Abstract: Social network friend-based recommendations are provided. Based on user consumption data provided by one or more service providers, a determination may be made as to which social network contacts a user has who may have preferences for video, music, and other media that are close to the user's. The determination of social network contacts who share a common interest and the user consumption data of those social network contacts may be utilized to infer recommendations for the user. Other functionalities may be provided, such as manual recommendations, placing emphasis on recommendations from particular friends, email notifications of content that a friend has consumed that the user has not, an option to view what a social network contact is viewing, providing a list of programs that the user and a social network contact have both seen, and providing advertisements based on consumption data, recommendations, and/or discovered areas of interest.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to optimizing the efficiency of video coding. Such optimization may be based on characteristics of video content, such as the size and type of video frames. The size of video frames may be compared to a threshold size to determine whether an intracoded frame should be inserted into a Group of Pictures (GOP) instead of a predetermined type of video frame. As an example, an intracoded video frame may be inserted into the GOP when an abrupt or gradual size change in the sequence of video frames is determined. As another example, unipredicted frames may also be inserted into the GOP instead of bipredicted frames using a similar comparison.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for validating adcopy instructions. A method may include generating, by a computer including one or more processors, media content. The method may also include identifying, by the computer, a destination server to receive playback statistics associated with playback of the media content. Furthermore, the method may include determining, by the computer, a callback address identifier associated with the destination server. Additionally, the method may include encoding, by the computer, the callback address identifier within the media content and transmitting, by the computer, the media content to a user device for playback.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, devices, and systems related to routing packets over enterprise network sites. A method may be disclosed for routing packets between hosts at a first site and hosts at a second site in a network using a firewall. The method may comprise receiving a request, in a first packet, from a first router to send one or more packets to two or more hosts at the second site. The method may comprise receiving a first sub-network prefix, in a route advertisement, corresponding to two or more hosts at the first site from the first router, and receiving a first community value, in a first advertisement, associated with the first sub-network prefix. The method may comprise generating a first local preference value based at least in part on the first community value. And the method may comprise sending the request, first sub-network prefix, and first local preference value to a second router, in a second advertisement.

Abstract: A roaming video experience, in which users continue watching a content item when moving from viewing device to viewing device is enabled herein via Radio Frequency (RF) enabled remote controls and set top boxes. A device identifier from a first RF-enabled set top box is communicated to an active RF-enabled remote control. When a user signals a second RF-enabled set top box, the viewing session parameter set associated with the active RF-enabled remote control is passed to the second RF-enabled set top box. Using the parameter set, the second set top box is enabled to learn the system settings, user preferences, and content item that were used on the first set top box, and provide a continued viewing experience—the roaming video experience—for the user on an associated viewing device.

Abstract: Channel jumping is provided for allowing a user to quickly find and jump to desired content on a desired channel. Channel data and metadata and program guide data may be received by a data mining engine. The data mining engine may associate the channel data and metadata with the program guide data and cache the resulting associated channel/guide data. A user may enter a channel name, call letters, or a name of a program in a user interface, wherein a channel jumping application may search the channel/guide data for a match. If a match is found, the application may jump provide for jumping to the desired channel or if more than one match is found, the application may populate a list of possible matching channels to provide to the user.

Abstract: A system, method and device for providing a mobile application across smart phone platforms to enable consumer connectivity and control of media. The viewing experience of the individual is improved by the added control and the advertising experience is enhanced by ensuring advertisements are relevant and actionable. A system for providing interactivity between a mobile device and content includes a content provider providing content for presentation on a display device and a mobile device configured with a media management module communicating to provide user interactivity with the content. The media management module enables individualized consumer media services for the mobile device.

Abstract: Linear content holds great value to consumers, and by delivering it to consumers on demand, service providers can improve the user experience for their consumers. A consumer requests linear on demand content by selecting channels and time ranges or content items, or bundles thereof, which the service provider broadcasts as linear content. The requested content is broadcast, and repackaged as an unbroken block of content for the consumer during the requested time range or the duration of the content item. By repackaging the linear on demand content, the service provider may provide greater options to consumers without significantly increasing the amount of bandwidth used in its network to deliver that content. Channel guides and viewing features are tailored for the requested content to further improve the user experience.

