Abstract: A method for producing an audio representation of aggregated content includes selecting preferred content from a number of sources, wherein the sources are emotion-tagged, aggregating the emotion-tagged preferred content sources, and creating an audio representation of the emotion-tagged aggregated content. The aggregation of emotion-tagged content sources and/or the creation of the audio representation may be performed by a mobile device. The emotion-tagged content include text with HTML tags that specify how text-to-speech conversion should be performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to present a sporting event on a display based on a determined level of viewer engagement and a determined team preference of the viewer. An exemplary embodiment presents a neutral viewpoint video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a neutral team preference, alternatively presents a first team alternative video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a preference for the first team, or alternatively presents a second team alternative video content segment on the display during the first period of game play when the viewer has a preference for the second team.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate voice control of a receiving device, such as a set-top box. In one embodiment, a voice enabled media presentation system (“VEMPS”) includes a receiving device and a remote-control device having an audio input device. The VEMPS is configured to obtain audio data via the audio input device, the audio data received from a user and representing a spoken command to control the receiving device. The VEMPS is further configured to determine the spoken command by performing speech recognition on the obtained audio data, and to control the receiving device based on the determined command. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, processes, and computer-readable mediums for facilitating the use of drones are described. For one embodiment, such a system includes a user element having a user application computer program configured to instruct a user interface device to facilitate use of user data and use of mission parameter(s) for a proposed drone mission. An owner element includes an owner application computer program configured to facilitate use of owner data and use of at least one drone parameter. A fleet system element is communicatively coupled to the user element and to the owner element and includes a computer system processor configured to facilitate use of a fleet record and use of at least one fleet parameter.

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated processes augment television broadcasts with digital content that automatically replaces static portions of the captured imagery. In a video broadcast of a live event, for example, signs or other advertisements that are physically present in the event venue can be automatically replaced in television broadcasts of the event by virtual imagery of other signs or objects, as desired.

Abstract: A set-top box includes a housing including an interior having a base and a top and a first sidewall extending from a perimeter of the base to the top; an antenna coupled to the housing; one or more electric motors coupled the antenna; one or more orientation sensors coupled to the housing; a controller coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the antenna, the one or more electric motors, and the one or more orientation sensors, the controller configured to receive information from the one or more orientation sensors, determine an orientation of the housing based on the information from the one or more orientation sensors, and actuate the one or more electric motors to change an orientation of the antenna based on the orientation of the housing; and a transmitter within the housing selectively connectable to the antenna.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method executable by an adaptive stream concatenation server to deliver a concatenated transport stream to a video distribution system are provided, as are embodiments of adaptive stream concatenation servers. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an adaptive media stream containing television programming in an adaptive packet format at the adaptive stream concatenation server via a digital network. The contents of the adaptive media stream are concatenated by the adaptive stream concatenation server to create a concatenated transport stream containing the television programming in a streaming format different from the adaptive packet format and compatible with the video distribution system. The concatenated transport stream containing the television programming is then transmitted in the streaming format to the video distribution system.

Abstract: A computing device is programmed to receive data collected from communications of a user. The computer identifies portions of the collected data including a keyword selected from a list of media content elements or lists of keywords associated with each of the media content elements. The computer associates each portion with a media content element. The computer further determines a score for each media content element based on at least one of the number of references, words included in the portion of collected referring to the media content element, and the voice quality of the portion of collected data referring to the media content element. Based on the scores, the computer assigns media content elements to the user. The computer recommends media content items to the user based at least in part on the media content elements assigned to the user.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network involves transmitting one or more portions of the media content to a client device via a delivery route between a content delivery source and the network, determining a performance metric associated with the transmitting of the one or more portions via the delivery route, and dynamically adjusting the delivery route between the content delivery source and the network based at least in part on the performance metric.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for maintaining a programming lineup of adaptive-bitrate content streaming is provided. The apparatus includes a timeline module configured to maintain a programming lineup of media content available over a network. The media content may comprise a plurality of streamlets. The apparatus also includes at least one data module configured to maintain multi-bitrate streamlet information. The system includes the apparatus and a client module configured to acquire content based upon the programming lineup provided by the timeline module. The method includes maintaining a programming lineup of media content available over a network, and maintaining multi-bitrate streamlet information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to increase brightness output from a display. An exemplary embodiment detects a predefined user action of a remote control, and then increases brightness of a currently presented image that is being presented on the display in response to detecting the predefined user action so that an ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display is increased.

