Abstract: A method and device for associating a remote with a component. The method and system may include receiving a control command from the remote. Upon receiving the control command, an identification signal may be transmitted to a display. The identification signal may include information for identifying the component. The remote may be associated with the component based on the identification signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a smart card reader that includes a smart card reader body and smart card contacts. The smart card reader body is a single, contiguous piece of electrically dissipative material. As a smart card is inserted in to the smart card reader body and makes contact with portions of the smart card reader body, any electrostatic charge that has accumulated on plastic portions of the smart card is discharged through the smart card reader body itself, and to ground. As a result, damage to circuitry coupled to the smart card reader and an embedded circuit housed in the smart card is avoided.

Abstract: Identifying errors with home HVAC systems and notifying the homeowner of the error and potential remedial steps can be useful. In some embodiments, a method is provided including receiving, at an electronic device, a temperature value and an airflow value from sensors located at a vent grate of the HVAC system. A temperature delta value can be calculated using the temperature value and an ambient temperature value. The temperature delta value can be compared with predetermined temperature delta threshold value. The airflow value can be compared with predetermined airflow threshold value. Based on comparing the temperature delta value step and/or the comparing the airflow value step, an error with the HVAC system can be identified. A notification of the error and subsequent potential remedial steps can be sent from the electronic device to the homeowner.

Abstract: A request is received to reestablish a connection to an end device in a network. At least one datum is identified indicating an error condition, the at least one datum including one or more of a bit error rate (BER), a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value, and a foreign packet. Based on the one or more data values, user input is requested to deny the reestablish connection request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a Transport I/O system are described. Network encrypted content may be received by a device. The device may provide the network encrypted content to a secure processor, such as, for example, a smart card. The secure processor obtains a network control word that may be used to decrypt the network encrypted content. The secure processor may decrypt the network encrypted content to produce clear content. In embodiments, the secure processor may then use a local control word to generate locally encrypted content specific to the device. The device may then receive the locally encrypted content from the secure processor and proceed to decrypt the locally encrypted content using a shared local encryption key. The secure processor may connect to the device via a standard connection, such as via a USB 3.0 connector.

Abstract: Various arrangements are presented for reducing channel change times. A first tuner of a television receiver may tune to a decryption key transponder stream. The decryption key transponder stream may include a plurality of decryption keys for a plurality of television channels that are transmitted to the television receiver via a plurality of transponder streams. Such keys may be buffered. A second tuner of the television receiver may be tuned to a media transponder stream to receive a television channel. A buffered decryption key may be used in decoding the television channel.

Abstract: A method and device for associating a remote with a component. The method and system may include receiving a control command from the remote. Upon receiving the control command, an identification signal may be transmitted to a display. The identification signal may include information for identifying the component. The remote may be associated with the component based on the identification signal.

Abstract: Customer service calls to media service providers are addressed by remotely monitoring and diagnosing the customer's installed equipment. Such remote diagnosis decreases the need for assistance from customer service representatives and on-site repair technicians. In a method of operating a customer service routing system for a media service provider, subscriber equipment is first identified and then data specific to the subscriber equipment is collected. Relevant data can be maintained as an equipment health history in a database that is updated periodically by automatic monitoring. The database can be located within a remote server. Equipment data can be extracted automatically and relayed directly to the subscriber, thereby bypassing interaction with a customer service representative.

Abstract: A method for providing remote access to segments of a transmitted program is presented. The program is recorded, and then stored at a communication server. Information specifying a segment of the stored program is transferred from a communication device to the communication server. Also, a request for access to the specified segment of the stored program is transferred from another communication device to the communication server. In response to the request, the specified segment of the program is transferred from the communication server to the requesting communication device.

Abstract: Various arrangements are presented for reducing channel change times. A first tuner of a television receiver may tune to a decryption key transponder stream. The decryption key transponder stream may include a plurality of decryption keys for a plurality of television channels that are transmitted to the television receiver via a plurality of transponder streams. Such keys may be buffered. A second tuner of the television receiver may be tuned to a media transponder stream to receive a television channel. A buffered decryption key may be used in decoding the television channel.

