Abstract: A power driven, telescoping steering column having a tubular outer jacket, a tubular inner jacket, and a tubular intermediate jacket arranged for coaxial telescopic movement relative with one another via actuation of an actuator assembly includes, a mounting device operably coupled against relative axial movement with the tubular outer jacket, with the actuator assembly being coupled to the mounting device without being fixedly connected or attached to the tubular outer jacket.

Abstract: A satellite antenna heating system, includes a satellite antenna reflector defining a reflector fluid chamber and that includes a reflector wall. The reflector wall includes a first surface that is located adjacent the reflector fluid chamber, and a second surface that is located opposite the reflector wall from the first surface and provides an outer surface of the satellite antenna reflector, wherein the reflector fluid chamber is configured to channel a fluid through at least a portion of the satellite antenna reflector.

Abstract: A satellite antenna heating system, includes a satellite antenna reflector defining a reflector fluid chamber and that includes a reflector wall. The reflector wall includes a first surface that is located adjacent the reflector fluid chamber, and a second surface that is located opposite the reflector wall from the first surface and provides an outer surface of the satellite antenna reflector, wherein the reflector fluid chamber is configured to channel a fluid through at least a portion of the satellite antenna reflector.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an encoder having a controller adapted to receive a digital video stream with metadata, retrieve from at least a portion of the metadata a native video format, configure encoding of at least a portion of the digital video stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the digital video stream an encoded video stream conforming to a moving picture experts group format and the native video format, and submit the encoded video stream to an acquisition server for multicast distribution. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising receiving a data stream comprising media content that includes program content and advertising content, and monitoring for presence of markers in the data stream at test points on a data path from a receiving device to a server distributing the data stream over a network. Data collected at the test points is correlated to determine whether the advertising content was presented. If the advertising content was not presented, an alarm message is generated; and a location is determined, based on the result of the correlating, of a fault on the data path causing the advertising content to not be presented. The test data are collected from the test points simultaneously with propagation of the data stream along the data path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising receiving a data stream comprising media content that includes program content and advertising content, and monitoring for presence of markers in the data stream at test points on a data path from a receiving device to a server distributing the data stream over a network. Data collected at the test points is correlated to determine whether the advertising content was presented. If the advertising content was not presented, an alarm message is generated; and a location is determined, based on the result of the correlating, of a fault on the data path causing the advertising content to not be presented. The test data are collected from the test points simultaneously with propagation of the data stream along the data path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an encoder having a controller adapted to receive a digital video stream with metadata, retrieve from at least a portion of the metadata a native video format, configure encoding of at least a portion of the digital video stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the digital video stream an encoded video stream conforming to a moving picture experts group format and the native video format, and submit the encoded video stream to an acquisition server for multicast distribution. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an encoder having a controller adapted to receive a digital video stream with metadata, retrieve from at least a portion of the metadata a native video format, configure encoding of at least a portion of the digital video stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the digital video stream an encoded video stream conforming to a moving picture experts group format and the native video format, and submit the encoded video stream to an acquisition server for multicast distribution. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A video processing method includes receiving a multimedia file including a first video file encrypted with a first compression algorithm and converting the first video file to a second video file, which is encrypted with a second compression algorithm. The method includes extracting, from the second file, video data indicative of at least one video characteristic of the second file and displaying the video data on a display screen or forwarding the video data to a content insertion server. The first video compression algorithm may be a MPEG-2 video compression algorithm and the second video compression algorithm may be an H.264 algorithm and/o an H.265 algorithm. The video data may include run time data indicative of a run time of the second video file, frame rate data indicative of a frame rate of the second video file, and pixel data indicative of a resolution of the second video file.

Abstract: A video processing method includes receiving a multimedia file including a first video file encrypted with a first compression algorithm and converting the first video file to a second video file, which is encrypted with a second compression algorithm. The method includes extracting, from the second file, video data indicative of at least one video characteristic of the second file and displaying the video data on a display screen or forwarding the video data to a content insertion server. The first video compression algorithm may be a MPEG-2 video compression algorithm and the second video compression algorithm may be an H.264 algorithm and/o an H.265 algorithm. The video data may include run time data indicative of a run time of the second video file, frame rate data indicative of a frame rate of the second video file, and pixel data indicative of a resolution of the second video file.

Abstract: A multimedia delivery platform includes a platform manager configured to monitor status of platform resources including content acquisition resources and a managed element, visible to the platform manager, including an externally accessible contact closure. A state of the contact closure is specified by user input provided by a platform manager user. The platform includes a shaking device configured to shake a signal acquisition device such as a dish antenna. A power relay in the platform includes a control terminal coupled to the contact closure of the managed element and output terminals configured to deliver power to the shaking machine upon activation of the power relay.