Abstract: A system for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines provides a manufacturing machine user interface that facilitates receiving quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine from a user. For quality assurance purposes, the computer system of the manufacturing machine may decide whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. The computer system of the manufacturing machine may also decide to disable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information provided is incomplete, out of date, or otherwise insufficient to indicate the manufacturing machine is ready for safe and effective operation.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for securing transmission of content from a smart card in a host television receiver to a client television receiver. The smart card can receive the encrypted content stream from the television service provider, decrypt the content stream with the global network key, identify the client television receiver as the destination of the content stream, generate a unique key specific to the content stream, encrypt the unique key with a local key known to the client television receiver, encrypt the content stream with the unique key, and transmit the encrypted content stream along with the encrypted unique key to the client television receiver. The client television receiver can then receive the encrypted content stream and the encrypted unique key, decrypt the unique key, decrypt the content stream with the unique key, and transmit the content stream to a display device of the client television receiver.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate history-based decision making in television receivers, such as set-top boxes. In one embodiment, a history-based decision facilitator (“HBDF”) is provided. The HBDF facilitates decision making in a television receiver based on device history data received from the television receiver. In one embodiment, the HBDF receives an indication of an operation to be performed by the television receiver, the operation including one or more parameters. In response, the HBDF determines values for the one or more parameters, based on device history data received from the television receiver. The HBDF then provides the determined parameter values to the television receiver. In one example application, the HBDF can determine a tuner of the television receiver to utilize for recording a program, based on the history of the television receiver, such as that the determined tuner is typically idle during the scheduled recording time period.

Abstract: A computing device fan mounting system includes a chassis, a fan housing, and a fan mount. The chassis includes a receiving opening. The fan housing defines a first opening and a second opening. The fan mount includes a first peg engaged with the first opening, a second peg engaged with the second opening, and a pin engaged with the receiving opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for multi-bitrate content streaming includes a receiving module configured to capture media content, a streamlet module configured to segment the media content and generate a plurality of streamlets, and an encoding module configured to generate a set of streamlets. The system includes the apparatus, wherein the set of streamlets comprises a plurality of streamlets having identical time indices and durations, and each streamlet of the set of streamlets having a unique bitrate, and wherein the encoding module comprises a master module configured to assign an encoding job to one of a plurality of host computing modules in response to an encoding job completion bid. A method includes receiving media content, segmenting the media content and generating a plurality of streamlets, and generating a set of streamlets.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing, transcoding, and caching off-air programming at a location local to the consumer. According to certain embodiments, a device is provided that receives off-air (e.g., broadcast) and/or cable (e.g., ClearQAM) programming via one or more antennas and caches the programming in various streams having various bit rates for later viewing using, for example, Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) streaming. Such a device can be incorporated in a larger system that can stream content via a data communication network (e.g., the Internet) and the device in a seamless manner. The device also can be controlled by a remote system via the data communication network, and further can be configured to stream content to a remote device via the data communication network.

Abstract: A virus scanning router may manages a local network, including routing network traffic between devices on the network and routing network traffic being sent to and from such devices via an external communication system. The virus scanning router remotely scans for viruses the files stored on one or more such devices on the network. The virus scanning router may be a device trusted by the other devices on local network to facilitate the virus scanning router reading and scanning one or more files stored on such devices for viruses. The virus scanning router also takes corrective actions such as isolating the infected device or isolating an affected network zone to which the remote device belongs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to facilitate wireless device monitoring and control are provided. A first device controller may be adapted to be disposed within a power connector, in series with conductors of the power connector. The power connector may be adapted to provide power from a power source to a device. The first device controller may include two terminals to electrically couple the first device controller with the conductors of the power connector. The first device controller may further include a power component to power the first device controller. The first device controller may be configured to monitor one or more conditions of the device, control one or more functions of the device, and wirelessly communicate with a system controller that is remote from the power connector and the device. The power connector may correspond to a power plug and/or a terminal block.

Abstract: A method for operating a programming receiver is provided. The method displays, by the programming receiver, a sequence of recorded video content comprising a video presentation and a plurality of segments of interstitial content; receives, at the programming receiver, a command to skip one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content; and presents a screen comprising a picture advertisement for the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content, the screen requesting confirmation to skip the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content in the sequence.