Abstract: Disclosed are methods for supplementing the processing capabilities of multimedia devices in a networked environment. A method can include providing a processing offloader module to physically connect to a first multimedia device in the networked environment. The offloader can be internal and/or external to the device. The method can include identifying the offloader, identifying a second multimedia device, and determining that a bandwidth of the second device falls below a threshold bandwidth. Instructions can be forwarded from the second device to the offloader when the bandwidth of the second device exceeds the threshold bandwidth. The offloader is configured to process the instructions and render multimedia information based on the instructions.

Abstract: Various arrangements for communicating with a device utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are presented. A backend system may detect a triggering event associated with a device based upon data received via a first connection. In response to detecting the first triggering event, the UAV may receive a first data set and a location associated with the device from the backend system. The UAV may deploy to the received location. A second connection between the UAV and the device can be established at the received location. The UAV may transmit the first data set to the device via the second connection at the received location.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and processes for enhancing visible data are described. A process includes computer operations for initiating a visible data capture on a user device; capturing, as first visible data (1VD), an image of an object within a field of view of a camera; determining whether the 1VD includes recognizable data; when recognizable data exists in the 1VD, generating second visible data (2VD) from the 1VD; determining whether actionable data exists in the 2VD; manipulating the actionable data in the 2VD into third visible data (3VD); coupling the user device with a client device; and sending the 3VD to the client device for presentation on a client device display. The 3VD may include an enhancement to the actionable data in the 2VD. The enhancement may change a character from a first font size to a second font size and/or adjust a visible characteristic of the 2VD.

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: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for detecting and remediating compression artifacts in multimedia items. In example aspects, a machine learning model is trained on a dataset related to compression artifacts and non-compression artifacts. Input data may then be collected by a data collection module and provided to a pattern recognition module. The pattern recognition module may extract visual and audio features of the multimedia item and provide the extracted features to the trained machine learning model. The trained machine learning model may compare the extracted features to the model, and a confidence value may be generated. The confidence value may be compared to a confidence value threshold. If the confidence value is equal to or exceeds the confidence threshold, then the input data may be classified as containing at least one compression artifact. Remedial action may subsequently be applied (e.g., boosting the system with technical resources).

Abstract: Improved technical functionality is provided to dynamically select and seamlessly play advertisements immediately before playing of a recorded program upon selection of the recorded program for playing, or upon other detected events and conditions associated with the set-top-box (STB) or user. In some embodiments, this is performed by using metadata which may be delivered to and stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) prior to recording the program, providing a technical solution to enable opportunities for additional advertisement impressions. Playing of the advertisement may also or instead occur upon the recorded program finishing playing. Thus, the technical solution provides the additional opportunity for the content creator and/or the satellite television or cable service provider to sell advertising spots in addition to those already sold for breaks within the recorded program.

Abstract: Introduced here are systems to manage and discover a processing offloader. A first multimedia device may identify a processing offloader in a networked environment. A first multimedia device may determine that a bandwidth of a second multimedia device in the networked environment falls below a threshold bandwidth, indicating that the second multimedia device may process instructions and render multimedia information with increased latency or delay. Based on this determination, the first multimedia device may forward instructions from the second multimedia device to the processing offloader for the processing offloader to process and render multimedia information on behalf of the second multimedia device based on the received instructions. The first multimedia device may forward rendered multimedia information from the processing offloader to the second multimedia device, and the second multimedia device may output the rendered multimedia information to an output device.

Abstract: A system and method for initiating closed captioning. The system includes a processor that can receive an instruction to add closed captioning. The system may also, upon receiving the instruction, determine a time point at which to begin the closed captioning and determining an amount of closed captioning to include, and output, for display, the closed captioning.

Abstract: Conversation support systems and methods are operable to assist a user to more fully participate in an ongoing conversation. An exemplary embodiment receives a conversation map comprising a serially arranged plurality of conversation segments of audio information each associated with one of a plurality of conversation participants, and that includes dialogue of the ongoing conversation being spoken by the associated conversation participant; determining subject matter of a current portion of the ongoing conversation based on the dialogue; selects conversation support information that pertains to the current conversation subject; and generating a conversation queue that includes information that corresponds to the selected conversation support information, wherein the conversation queue is communicated from the conversational support system to at least one conversation queue output device that presents the conversation support information to the user.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for coexistence of multiple radio technologies in a shared frequency band. Techniques described herein enable multiple radiofrequency networks using different radio technologies to coexist on a same carrier frequency by exploiting various frequency- and/or time-domain sharing of scheduled resources. For example, data signals are received for transmission over different radio networks according to different radio technologies (having different respective sub-carrier definitions and timeslot definitions). A coexistence resource schedule is computed from the communication resource grids define an allocation of sub-carrier and/or timeslot resources among the radio technologies. Radio technologies can then be generated from the data signals in accordance with the coexistence resource schedule and the communication resource grids.

