and receiving of the packets to and from client devices. Content is distributed across storage devices associated in storage nodes. Each of the gateways receives packets containing content data at real time rates during a recording session and distributes the received packets from the session across all of the storage nodes. A scheduler of each respective storage node distributes content data from packets distributed to the respective storage node, across all of the digital storage devices of the respective storage node.