Abstract: A vehicle communication network includes a network fabric, a plurality of vehicle control modules, memory, one or more multimedia processing modules, and a network manager. The network manager is operable to coordinate communication of packets, via the network fabric, among the vehicle control modules, the memory, and the multimedia processing modules based on individual content of the packets and in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol. The network manager is further operable to facilitate network resource management to support the communication of packets via the network fabric in accordance with the global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: A video processing system includes a video device that generates a request corresponding to video content. A conditional access module generates a video signal for transmission to the video device during a first time period, and terminates transmission of the video signal when the request is not authenticated during the first time period. In a further embodiment, the conditional access module generates a video signal for unscrambled transmission to the video device during a first time period, terminates the unscrambled transmission of the video signal at the expiration of the first time period, and continues with scrambled transmission of the video signal after the first time period.

Abstract: One or more methods and systems of indexing an AVC video stream are presented. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying one or more fields within a picture of an AVC video stream. In one embodiment, a field of the one or more fields indicates the beginning of each picture. In a second embodiment, a field of the one or more fields indicates a picture type of a picture. In a third embodiment, a field of the one or more fields indicates whether a picture is a reference or a non-reference picture. By determining that a picture is a non-reference picture, the picture may be discarded, thereby reducing the memory required to implement the indexing system while increasing the available memory size. In one embodiment, a system of indexing an AVC video stream comprises a control processor, a memory, and a set of instructions resident in the memory.

Abstract: A premises based multimedia communication system includes a source device that produces multimedia content, a rendering device that presents the multimedia content, and a premises communication network coupling the source device to the rendering device. The system determines a bit error rate of the premises communication network, transfers the multimedia content from the source device to the rendering device, and when the bit error rate exceeds a bit error rate threshold, the system at least partially disables link layer encryption of video frames of the multimedia content transfer. With the link layer operations at least partially disabled, the system can enable, at least partially, content layer encryption operations for the transfer of the multimedia content from the source device to the rendering device.

Abstract: A vehicle network node module includes device buffers, a network buffer, a switch circuit, and a processing module. The device buffers temporarily store outgoing device packets from, and temporarily store incoming device packets for, vehicle devices in accordance with a locally managed prioritization scheme. The network buffer receives incoming network packets from, and outputs the outgoing network packets to, a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network protocol. The network buffer also temporarily stores the incoming network packets and the outgoing network packets in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme. The switching circuit selectively couples the network buffer to individual ones of the device buffers in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A social network (SNET) is divided into one or more circles having different trust levels. Communications between the different SNET circles is bridged by an SNET device capable of communicating with devices associated with the different SNET circles, even if those devices cannot communicate directly with each other. When a communication is sent between SNET circles, the SNET device verifies the trust level associated with the communication, and bridges the communication based, at least in part, on that trust level. The SNET device can be located in a demilitarized zone associated with both the first SNET circle and the second SNET circle. Where different SNET circles use different security secrets for communications between members, the SNET device can store different keys for each of those circles in separate, restricted portions of memory.

Abstract: A vehicular network is a closed network with known sources, destinations, and network connections that can be mapped in advance, and used to identify network resources needed to transmit a packet from a source to a destination. A network module can determine the source destination, and a priority of a packet based on the packet's content. Using the source and destination information, along with a network topology data, the network module can determine if two packets need the same network resources to be delivered to their destination. When the two packets do not use the same resources, there is no conflict, and the packets can be transmitted concurrently regardless of whether one of the packets has a higher priority than another packet. If there is a conflict, the network module transmits the packets based on the packets' priorities.

Abstract: A mobile video device includes a transceiver module that receives an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A decoder module produces a decoded video signal from at least one separate video stream chosen, based on the device parameter, from the independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams.

Abstract: A video processing system includes a video transcoder that receives a independent video layer stream and a first dependent video layer stream that requires the independent video layer for decoding, the video transcoder generating a transcoded video signal based at least one of the independent video stream and the dependent video layer stream.

Abstract: A gateway having at least one communications interface and processing circuitry establishes communications with at least one service provider device and at least one serviced client device. The gateway then determines that a serviced client device is to establish an Internet browsing session. Based upon characteristics of the serviced client device, the gateway determines where to instantiate a web browser to service the Internet browsing session. Based upon the determination, in a first operation, instantiates the web browser to service the Internet browsing session at the gateway or client device. In a second operation, the gateway instantiates the web browser to service the Internet browsing session at a service provider server. In other operations, the gateway may determine to instantiate a browser for a first client device at a cloud server and to instantiate a browser for a second client device either locally or at the second client device.

