Abstract: System, method, and computer program product embodiments are described for viewing synchronized content. An embodiment operates by establishing a viewing party to view synchronized content. Then, viewing party characteristics associated with the viewing party are received. Then, a piece of content relevant to the one or more viewers of the viewing party is selected using the received viewing party characteristics. Then, the embodiments operates by synchronizing display of the selected piece of content at set-top boxes (STBs) of corresponding viewers in the viewing party, where control of the synchronously displayed piece of content is provided to one or more viewers within the viewing party.

Abstract: Tracking and analysis of the location of user and device access to telecommunications services may be used to validate that a given user or device is part of an authorized subscriber household and is therefore properly accessing those services in accordance with the terms of service. A service provider may determine, based on previously collected data and user information collected while a user accesses a service, whether the user's pattern of access establishes a required pattern of access determined by the service provider, such as access on a minimum periodic basis from the home of an authorized subscriber.

Abstract: A wireless access point (WAP) supports one or more physical layer (PHY) operational parameters which can be restricted from use to lessen congestion within a wireless network (WN). The WAP periodically transmits a management frame to enable one or more communication devices to establish and/or maintain communication with the WAP. The wireless network can restrict one or more of the one or more PHY operational parameters, such as PHY data rates to provide an example, that are supported by the WAP from being utilized for communicating the management frame. This restriction of the one or more PHY operational parameters allows the WAP to periodically transmit the management frame at an increased PHY data rate thereby decreasing time needed for communicating the management frame which can lessen the congestion within the WN.

Abstract: A wireless access point (WAP) efficiently adjusts one or more operational parameters, such as transmission power, a data rate, a modulation scheme, and/or an encoding scheme, to provide some examples, to provide efficient communication with one or more communication devices. This efficient allocation of the one or more operational parameters can represent a per-station allocation of the one or more operational parameters, a dynamic allocation of the one or more operational parameters, and/or a combination of the per-station allocation and the dynamic allocation. In the per-station allocation, the WAP determines and uses one or more values for the operational parameters for each of the one or more communication devices. In the dynamic allocation, the WAP monitors one or more distances between the WAP and one or more of the one or more communication devices. The WAP can continuously monitor, periodically monitor, or monitor over a discrete period of time the one or more distances.

Abstract: System, method, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for integrated diagnosis and debugging of content distribution systems. A system includes a networking module that receives, from a central server, instructions for running network diagnostics on a cable headend. A diagnostics environment module is configured to perform diagnostic operations based on the received instructions. The networking module transmits results of the diagnostic operations to the central server.

Abstract: Resource processor circuitry parses responses corresponding to a resource of a request from other responses corresponding to other resources embedded in the resource of the request. This parsing reduces the shear amount of data needed to be processed by the resource processor circuitry, thereby improving performance of the resource processor circuitry. The resource processor circuitry parsing uses a pattern matching routine to parse the response corresponding to the resource of the request from the responses corresponding to other resources embedded in the resource of the request. Thereafter, the resource processor circuitry includes the response corresponding to the resource of the request to a catalog.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems utilizing a multiple-frequency antenna array system. The multiple-frequency antenna array system includes a first set of broadband elements that allows the establishment of a first cellular data communication session and a concurrent second cellular data communication session. The system also includes a second set of broadband elements that allow the establishment of a first local area wireless network communication session and a concurrent second local area wireless network communication session. Further, there is a broadband element configured to receive a global positioning signal. In addition, the multiple-frequency antenna array system is coupled to a vehicle. A method for establishing multi-frequency communication sessions using an antenna array is also presented.

Abstract: Providing a conditional access system (CAS) to a set-top box is described. An example method includes encapsulating a CAS application in a NCAS (Next CAS) container, and objects associated with the CAS application are executed in the NCAS container. Resources for the CAS application and other applications running on the set-top box are pre-allocated so that each application has a pre-fixed resource allocation upon startup of the set-top box. An execution of the CAS application is validated using a linked chain of trust.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multimedia messaging service (MMS) authentication over IP networks are disclosed. An access identifier records message corresponding to a user by a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) forwarded by a server is received. Data from the access identifier records message including a mobile directory number, a framed IP address, access network information and a session ID is extracted and stored in a cache accessible to the MMSC. Network IP authentication is executed to determine that the user has a valid IP address. Client IP authentication of the user is executed to determine that the valid IP address is stored in the cache. A correspondence between the valid IP address and a mobile directory number of the user is determined. The user is authenticated for MMS over the IP network based on the correspondence.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for displaying media is provided herein. The method includes the steps of receiving, at a media server, streaming media from a source device located at a first user's premises and transmitting the streaming media from the media server to a display device at the second user's premises. The media server is located remotely from both the first user's premises and the second user's premises. The first user's premises and the second user's premises may be the same. The media server may be located at a cable television headend.

