Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for automatically navigating a graphical user interface (GUI) of a media device. In embodiments, objects (e.g. selectable items) in device GUI menu screens may be located, identified, and selected by another device (e.g., a switch) using several types of image processing, image recognition, and automated screen navigation techniques. For instance, a device may receive an operation request, for example from a user, receive a video signal from the connected media device, extract a video frame, process the video frame using one or more algorithms, and automatically navigate the GUI of the device by transmitting one more navigation commands for application to the GUI. In this manner, multi-step, time-consuming manual GUI navigation to achieve a desired result may be reduced to an automated technique, allowing users to save time and frustration in navigating a GUI using a remote control to find a particular resource.

Abstract: Methods for a soft universal remote (SUR) controller are performed by systems and apparatuses. Audio/visual (A/V) devices may be controlled by hardware remote controllers that are not configured to control other devices of an audio/visual system. A SUR controller implemented by an A/V device provides consumable control signals to such other devices based on control signals from the A/V device remote controller. A SUR controller determines another device for which a received control function is directed, and transmits a generated consumable control signal for the control function of the received control signal is provided to the other device. User interfaces are provided by SUR controllers for the configuration of SUR controllers and remote controllers, and for control of other A/V devices via the user interfaces.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are described to detect and resolve device configuration and/or communication incompatibilities (e.g. incompatible messages, improper addressing, malfunctions) for a communication protocol such as HDMI-CEC.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable a media device to be controlled from any location via a network-based device. For example, a user, using a control device, initiates a command that identifies media content to be streamed by the media device. The command is transmitted to a proxy device coupled to the media device and a network-based device. The proxy device transmits the command to the network-based device, which translates the command into a format compatible with the media device. The translated command is transmitted to the proxy device, which transmits the translated command to the media device. The media device streams the media content based on the received translated command. Alternatively, the control device and the proxy device are integrated as a single device, which generates and transmits the command to the network-based device, receives the translated command from the network-based device, and transmits the translated command to the media device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein reduce latency and improve packet delivery when transmitting audio packets from a source device to one or more sink devices. For example, one or more operating modes that introduce latency when transmitting packets may be disabled at the source device and/or sink device(s). Additionally, certain operational behavior of the source device and/or sink device(s) may be changed based on the quality of the channel used to transmit audio packets to further improve the latency. Such operational behavior includes changing the jitter buffer size of the sink device(s), the number of retry attempts performed by the source device when re-transmitting packets that have been lost, and changing the channel used to transmit the audio packets. Embodiments described herein further enable the synchronization of playback between the sink devices to ensure that sink devices playback audio packets in a synchronized fashion.