Abstract: Systems and methods provide media content events to media devices. An exemplary system receives a request for a media content event from a first media device; communicates the media content event to an edge server that is communicatively coupled to the first media device based on an identifier of the requesting media device; identifies a second media device based on preferred media content event characteristics associated with the second media device, wherein at least one media content event characteristic of the requested media content event corresponds to at least one of the preferred media content event characteristics of the second media device, and wherein the second media device is able to communicatively couple to the edge server; and in response to identifying the second media device, communicates an identifier of the second media device to the edge server, wherein the requested media content event is communicated to the second media device.

Abstract: A method for viewing video content includes displaying, within a first display region, first video content from a first content source, and receiving a request to display second video content, wherein the second video content comprises only a portion of video content from a second content source (such as a news ticker or “scroll”). The second video content is then simultaneously displayed within a second display region adjacent to the first display region.

Abstract: Before receiving an instruction from a media player to encode a media program, a placeshifting device or other video encoder pre-encodes at least a portion of the media program to a low-bandwidth format that can be readily transmitted to the media player upon request. When the media player does instruct the placeshifting device to encode the media program, the placeshifting device initially provides the pre-encoded portion of the media program to thereby allow the media player to begin immediate playback of the pre-encoded portion. After providing the preencoded portion of the media program, the placeshifting device live encodes the remaining portions of the media program according to then-current network conditions to thereby provide the placeshifted video stream to the media player.

Abstract: Systems, methods, machine-readable media, and media device are provided to facilitate seamless flow content splicing to dynamically insert particularized content items in television programming content. A plurality of particularized content items may be received and stored in a content store. First content that corresponds to television programming may be received and processed to detect a first set of color characteristics of video content. A subset of the particularized content items may be selected based on matching a second set of color characteristics of the subset of the particularized content items to the first set of color characteristics of the video content corresponding to the television programming. The first content may be output for display. Then, the subset of the particularized content items may be output for display in succession so that display of the subset of the particularized content items directly follows display of the first content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to communicate information about media device operations to an electronic Braille device. An exemplary embodiment receives a media content event at a media device, wherein the media content event is presented by at least one component of a media content presentation system to at least one visually impaired user; generates a supplemental Braille text information message in response to an operation of the media device that affects the presentation of the media content event, wherein the supplemental Braille text information message is based on text that indicates at least one attribute of the operation of the media device; and communicates the supplemental Braille text information message to the electronic Braille device, wherein the supplemental Braille text information message is presented by the electronic Braille device as tactile information that is sensed by the visually impaired user.

Abstract: Media content presentation methods are operable to control content presentation on a touch-sensitive display of a multi-media table that is communicatively coupled to a media device that is operable to access the media content. An exemplary embodiment receives, at the multi-media table from the media device, a media content event; presents the media content event on a portion of the touch-sensitive display of the multi-media table; detects a gesture-based touch movement made by a user on the touch-sensitive display; determines an intended user command based on the detected gesture-based touch movement; generates a media device command when the intended user command is configured to control presentation of the media content event; and communicates the generated media device command from the multi-media table to the media device, wherein the media device controls the media content event in accordance with the received media device command.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described to improve the performance of adaptive media streaming sessions. A media player device proactively requests segment data representing a media stream over multiple simultaneous network connections. Delivery of the requested segment data on each of the plurality of simultaneous connections is monitored, and subsequent requests for segment data are adapted based upon the monitored delivery of the requested segments on each of the plurality of simultaneous connections.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming or otherwise delivering media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network using a RS-DVR system involves receiving, at the RS-DVR system, a request for a portion of the media content from a media player on a client device via the network, receiving, at the RS-DVR system, the portion of the media content from an origin server on the network, buffering the portion of the media content at the RS-DVR system, and transmitting the portion of the media content to the media player on the client device. The portion of media content may be transmitted using a modified transport layer protocol, and in some embodiments, marked as non-cacheable.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for adaptive content splicing with respect to content corresponding to a televised event are disclosed. First content may be received and may be determined to correspond to an event that is televised. One or more indicators of one or more state changes with respect to the event may be detected. A content composite may be created. An adaptable content item received from a first system may be processed. A content object re may be processed. The adaptable content item may be modified based at least in part on the content object to form the content composite. The creating the content composite may be a function of rules mapped to a current geolocation. Second content corresponding to the programming content may be received. The second content may be output for display in conjunction with the content composite.

Abstract: A method for social viewing of media content includes transmitting, to multiple users, media content when the multiple users are are members of a common group associated with a social media site (i.e., “friends” or the like) while providing, to the users, an interaction region configured to allow the first user and the second user to share comments with each other regarding the media content via an interaction stream.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) object manufacturing systems and methods are operable to manufacture printed 3D objects corresponding to user-selected physical objects of interest shown in a media content event that have been viewed by a user, wherein at least one 3D printer that is accessible by the user of the media device is operable to manufacture the printed 3D object corresponding to the viewed physical object of interest.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide presentation control of media content. An exemplary embodiment receives media content that is currently received in a broadcasted media, content stream; presents on a display a first presentation area, wherein the first presentation area presents a video portion of the media content; receives a user command that initiates a video presentation trick function; and presents in response to the user command a second presentation area, wherein the second presentation area presents the video portion of the media content in accordance with the video presentation trick function, and wherein the first presentation area and the second presentation area are concurrently presented on the display.

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: A device for transferring heat from a device component to an environment includes a heat plate connected to a spring. A first fastener attaches the spring to the heat plate at a first location. A second fastener, such as a rivet, attaches the spring to the heat plate at each of a second and a third location. The second fastener includes a tab on and extending above the heat plate and corresponding tab slot on the spring. The spring is riveted to the heat plate at the first location and a second spring member accepts the tab at each of the second location and the third location. Ribs on a top surface of spring facilitate thermal coupling of the spring to the component when the device is assembled. One or more spring curvatures facilitate vertical deflection and horizontal extension of the spring during device assembly.

Abstract: Three dimension (3D) model generation systems and methods are operable to generate 3D model data corresponding to images of a physical object of interest that are viewed in a presenting media content event. An exemplary embodiment receives a user request that is associated with an interest by the user to obtain a 3D model of a physical object of interest that is being shown in a scene of a currently presenting media content event. A plurality of video image frames are selected from the scene. Then, 3D model data of the physical object of interest is generated based on at least the selected video image frames of the scene.

Abstract: Provisioning commercial-free or break-free media content. Example types of media or media content may include advertising media, broadcast media, social media, news media, and etc. In a satellite broadcast television implementation, subscribers may be provided the ability to search for and optionally access commercial-free programming.

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: 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: Apparatuses, systems, and devices are described to proactively adapt media streaming by a number of media player clients over a network. Each media player requests segments of an adaptive media stream for playback. In implementations, some or all of the media players in the system are able to measure packet loss or other indicia of issues with the data transmission. This indicia can be used to adapt subsequent requests for additional segments of the media stream. Moreover, some implementations could provide the measured packet loss or other indicia to the server as feedback. The server, in turn, can use the feedback from the players (along with any other additional information) to formulate business rules subsequently delivered to some or all of the players in the system. The media players can therefore adapt their segment request based upon locally measured data and/or based upon business rules that reflect system-wide conditions.

Abstract: Media content recommendation systems and methods are operable to recommend one or more media content events to a user based on identified changes in the user's emotional state during a life event that is experienced by the user.