Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are described for outputting audible or visual indicators via a remote control for a controlled device. A remote control queries an associated controlled device for information. The controlled device generates a request for the remote control to activate an audio or visual indicator. The request is integrated with a response to the query that is transmitted to the remote control. The remote control outputs an audio or visual indicator responsive to the request.

Abstract: A method for providing remote access to segments of a transmitted program is presented. The program is recorded, and then stored at a communication server. Information specifying a segment of the stored program is transferred from a communication device to the communication server. Also, a request for access to the specified segment of the stored program is transferred from another communication device to the communication server. In response to the request, the specified segment of the program is transferred from the communication server to the requesting communication device.

Abstract: A reader device monitors a content stream which includes a source stream that is received from a content source and modified by adding an additional content segment in response to detection of an insertion message. The reader detects an insertion message and signals a stream processing device. In response, the processing device performs an operation on the portion of the content stream that includes the additional content segment corresponding to the detected insertion message, which may include omitting performance of an operation that would have otherwise been performed. In some implementations, the reader and the processing device may be separate while in other implementations the reader may be integrated into the processing device. In various implementations, the reader and the processing device may be connected via one or more contact closures and the reader may signal the processing device by activating the contact closure.

Abstract: A receiving device embodiment receives a user command from an external source. The user command is directed to a remote target destination. A first interactive programming command communicator embodiment generates a mobile device command from the received user command, and communicates the mobile device command to a mobile device. A second interactive programming command communicator embodiment receives the mobile device command from the receiving device. A target destination is identified from information in the mobile device command, and information from the mobile device command is communicated to the target destination.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to test a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) communicatively coupled to one of a plurality of switching elements of a DUT controller. An exemplary embodiment identifies a first DUT and a second DUT from among the plurality of DUTs as members of a test group, wherein the first DUT and the second DUT are identified based upon a test schedule defining a plurality of test groupings of members of the plurality of DUTs for concurrent testing; and communicates control instructions to a first switching element coupled to the first DUT and to a second switching element communicatively coupled to the second DUT, wherein the control instructions are configured to actuate the first switching element and the second switching element to communicatively couple the first DUT and the second DUT.

Abstract: A method for generating a set of aggregated media content includes storing a plurality of segments of media data. The method further includes organizing the segments into a set of aggregated content including content for generating a plurality of sets of assembled content. The plurality of segments includes a first segment and a second segment. The method further includes generating a first set of metadata for the first segment specifying a first source index location of the first segment in the set of aggregated media content and a first target index location of the first segment in a first set of assembled media content, and a second set of metadata for the second segment specifying a second source index location of the second segment in the set of aggregated media content and a second target index location of the second segment in a second set of assembled media content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to notify a user of content availability. An exemplary embodiment receives a content availability notification request that specifies at least one content of interest, searches current electronic program guide (EPG) information to identify the content of interest, determines that the information identifying the specified content of interest is unavailable based upon the search of the current EPG information, generates a content availability reminder that is associated with the specified content of interest, monitors a content database to determine an availability of the specified content of interest identified in the content availability reminder, determines that the specified content of interest is available when the monitored content database indicates availability of the specified content of interest, and generates a content availability reminder notification that indicates at least a title of the specified content of interest.

Abstract: A first location of a user in a customer premises may be determined. A display is provided of a user interface that includes an adjustable element. A determination is made that the user has moved to a second location in the customer premises. The display of the user interface is adjusted such that the adjustable element is adjusted.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described to avoid stalling during playback of an adaptive media stream delivered to a media player device over a network. The media device requests segments of the media stream that are received in a buffer. Buffer utilization is monitored over time to determine a rate of change, and future segment requests are adjusted based upon the determined rate of change in the buffer utilization. By making adjustments based upon the rate of change in buffer utilization, sudden changes that could otherwise affect the viewer's experience can be avoided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates systems and methods for analyzing viewing habits on an audiovisual content receiving device such as a set-top box, including both program recording and viewing habits for live programs, and to determine viewer preferences for audiovisual events such as television programs for any given timeslot.

Abstract: Methods and systems, such as home automation gateways and television receivers, are disclosed for distinguishing between false alarms and actual events. Aspects include transmitting sensor data, such as a video feed from a closed-circuit video system, to a display to allow a user to confirm whether an alarm event is a false alarm or an actual alarm event. Sensor data is optionally recorded to allow later review of the sensor data.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for placeshifting a media program. An exemplary method involves a media device storing identification information for a client device coupled to a network and receiving a request to transfer a media program available for presentation on a primary display device in a first format via the media device. In response to the request, a peer-to-peer communication session with the client device over the network is established using the identification information and an encoded content stream corresponding to the media program is transferred to the client device via the peer-to-peer communication session.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable satellite television subscribers to bookmark and annotate sections of recorded media content, and also to share and access bookmarks with and created by others.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for placeshifting data. An exemplary method of transmitting data from a source device to a destination device over a first communications channel involves identifying interference with transmission of the data from the source device to the destination device and initiating operation of a third device on a second communications channel after identifying the interference, wherein the operation of the third device is configured to mitigate the interference with the data transmission over the first communications channel.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating device commands based upon hand gesture commands are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment generates image information from a series of captured images, generates commands based upon hand gestures made by a user that emulate device commands generated by a remote control device, identifies a hand gesture made by the user from the received image information, determines a hand gesture command based upon the identified hand gesture, compares the determined hand gesture command with the plurality of predefined hand gesture commands to identify a corresponding matching hand gesture command from the plurality of predefined hand gesture commands, generates an emulated remote control device command based upon the identified matching hand gesture command, and controls the media device based upon the generated emulated remote control device command.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow a user to register for selective notifications of one or more events that may occur on a channel in a media stream. When a registered event occurs, the system and method generates an event notification, which is delivered to the remotely-located media player. In response to the event notification, the media player can be automatically enabled and/or switched to the appropriate channel. Alternatively, the system and method may notify the user of the event, and give the user the option of enabling and/or switching the media player to the channel corresponding to the event. The system and method can be implemented to facilitate monitoring for a variety of different types. In each of these various types the user is able to select the events for which monitoring and notification will be provided.

Abstract: A media transfer method includes displaying, on a display device, a program guide including a plurality of items corresponding to media content; determining which of the plurality items are moveable items; displaying, on an integrated virtual environment device, an image identifying the moveable items; and transferring at least one of the moveable items to the integrated virtual environment device in response to a selection made via the integrated virtual environment device.

Abstract: A method of archiving audio/video content is presented. In the method, a plurality of audio/video content streams is received. Each of the received audio/video content streams is indexed according to time. Each of the indexed audio/video content streams is transferred to a data storage system for storage. A request for a portion of one of the stored audio/video content streams associated with a time period is received. The requested portion of the one of the stored audio/video content streams is retrieved from the data storage system. The requested portion of the one of the stored audio/video content streams is transferred.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to record a media content event at a media device. An exemplary embodiment grabs a series of subsequently received image frames from the media content event that is being recorded after a monitored real time reaches a closing credits monitor time, wherein the closing credits monitor time is a recording end time less a predefined duration. The embodiment then analyzes each of the image frames to identify an occurrence of text presented in the analyzed image frame, determines that the identified text corresponds to closing credits of the media content event if the at least one attribute of the identified text matches a corresponding predefined closing credits attribute, and initiates an end of the recording of the media content event in response to determining that the identified text corresponds to the closing credits of the media content event.