Abstract: A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. Connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller over each of the two separate communications paths. When a timer counts down to a final value, then more connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller to report connectivity.

Abstract: Devices, methods and computer-readable media for controlling a device timeout parameter are disclosed. For example, a device receives a condition for modifying a timeout parameter and a modification. The device then detects the condition for modifying the timeout parameter and applies the modification to the timeout parameter in response to detecting the condition. A method determines a maximum time for a timeout parameter of a device and transmits a message to the device indicating the maximum time for the timeout parameter. A further method determines a condition for modifying a timeout parameter of a device and a modification. The method then transmits a message to the device indicating the condition for modifying the timeout parameter of the device and the modification.

Abstract: Example modular optical network terminals (ONTs) and methods to implement the same are disclosed. A disclosed example ONT includes a base unit having an integral optical interface to optically couple the ONT to an optical network, and to convert an optical signal received from the optical network to form an electrical signal, a plug-in service module to distribute the electrical signal within a customer premises, and a modular interface connector configured to receive the plug-in service module and to couple the electrical signal from the base unit to the plug-in service module.

Abstract: A set-top box (STB) of a television system receives web-based content, such as a web page, from a wide area network such as the Internet. The web-based content is provided to the STB for display. In response to an instruction, the STB provides all or a portion of the web-based content to a printer for printing. The printer can be connected to the STB via a network or through a computer connected to the STB on the same network. By providing an option to print the web-based content, the usefulness of the content is enhanced.

Abstract: Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content.

Abstract: A feeding module for an address book includes a processor and a memory. The processor receives at least one search parameter. The processor accesses information sources to find existing entities and expecting entities that match the at least one search parameter. The memory stores the found existing entities and the found expecting entities. The feeding module forwards the found existing entities and the found expecting entities to an address book to be displayed.

Abstract: A system for detecting a remotely controlled e-mail spam host. The system includes an E-mail spammer detection unit and a host traffic profiling unit. The E-mail spammer detection unit identifies E-mail Spammers based on SMTP traffic characteristics. The host profiling unit extracts traffic components from the plurality of Internet traffic associated with an E-mail Spammer; interprets the extracted traffic components and determines whether the E-mail Spammer is a compromised host. The system may also include a botnet controller detection unit that analyzes traffic associated with compromised E-mail Spammers and identifies the botnet Controller remotely controlling the compromised E-mail Spammer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a telephone customer to configure telephone service for multiple users at a single location associated with the customer. The location has at least two telephones, at least two phone numbers and a voice mail box. The telephone customer is visually provided an option to assign one of the phone numbers to one of the telephones. The telephone customer is visually provided an option to assign each of the multiple users exclusive access to at least one of the telephone numbers via their account identifier. The telephone customer is visually provided the option to, for each of the multiple users, allow access or deny access via their account identifier to the voicemail box.

Abstract: Media signals such as audio and/or video signals are certified as being authentic. A private key and a corresponding public key are provided. For a current media segment of the media signal, a signature is created using the private key to sign data based on media content of the current media segment combined with a signature from a media segment present at another point within the media signal where the signature from the media segment present at another point within the media signal is created by signing with the private key data based on media content of the media segment present at the other point within the media signal. The signature is included in metadata of the current media segment of the media signal and the public key is included in a second metadata of the media signal.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to solicit an appraisal for each of a plurality of media programs presented by the media processor for composing a proposal to update one or more operational features of the media processor according to one or more consumer preferences determined from one or more supplied appraisals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a plurality of secondary images based on image data of a primary image include displaying a primary image and a plurality of secondary images based on the image data of the primary image. Each of the plurality of secondary images is displayed having a size based on a relevance of each respective one of the plurality of secondary images to the primary image. The primary image can be selected from a plurality of images or a frame of a video. Subsets of secondary images can be displayed in clusters including images having content similar to particular content of the primary image.

Abstract: A method of delivering video content is disclosed that includes receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device. The request indicates a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device. The method also includes sending notification information to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber. Further, the method includes receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device. The viewing preferences data indicates a particular time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content. Additionally, the method includes sending video content download data to a particular network entity. The video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the particular time.

Abstract: A process and system for partitioning hybrid markup language documents (HMLDs) is disclosed. Content from an HMLD is copied to one or more output markup language documents (MLDs), which may be well-formed or valid MLDs. The HMLD is segmented at partition boundaries within the document, while state information is recorded in a tag stack. The state information is used to complete the output MLD, which may be sent to a software module for processing. The HMLDs and MLDs may be well-formed or valid extensible markup language (XML) documents.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely monitoring and controlling building security are provided. A controller is communicatively coupled to security devices of a building and can communicate an activity event detected by one of the security devices to a remote user device. The controller can then establish a communication session between the remote device and a security device via the controller, thereby allowing the user to communicate with any visitors. Video from a security device can be transmitted by the controller to the user device or an alternative user-device. Access instructions can be provided by the user, in response to which the controller can deactivate various building security measures. Security measures can be reactivated by the controller automatically or in response to a user command. Additionally, the controller can monitor visitor compliance with the deactivated security measures and activate alarms or notify security agencies if necessary.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to receive from a media communication system metadata describing one or more marketable items depicted in a media program supplied by the media communication system, present images of the media program at a media presentation device without highlighting the one or more marketable items, present an icon at least at one of a remote controller managing operations of the media processor or the media presentation device to indicate a presence of the one or more marketable items in one or more of the images presented at the media presentation device, detect a selection of the icon, and highlight the one or more marketable items. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to access a broadcast of media content in response to a request to record the media content from a mobile communication device, and adjust a format of the media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device where the user profile comprises device format preferences. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A particular method includes receiving first data indicating a measured strength of an ambient electromagnetic signal in a particular frequency range during a particular time period and at a particular location. The method also includes receiving second data indicating a bit loading within a portion of a wireline network in the particular frequency range during the particular time period. The portion of the wireline network provides service within a service area proximate to the particular location. The method also includes determining a correlation of changes in the second data during the particular time period to changes in the first data during the particular time period. The method further includes identifying at least one issue associated with the wireline network based on the correlation.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller adapted to determine at least one network element to be designated as being in a probation mode where the network element is operably coupled to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and is adapted to utilize Session Initiation Protocol, and determine communication devices to be designated as testing devices where the communication devices are user end point devices, wherein use of the network element for communication between user end points over the IMS network is limited to the testing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A data collector combiner, a network management system, a DSL Optimizer (DSLO), or any combination thereof collects data, parameter(s), characteristic(s), information, or any combination thereof from two or more data sources. The data collector probabilistically combines at least the first and second data to estimate at least one DSL characterizing parameter.