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: 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 heat transfer assembly includes a heat plate coupled to a spring and to a graphite sheet. The spring is at first location corresponding to a heat source in an assembled device. The graphite sheet extends over at least a middle portion of the spring and over portions of the heat plate. The graphite sheet is coupled to a thermal pad positioned above a given surface of the heat source. The spring provides a compressive force on the thermal pad when the device is in an assembled state. The compressive force enhances thermal conductivity between the heat source and the heat transfer assembly. The heat plate may be positioned within and thermally coupled to a cover of the device. Principally by use of the thermal pad, graphite sheet, and thermal plate, heat generated by the heat source is transferred to the cover and then to the external environment.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards remotely generating encoding metadata at a remote content distributor for use by a local user computing device. The remote content distributor receives and encodes content. During or after the encoding process, the remote content distributor generates encoding metadata that indicates how the content was encoded by the remote content distributor. The remote content distributor provides the encoding metadata to the user computer device. The user computing device receives the content and the encoding metadata and encodes the content based on the encoding metadata. The user computing device can then provide the encoded content to another computing device for decoding and presentation to a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating supplemental content for a program content stream include functionality that generates supplemental content such as educational questions. The questions may be generated based on the content of the program as learned by the system performing natural language processing (NLP) of the verbal content of the program content stream as the program is being presented on a television or mobile device. The system may pause the programming during presentation of the questions on the television or mobile device. The programming is then resumed once a correct answer is received or a timer runs out, whichever occurs first. The generated supplemental content may also be saved as metadata associated with the program for subsequent presentation when the program is played again for the viewer or other viewers.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and processes are described for re-imaging image data on a client device. A process may include establishing, by a client device, a communications link with a server; communicating an image data request to the server; wherein the image data request identifies a first Image Data Segment (1IDS) in an Image Data Volume (IDV); receiving a 1IDS packet from the server; decompressing the 1IDS packet; identifying a first header and a 1IDS in the 1IDS packet; decrypting the first header and the 1IDS; identifying a first signature in the decrypted first header; first calculating a third signature for the decrypted 1IDS; comparing the first signature to the third signature; and accepting, when the first signature matches the third signature, the 1IDS for non-transient storage on a computer readable medium for the client device. The process may include second calculating a total signature for the 1IDS packet.

Abstract: An example method for visual testing of programmed display of content includes obtaining a workflow of test scenarios for visual testing of a display controlled by a set-top box (STB) device. The method also includes obtaining images that capture content displayed on the display, feeding the images to a trained machine learning model to detect display elements, and performing visual testing based on the detected display elements in accordance with visual expectations specified by the test scenarios.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are described for facilitating gateway prioritization. A system includes a gateway, a first node, and a second node coupled by an internal link. The gateway instantiates an allocator which allocates a link characteristic of the internal link based on a first resource request by the first node and in view of a second resource request by the second node. The requests identify a link characteristic for the internal link. The allocator allocates the link characteristic between the first node and the second node based on a ranking of the first node and the second node. The first link characteristic may be an internal link bandwidth. An ISP server is coupled by an external link to the gateway. The external link includes an external link characteristic which the first resource request identifies and the allocator allocates in view thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards selecting content search results based on the age of the viewer. The content receiver receives search criteria for a viewer, which may include the age of the viewer. The content receiver obtains search results from a search of a plurality of content. The search results are prioritized based on the age of the viewer and presented to the viewer. In this way, searching for “dog” for a four year-old may provide or prioritize different results compared to search for “dog” for an eight year-old.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are provided to facilitate adaptive control for food preparation. First input may be received from a first set of sensors, consequent to detecting a presence of a load on a portion of a heating device. A location of the load with respect to the heating device may be determined. Second input may be received from a second set of sensors, consequent to detecting temperature corresponding to the load. Third input received from a set of devices may be processed, and an adjustment may be determined based on the temperature and the third input. The heating device and/or devices proximate to the heating device may be caused to activate, deactivate, and/or change a setting in accordance with the adjustment.