Abstract: Centralized storage and playback of user-recorded television programming eliminates the need for expensive DVR devices to be deployed in the field. Further, the methods used to initiate storage and provide playback of stored media respect copyright principles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to collect and update data on client devices connected to WiFi access points is provided. An inventory of WiFi cable modems and WiFi access points coupled to the WiFi cabled modems within a specific network is periodically collected. Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of WiFi cable modems and WiFi access points coupled to the WiFi cabled modems are periodically updated. Traps are periodically received from the WiFi access points. The traps are parsed to collect an inventory of client devices wirelessly connected to the WiFi access points and a time at which a client device connected to the WiFi access point. The WiFi access points are periodically polled to collect data on client devices, the data including a period of time that a client device has been connected to a WiFi access point and a physical location of the client device.

Abstract: A cable provider could offer a promotional feature, such as live pause of video, above and beyond a tier of service to which the customer subscribes, limiting the feature to being activated only upon occurrence of one or more events. In a network video delivery context, a set-top box plays live video, including an ability to pause live video upon the occurrence of an event. The system can detect an event, including an event unrelated to video, and prompt a user to pause. The system can include configuration settings enabling, for example, detection of various events, prompting the user to pause live video, and/or automatically pausing the live video. The system enables the user to play a time-shifted video corresponding to resuming the paused video playback. The system can include a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) local to the user, to facilitate the time-shifted video.

Abstract: Firmware is installed in a cable modem, enabling detection of the presence or absence of a cable trap in the feed of a customer location. Such a cable modem includes a trap-detection module and a trap-detection object. The trap-detection module is configured to determine whether a signal is present at a cable-television frequency. The trap-detection object is configured to store data as to whether the signal is present and support polling by providing the stored data in response to a received polling command.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering a segmented content item from a server to a first and second device are provided. A first key is used to encrypt the segmented content item into a first plurality of encrypted segments and a second key is used to encrypt the segmented content item into a second plurality of encrypted segments. The first and second keys are different. The first plurality of encrypted segments is delivered to the first device, and the second plurality of encrypted segments is delivered to the second device.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a wireless access point includes a base panel configured to be mounted to a post and to support the access point. The assembly includes a shroud configured to at least partially surround the base panel, the access point, and the post. The assembly can also include an antenna support configured to support an antenna coupled to the access point and configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. A method of mounting the access point to the post includes mounting, to the post, the base panel supporting the access point. The method also includes, after mounting the base panel to the post, coupling the shroud to the base panel such that the shroud at least partially surrounds the base panel, the access point, and the post.

Abstract: A wireless access point (WAP) determines whether to switch from one or more first communication channels to one or more second communication channels when the one or more first communication channels are experiencing congestion. The WAP determines an amount of congestion the one or more first communication channels are experiencing. When the one or more first communication channels are experiencing congestion, the WAP determines whether one or more communication devices using the one or more first communication channels can support, or reliably support, a channel switching announcement signal. If a sufficient number of communication devices from among the one or more communication devices can support, or reliably support, the channel switching announcement signal, the WAP broadcasts the channel switching announcement signal to the one or more communication devices to announce its intention to switch from the one or more first communication channels to the one or more second communication channels.

Abstract: A cable assembly including a first connector, a second connector, and a cable is disclosed that routes power, and/or information between devices. The cable includes a first group of one or more conductors that are mechanically connected to the first connector and the second connector to route power and/or one or more wired information communications between the devices. The cable also includes a second group of one or more that is mechanically connected to the first connector to provide one or more wireless information communications between the first device and the second device or a third device which is not mechanically connected to the cable assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments utilize viewership data collected via a set top box (STB) at individual households (HHs) to enable a network operator to recommend ad spots to customers based on a percentage of HHs that are likely to view the ad spots (e.g., the % of HHs reached by the ad spots), and/or based on the average number of times (e.g., average frequency) that the reached HHs are likely to view the ad spot. Embodiments compile the available network/daypart ad spots per broadcast week, and determine a number of ad spots for each network/daypart that satisfy a reached threshold of HHs, and/or satisfies the minimum frequency threshold.

Abstract: An automatic overshoot control system and method can enable a user to more easily terminate a trick mode (e.g., fast forward or rewind) at an intended point in program material. For example, after a trick mode, a user can initiate display of audio or video at a particular intended point in the program material while minimizing a need to manually adjust. The system determines an offset and tracks a preview position within the program material displayed as a trick mode preview incorporating the offset. The system also tracks an actual position within the program material based on the preview position and offset. The actual position corresponds to a predicted location that the user desires upon terminating the preview trick mode. When the preview trick mode is terminated, normal playback of the program material is resumed at the actual location corresponding to the user's intended location in the program material.