Abstract: Systems and methods for updating television receiving devices (such as cable and satellite set-top boxes) include functionality that pre-downloads software or firmware updates for the receiving device on a mobile device, such as a smartphone, of a television service provider technician. In order to communicate the updates to the receiving device from the mobile device, during initial installation of the set-top box at the customer premises, the technician connects his or her mobile device to the same input of the set-top box that normally receives the television programming and remote software or firmware updates from the television service provider. The mobile device may include or be coupled to an adapter that adapts a signal and hardware interface from an output interface of the mobile device to a signal and hardware interface compatible with the input interface of the set-top box.

Abstract: A system of orchestrating a peer-to-peer network of vehicles for data transmission comprises a peer-to-peer (p2p) network orchestrator device and a first computing device associated with a vehicle. The p2p network orchestrator device receives vehicle data that includes locations and wireless fidelity (WiFi) capability indicators of vehicles. The p2p network orchestrator device generates a security token for each vehicle. The p2p network orchestrator device establishes a blockchain ledger that includes the vehicle data and the security tokens. The first computing device receives a copy of the blockchain ledger. The first computing device receives, from a second computing device, a request to forward a data packet to a base station, the request includes a security token of a second vehicle. The first computing device determines that the security token is valid. In response, the first computing device accepts the data packet and forwards it to the base station.

Abstract: A process for detecting motion within an environment includes receiving, at a monitor, first coupling data for a coupling of a first node with a second node. The first node is coupled to the second node which is further coupled to the monitor and thereby form a mesh network. The operations may include: at the monitor, receiving first node identifying data, selecting a first median for a first signal property for a first wireless coupling, monitoring the first signal property, determining, upon detecting a change in the first signal property, whether the first signal property exceeds the first median, determining, when the first signal property exceeds the first median, if the change in the first signal property exceeds a first threshold, initiating a first action when the first threshold is exceeded, and determining whether to resume monitoring of the first signal property when the first threshold is not exceeded.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable to adapt delivery of content composites to an endpoint media device are disclosed. A first content composite may be transmitted via a packet stream to an endpoint media device. A communication from the endpoint media device that is indicative of having output at least part of the first content composite for display may be processed. Operational data from that is indicative of operations executed by the endpoint media device or a communication device may be processed and mapped to one or more operational values correlated to a metric that corresponds to endpoint disconnection with the first content composite may be identified. A second content composite to be inserted into the packet stream to the endpoint media device may be selected. The second content composite may be transmitted via the packet stream from the content provider system to the endpoint media device.

Abstract: A television service provider system includes interactive elements embedded within advertisements or other content related to a particular product or service that a user may select to receive an initially non-redeemable coupon for the product. The system then electronically communicates to the seller or advertiser system the indications of such electronic interactivity between the viewers of content and content related to the product being sold or advertised. The advertiser or seller may then electronically activate and thus convert the non-redeemable coupon into a redeemable coupon. A system for processing retail transactions redeems the coupons for the product for a particular user using an identifier of the user associated with the account of the user with the television service provider.

Abstract: Devices, systems and process for automated event ticketing are disclosed. A system includes: a user device having a data store and a processor coupled to the data store; a set top box (“STB”), coupled to the user device, having an STB data store and an STB processor; and at least one event server, coupled to the STB providing event data and event ticketing data for a plurality of events. Based on user preference data received from the user device, the STB processor searches the plurality of events for a given event which matches, at least in part, the user preference data, and when instructed by the STB, the event ticketing engine facilitates ticketing of the given user to the given event. When executed, first computer instructions instantiate a content application that performs content monitoring and user preferencing, and based on the foregoing generates user preference data.

Abstract: A charging station including a base, at least one inductive charger carried by the base, a smoke detector supported by the base, and a carbon monoxide detector supported by the base.

Abstract: A method includes generating a text file related to media content. The media content comprises a first segment and a second segment. A first portion of the text file includes a first time of the first segment and represents audio in the first segment or video in the first segment. A second portion of the text file includes a second time of the second segment and represents audio in the second segment or video in the second segment. A search query is received at a playback device, and the playback device plays the media content starting at the second time in response to the search query matching the second portion of the text file.

Abstract: An electronic assembly is provided. The electronic assembly includes a heat-spreader component and at least one spring. The electronic assembly further includes a thermal pad contacting the at least one spring, and at least one layer of polymer directly contacting at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the thermal pad. Further disclosed is a method of assembling the electronic assembly. The method includes adhering a heat-dissipating sheet on a surface of a metal heat-spreader component. The method also includes placing a thermal pad on at least one spring extending from the surface of the metal heat-spreader component, and placing at least one layer of polymer so as to directly contact at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the thermal pad.

