Abstract: Systems and methods for providing photosensitivity protection for content displayable with a screen display are provided. Content, which may include video content, may be received at a media device. A portion of the video content that corresponds to flashing images may be identified with the media device. A precaution against the flashing images may be identified based at least in part on the identifying of the portion of the video content that corresponds to flashing images. One or more of at least a portion of the video content and/or information about the video content may be displayed based at least in part on the precaution.

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: Techniques for facilitating recording of media content events by media devices on remote storage devices are described. Some embodiments provide a remote storage manager as part of a media device, such as a set-top box. In one embodiment, the remote storage manager causes a media content event to be recorded on a remote persistent storage device by receiving the media content event from a program distributor, and then transmitting the media content event to the remote persistent storage device. In another embodiment, the remote storage manager instructs the remote persistent storage device to obtain the media content event from the program distributor, so that the remote persistent storage device can record the media content event without the media content event first being received by the remote storage manager.

Abstract: Program recording systems and methods are operable to adjust recording times of a program of interest in response to an occurrence of an interrupting program that alters the scheduled recording times of the program of interest. An exemplary embodiment receives an unscheduled program flag (UPF) corresponding to an occurrence of an unscheduled program; adjusts at least one of a scheduled recording start time associated with the program of interest to an updated record start time and a scheduled recording end time associated with the program of interest to an updated record end time in response to receiving the UPF; and records the program of interest based upon at least one of the updated record start time and the updated record end time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to retrieve a previously broadcast initial portion of a media content event. An exemplary embodiment stores a media content event at a first media device as the media content event is communicated over a broadcast system; receives a request at the first media device from a second media device, wherein the request identifies an initial portion of a media content event that has previously been communicated over a broadcast system; identifies the initial portion of the media content event from the stored media content event; retrieves the identified initial portion of the media content event; and communicates the initial portion of the media content event from the first media device to the second media device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tagging media content may include detecting a distraction event during presentation of a media content via a display device, creating a digital bookmark for the media content, whereby the digital bookmark corresponds to the detected distraction event, and outputting a user interface for presenting the digital bookmark through the display device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory, machine-readable media that facilitates home automation control based on individualized audio differentiation of carbon monoxide detectors. Audio characteristics may be determined based on first sensor data. Attributes may be defined based on the audio characteristics. Second audio characteristics may be determined based on the second sensor data. Second attributes may be defined based on the second audio characteristics. Third sensor data may be analyzed to identify a first alarm or a second alarm based on a volume and/or a directionality determined based on the third sensor data. Consequent to identifying the first alarm or the second alarm, a home automation rule may be determined. The home automation rule may include an operational setting of a home automation device. The home automation device may be instructed based on the determined home automation rule via a home automation network.

Abstract: A system includes a media content processing device programmed to wirelessly communicate with an access point over a plurality of wireless communication channels. The communication channels include a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The media content processing device is programmed to receive a media content signal from the access point over the first communication channel, process the media content signal, and generate an authorization signal for the access point to transmit the media content signal over the second communication channel in response to detecting issues with the media content signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling multiple devices using a virtual device that may be displayed on a screen. The method may include providing the information for the virtual device from a set-top box to the screen. The method may also include using a control device to scroll around the virtual device and make a selection fro the options provided by the virtual device. Additionally, the buttons on the control device may not correspond to the functionality associated with the virtual buttons on the virtual device.

Abstract: A system for securely providing streaming media content on-demand may include a plurality of receiving devices in which each receiving device may request the same or different streaming media content (e.g., stored at a content storage system of a content delivery network) on-demand using VOD or other available on-demand services and/or applications associated with, in communication with or running on the respective receiving devices. In response, the content storage system of the content delivery network will encrypt the requested content uniquely for each received request (e.g., according to an encryption key that is unique for each or virtually each request) and deliver the encrypted requested content to the appropriate respective receiving device of the receiving devices.

Abstract: An electronic device may derive information specific to the device, dynamically generate a matrix code that includes the information as well as user support information, and transmit the dynamically generated code to a display. When a user captures the matrix code with a reader device, the reader device may decode (or use a back end server to decode) the specific information specific and the user support information and initiate a user support request. Thus, user support for electronic devices may be facilitated utilizing dynamically generated matrix codes, such as (but not limited to) QR codes. In response to the initiated user support request, user support may then be provided for the user. Problems may be automatically taken care of for the user, tutorials may be provided for the user, one or more notifications may be provided to the user, service calls may be scheduled for the user, and so on.

Abstract: To address a service interruption while a procedure to change to a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) wireless frequency channel is being performed, a service interruption message is displayed to the user or some other action is taken while a wireless access point changes to the DFS wireless frequency channel. Another action to address the service interruption may be the media content client playing buffered media content stored in a buffer on the media content client to avoid an appearance to the user of an interruption in service. Also, in some embodiments, buffered video is received from the receiving device after the interruption in service has ended so that the media content client may resume playing, and the user may continue to view, the video program from the point where the user left off when the DFS change process and service interruption had started.

Abstract: Various arrangements are presented for recording broadcast television programming. An electronic programming guide database may be accessed to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program. A timer may be defined to record the broadcast television program. The start time for the timer may be a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program and an end time for the timer may be a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program. The broadcast television program may be recorded, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer. One or more bookmarks that are based on the scheduled start time and/or scheduled end time of the broadcast television program may be created for the recorded television program.

Abstract: A method that provides a delay of social media feeds during time-shifted viewing of multi-media presentations including the steps of receiving a media presentation, time-shifting the media presentation for a period of time, receiving a social media message regarding the media presentation, and delaying presentation of the social media message for the period of time.

Abstract: Various arrangements generating a customized channel are presented. A customized channel may be generated for a user. The programming for the customized channel may be gathered from different sources. The programming may be selected and scheduled based on user preferences, interests, and viewing habits of the user. The user viewing habits and preferences for programming may be used to refine the schedule and programming of the customized channel.

Abstract: Routing on Wi-Fi or similar home networks is improved though the use of a proxy service located on the home network. If wireless networking issues arise, the proxy can adapt delivery of digital content in an intelligent manner. If client communications are becoming increasingly unreliable, for example, the proxy can respond with additional error correction and/or packet retransmissions, in contrast to conventional TCP techniques for responding to network issues. Other corrections and features may be built into the proxy protocol as desired.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate generation, distribution, and presentation of a video program on a virtual channel. In one embodiment, an electronic program guide (“EPG”) manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The EPG manager receives from a program distributor a video stream that has plurality of video programs having program content. Each program has been preassigned for presentation on a particular channel. A virtual channel is linked to one or more users. The EPG manager tracks the types of programs that a user watches and records metadata associated with the programs that the user actually views. When sufficient data is stored in the data base, the virtual channel is provided that program that a user will likely wish to view based on this past viewing history.

Abstract: Methods and systems, such as television receivers, are disclosed for receiving data from remote controls for manipulation of graphical user interfaces. Aspects include providing a seamless transition between absolute and relative navigational schemes to allow for users to more efficiently make use of touch and position sensitive remote controls. Further, aspects include dynamically scaling the touch and position sensitive remote controls outputs to match various grid sizes that may be included in the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method for effectively implementing a multi-room television system includes a digital base station that processes and combines various program sources to produce a processed stream. A communications processor then responsively transmits the processed stream as a local composite output stream to various wired and wireless display devices for flexible viewing at variable remote locations. The transmission path performance is used to determine the video encoding process, and special attention is taken to assure that all users have low-latency interactive capabilities.