Abstract: A method is provided for updating identity data on devices. The method provides for acquiring a device comprising a component associated with a component identifier and having a One Time Programmable Key installed on the component, submitting the component identifier and the One Time Programmable Key to an External Trust Authority, receiving new identity data tied to the component identifier from the External Trust Authority that is encrypted with the One Time Programmable Key, loading the new identity data onto an Update Server, receiving a request at the Update Server from the device that requests new identity data, and providing the new identity data upon receipt of the request, upon which the device decrypts and installs the identity data using the One Time Programmable Key installed on the component within the device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for checking HDCP link integrity in a High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) transmitter. From an HDCP receiver communicatively coupled to the HDCP transmitter by an HDCP-protected interface, a single-bit value indicative of HDCP 1.1 feature support is read. When the single-bit value is true, HDCP Enhanced Link Verification is used in the HDCP transmitter. When the single-bit value is false, the method determines whether the HDMI receiver supports HDCP Enhanced Link Verification, and if so, HDCP Enhanced Link Verification is used in the HDCP transmitter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing the tune-time delay in a television appliance having a PVR subsystem are provided. A first signal path provides a desired television signal for display without a PVR associated tune-time delay. The first signal path includes a first buffer for buffering the television signal and a decoder for decoding the buffered television signal for display. The second signal path includes a storage device for storing a copy of the buffered television signal, and a second buffer for buffering the stored television signal when a trick play mode is selected. The decoder decodes the buffered television signal to provide the requested trick play mode. A switch is provided under control of the processor for switching between display of the television signal via the first path and display of the trick play mode via the second path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for blackout management in media distribution systems may include a central data center in a service provider's domain. The central data server may coordinate with a blackout manager that implements control features for blackout. In contrast to (or to supplement) blackout control solutions that require integrated receiver decoders (IRD)s to be physically installed at each of the regional headends in the service provider network, the blackout manager may provide three functions: 1) a Virtual IRD (VIRD) function 2) access control functions via access control component, and 3) VIRD-to-EndPoint mapping function in the linkage manager.

Abstract: A method and computing device that provides a tunable RF filter for a two-way communication system. The method receives a downstream video signal, and filters the downstream video signal into at least one downstream bandwidth band, each downstream bandwidth band related to desired upstream/downstream bandwidth splits. The method performs an energy detection on each downstream bandwidth band, and determines a lowest frequency of said at least one downstream bandwidth band that contains downstream video content. The method sets a diplex filter upstream/downstream frequency cutoff to a maximum upstream bandwidth that does not conflict with the lowest frequency of said at least one downstream bandwidth band that contains downstream video content.

Abstract: A method of passively measuring available link bandwidth at a client device that receives media data over a network connection comprising receiving packets of a media stream at the client device, wherein one or more the of packets comprises a unique identifier indicating that one or more the packets are associated with a macro burst sorting the received packets into one or more of the macro bursts based on the unique identifiers, and determining the link bandwidth available to the client device based at least in part on the time intervals between arrival times of the packets sorted into individual macro bursts, wherein the macro bursts each comprise a plurality of packets transmitted together by a sending device to regulate the sending device's transmission rate.

Abstract: A method (250) for signaling a facsimile pass through mode over a voice over internet protocol voice service is disclosed. The method (250) includes: establishing (260) a voice over internet protocol call; detecting (270) that a facsimile tone has been received by a sender; and sending (280) a facsimile pass through notify message, from the sender, in response to detecting that the facsimile tone has been received. Advantageously, the method 250 can be adapted to inform the voice over internet protocol service provider about the details of an ongoing facsimile call in pass through mode. Advantageously, this can provide usage information, quality of transmission information, billing information and other useful information.

Abstract: An automated method of characterizing distortion detected by equalization on a channel of a network is provided. Equalization stress of an observed channel equalization response of an end device of the network is estimated, and equalization stress is calculated for a theoretical channel equalization response of the end device mathematically based on the observed channel equalization response and a theoretical removal of a suspected impairment from the network. The above referenced calculating step is separately repeated for each of a plurality of suspected impairments stored in a database of suspected impairments. A highest ranking suspected dominant impairment is determined from the database of suspected impairments such that removal of the highest ranking suspected dominant impairment from the network would provide a greatest reduction of equalization stress of a channel equalization response of the end device.

