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.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box comprising a controller to receive media content over an Internet Protocol Television network, detect Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) content associated with the media content, present an SAP indicator with the media content to a user when the SAP content is detected for the media content, receive a selection of the SAP content by the user, and present the media content with the selected SAP content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A set-top box device includes a detector module and an electronic programming guide module. The detector module is configured to detect a closed captioning flag in a video stream, and to cache electronic programming guide information for the video stream if the video stream includes the closed captioning flag. The detector module is further configured to create a closed captioning electronic programming guide including the electronic programming guide information. The electronic programming guide module is in communication with the detector module, and is configured to output the closed captioning electronic programming guide.

Abstract: A computer system for coordinating information between a client and a server using a client side in-memory is provided. The server has a server processing unit; a server memory device; a server data storage device; a server program stored in the server data storage device for providing instructions to the server processing unit; and a server database in the server data storage device for managing relational data.

Abstract: A computer system configured to manage a task hierarchy has a task data store configured to store information about a plurality of tasks, the task information including a parent task and a task unique identifier, a task sheet data store configured to store information about a plurality of tasks, the task sheet information including a task sheet unique identifier, and a task to task sheet data store configured to store a plurality of relationships between tasks and task sheets, said relationships including a task unique identifier and a task sheet unique identifier.

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 (DV) 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 DV stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the DV 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 closed caption detection system includes a video line selector that outputs a selected line of a video signal, a luminance detector that outputs a luminance level of the selected line, and an alarm that compares the luminance level with a threshold level and provides an alarm based on the result. A method of detecting closed captioning data includes selecting a television channel, decoding closed captioning in the channel, detecting a luminance level of a closed captioning line of the television signal, comparing the luminance level with a threshold level, waiting for a time if luminance level of the selected line is less than the threshold luminance level, and then re-detecting luminance level and re-comparing the luminance levels, then, if the luminance level is less than the threshold level, indicating the absence of closed captioning data.

Abstract: A closed caption detection system includes a video line selector that outputs a selected line of a video signal, a luminance detector that outputs a luminance level of the selected line, and an alarm that compares the luminance level with a threshold level and provides an alarm based on the result. A method of detecting closed captioning data includes selecting a television channel, decoding closed captioning in the channel, detecting a luminance level of a closed captioning line of the television signal, comparing the luminance level with a threshold level, waiting for a time if luminance level of the selected line is less than the threshold luminance level, and then re-detecting luminance level and re-comparing the luminance levels, then, if the luminance level is less than the threshold level, indicating the absence of closed captioning data.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box comprising a controller to receive media content over an Internet Protocol Television network, detect Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) content associated with the media content, present an SAP indicator with the media content to a user when the SAP content is detected for the media content, receive a selection of the SAP content by the user, and present the media content with the selected SAP content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A set-top box device includes a detector module and an electronic programming guide module. The detector module is configured to detect a closed captioning flag in a video stream, and to cache electronic programming guide information for the video stream if the video stream includes the closed captioning flag. The detector module is further configured to create a closed captioning electronic programming guide including the electronic programming guide information. The electronic programming guide module is in communication with the detector module, and is configured to output the closed captioning electronic programming guide.

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 (DV) 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 DV stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the DV 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 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.

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 set top box (STB) device receives a data stream comprising video content data and meta data. The data stream can include, for example, an H.264-compliant data stream transmitted to the STB device via a packet-switched network, such as an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network. The meta data comprises an indicator of a display format for the video content data. The STB device accesses the indicator from the data stream and processes the video content data to generate a first display data having the first display format. The STB device can include a preset static display format configuration that is overridden by the STB device in response to accessing the indicator.

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.