Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining contexts and determining associated emotion profiles using information received from multiple emotion sensor enabled electronic devices, are disclosed. Contexts can be defined by a description of spatial and/or temporal components. Such contexts can be arbitrarily defined using semantically meaningful and absolute descriptions of times and locations. Emotion sensor data is associated with or includes context data that describes the circumstances under which the data was determined. The emotion sensor data can include emotion sensor readings that are implicit indications of an emotion for the context. The sensor data can also include user reported data with explicit descriptors of an emotion for the context. The emotion sensor data can be filtered by context data according a selected context. The filtered sensor data can then be analyzed to determine an emotion profile for the context that can be output to one or more users or entities.

Abstract: An internet protocol multicast provider is disclosed, which includes a bootstrap code component, a transcoder generator component, a content module and a packetizing module. The bootstrap code component can generate a bootstrap code. The transcoder generator component can generate a transcoder module. The content module can generate content in a first format. The packetizing module can generate internet protocol multicast packets, based on the bootstrap code, the transcoder module and the content. The bootstrap code can determine a second format for which an internet protocol multicast receiver can decode and render the content. The transcoder module can instruct the internet protocol multicast receiver to play the content when the first format is the second format. The transcoder module can instruct the internet protocol multicast receiver to transcode the content from the first format to the second format when the first format is not the second format.

Abstract: A method of operating a server and an IP client device for presentation of video content to a viewer that includes a trickplay function. The server partitions media chunks into several sub chunks and includes information about the sub chunks in a manifest. The client plays the needed sub chunks to implement a desired play rate. As an alternative to providing sub chunk information in the manifest, the server sends key frame information in the manifest. The client plays needed frames of the key frames to implement a desired play rate. The sub chunk information as well as key frame information is encoded into the manifest as a standard comment or chunk filename. In another alternative, the IP client sends a trickplay request and based on that, the server signals either the sub chunks to be played or the key frames to be played to affect the desired speed. In yet another variation, the server can also remove the unwanted sub chunks or key frames to affect the desired play rate at the IP client.

Abstract: Methods of delivering IP video content to CPE devices over a network are provided. Customer content-of-interest information is collected from the CPE devices. When a request for an item of content from a requesting one of the CPE devices is received, a determination is made as to whether the requested item of content is of interest to at least a pre-determined minimum number of other CPE devices on the network via analysis of the collected content-of-interest information. The item of content may be multicast over the network if the item of content is of interest to at least the pre-determined minimum number of CPE devices. Alternatively, content indicated as being of interest by at least the pre-determined number of CPE devices may be scheduled for multicast at a low utilization time of the network or at a low priority level. A system for preforming the above methods is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing a plurality of multilayer bit streams includes receiving a plurality of multilayer bit streams each having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. One or more of the enhancement layers are extracted in whole or in part from at least one of the multilayer bit streams so that the plurality of multilayer bit streams are collectively reduced in their total bandwidth. Each of the multilayer bit streams are rewritten to a single layer bit stream. The single layer bit streams are multiplexed to form a multiplexed single layer bit stream.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media may be operable to facilitate the management of connections between one or more client devices and an access point over one or more service sets. An access point may maintain a list of client devices that have successfully associated with a private service set broadcast from the access point, and when a client device from the list attempts to connect to a public service set broadcast from the access point, the access point may deny the client device's attempt to connect to the public service set. Attempts by the client device to join the public service set may be denied for a predetermined number of attempts or a predetermined period of time. Denying an attempt to connect to a public service set may provide a client device with more opportunities to connect to a private service set broadcast from a corresponding access point.

Abstract: A video processing system enhances quality of an overlay image, such as a logo, text, game scores, or other areas forming a region of interest (ROI) in a video stream. The system separately enhances the video quality of the ROI, particularly when screen size is reduced. The data enhancement can be accomplished at decoding with metadata provided with the video data for decoding so that the ROI that can be separately enhanced from the video. In improve legibility, the ROI enhancer can increase contrast, brightness, hue, saturation, and bit density of the ROI. The ROI enhancer can operate down to a pixel-by-pixel level. The ROI enhancer may use stored reference picture templates to enhance a current ROI based on a comparison. When the ROI includes text, a minimum reduction size for the ROI relative to the remaining video can be identified so that the ROI is not reduced below human perceptibility.

Abstract: A Digital Rights Management (DRM) system is provided that reduces time for a move transaction using DTCP-IP when a copy is moved back or checked back in to an originating Personal Video Recorder (PVR). During a DTCP MOVE transaction, instead of transferring the full asset in a check back in operation to the PVR, a unique and abbreviated representation of the original copy of the asset would be made for the transfer. This abbreviated representation takes the form of a hash constructed from a hashing function which uses characteristics of the asset as inputs. This hash will have to be a unique and near guaranteed indicator of the original content, to a high probability, so that the copy control system could live up to the spirit of the DTCP spec and the DLNA interoperability guidelines.

Abstract: A video processing system is provided to create quantization data parameters based on human eye attraction to provide to an encoder to enable the encoder to compress data taking into account the human perceptual guidance. The system includes a perceptual video processor (PVP) to generate a perceptual significance pixel map for data to be input to the encoder. Companding is provided to reduce the pixel values to values ranging from zero to one, and decimation is performed to match the pixel values to a spatial resolution of quantization parameter values (QP) values in a look up table (LUT). The LUT table values then provide the metadata to provide to the encoder to enable compression of the original picture to be performed by the encoder in a manner so that bits are allocated to pixels in a macroblock according to the predictions of eye tracking.