Abstract: Linear content that is recorded often includes secondary content that is no longer relevant to the consumer, and lacks secondary content that is relevant to the consumer, such as, emergency alerts, which are time dependent in their relevancy. Inserting secondary content during playback of the recorded content is challenging, as it may interrupt playback and degrade the consumer's viewing experience.

Abstract: Allowing a user of a mobile computing device to link the mobile computing device and its associated network or system to a subject piece of hardware operating via a second network or system is provided. After the mobile computing device is linked to a given hardware device, functional operation of the hardware device and access to accounts associated with the hardware device may be provided to the linked mobile computing device.

Abstract: Virtual honeypots methods and systems disclosed herein route all IP space of an ISP to a Darknet server as a default. When an IP address is used, it is assigned to a different server. So any IP address left on the Darknet server is an unassigned IP address. All traffic that accesses the Darknet server (the IP unassigned addresses assigned to the Darknet server as a default) is logged. Because those IP addresses are unused, it can be assumed that any traffic that hits them is the result of malicious activity. If malware is scanning the whole internet trying to spread itself, the malware will eventually access the Darknet server with the unassigned IPs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing transmission and reception of hybrid time and wavelength division multiplexed signals on passive optical networks are provided. Networks that use shared transmission media avoid interference between transmitters by restricting the times or wavelengths that given transmitters may use to transmit their messages. The hybrid broadcast WDM TDM PON architecture enables transmitters to use multiple fixed wavelengths for parallel optical transmission within given timeslots to avoid interference with other transmitters and make use of inexpensive fixed optical components to gain a speed advantage over existing architectures while making use of their deployed infrastructure. A single scheduling manager controls the timeslots of upstream and downstream transmissions, which make use of existing standards.

Abstract: Synchronization of users between a CATV system and a disparate video distribution system is provided. A network account identifier tied to a household subscriber account may be linked to a plurality of users in the household. A strong authentication may only be required once (or at infrequent intervals) to initially validate credentials and authorize a requesting device. Subsequently, the device may be configured to retrieve accounts for all users in the household. Because the device is now known to the service provider, easy user-switching rules may be applied. Each user in a household may get his own personalized recommendations, use his own preferences, or tie to other individualized service personas. Any changes or updates in personalized information for a video user may be synchronized back to the originating system such that the next time the particular video user uses a CATV system device, any changes/updates may be reflected.

Abstract: An improved IP video playback system for quicker access and better user experience during IP video playback is provided. Aspects of the IP video playback system allow a content service provider to provide quicker access to requested content items. When a user requests access to content items, an analysis is performed to calculate the lengths of time in which a portion of the content item can be downloaded, cached, and displayed and the corresponding size of that portion. The analysis may be based on various parameters. Once the analysis is performed and the portion is downloaded, playback may begin and the process may be repeated as necessary with increasing portion sizes until a predetermined portion size is reached, the user indicates a content switch, or the content item has been fully downloaded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote asset verification are disclosed. The systems and methods comprise an asset and an on-board diagnostic tool configured to be coupled to an on-board diagnostic port of the asset. The on-board diagnostic tool is configured to monitor one or more parameters of the asset.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided.

Abstract: This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical data signals. A method may be disclosed for multiplexing one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to one or more wave division multiplexer (WDM). The method may comprise combining, by the one or more WDM, the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal comprising the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide for simultaneously optimizing transport bandwidth and client device performance. The methods and systems may mitigate the bandwidth issue by including the content for those services which can be selected by the user. For example, in one embodiment, the method and system may only include audio content associated with the video content for each of the plurality of thumbnails of the mosaic that are available for the user to select. In one embodiment, the user is able to select the service or content via a single command. When the set-top box switches to any of those services, the method and system is updated with a set of next available services that can be switched to by the client, thereby minimizing bandwidth while gaining the potential benefit of set-top based audio switching.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to intelligent automation control of an environment based at least on intelligence associated with behavior of an operator and/or equipment.