Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for authenticating a user to access electronic content include use of a processor configured to identify a technical condition for the content, access distributor logic providing a first release of the technical condition, receive a request from a subscriber to transfer the first release to an identified user, determine whether to approve or deny the request, and when approved, provide a device associated with the identified user with an authentication that permits the identified user to activate the first release and access the electronic content, and a database that stores the technical condition.

Abstract: A smart charger and associated methods and systems are disclosed. The smart charger identifies an anticipatory event that triggers battery charging, selects a battery charging profile that matches the anticipatory event, charges the battery of a mobile device based on the battery charging profile, and updates criteria for identifying anticipatory events and/or the battery charging profile that matches the anticipatory event.

Abstract: Various arrangements for managing network channels are presented. A backend system may receive data from one or more data sources. The backend system may determine, based at least in part on the data received from the one or more data sources, a triggering event and a location related to the triggering event. The backend system may transmit, to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), first location data associated with the location related to the triggering event. The backend system can receive, from the UAV, network congestion information associated with a connection between one or more devices and the UAV. Based at least in part on the network congestion information, the backend system may send second location data to the UAV.

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: A software and/or hardware facility that can be used by content owners to assert ownership of content so that copyright friendly websites and services can take action against copyright piracy effectively, efficiently and is scalable is disclosed. The facility makes available to all content owners watermarking/fingerprinting technology so an identifier (e.g., a unique code) can be embedded in the content (e.g., video/audio portion of each video content asset). The facility utilizes blockchain technology to add information related to each unique identifier in a database and allows an authorized user (e.g., the owner) to update the information through a blockchain transaction.

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: A television receiver may present live television programming along with a sports gaming interface that indicates various betting options that are selectable by a television viewer via a remote control. The television receiver may receive a selection of a betting option presented in the sports gaming interface. A request may then be sent to a mobile device of the television viewer. The television receiver may in response to the selection, transmit a bet identifier of the selected betting option and an account identifier to the television service provider system. After a user has funded the bet and completed the transaction via a mobile device, the sports gaming interface may indicate the active bet.

Abstract: A computerized system for targeted ad insertion receives a program content stream and detects images in the content stream. The system recognizes at least one visual object within the images and matches the recognized visual object to an advertisement that correlates with the recognized visual object. The system may then select an advertisement that advertises, correlates to, is directed to or is otherwise relevant to products or services falling under the theme, topic, category of interest and/or relevant viewer demographic and inserts an identifier of the matched advertisement at an insertion point into the program content stream. This enables playback of the matched advertisement during playback of the program content stream at a time that correlates to the insertion point into the program content stream of the identifier of the matched advertisement.

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: A facility for selectively suppressing notifications on a portable device is described. The facility accesses data characterizing the condition of the portable device. The facility infers from the accessed data that that the portable device is being carried by a person who is viewing content being played by a media player device. In response to this inference, the facility determines whether notifications should be suppressed on the portable device. If the facility determines that notifications should be suppressed on the portable device, it causes a wireless communication to be transmitted to the portable device instructing the portable device to suppress notifications.

Abstract: System, methods, and machine-readable media to facilitate adaptive content composite interaction with respect to digitally distributed content are disclosed. Discovery may be performed, and events specified for digital distribution may be detected. A particular endpoint identifier mapped to media devices may be detected. Events may be determined as a function of access specifications. Content objects corresponding to the events may be received from a remote system via a network. Content composites corresponding to mapping specifications may be created for each content object with selecting and configuring an adaptable content object with the content object to form a content composite to facilitate presentation of the content composite.