Abstract: A video processing method includes receiving a multimedia file including a first video file encrypted with a first compression algorithm and converting the first video file to a second video file, which is encrypted with a second compression algorithm. The method includes extracting, from the second file, video data indicative of at least one video characteristic of the second file and displaying the video data on a display screen or forwarding the video data to a content insertion server. The first video compression algorithm may be a MPEG-2 video compression algorithm and the second video compression algorithm may be an H.264 algorithm and/o an H.265 algorithm. The video data may include run time data indicative of a run time of the second video file, frame rate data indicative of a frame rate of the second video file, and pixel data indicative of a resolution of the second video file.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an encoder having a controller adapted to receive a digital video stream with metadata, retrieve from at least a portion of the metadata a native video format, configure encoding of at least a portion of the digital video stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the digital video stream an encoded video stream conforming to a moving picture experts group format and the native video format, and submit the encoded video stream to an acquisition server for multicast distribution. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an encoder having a controller adapted to receive a digital video stream with metadata, retrieve from at least a portion of the metadata a native video format, configure encoding of at least a portion of the digital video stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the digital video stream an encoded video stream conforming to a moving picture experts group format and the native video format, and submit the encoded video stream to an acquisition server for multicast distribution. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A video processing method includes receiving a multimedia file including a first video file encrypted with a first compression algorithm and converting the first video file to a second video file, which is encrypted with a second compression algorithm. The method includes extracting, from the second file, video data indicative of at least one video characteristic of the second file and displaying the video data on a display screen or forwarding the video data to a content insertion server. The first video compression algorithm may be a MPEG-2 video compression algorithm and the second video compression algorithm may be an H.264 algorithm and/o an H.265 algorithm. The video data may include run time data indicative of a run time of the second video file, frame rate data indicative of a frame rate of the second video file, and pixel data indicative of a resolution of the second video file.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a digital interface of an internet protocol encoder including a connector for connecting to a cable delivering a signal, and a sensor at the digital interface for sensing a characteristic of the signal. The sensed characteristic is a clock rate corresponding to an asynchronous serial interface signal or a data rate corresponding to a high-definition serial digital interface signal. An automatic switch routes the signal to a first decoder portion or a second decoder portion in accordance with the sensed characteristic. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A task management system and method integrates rich functionality into a web-browser based application. An efficient request for an update enables a user to quickly generate a completely customizable email message to intended recipient(s). By introducing a client side, in-memory database, the client component becomes less susceptible to network connectivity glitches and enables user interfaces to be redrawn without server interaction. Additionally, the task management system and method provides flexibility by enabling tasks to be grouped and organized. Specifically, a task may be associated with multiple task sheets and a task sheet may include multiple tasks in a many-to-many manner. Also, templates may be created that enable a user to start with a base template and to add (or remove) one or more columns. Further, the task management systems allows for multiple users to access and manipulate task data concurrently.

Abstract: A multimedia delivery platform includes a platform manager configured to monitor status of platform resources including content acquisition resources and a managed element, visible to the platform manager, including an externally accessible contact closure. A state of the contact closure is specified by user input provided by a platform manager user. The platform includes a shaking device configured to shake a signal acquisition device such as a dish antenna. A power relay in the platform includes a control terminal coupled to the contact closure of the managed element and output terminals configured to deliver power to the shaking machine upon activation of the power relay.

Abstract: A system measures viewership of multimedia programs such as television programs, pay-per-view sporting events, and video-on-demand movies. Viewership data from a plurality of multimedia programs may be compared to determine ratings for the multimedia programs. Multimedia streams en route to set top boxes may be monitored using packet inspection to identify the multimedia program or programs included in the multimedia streams. An electronic table or array may be stored and updated with viewership statistics of monitored multimedia programs. Some embodiments track the total number of households or televisions that are powered on in a viewing area. Ratings are available substantially in real time by accessing a stored table with viewership information or by frequently polling a plurality of stored values to determine which multimedia program is being viewed by all or substantially all viewers in an area.

Abstract: A method of controlling vehicle functions is provided that includes receiving at a service provider, security data from a vehicle function system. The security data is related to a security code required to activate one or more functions controlled by the vehicle function system. The method also includes receiving a vehicle function request at the service provider from a remote device. The vehicle function request indicates a request to activate a particular function of a vehicle. In addition, the method includes sending a vehicle function command from the service provider to a mobile wireless device. The vehicle function command is adapted to cause the mobile wireless device to transmit a wireless signal to activate the particular function of the vehicle and the vehicle function command includes the security code or authentication information related to the security code.