Abstract: A system includes a server in communication with a first set top box and a second set top box. The server receives a request from the first set top box to access an available tuner of the second set top box, accesses account information associated with the first set top box, and commands the second set top box to stream content from the available tuner to the first set top box according to the account information. A method includes identifying available tuners of set top boxes assigned to different customers, receiving a request from a first set top box to access an available tuner of a second set top box, accessing account information associated with the first set top box, and commanding the second set top box to stream content to the first set top box according to the account information of the first set top box.

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: Various systems, methods and devices adaptively manage the multicast delivery of multiple media programs. Each of the media programs is encoded into multiple media streams, each stream having a different bitrate, frame rate, resolution or other encoding parameter. A computer receives feedback about the delivery of the multiple streams and automatically adapts the number of streams available for at least one of the multiple media programs in response to the received feedback. This allows resources to be applied to those multicast streams having the greatest user demand.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.

Abstract: Various systems, devices and methods automatically identify advertisements or other portions of television or other media content prior to broadcast using automated content analysis. Information about identified content may be used for any number of different purposes, including advertisement identification; advertisement replacement; second screen browsing or augmentation of identified content; tracking of times or places that ads or other content are viewed; and many others.

Abstract: A content selection menu is generated and provided to a user. The content selection menu includes a plurality of audiovisual (AV) programs that are provided for user selection. The AV programs may be positioned in the content selection menu in accordance with their associated score for content attributes. Upon providing the content selection to a user, the user may select a program for viewing or the user may indicate interest in a program. If the user indicates interest in a program a second content selection menu is generated based at least in part on the attributes of the program of interest.

Abstract: A secondary television receiver device includes one or more television tuners that can be integrated into a whole-home television receiving system. The secondary device that is enhanced with tuner capability registers the tuners with a primary receiver, which allocates tuners from available sources as needed. The tuned video stream may be directed to the primary television receiver for storage, trick play or other features prior to re-transmission to the ultimate viewing device. Alternatively, the received video stream may be directly rendered to a video display attached to the enhanced secondary receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods of graphically presented virtual DVDs are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment receives a request from an electronic device of one of an owner or a guest. In response, data corresponding to the owner's personal virtual DVD collection is communicated to the electronic device, wherein the communicated data is used to present a first image corresponding to a graphical representation of a virtual bookshelf case to the owner and to present a plurality of second images each corresponding to a graphical representation of one of a plurality of virtual DVDs in the owner's personal virtual DVD collection.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device and a related method of processing video information are presented herein. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the method of processing video information captures video data with a source device, and determines that a segment of video content conveyed by the video data does not satisfy predetermined video quality criteria. In response to the determination, the method initiates corrective action to disregard the segment of video content.

Abstract: Systems and methods of coordinating home automation activity may include accessing event data from a storage database communicatively coupled with an electronic device. Each item of event data may include a time and date at which the event data was collected. The methods may also include generating an event table identifying the number of events occurring during discrete time intervals for a date range. The event table may include a graphical depiction of the number of events that occurred for each discrete time interval. The methods may further include outputting the event table from the electronic device for display on a display device.

Abstract: A solar powered satellite system is provided. A power control system, for example, of the solar powered satellite system may include, but is not limited to, a first interface configured to receive a power signal from the satellite receiver, a voltage converter electrically coupled to the first interface, the voltage converter configured to reduce a voltage of the power signal received from the satellite receiver to a predetermined voltage, a second interface configured to receive a power signal from the solar panel assembly, a third interface configured to be coupled to at least one power consumer of a satellite antenna system, and a source selection circuit electrically coupled to the voltage converter, the solar panel assembly and the third interface, the source selection circuit configured to output a selected power signal based upon a comparison between the predetermined voltage and a voltage of the power signal from the solar panel assembly.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are described to transfer a media program from a media server to a playback device over a network. The media program is encoded in a multi-layer format having a plurality of layers comprising a base layer and at least one additional layer. The base layer supports playback of the entire media program at a lower resolution and each of the additional layers provides additional data that, when combined with the base layer, supports playback of the media program at a higher resolution. The base layer is initially transferred to allow playback of the media program at the lower resolution on the playback device. If sufficient resources remain after transfer of the base layer, then at least one of the additional layers may be subsequently transferred to allow playback of the media program at the higher resolution.

Abstract: Multimedia systems and related methods and devices are provided for recommending media programs to a user. Viewing characteristics of the user are determined based on usage information detailing preceding viewing sessions for the user. In one or more embodiments, the user's current interest in one or more currently available media programs that originated after the user's preceding viewing session is predicted based on the user's viewing characteristics and the current viewing context, and media programs having the highest predicted current interest are indicated to the user as being recommended.

Abstract: A method for estimating bandwidth associated with an oscillating network includes determining a set of first average bandwidths within a corresponding set of first sliding windows, wherein each of the first sliding windows has a first duration. A second sliding window is defined such that it includes the set of first sliding windows, the second sliding window having a second duration that is larger than the first duration. The system then determines whether a bandwidth oscillation (as illustrated) is occurring based on the first set of first average bandwidths within the second sliding window.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing media mosaics are described. One embodiment provides a media mosaic management method in a media device. The method generates a mosaic filter based on a program selected from a first media mosaic. The mosaic filter is used to identify related programs for presentation in a second, customized media mosaic.

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.

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 obtaining, at a client device coupled to the network from a device coupled to the network, a prioritized list of a plurality of content delivery sources on the network, selecting, by a media player at the client device, a first content delivery source of the plurality of content delivery sources based at least in part on the prioritized list, and requesting, by the media player, the media content from the first content delivery source via the network.

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: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of assisted streaming of media content over a network involves detecting, by a media player at a client device coupled to the network, a first condition with respect to streaming the media content, and in response to the first condition, requesting, by the media player, a first portion of the media content from a first content delivery source on the network. After requesting the first portion of the media content, the method further comprises detecting, by the media player, a second condition with respect to streaming the media content, and in response to detecting the second condition, requesting, by the media player, a subsequent portion of the media content from a second content delivery source on the network. The first content delivery source transmits the media content using a modified transport layer protocol.

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.