Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resolving domain name services (DNS) queries for address information about hosts on a network. The queries are posited from remote users across a satellite or other remote link to a network, and are monitored as they pass through a central node logically present between the remote link and the network. A list of statistically significant hosts on the network is maintained and transmitted from the central node to the plurality of remote users across the remote link. By providing the remote nodes with a current list of popular hosts and associated address information, subsequent domain name services queries placed for the statistically significant hosts may be resolved without communicating across the remote link.

Abstract: A method of determining a current orientation of an antenna compared to a desired orientation is presented. In the method, current orientation data indicating a current orientation of the antenna is generated in circuitry mounted to the antenna. Data indicating a desired orientation for the antenna at the geographical location of the antenna is received. The desired orientation data is compared with the current orientation data. Based on this comparison, alignment information is generated which indicates whether the current orientation of the antenna aligns with the desired orientation of the antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically altering a user interface. An exemplary method receives at a media device a request to display a user interface associated with the received user interface information, receives current date information, accesses display style information based on the current date information and generates the requested user interface based on the accessed display style information. The accessed display style information is retrieved from memory associated with the media device or is received from a source system over a communication network.

Abstract: A device may select a password and encrypt it utilizing a public key. The device may provide the encrypted password when an access request is received from a client. The client may obtain an unencrypted version of the password by submitting it to a private key server (which utilizes the private key to decrypt the password) and return the password to the device. When the device receives the unencrypted password from the client, the device may allow access. The device may generate the password once during operation. However, in some implementations, the device may generate a new password for each access request and may only respond to the most recently issued password. The device may generate, encrypt, and transmit a single password. However, in various implementations the device may generate, encrypt, and/or transmit a number of different passwords to support different access configurations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of network performance assessment apparatus, systems and processes collect performance information pertaining to a current capacity utilization of a network, identify an occurrence of a capacity constraint on a portion of the network that is communicating the program to at least one presentation device, and modify at least one characteristic of the program and/or the communication thereof over the network so that a total capacity utilization of the network is less than a peak capacity of the network.

Abstract: Various mechanisms for initiating and/or executing a joint viewing session across a network are disclosed herein. A first user may provide an instruction to an entertainment device to send an invitation to a remote device corresponding to a second user, requesting that the second user participate in a joint viewing session of a programming event. A calendar event may be added to a calendar application at the entertainment and/or the remote device. In some embodiments, during the joint session, the programming event may be simultaneously presented at both the entertainment device and the remote device. A communications session may be established between the entertainment device and the remote device, and communications from the first user may be transmitted from the first entertainment device to the remote device for presentation to the second user during the joint viewing session.

Abstract: A player utilizes a bookmark file to process content. The bookmark file includes a sequential series of bookmarks that each include information specifying how to process content. In one or more implementations, only some bookmarks are indicated as searchable. When the player searches for a particular bookmark, it only searches bookmarks indicated as searchable. In various other implementations, the player utilizes an index to search for a particular bookmark. In some cases, the index contains an entry for each bookmark in the bookmark file that includes only the type and location of the respective bookmark. In other cases, only some of the bookmarks may be indicated as searchable and the index may only include entries for the searchable bookmarks. However, in these cases, the index may not include entries for bookmarks indicated as non-searchable. In either set of cases, the index may be updated if the bookmark file changes.

Abstract: A content player receives user-specific information from different users and associates the information with content. Subsequently, the player receives a request to perform a content-altering operation. In response, the player performs the operation such that the information for the requesting user is affected, but not the information for other users. The information may include a placeholder, an indication as to whether the content and/or the entire content has been accessed, a protection status indicating whether or not the content can be deleted, and so on. The information may be added to and/or configured to accompany and/or otherwise be associated with the content. The player may identify the user so that different information for different users can be associated with the content for the respective user, such as by prompting the user to select an identifier from a list or perform a “log in.

Abstract: A content receiver determines that a communication connection recipient identifier is associated with content received from a content provider. An associated communication device is identified by the content receiver. The content receiver then signals the communication device to initiate a communication connections utilizing the communication identifier. In some implementations, the content receiver may provide a user with a notification and may signal the communication device after receiving a responses to the notification. In one or more implementations, the communication connection recipient identifiers may be telephone numbers, the communication devices may be telecommunication devices, and the communication connections may be telephone connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to initiate a pairing process and a de-pairing process between a controlled device and a radio frequency (RF) remote control. An exemplary embodiment detects presence of a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag in an interrogation zone established by an RFID tag reader, automatically initiates a pairing process in response to detecting the presence of the RFID tag in the interrogation zone, and completes the pairing process between the RF remote control and the controlled device, wherein the pairing process identifies a unique identifier associated with the RF remote control. A subsequently received RF signal emitted by the RF remote control includes at least one command configured to control operation of the controlled device and includes the unique identifier.

