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: Systems, devices, and process described facilitate use of a first user device communicatively coupled to a local area network (LAN) The first user device may include a first hardware processor configured to execute first, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a first seamless DVR engine configured to identify a first content. A second user device is also coupled to the LAN. The second user device may include a second hardware processor configured to execute second, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a second seamless DVR configured to identify a second content. Each of the seamless DVR engines may be configured to generate a common universal directory identifying the first content and the second content as being available for use by each of the first user device and the second user device. User devices may independently populate the common universal directory. The universal directory may identify a distinct status for the content.

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for providing an adaptive audio environment are disclosed. For an embodiment, a system may include a wearable device and a hub. The hub may include an interface module configured to communicatively couple the wearable device and the hub and a processor, configured to execute non-transient computer executable instructions for a machine learning engine configured to apply a first machine learning process to at least one data packet received from the wearable device and output an action-reaction data set and for a sounds engine configured to apply a sound adapting process to the action-reaction data set and provide audio output data to the wearable device via the interface module.

Abstract: A method for providing searchable media content includes generating a text file that is representative of an instance of media content. The instance of media content comprises a first scene and a second scene. A first portion of the text file is representative of the first scene and a second portion of the text file is representative of the second scene. The method further includes indexing the first portion with the first scene and indexing the second portion with the second scene.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for enabling headphone-driven systems to handle packetized streams of next-generation television (NGTV) content. For example, a headphone system can include an antenna and a NGTV tuner to receive and decode a packetized television content stream wirelessly from a content provider via a digital television content network. The decoded stream can be processed by the headphone system to generate an audio stream and a video stream. Audio content of the audio stream can be output via an audio transducer of the headphone system. The video stream can be transmitted, via a device interface of the headphone system, to a media playback device for outputting of video content (e.g., and audio content, in some cases) of the video stream. For example, the video stream is transmitted, via a short-range wireless network to a smartphone, tablet computer, transport vehicle display, or other playback device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media for adapting content composites to device operations of an endpoint media device are disclosed. Blockchain data associated with a blockchain address may be processed by one or more processing devices. The blockchain data and/or the blockchain address may be mapped by the one or more processing devices to a first endpoint media device. Based at least in part on the blockchain data, a first content composite may be identified by one or more processing devices for delivery from a content provider system via one or more networks to the first endpoint media device. Transmission of the first content composite may be caused where, consequent to delivery of the first content composite to the first endpoint media device, the first endpoint media device or a second endpoint media device performs at least one operation relating to the first content composite.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing dynamic content insertion are presented. A user profile may be identified as active at a television receiver based on the user profile being mapped to a current television viewing session. A plurality of content items that have been output for presentation while the user profile is active may be tracked across a plurality of television viewing sessions. A set of insertion rules may be evaluated that are mapped to a content item. The content item may be determined to have met an output threshold for the user profile. An alternative piece of content may be selected for insertion based on the set of insertion rules and determining that the content item has met the output threshold for the user profile. The television receiver may be triggered to substitute the alternative content item into a television channel stream to replace the content item.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for automated physical package delivery with end-to-end package security. For example, a sender can secure contents of a physical package using an electronic lock locked using a lock code. The lock code is encrypted by applying an encryption key to generate an encrypted lock code. The encryption key is generated in accordance with a decryption key associated with the recipient, such that application of the decryption key by the recipient to the encrypted lock code can generate an unlock code to unlock the electronic lock. An intermediary automated package delivery system can provide one or more end-to-end security features, including facilitating key exchange features between the sender and recipient, applying additional sensor tag features, and directing autonomous delivery features.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for responding to inoperative commands on a server device. In some embodiments, the disclosed technology facilitates pausing of content being played on a device without creating a bookmark of the location in the content at which the content was paused. In response to receiving the request to pause the content from playing, the server device generates a pause instruction to pause the content from playing. Upon expiry of a timeout interval, the server device automatically transforms the pause instruction into a stop instruction, which when executed causes stopping the content from playing. In some embodiments, the server device detects an user interaction event, prior to expiry of the timeout interval. Non-limiting examples of the user interaction may be shutting down the server device, switching from the content to a live broadcast program, switching from the content to another content, or exiting from the content.

Abstract: A facility for transferring configuration information to a target media device is described. The facility receives in the target media device a copy of media device settings stored in a source media device distinct from the target media device in a first form in which they are used in the source media device. This copy of media device settings is received by the target media device via a route other than its visual user interface. The facility causes the received copy of media device settings to be transformed into a second form in which they can be used in the target media device. The facility then stores the media receiver settings in the second form in the target media device for use by the target media device.

