Abstract: A system, method and device for sharing of playlists of authorized content with other users. A user interface is displayed on a media viewing device for creating a playlist of content. The playlist is generated by a user via the user interface and a name is associated with the playlist of content. The playlist is stored using the name. Parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user are configured. At a viewing device of a contact, notification of a playlist created by a user is received. Privileges of the contact associated with content identified in the playlist are determined. Action is taken, by the contact, regarding content identified in the playlist created by the user based on the determined privileges of the contact.

Abstract: Assigning a single master identifier to all related content assets. Memory is provided for storing content assets and metadata associated with each of the content assets, wherein the metadata includes a plurality of metadata field entries. A processor is coupled to the memory. The processor is configured for analyzing the metadata associated with each of the content assets to produce correlations between metadata field entries associated therewith, identifying related content assets by determining content assets having a predetermined correlation between metadata field entries and assigning a single, unique asset identifier to the related content assets.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched cover include a lid for an underground vault for temporary use while the permanent lid to the underground vault is removed. In an example application, this underground vault lid would facilitate fiber maintenance in that the fiber optic cables may be maintained through the lid while protecting the public and the utility company employees from the danger of injury due to an “open hole in the ground” that is created when an underground vault is open. The disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched lid may include a temporary vault lid comprising a small opening relative to the size of the lid, the opening allowing the fiber optic cable to exit the vault while maintaining the pedestrian integrity of the vault lid, thereby reducing and/or eliminating the safety risk associated with the exposed vault.

Abstract: Transparent scalable video coding may be provided. Upon receiving a request for a content asset, such as from a subscriber's premises, a quality level associated with the content asset may be identified. A video coding layer and/or a plurality of layers associated with the content asset may be selected according to the identified quality level. The selected video coding layer(s) may be encoded into a video stream and provided to a display device (e.g., a television) associated with the request for the content asset.

Abstract: Automatic access to a secondary or alternate voicemail box while operating or using a first or primary voicemail box is provided. One touch access to an alternate voicemail box from a wireless telephone device is further provided, and access to a given voicemail box from a number of trusted telephone devices is provided without requiring users of the trusted devices to authenticate into the voicemail box (e.g., provide a password).

Abstract: A mobile device includes a cellular transceiver for accessing a cellular network and a femtocell module for accessing a broadband network through a femtocell. The mobile device determines whether the mobile device is within range of the femtocell. The mobile device accessing the femtocell to provide telephone service using the mobile device when the mobile device is within range of the femtocell.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for testing customer premise equipment in an offline fashion. According to certain embodiments, a testing system including one or more computing devices can identify a test scenario that includes information associated with one or more commands and expected results associated with the commands. Such commands can be executed by customer premise equipment. One or more respective images associated with the execution of a command can be captured, and information associated with the command, the associated expected result, and one or more respective images can be displayed for evaluation by a user to determine whether the command is operating properly in the customer premise equipment that executed the command. Certain embodiments describe a confidence level which can correspond to a number of images to be captured in order to decrease the possibility that content was not captured for evaluation.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing location and profile based system and services. A system may includes a plurality of data sources disposed within a network for providing location and identity information associated with objects disposed within the network and a concentrator bridge, operatively coupled to the plurality of data sources, the concentrator bridge including a receiver associated with each of the plurality of data sources, wherein the concentrator bridge receives location and profile data associated with the objects from the plurality of data sources and provides the identity and location of the objects disposed within the network for viewing on a user interface.

Abstract: Radio frequency self-certification devices and methods of using the same are provided. A device for testing a radio frequency connection may include at least one radio frequency communications interface, at least one memory, and at least one processor. The at least one memory may be configured to store computer-executable instructions. The at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to (i) scan through a plurality of downstream frequencies received by the communications interface, (ii) collect, based at least in part upon the scan, information associated with a plurality of downstream channels and information associated with available upstream channels, (iii) identify one or more upstream channels that facilitate communication with a host server, and (iv) verify, via the one or more identified upstream channels, the availability of one or more client applications.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient delivery of video segments. One embodiment relates to the delivery of short-time duration video segments. The video segments may be delivered as part of a media-rich interactive program guide (IPG) or for some other application. The system and method provides a viewer with access to a video segment starting at its beginning (or any other selectable point within the video segment). Such access may be provided using a server-centric interactive technique. The server-centric technique may involve use of a demand-cast system and method. Demand-cast messaging may occur between a session manager, transport stream generator, and terminal. For example, a video object on a screen may be activated by a viewer using a remote control for a terminal. Activation of the object may cause transmission of a request from the terminal to a session manager for a video segment corresponding to the object.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for recording time delayed broadband content are provided. Desired content to be recorded may be identified by a programming processing component configured to receive broadband content output by a service provider. A channel associated with the desired content and an amount of delay associated with the channel may be determined. Based at least in part upon the determined amount of delay, the recording of the desired content may be scheduled by the programming processing component.