Abstract: Antenna systems include adjustment mechanisms to adjust the position of dish antennas. The adjustment mechanism includes a clip, a bracket, and a cam mechanism. The clip is fixedly coupled to and projects outwardly from a mast. The bracket is pivotally coupled to the mast and is between the stationary clip and cam mechanism. The cam mechanism is pivotally coupled to the clip and positioned to rotate the bracket and the dish antenna as the cam mechanism rotates. The clip is made of a lightweight material to reduce the overall weight of the antenna system to enhance performance.

Abstract: A video control system transfers a video signal to display a data/video integration menu and receives user instructions indicating user-selected data and display positioning for the user-selected data. The video control system transfers a data request and receives the user-selected data. The video control system receives video content. The video control system integrates the user-selected data and the video content into a video signal that positions the user-selected data relative to the video content according to the display positioning in the user instructions. The video control system transfers the video signal to display the integrated video content and user-selected data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for processing three-dimensional (3D or 3-D) or pseudo-3D programming. The programming includes closed caption (CC) information that includes caption data and a location identifier that specifies a location for the caption data within the 3D programming. The programming information is processed to render the caption data at the specified location and to present the programming on the display. By encoding location identification information into the three-dimensional programming, a high level of configurability can be provided and the 3D experience can be preserved while captions are displayed.

Abstract: Systems, method and apparatus are described for reducing unauthorized usage in a television distribution system. A television receiver communicates with base stations of a wireless communication network. Based on the communications with the base station, the television receiver identifies its location and transmits the location information to a data collection system through the wireless communication network. The data collection system utilizes the location information to identify unauthorized uses of the television receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow for reliably and efficiently managing files stored on a data storage medium associated with a computer system such as a set-top box. The computer system manages a collection of metadata describing each of the files stored on the data storage medium in a memory during operation of the computer system. A current snapshot of the collection of metadata is periodically or otherwise stored to the data storage medium. Following a reboot of the computer system, the collection of metadata can be recovered to the memory from the snapshot of the collection of metadata stored on the data storage medium.

Abstract: A content receiver provides content received from a content provider. While providing such content, the content receiver determines to provide a financial portal. The content receiver ascertains context-specific information to include in the financial portal based on the content. Then, the content receiver transmits a combination of the financial portal and the content to a display device. The financial portal may include various menus and/or interfaces that enable performance activities related to financial products and/or financial and/or brokerage accounts. In ascertaining information, the content receiver may evaluate the content to determine information to include, such as by analyzing metadata that corresponds to the content and/or performing content recognition analysis on the content. The content receiver may determine to provide the financial portal in response to user input and/or in response to the occurrence of an event corresponding to an automatic and/or user defined trigger.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to retrieve at least a portion of a missed media content event. An exemplary embodiment detects an occurrence of a failed recording of at least a portion of a media content event of interest; transmits a notification of the detected occurrence of the failed recording of the at least the portion of the media content event of interest from a media device to a replacement content device; and receives, at the media device, at least a portion of missed media content corresponding to at least the portion of the media content event of interest that failed to record.

Abstract: In embodiments disclosed herein, television recording schedules are automatically adjusted in a digital video recording system. In at least one embodiment, the digital video recording system receives a first request to record a first program at the digital video recording system and a second recording request to record a second program at the digital video recording system. The system determines that there are insufficient resources to fulfill both the first and second recording requests. The system may set an open recording request for at least one of the first and second programs, which seeks additional scheduling data corresponding to at least one of the programs. Subsequent additional data may be received to fulfill the open recording request. In some embodiments, recording requests may be automatically rescheduled to more optimal recording times.

Abstract: Disclosure is directed to receiving billing information at a television receiver and communicating that billing information to a user's mobile device. The television receiver may create a two-dimensional barcode with billing information and output the two-dimensional barcode for display on a display device. Once displayed on the display device, the two-dimensional barcode may be scanned into a mobile device where the billing information may be used to allow a user to view billing information and/or submit payment information through the mobile device.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein may take the form of a system or method for generating one or more matrix codes that may then be obtained by a reader device, the one or more matrix codes including information that may be utilized to access additional content related to one or more multimedia presentations. For example, the information contained within the one or more matrix codes may include one or more web addresses that, when selected, may link to one or more webpages on the Internet containing information related to the multimedia presentation. In another example, the information contained within the matrix codes may include instructions that may be executed by an electronic device to provide the additional content. The additional content may be displayed a display device associated with the distribution system, on a reader device, or any electronic device that includes a display.