Abstract: Object selection reward data, including rewards for viewer selection of objects of interest in presented media content of a video stream may be electronically communicated to the user automatically when the user electronically selects the object of interest as it is shown in the screen. Provided is improved functionality to activate an image in the video stream into an object that then can be selectable or become a part of an application running on a receiving device such as a set-top box or other media device. The received video may or may not be taken over by the application running on the set-top box. The video scaling can be preserved, and a part of the application. Alternatively, the whole of the visible video screen may not be a part of the application.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and processes are described for seamless use of timers across multiple user devices on a LAN. A system may include a first user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, having at least one first tuner and a first hardware processor configured for facilitating a first timer manager. A second user device communicatively coupled to the LAN may include at least one second tuner and a second hardware processor configured for facilitating a second timer manager. Each of the first timer manager and the second timer manager may be configured to populate a universal timer schedule that identifies at least one of a future availability and a future use for each of the at least one first tuner and the at least one second tuner. The universal timer schedule is populated based upon a request type, such as an auto-tune, PPV, original content, rerun, and a Joey request type.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and processes for facilitating seamless use of tuners across multiple devices within a LAN are described and may include use of a first user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, that includes a first hardware processor configured to execute first, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a first seamless tuner engine configured to identify at least one first tuner. A second user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, may include a second hardware processor configured to execute second, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a second seamless tuner configured to identify at least one second tuner. At least one of, if not each, of seamless tuner engines may be configured to generate a universal tuner directory identifying availability of each the tuners. The universal tuner directory may be populated and tuners allocated based upon an emergency broadcast, auto-tune, PPV, original content, re-run, or Joey request type.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for optimizing buffering of streamed content based on upcoming coverage. For example, during a trip, the bit rate for transmission and receipt of streamed content can be dynamically adjusted based on the upcoming coverage such that when the upcoming network coverage is limited, the bit rate of the streamed content can be increased to ensure the buffer is sufficiently large to allow the user to experience (or appear to experience) uninterrupted streaming during the limited network connectivity. The bit rate can be calculated based on calculating a buffer size that can provide content at the play rate for the duration that the device is in a minimal or no network coverage area.

Abstract: Media content event review systems and methods are operable to present member content reviews of a media content event by presenting a plurality of member avatars in a virtual world, wherein the member avatars present audio commentary about a media content event identified in a user request, and wherein the community members who generated the audio commentary about the media content event have an interpersonal relationship with the requesting user.

Abstract: Various arrangements for triggering transitions within a slide-based presentation are presented. An audio-based trigger system may receive a plurality of trigger words. A database may be created that maps trigger words to slide transitions. A voice-based request may be received to initiate audio control of the slide-based presentation being output by the presentation system. An audio stream may be monitored for trigger words. Based on accessing a database, a slide transition to be performed may be identified based on a recognized trigger word. A slide transition request may be transmitted to a presentation system that indicates a slide to which a transition should occur. The presentation system may then transition to the slide based on the received slide transition request.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and process described facilitate use of a first user device communicatively coupled to a local area network (LAN) The first user device may include a first hardware processor configured to execute first, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a first seamless DVR engine configured to identify a first content. A second user device is also coupled to the LAN. The second user device may include a second hardware processor configured to execute second, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a second seamless DVR configured to identify a second content. Each of the seamless DVR engines may be configured to generate a common universal directory identifying the first content and the second content as being available for use by each of the first user device and the second user device. User devices may independently populate the common universal directory. The universal directory may identify a distinct status for the content.

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for providing an adaptive audio environment are disclosed. For an embodiment, a system may include a wearable device and a hub. The hub may include an interface module configured to communicatively couple the wearable device and the hub and a processor, configured to execute non-transient computer executable instructions for a machine learning engine configured to apply a first machine learning process to at least one data packet received from the wearable device and output an action-reaction data set and for a sounds engine configured to apply a sound adapting process to the action-reaction data set and provide audio output data to the wearable device via the interface module. The audio output data may be utilized by the wearable device to provide an adaptive audio environment.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a curved-tip screwdriver bit are presented. The bit may include a shank, a body connected with the shank, and a tip disposed at an end of the body. The tip may include curved blades that project from the end of the shaft. A first curved blade may have a first arc shaped cross section. A second curved blade may have a second arc shaped cross section. A radius of the second arc-shaped cross section may be greater than a radius of the first arc-shaped cross section of the first curved blade.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and processes are described for seamless use of timers across multiple user devices on a LAN. A system may include a first user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, having at least one first tuner and a first hardware processor configured for facilitating a first timer manager. A second user device communicatively coupled to the LAN may include at least one second tuner and a second hardware processor configured for facilitating a second timer manager. Each of the first timer manager and the second timer manager may be configured to populate a universal timer schedule that identifies at least one of a future availability and a future use for each of the at least one first tuner and the at least one second tuner. The universal timer schedule is populated based upon a request type, such as an auto-tune, PPV, original content, re-run, and a Joey request type.