Abstract: A video services system and related operating methods are disclosed here. A method of operating the video services system involves: processing encoded video data that conveys an original version of video programming having primary video content divided into primary video segments, and having secondary video content in a secondary video segment arranged adjacent to at least one of the primary video segments; obtaining a primary program identifier that uniquely identifies the primary video content; and reviewing information linked to the obtained primary program identifier. In response to the reviewing, a replacement video segment is identified to replace the secondary video segment. The secondary video segment is replaced with the replacement video segment.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing thumbnails may include operations of receiving an identification of a thumbnail source for content, receiving the thumbnail, computing a hash value for the thumbnail, and associating the hash value with the thumbnail. Operations for content characterization may include launching an image analysis application, selecting a top level category to apply to a thumbnail, providing the thumbnail to the image analysis application, applying the selected top level category to the thumbnail to determine if the thumbnail satisfies the top level category, if satisfied, associating the top level category with the thumbnail, and repeating the one or more of the above operations with respect to a second category. Operations may include receiving an identification of a node to receive a thumbnail, obtaining a node selected category, receiving a proposed thumbnail to provide to the node, and determining if the proposed thumbnail has been previously recognized and categorized.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for searching for media content across multiple sources. A multi-source content system can connect various media content sources (e.g., internet streaming platforms, local or cloud storage, OTA networks, cable network, satellite network, public library databases, etc.) to a gateway. When a user searches for media content, the gateway can detect the search and perform a query across the various media content sources to locate the media content. The multi-source content system can prioritize the search results according to free content, local storage devices, gateway content services or bandwidth management metrics, and present the search results to the user. The multi-source content system can aggregate multiple media content sources and devices connected to a gateway to retrieve media content.

Abstract: A device for remote controlling an application on a display device including a user interface for receiving a user input, a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to a display device, a network interface for coupling the control signal to a wireless local area network, and a processor for generating the control signal in response to the user input, determining a destination for the control signal in response to the user input, for coupling the control signal to the transmitter in response to the destination being a display device remote control receiver and for coupling the control signal to the network interface in response to the destination being a display device network interface.

Abstract: A facility for generating analytical information based on individual reports of multiple scheduled presentations of interstitial media assets is provided. Data files are received, each including multiple status reports regarding multiple scheduled presentations of multiple media assets by a plurality of distinct media receiver devices in multiple disparate locations. The data files are decrypted, such that the decrypted one or more data files include, for each of the multiple status reports, at least a media asset identifier and a presentation status indicator, and parsed to generate one or more database entries containing information regarding the scheduled media presentations and the plurality of distinct media receiver devices. One or more user interfaces are provided to allow execution of queries based on the generated one or more databases.

Abstract: First and second speech data can be received from respective first and second devices. The first and second speech data can be determined to be from a same dialog. A link can be generated based on the dialog.

Abstract: A facility for generating and displaying information regarding the packaging of individual media asset files associated with multiple scheduled presentations of interstitial media assets is provided. Scheduling information is received regarding future scheduled media presentations for each of a plurality of media assets via one or more content channels. Based at least in part on the received scheduling information, one or more package files are generated such that each package file includes a plurality of media asset files, each corresponding to at least one of the future scheduled media presentations, for distribution to a plurality of distinct media receivers. Database information is generated regarding the generating of the one or more package files, such that the database information includes a completion time associated with the generating of each package file.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes reduce the amount of memory or disk space needed to store encoded video content used in adaptive video streaming by eliminating certain portions of the recorded program from one or more copies of the encoded program. Content occurring before or after a scheduled start of a program, for example, can be retained in only a subset of the encoded copies so that the program content is available to be streamed, but only at certain video qualities. Commercials or other less popular portions may also be eliminated in one or more encoded copies. By eliminating the less-likely-to-be-viewed portions of the content from some (but not all) of the encoded copies, the total amount of storage space needed to store the encoded program is reduced without compromising the ability to play back all portions of the recorded program.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus, systems and/or methods are described for independently controlling an audio stream relative to a video stream in audio trick mode. In one example, an audio stream and a video stream is received, where the audio stream comprises frames that correspond to corresponding frames of the video stream. The audio and video streams are played from a first time to a second time at a first speed. An input to time shift the audio stream independent of the video stream is received, and after receiving such, the audio stream is time shifted to the first time. Then, the audio stream may be re-played from the first time to the second time at a second speed different from the first speed.