Abstract: Various arrangements are directed to locating a television receiver. Multiple tuners of the television receiver may be simultaneously tuned to different television distribution satellites to receive timing signals. Using these timing signals, the location of the television receiver may be determined. Based on a comparison between a stored, expected location of the television receiver and the determined location, the functionality of the television receiver may be adjusted.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a dual purpose press-bar and heat sink for an integrated circuit card (ICC) reader. The dual purpose press-bar and heat sink provides two functions. First, the dual purpose press-bar and heat sink conducts and dissipates internal heat generated by a high data transfer ICC inserted in to the ICC reader. Second, the dual purpose press-bar and heat sink ensures that contact pads of the high data transfer ICC create reliable electrical connections with ICC contacts of the ICC reader. As such, the dual purpose press-bar and heat sink simultaneously dissipates heat from a high data transfer ICC and ensures that a high data transfer ICC maintains proper electrical connections with ICC contacts of an ICC reader.

Abstract: Non-multimedia information may be produced from devices such as alarms, appliances, automobiles, building systems, weather stations, home automation systems, and the like. A method and devices communicate non-multimedia content via a standardized network architecture. Non-multimedia data is received from a remote device with a standardized network aliasing device. The standardized network aliasing device is able to communicate on a network that conforms, for example, to a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) protocol. The non-multimedia data is formatted with the standardized network aliasing device into a standardized-format file. The standardized-format file conforms to a selected media class. The standardized-format file is exposed on the network that conforms to the DLNA protocol and communicated to a remote DLNA-enabled device that is also coupled to the network that conforms to the DLNA protocol.

Abstract: A method for providing remote access to segments of a transmitted program is presented. The program is recorded, and then stored at a communication server. Information specifying a segment of the stored program is transferred from a communication device to the communication server. Also, a request for access to the specified segment of the stored program is transferred from another communication device to the communication server. In response to the request, the specified segment of the program is transferred from the communication server to the requesting communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining access to a home automation system may include receiving a command from a user to perform a home automation function, and determining a privilege for the user, which may be based on the location of the user. The methods may include comparing the command and the user privilege to an authorization list, where the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions based at least on individual commands and associated privileges. The methods may also include determining whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function.

Abstract: A media device may be configured for receiving data from one or more satellites. The media device may include one or more processors and one or more storage devices. A first tuner of a media device may tune to a first data stream that came from a first satellite transponder. A second tuner of the media device may tune to a second data stream that came from a second satellite transponder. The first data stream and the second data stream may be derived from source data based at least in part on a data distribution scheme. The data distribution scheme may include distributing at least portions of the source data with the first data stream and the second data stream. The first data stream and/or the second data stream may be processed to store and/or output for presentation content.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for assembling and extracting command and control data. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the command and control data is segmented and inserted into multiple packet headers. The header packets are identified by flags such as “First portion,” “Middle portion,” “Last portion,” or “Null Byte.” When a receiver extracts the command and control data from the headers, it tracks the flags associated with the headers. The command and control data is saved to buffer in association with its associated flag. The receiver uses the flags to determine when all command and control data headers have been received. The command and control data is then reconstructed and used to decrypt audio visual content.

Abstract: A media device for content-based highlight handling of television programming may be provided. Criteria of interest corresponding to user input may be processed. Idle tuner(s) not being used to receive any television channels for presentation or recording may be identified. A television channel identified based at least in part on the criteria of interest may be tuned to with an idle tuner. Content received at the media device may be processed. Update data associated with a subject matter of the content may be received separately from the television channel. A portion of the content that corresponds to the criteria may be identified based at least in part on the criteria of interest and the update data. A portion of a television program may be recorded and/or marked. The portion of the television program may correspond to the portion of the content identified based at least in part on the criteria.