Abstract: An arrangement for grouping multiple television channels for recording is presented. Television channel usage data indicative of television programs being requested by users of the television receivers may be received. The television channel usage data may provide usage data for television channels being transmitted using a plurality of transponders. The television channel usage data may be analyzed to determine a grouping of television channels. Based on the television channel usage data, a television channel may be reassigned from a first transponder to a second transponder for transmission to the plurality of television receivers such that the grouping of television channels are transmitted using the second transponder.

Abstract: A functionality of an accessible device such as a set-top box, computer, mobile device, media device, is unlocked or otherwise made available to a user by a security system dependent on an external paired device, such as a mobile device, a key fob or radio frequency identification (RFID) device paired to the accessible device being in a particular wireless communication range of the accessible device. When an authorized user carries the external paired device, this provides the authorized user of the accessible device the ability to conveniently restrict the use of the accessible device and access to various functionalities of the accessible device, such as access to particular television programming or streaming media at times when the authorized user is not in close proximity or in the same general area of the accessible device.

Abstract: A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.

Abstract: A method for recording multimedia content. The method includes providing instructions to record a plurality of segments of multimedia content, each of the plurality of segments having a recording start time and a recording end time associated therewith. The method further includes providing instructions regarding recording settings for one or more first segments of multimedia content to be recorded. The method also includes comparing modified start time and/or modified end times with the recording start times and/or the recording end times associated with the plurality of segments of multimedia content and determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to record the one or more first segments with the modified start time and/or the modified end time.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device that selects a password and encrypts it utilizing a public key of a public/private encryption key pair. The electronic device then provides the encrypted password to a client device when an access request is received from the client device. The client device proceeds to obtain an unencrypted version of the password by submitting the encrypted password to a private key server (which utilizes the private key of the public/private encryption key pair to decrypt the password) and receiving the decrypted password in return. The client device then returns the password to the electronic device which, upon receiving the decrypted password, allows access from the client device. The device generates the password once during operation or each time an access request is received.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to support multiple audio tracks in an adaptive media stream. Segments of the adaptive stream are encoded so that the player is able to locate and request a specific one of the available audio tracks using byte range requests or the like. Audio content can be removed from video segments, or at least moved to the end of the segments so that a byte range request obtains just the video content when the default audio is not desired. The audio content can be obtained from a separate audio segment. Indeed, multiple audio tracks can be packaged into a common audio segment so that byte range requests can obtain just the particular audio track desired.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the viewing experience of video content by analyzing the content to determine where enhanced sensory experience events may be appropriate, by identifying devices at the viewing location and devices personal to the viewer that can be controlled to provide an enhanced sensory experience, and by activating those devices in a way that is synchronized with the presentation of the content.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for skipping and/or filtering content from a video stream using closed captioning data associated with the video stream. The closed captioning data is parsed using metadata to identify portions of the video stream to skip during presentation, and/or to identify portions of the video stream to output to a user. The portions of the video stream that are to be skipped are filtered from the video stream, and the filtered video stream is presented to a user.

Abstract: A mobile device logging and tracking system permits a communicative association between a mobile device and a receiving device. When the mobile device communicates data including an indication of an unanswered call to the receiving device, the receiving device is configured to store the data in a memory. The memory may be local or remote from the receiving device. The receiving device may then communicate information associated with the unanswered call to a first electronic device, which may be an appliance, a gaming system, another mobile communication device, or some other device having computing capability.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a television wall mount is provided that may be installed at a position in a television wall nook such that when the television monitor is bolted, screwed or hung on the television monitor mounting bracket, the television is located in front of and outside the television wall nook. In this manner, a television monitor that is too wide to fit in the television wall nook may be installed over the television wall nook by mounting the television on the television wall mount installed in the television wall nook.

Abstract: Arrangements for providing available playback options for missed portions of broadcast content may be presented. A request to present an electronic programming guide that comprises indications of a plurality of television programs currently being broadcast may be received. A missed portion of each television program of the plurality of television programs may have already been broadcast. For each television program of the plurality of television programs, a plurality of content resources from which the missed portion of each television program of the plurality of television programs may be retrievable may be analyzed. A first source from the plurality of content resources from which the missed portion of a television program is retrievable may be identified. The electronic programming guide may be configured and output to comprise an indication of availability of the missed portion of the television program.

Abstract: A customized content calendar may include reminders or invitations to access particular media content, where the reminders or invitations may be pushed to the content calendar based on user-specific preferences.

Abstract: One or more of a system, method, apparatus, and computer-program product to enable implementation of one or more features that together or separately enhance Quality of Experience or Quality of Service as a particular user interacts with a television receiver.

Abstract: A content player accesses content via a content access list shared by a network of players. The content is stored by one or more of the players. One or more of the players may be thin clients that can access content stored by other players but cannot themselves store content. The content access list lists available stored content. The content player associates a bookmark with the content and includes identification information that identifies the requestor related to generation of the bookmark. When the content player presents the content access list, bookmarks associated with content included in list are also be along with the identification information. In some implementations, the requestor related to generation of the respective bookmark may be the content player that generated the bookmark, the specific user that entered input that prompted generation of the bookmark, and/or a combination thereof.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a method and a system for performance enhancing proxy (PEP). A PEP system may include a configuration of software components and hardware devices to increase the performance of a two-way satellite broadband service. The PEP system may include one or more embodiments to reduce the time necessary for users to transmit and receive data provided through a communication network.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for presenting information regarding interstitials of a video stream. A recording of a television show may include segments of the show interspersed with interstitials (e.g., commercials). The location of the interstitials within the recording is identified, and the locations of the interstitials are presented in progress bar during presentation of the video stream. The location of the interstitials may also be utilized to determine durations of the interstitials, and provide a user with information regarding the lengths of the interstitials of a recording, and/or the length of the other content of a recording (e.g., segments of a television show).

Abstract: Various arrangements for descrambling multiple television channels concurrently are presented. A set-top box may receive a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. A previously-received locally-stored networking information table may be accessed that associates each of the multiple television channels with the same entitlement control message, as indicated by a packet identifier. An entitlement control message having the same packet identifier may be received. A smartcard may be used to decrypt the entitlement control message having the same packet identifier to obtain a first control word and a second control word. Scrambled data packets corresponding to the multiple television channels may be descrambled using the first control word and the second control word. These television channels may be stored and/or output for presentation by the set-top box.

Abstract: A method for displaying content stored in a block of multiplexed content, the multiplexed content including a plurality of instances of content where each instance of content includes an associated content identifier, the method including receiving, at a content receiver, content identifying information for the content and instructions for displaying the content, determining a selected content identifier based on the content identifying information, selecting the block from one or more blocks based on the selected content identifier, scanning the block for a content identifier and encountering the content identifier, comparing the encountered content identifier to the selected content identifier, and processing an instance of content associated with the encountered content identifier where the encountered content identifier corresponds to the selected content identifier. A system for displaying and a system for storing multiplexed content are also described.

Abstract: Various arrangements are directed to locating a television receiver. Multiple tuners of the television receiver may be simultaneously tuned to different television distribution satellites to receive timing signals. Using these timing signals, the location of the television receiver may be determined Based on a comparison between a stored, expected location of the television receiver and the determined location, the functionality of the television receiver may be adjusted.