Abstract: A social network (SNET) is divided into one or more circles employing separate security secrets, e.g. keys, for communication between members. A device can be a member of more than one circle, and store different keys for each of those circles in separate, restricted portions of memory. When a member leaves a circle, new keys can be generated and distributed to the remaining members. Before and after joining a circle, a level of trust associated with the device or human member can be determined based on third party trust verification and a trust history. A requirement for multiple current circle members to vouch for the prospective member can be imposed as a condition of membership. Each circle can be assigned different trust and access levels, and authorization to receive information can be checked before transmitting information between circles.

Abstract: A vehicle network node module includes device buffers, a network buffer, a switch circuit, and a processing module. The device buffers temporarily store outgoing device packets from, and temporarily store incoming device packets for, vehicle devices in accordance with a locally managed prioritization scheme. The network buffer receives incoming network packets from, and outputs the outgoing network packets to, a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network protocol. The network buffer also temporarily stores the incoming network packets and the outgoing network packets in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme. The switching circuit selectively couples the network buffer to individual ones of the device buffers in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a user interface module that receives at least one user preference. A decoder module produces a decoded video signal from a basic video layer stream and at least one graphics layer streams based on the at least one user preference.

Abstract: A wired and wireless vehicle communication network includes network node modules, switch modules, bridge-routing modules, and a network manager. The network manager is operable to determine a wired packet communication mode and/or a wireless packet communication mode. When the network is in the wireless packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wireless communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on individual content of the packets and wireless channel mapping. When the network is in the wired packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wired communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on the individual content of the packets and in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: Members of a social network (SNET) circle can share content with other members of SNET circle, members of the same SNET that are not members of the same circle, or send content to people or devices outside of SNET. Trust chain can be used alone or in conjunction with other security measures to assign or select an appropriate level of content protection and SNET access. A trust rating or level associated with a trusted human member can be conferred to a social network device, allowing that device to be included in the trust chain. Trust can also be conferred from a trusted social network device to a child device of the social network device. A trust processing module can work in cooperation with one or more trust authorities to establish initial and updated overall trust levels of a human or device associated with the SNET.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for switching between a live video decoding and a recorded playback in a digital video and recording system. A received video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out video decoder buffer without first looping the video data stream through a playback buffer. The video data stream is transmitted from the video decoder buffer to a video decoder. If a “pause” command is received, the video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out playback buffer, while continuing to transmit the video data stream to the video decoder buffer. Transmission of the video data stream to the video decoder buffer is halted when the video decoder buffer fills up. The last byte of the video data stream that was transmitted to the video decoder buffer is marked. If a “play” command is received, the video data stored in the video decoder buffer is transmitted to the video decoder.

Abstract: A data bridge controls packet transfers between network fabrics forming a closed network, such as a vehicular network. The data bridge includes two or more sets of modules, each of which communicates with a different network fabric. When a packet is to be delivered between network fabrics, a first set of modules, which is used to communicate with a first network fabric, decides whether to accept the packet or discard it. If the packet is accepted, it is delivered to a second set of modules, which is used for communicating with a second network fabric. The second set of modules makes a second, independent decision about whether the packet will be sent to the second network fabric. Each set of modules can base its decision on packet content type, and may discard any packet not to be delivered to the other network.

Abstract: A video transmission system includes a video server module that selectively operates in a unicast mode and a multicast mode, wherein the video server module generates a video signal that includes a unicast video signal when the video server module is in the unicast mode and that includes a multicast video signal when the video server module is in the multicast mode. A wireless access device transmits the video signal to at least one mobile video device.

Abstract: A gateway includes at least one communications interface and processing circuitry and establishes communications with at least one service provider device and with a serviced client device. The gateway receives serviced client device display structure instructions, first streamed content from a service provider device, and second streamed content from a cloud server, the second streamed content based upon an Internet session hosted by the cloud server. Based upon the serviced client device display structure instructions, the gateway combines the first streamed content with the second streamed content to form merged streamed content and transmits the merged streamed content to the serviced client device. In another operation the gateway forwards the first streamed content to a first client device and the second streamed content to a second client device based upon the serviced client device display structure instructions.