Abstract: Energy-efficient discovery techniques are provided for a client node to discover at least one peer provider node in an ad hoc network. For example, the client node can be configured to turn on its first ad hoc interface while in a discovery mode to establish a channel for a first time period. The client node can then transmit a first beacon to advertise its presence to other nodes within the transmission range of the client node to acquire service information from at least one of a plurality of prospective peer provider nodes within the transmission range of the client node. At least one of the prospective peer provider nodes is configured to turn on its second ad hoc interface for a second period of time to listen for beacons from other nodes. The second period of time is less than or equal to the first period of time.

Abstract: A network element (400) can receive (101) (from an end user (404) and via a data network (403)) a message as regards an aggregation of multiple different renderable content items. By one approach this message comprises, at least in part, selection criteria as have been selected by the end user. This network element can then automatically use (102) this selection criteria to select a plurality of specific renderable content items from amongst a plurality of candidate different renderable content items. These teachings will then support automatically combining (103) the plurality of specific renderable content items to form the requested aggregation of multiple different renderable content items.

Abstract: A network element (200) receives (101), from a plurality of different end users (205), information regarding content clips as pertain to audio-visual content and uses (102) that information to automatically infer a relative popularity of audio-visual content as corresponds to the content clips to provide popularity information. Such audio-visual content can comprise, for example, televised content. The aforementioned information can comprise, for example, such items as a start time and a stop time for a given one of the content clips, at least a portion of a given one of the content clips, a content identifier of some kind, and so forth.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and electronic device for enhancing virtual features in devices are disclosed. A connection interface may pair the mobile telecommunications apparatus with a first accessory. A processor may execute a software program and add a virtual feature associated with the first accessory when the first accessory is present.

Abstract: A method and architecture for managing a communication campaign direct toward a plurality of media consumption devices associated with a common user (101), including obtaining communication addresses for each of the plurality of media consumption devices (110, 116, 122) associated with the common user, associating the common user with a communication campaign, and prompting transmission of communications to the common user via the plurality of media consumption devices based on a campaign policy.

Abstract: A method for scheduling the reception of content in a content receiver, for example, in an STB/DVR, includes scheduling (210) the reception of selected content by a tuner resource of the STB/DVR at a particular time. The scheduling may be performed at the STB/DVR, or alternatively at a remote device, for example, at a cellular telephone using an EPG. A virtual tuner is provided (230) to the STB/DVR in the event that the tuner resource of the STB/DVR is not available to receive the selected content when scheduled. In one implementation, usage of the virtual tuner is conditioned on consent to viewing additional non-selected content.

Abstract: A system for recording media content on different recording devices includes a metadata insertion device configured to annotate advertisement content with metadata, where the advertisement content references a media content, and where the metadata is configured to enable recording of the media content on the different recording devices. The system also includes a program finder server configured to determine the next broadcast of the media content available to the different recording devices and a recording server configured to access information pertaining to the different recording devices and configured to schedule a recording of the media content on one or more of the recording devices based upon data and protocols required by the one or more recording devices.

Abstract: A system (150) and method (200) for peer-to-peer content sharing in an ad-hoc network is provided. The system can include a plurality of peers (102) and a super peer (110). The super peer provides a continuous power supply (112) and mass storage (111) for distributing and caching shared content. The super peer can monitor (202) a plurality of requests for content, identify (204) popular content from the plurality of requests, and distribute (214) the popular content to the peers to offload content sourcing responsibilities. The super peer can manage a want-list (320), a popularity-list (330), and a source-list (340) for acquiring and distributing popular content.

Abstract: Energy-efficient discovery techniques are provided for a client node to discover at least one peer provider node in an ad hoc network. For example, the client node can be configured to turn on its first ad hoc interface while in a discovery mode to establish a channel for a first time period. The client node can then transmit a first beacon to advertise its presence to other nodes within the transmission range of the client node to acquire service information from at least one of a plurality of prospective peer provider nodes within the transmission range of the client node. At least one of the prospective peer provider nodes is configured to turn on its second ad hoc interface for a second period of time to listen for beacons from other nodes. The second period of time is less than or equal to the first period of time.