Abstract: A method of obtaining status information is disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by a router device, first status information to a network device; determining, by the router device, that the router device is not connected to the network device; causing, by the router device, a light emitting device to output light in an illumination pattern in response to the determining that the router device is not connected to the network device; generating, by a user device, image data corresponding to a plurality of images of the light emitting device while the light emitting device outputs light in the illumination pattern; obtaining, by the user device, second status information based on the image data corresponding to the plurality of images of the light emitting device while the light emitting device outputs light in the illumination pattern; and transmitting, by the user device, the second status information to the network device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for facilitating watch parties are described. For at least one embodiment, a system may include a sync server; a first user device communicatively coupled to the sync server; a second user device communicatively coupled to the sync server; and a content source providing a content. The sync server may transmit the content as each of a first content to the first user device and as a second content to the second user device. The sync server may be configured to adjust a first bit rate for the first content and, upon adjusting the first bit rate, the first content and second content may be respectively provided to each of the first user device and the second user device such that the devices can substantially simultaneously and separately present the first content to the first user and the second content to the second user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, media devices, and non-transitory, machine-readable media to facilitate asynchronous wireless media transfer are disclosed. A request for video service from a content provider system via a wireless network may be received. A media device may be configured to provide an asynchronous session for subsequent video content transfer. The configuring may utilize a network layer and a transport layer without utilizing a presentation layer and an application layer. Specifications of asynchronous session parameters may be created to define delivery operations with the asynchronous session. An encrypted token, corresponding to the specifications, may be created. Opening of the asynchronous session may be requested by transmitting the encrypted token to the content provider system from the transport layer. At the session layer, the asynchronous session may be started for video content delivery in accordance with the specifications of the asynchronous session parameters.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for adapting content items to device operations of an endpoint media device are disclosed. A first content composite may be created by one or more processing devices for delivery in a packet stream from a content provider system via one or more networks, where the first content composite may include an adaptable content item corresponding to a set of one or more audio and/or video packets corresponding to audio and/or video content. The first content composite may be transmitted, where, consequent to delivery of the first content composite to a first endpoint media device or a second endpoint media device, the first endpoint media device or the second endpoint media device may perform one operation relating to a second content item of the first content composite, where the adaptable content item may be modified based on the second content item.

Abstract: A technique is described for implementing drones as a service. As an example, a drone may receive instructions from one or more network elements, coordinate operations with the one or more network elements, and perform at least one task associated with the instructions. The drone may deliver a container to a first location and perform object recognition to validate an object of a subscriber being delivered to a second location. The drone may measure the weight and dimensions of the object to confirm the object is within operating guidelines. After verifying the object is within operating guidelines, the drone may transport the container containing the object to the second location.

Abstract: A method for providing a unique remote experience of a live event includes receiving in near real time at a headend processing system from a control center at an event location raw media data captured at a live event occurring at the event location. Copies of the raw media data from the headend processing system are disseminated in near real time to a plurality of server nodes of a geographically distributed content delivery network connected together via communication network. The raw media data is processed to produce one or more customized presentations of the live event in the form of streaming audio/video (A/V) files of one or more subsets of the raw media data pursuant to one or more data structures corresponding, respectively, to one or more subscriber accounts. The streaming A/V files are transmitted over a communication network to one or more respective subscriber presentation devices.

Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory, machine-readable media to facilitate updating media devices in a local network with a client-server architecture are disclosed. A primary media device may be configured to operate as a server in a local network, receive audio/video (A/V) content via an Internet connection and/or a satellite network connection, serve the A/V content to a set of one or more secondary media devices for display with at least one television of a set of one or more televisions, and receive a set of one or more software updates via the Internet connection, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection, and/or the satellite network connection. One or more software updates of the set of one or more software updates may be specified for, and may be transferred to, the set of one or more secondary media devices.

Abstract: An Interactive Media Event (IME) system includes a sync server, a first user device, and a second user device, each device is coupled to the server. The server executes computer instructions instantiating a content segment engine which outputs a Party matter to the second user device and instantiates an IME engine which receives, from the second user device, a later reaction to the Party matter. The IME engine synchronizes the later reaction with the Party matter. The Party matter may include a media event and a prior reaction to the media event received from the first user device. The media event includes a primary content segment and synchronization information associated therewith. The prior reaction and/or the later reaction may be synchronized to the primary content segment and/or to each other using the synchronization information. A reaction may include chat data captured during the Party.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for multi-source recording of content. Program data associated with a plurality of programs may be received. Program data may comprise a channel, a series of shows, a group of movies, a broadcast media item, and/or an Internet streaming media item. Each program may be associated with at least one channel and transmission source. The transmission source may comprise an Internet-streaming service, a digital video recorder, and/or an on-demand library, among other transmission sources. Data corresponding to a first program from a first channel and a first transmission source may be recorded. Data corresponding to a second program from the first channel and a second transmission source may also be recorded. The first program and second program may then be displayed within a channel-specific view of a program guide that obscures or removes identification of the first and second transmission sources.

Abstract: A viewing environment adjustment system, including: one or more sensors each configured to monitor an aspect of the viewing environment; one or more processors; and one or more memory devices having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to: determine that media content is being displayed on a display located in the viewing environment; receive data from the one or more sensors; and adjust a corresponding aspect of the viewing environment based on the received data exceeding a selected threshold value in response to determining that media content is being displayed.