Abstract: A policy decision point override for content rating. Parental controls may be modified at a decision point. A content rating decision point includes memory configured for maintaining content metadata, wherein the memory includes a first field for storing a content provider assigned rating and a second field for storing a locally generated content rating for each of a plurality of content. A processor is coupled to the memory to receive input from a subscriber defining a locally generated content rating for rating presentation and rating-based control of content.

Abstract: A remote control device for providing individualized access control. The remote control device includes an interface for accepting input from a user and forwarding a signal corresponding the to the input from the user to a conditional access device, a biometric scanner, coupled to the remote device, for reading a biometric characteristic of a user and a processor, coupled to the interface, for generating a signal associated with the reading of the biometric characteristic of the user that is transmitted to the conditional access device for analysis to determine a function corresponding to the input form the user to execute.

Abstract: An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message.

Abstract: Management of call center call routing is provided. Service calls directed to a call center may be routed for processing based on an identification of a service node of a caller. The service node may be identified by parsing a database for a calling customer's node ID, determining a format of the node ID, and converting the node ID into a numeric value that represents the node ID associated with the calling customer. If the numeric node ID value meets a predetermined criterion, the service call may be processed according to a priority call routing instruction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for automatically synchronizing data using a mobile communications device (MCD). According to one embodiment, a method for automatically synchronizing data using an MCD is provided. The method may include: associating an automatic synchronization command with an event occurrence on an MCD and at least one MCD application; and, upon detecting the event occurrence, executing the automatic synchronization command to cause automatic synchronization of data between memory of the MCD and at least one remote server associated with the MCD application.

Abstract: Techniques to remotely monitor and control operations performed by one or more head-ends (or servers) in an information distribution system. In one implementation, a monitor and control unit communicates with various elements (e.g., an IPG service manager and a session manager) within each head-end to receive information relating to the operations of the head-end. This information may include status and/or indications of possible error conditions relating to (1) various operations (e.g., encoding, multiplexing, and so on) performed by the head-end, and (2) the transport streams being transmitted from the head-end. The received information may then be forwarded to one or more remote devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, PDAs) designated to receive the information. Response messages may also be received from the remote devices and forwarded to the appropriate head-end, which may adjust its operation as indicated by commands included in the messages.

Abstract: A system includes a session and resource manager and a video pump. The session and resource manager negotiates encryption keys from a headend controller and provides the encryption keys to a video pump. The video pump uses the encryption keys form the session and resource manager to encrypt content. Thus, the video pump uses encryption keys to encrypt the content so that it is encrypted right from the video pump prior to transmission over the entire transport system. A generic modulation device may thus be used to modulate the encrypted content over the delivery network.

Abstract: Allowing a subscriber of a service to use unused service units associated with a service plan to purchase products or services is provided. Unused service units (e.g., minutes of voice calling, number of text messages, megabytes of data, etc.) may be tracked and converted into units of value. An amount of redemption value units may be exchanged for one or more prescribed products or services. Options of redeemable products or services may be presented to the subscriber. Upon selection of one or more products or services, the selected product or service may be provided, and the subscriber's unused service units account balance may be reconciled.

Abstract: Allowing a user of a communication device to have real-time control as a voicemail is being generated is provided. An incoming call to a communication device may be sent to voicemail; however, rather than waiting for the message to be deposited into the voicemail system followed by subsequent retrieval, a user of the called communication device/called party may have an option to listen to the message as it is being created and stored. During the process of listening in on the message being deposited in the voicemail system, the user/called party may have options in real-time to take the call, ignore the call, listen to the call, and the like. Alternatively, the user/called party may take the call (answer) as the voicemail is being deposited without listening in on the voicemail as it is being deposited.