Abstract: A method and computing device for assessing the integrity of receivers in a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to improve load balancing. The method configures a load balancing manager to move registered modems between the receivers, where each receiver is tuned to a frequency. The method obtains a signal quality measurement for each receiver, and, for each receiver, evaluates the signal quality measurement, and identifies the receiver as an impaired receiver when the frequency to which the receiver is tuned is identified by the evaluating as an impaired frequency. The method attempts to repair each impaired receiver, and notifies the load balancing manager to not allow moving the registered modems to each impaired receiver that is not repairable, and to allow moving the registered modems to each receiver that transitions from impaired to unimpaired.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining contexts and determining associated demographic profiles using information received from multiple demographic 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 time and location. Demographic sensor data is associated with or includes context data that describes the circumstances under which the data was determined. The demographic sensor data can include demographic sensor readings that are implicit indications of a demographic for the context. The sensor data can also include user reported data with explicit descriptions of a demographic for the context. The demographic sensor data can be filtered by context data according a selected context.

Abstract: Authentication in a system includes presenting information to a user containing a partial sequence of a passcode along with distractors. The user is challenged to identify the partial sequence from among the information in order to gain access to the system.

Abstract: A method includes: storing, via a network storage device, information related to the playback history of a content playing device; receiving, via a network digital video recorder scheduler, a request to record requested content; receiving, via a network digital video recorder, the requested content in a first format and the requested content in a second format; and storing, via the network digital video recorder, only one of the requested content in the first format or the requested content in a second format based on the information related to the playback history.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing multilayer bit streams that includes receiving the multilayer bit streams of Scalable Video Code (SVC) 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 multilayer bit streams are collectively reduced in their total bandwidth. Each of the extracted bit streams are rewritten to a single layer bit stream. The single layer bit streams are then multiplexed to form a multiplexed single layer bit stream that is non-SVC.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a secondary device in a manner associated with operation of a primary device including obtaining first information corresponding to a media asset being output by the primary device, processing the first information to determine local media-signature information, transmitting the first information for receipt by a server, receiving secondary information from the server, wherein the secondary information includes a plurality of asset-media signatures that respectively correspond to respective portions of the media asset, attempting to determine a time-based correlation between at least one portion of the local media-signature information and at least one of the asset-media signatures, and outputting one or more portions of time-relevant asset streams from the secondary device, the one or more portions being determined at least indirectly based upon the correlation.

Abstract: A method and computing device for transitioning into and out of partial service mode to make bandwidth available for other resources. A trigger value is set for a channel, where a first and second cable modem have registered to use the channel, and where the first cable modem is a bonded channel modem that utilizes a bonding group that includes the channel and at least one other channel. A modulation mode for the channel is monitored. The channel is transitioned from full service mode to partial service mode when the channel is in full service mode and monitoring detects that the modulation mode is less than or equal to the trigger value. The channel is transitioned from partial service mode to full service mode when the channel is in partial service mode and the modulation mode for the channel is greater than the trigger value.

Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to consolidate unicast video streams into multicast video streams. In some implementations, a skewing window associated with multiple unicast video streams for a video can be identified using a maximum skewing rate and a program duration, and a multicast stream for the video can be generated based on the skewing window. The unicast video streams can then be skewed and merged with the multicast stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radio frequency shield device that includes, an outer cover having one or more displacement protrusions extending from an outer cover bottom surface and one or more cover fasteners, an inner cover positioned inside the outer cover, wherein at least a portion of the inner cover is deflected downward by the displacement protrusions, and a plurality of fence walls having one or more fence fasteners for interlocking with the cover fasteners, wherein the inner cover is positioned at least partially over the fence walls to form at least one of a primary seal and secondary seal.

Abstract: A system includes a data storage configured to store a model human visual system, an input module configured to receive an original picture in a video sequence and to receive a reference picture, and a processor. The processor is configured to create a pixel map of the original picture using the model human visual system. A first layer is determined from the pixel map. A weighting map is determined from a motion compensated difference between the original picture and the reference picture. A processed picture is then determined from the original picture using the weighting map and the first layer.

Abstract: A StatMux system and method are provided for efficiently allocating time slots on the transmission channel between bit streams representing video and bit streams representing data. By providing such a system and method, when a decreased number of data bits need to be transmitted, a decreased number of time slots may be allocated for transmitting the data bits and an increased number of time slots may be allocated for transmitting video bits. When a decreased number of video bits needs to be transmitted, a decreased number of time slots may be allocated for transmitting video bits and an increased number of time slots may be allocated for transmitting data bits.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.