Abstract: A self-contained installation program having at least one payload condition is provided (314) and distributed (316) to a plurality of selected nodes, using a wireless link, that subsequently installs the self-contained program based, at least in part, on a correspondence with the at least one payload condition.

Abstract: A method for delivering a message to a user in a communication network (100) is disclosed. The method includes monitoring (402) an environment of the user. The method further includes delivering (404) the message to the user in a plurality of stages. The plurality of stages is determined based on the environment of the user.

Abstract: A method and a system for live broadcast of digital content to a user switching between one or more electronic devices are provided. Each electronic device is connected to a network. The user makes a request to switch the live broadcast of the digital content from a first electronic device to one or more electronic devices in the network. The live broadcast of the digital content on the first electronic device is suspended based on the request from the user. The first electronic device informs at least one electronic device in the network to pre-emptively store the live broadcast of the digital content. The live broadcast of the digital content is then resumed on the one or more electronic devices, based on another request from the user.

Abstract: A mobile station (201) receives (301) a transmission from a remote source (such as, but not limited to, a reference server (206)) comprising information regarding downloadable content. This information can comprise, in a preferred approach, addresses that can be used to download corresponding selections of downloadable content. This information can further comprise, in a preferred approach, characterizing information regarding at least some of the downloadable content selections identified via such addresses. In a preferred approach, such a mobile station can then also access (302) locally developed information regarding downloading constraints of interest and then make determinations (303) regarding when to automatically download at least a portion of at least one of the selections of downloadable content as a function, at least in part, of both the characterizing information as was received via the aforementioned transmission and the locally developed information regarding relevant downloading constraints.

Abstract: A memory-based collaborative filtering algorithm is optimized for large numbers of users by employing a personalized location-based data partitioning method that allows the system to scale even for very large datasets. Collaborative filtering then takes place on the scaled dataset.

Abstract: A system and a method for recording a broadcast being displayed on a mobile device. The system includes a mobile device (102), a server (104), and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) (106). The mobile device receives and displays a broadcast. Further, the mobile device generates a first information pertaining to the broadcast and sends it to the server. The server, on receiving the first information, generates a second information, and then sends the second information to the DVR. The DVR, on receiving the second information from the server records the broadcast.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (101) for direct communication with one or more near-proximity devices (111, 113) to form an adhoc network is provided. The wireless communication device comprises a transceiver (201) configured to send, via wireless link, a beacon signal. The beacon signal includes a device identifier (305) and a service map (307) associated with the wireless communication device. The service map identifies one or more applications (223, 225, 227) that may operate on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communication device including requesting contextual information from a source outside the wireless communication device, the contextual information requested by a context aware application on the wireless communications device, and providing alternate contextual information to the context aware application with a contextual information discriminator of the wireless communications device when contextual information from the source from which contextual information is requested is not available.

Abstract: A method for delivering content to be rendered by multiple devices is provided. Indications of resources available to a user are received, the resources including rendering resources, the rendering resources provided by a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices being coupled to a network, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices provides at least one rendering resource available for use of the user, and provides at least one rendering resource available for simultaneous use of another user. Content requested by the user is received, the content including a plurality of content types. A mapping of content types to the plurality of devices is determined, wherein the mapping is based on rendering resources provided by each of the plurality of devices. Content types of the content requested by the user are delivered to the plurality of devices according to the mapping, the content types delivered to the plurality of devices via the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for advertising is provided herein. Location-based content (advertisements) are provided to users of a communication system. A correlation between a user's displayed advertisements and the user's subsequent location is made is a basis for charging fees to the advertiser.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a terminal management system 10 including a terminal management network element 100 and at least one wireless terminal 20. The terminal management network element 100 includes a wireless terminal condition-based control information generator 120 that generates wireless terminal condition-based control information 16 represented by extensible markup language code. The wireless terminal condition-based control information 16 includes selected action data 46 and selected condition data 42 associated with a terminal management action to execute on at least one wireless terminal 20. The selected condition data 42 is associated with the selected action data 46 and selected attribute data 44. The selected attribute data 44 is associated with the selected action data 46.