Abstract: A communication protocol specification is divided into subsets of parameters based on patterns established by equipment vendors. A combination of subsets is selected based on parameters and features supported by particular network devices installed in a network. A user interface facilitates convenient creation or modification of a configuration file, which instructs a network device how to format a communication message and what information is to be contained therein. After the configuration file is loaded into a device, it controls software switches in the device such that features and parameters corresponding to the parameters selected with the user interface and controlled by the switches are either enabled or disable based on the parameters selected. Supported parameter combinations for popular equipment may be prestored so that selection with the interface of a particular piece of equipment automatically edits the configuration file according to the features and parameters supported by said equipment.

Abstract: A method of handling advertisements in an adaptive bitrate stream is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving an adaptive bitrate stream playlist listing chunk identifiers pointing to a plurality of media chunks, analyzing the playlist to find one or more advertising chunks, modifying the adaptive bitrate stream playlist with a client device when the client device has been set to skip advertisements by deleting chunk identifiers associated with advertising chunks from the playlist, retrieving and playing back media chunks according to the playlist, and setting a no-trick-play flag at the client device during playback of the one or more advertising chunks when the client device has not been set to skip advertisements, such that trick-plays through and over media chunks are allowed when the no-trick-play flag is not set and are not allowed when the no-trick-play flag is set.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for signing data such as code images. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, from a requestor, a request to sign the data according to a requested configuration selected from a first configuration, in which the data is for use with any of the set of devices, and a second configuration in which the data is for use only with a subset of a set of devices; modifying the data according to the requested configuration; generating a data signature using the modified data; and transmitting the generated data signature to the requestor. Another embodiment is evidenced by a processor having a memory storing instructions for performing the foregoing operations.

Abstract: A video processing system detects an overlay image, such as a logo, in a picture of a video stream, the overlay for example being a broadcaster's logo. The detection is based on evaluation of blending characteristics of a picture frame. The method of detection of an overlay defines first and second areas within the image, the first and second areas being non-overlapping. Next an alpha-blended value is calculated for the mean color value of the second area with an overlay color value. Then, if the mean color value of the first area is closer to the alpha-blended value than it is to the mean color value of the second area, the overlay can be indicated as detected and defined within the picture. Detection of the overlay can be used to identify an owner of the video, or detect when a scene change such as a commercial occurs.

Abstract: With the introduction of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology to communication channels in a cable network, cable modems that receive data downstream over subcarriers of the OFDM channel are grouped into modulation tiers based on at least one metric. Modulation tiers are generated at a subcarrier group level such that network elements can use different profile tiers depending in the subcarrier group in use. A scheduler facilitates the scheduling of modulation tiers for network element destination groups across subcarrier groups, where the modulation tier for a network element may vary between subcarrier groups. The scheduler also facilitates scheduling multiple network element destination groups for transmission of a plurality of subcarrier groups for optimal transmission to the network elements.

Abstract: Channel traffic in Internet Protocol (IP) networks may be placed in priority queues upon receipt. Providing an efficient way for operators to use the channel may enable the operator to better make decisions for configuring the priority queues, maximizing effectiveness. For example, measuring a queue latency and making a queue latency visible to an operator may enable a better configuration of priority queues. Further, an improved latency metric may assist an operator to judge a relative effect that priority assignments have on traffic over a channel. Such techniques may be applied to an out-of-band (OOB) channel to include an assessment of parameters important for optimizing the configuration of priority queues in a downstream channel. For example, an improved latency metric for assisting an operator to judge the relative effect that priority assignments have on traffic is a parameter assessed for better use of an OOB channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical modulation index calibration in a CATV network.

Abstract: A method (600) for a system (200) for delivering a content offering (102) containing one or more advertisements (331) includes identifying one or more triggers (115,321,117,118) indicating that one or more advertisement avails (326,327,328) occur in the content offering. After advertisements are obtained, portions (332,333) of the advertisements are multiplexed with portions (334,335) of the content offering occurring between a trigger and a corresponding advertising avail. The portions of the advertisements are delivered to subscriber devices (206) such that all portions are delivered prior to the advertising avail occurring or completing at the subscriber device.

Abstract: With the introduction of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology in to communication channels in a cable network, cable modems that receive data downstream over subcarriers of the OFDM channel are grouped in to modulation tiers based on at least one metric. A profile is generated for each OFDM channel based on the measurements across cable modems and subcarriers related to the OFDM channel, including the metric values used to group the cable modems in to the modulation tiers. Included in an OFDM profile may be a scheme for allocating marginal cable modems in to the plurality of modulation tiers. The methods and systems for generating modulation and coding scheme profiles enable more efficient modulation by network elements.

Abstract: A multicast adaptive bit rate receiver is employed delay issuance of specific unicast HTTP adaptive bit rate media segment requests while waiting for receipt of stripped multicast media segments from a multicast server. An HTTP proxy may create a new internal state that waits for subsequent media segment URL requests. As the stripped multicast media segments are received, the HTTP requests queued in the proxy may be delivered to the local ABR client.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for delivering CATV content over a fiber optic network from a transmitter. The transmitter preferably includes a combining network that combines CATV signals received from a CATV head end.