Abstract: Media content recommendation systems and methods are operable to recommend one or more media content events to a user based on identified changes in the user's emotional state during a life event that is experienced by the user.

Abstract: The present technology relates to systems and methods for control of home automation activity based on user preferences. More specifically, the present technology relates to using a home automation system to control home automation activity based on user preferences. Example embodiments include receiving an input from a user including a set of preferences, generating a user profile using the set of preferences, receiving data indicating that a mobile device has moved from a first location to a second location, transmitting the user profile to the mobile device for application to the home automation system, receiving data indicating that the mobile device has been at the second location for a period of time, comparing the period of time to a predetermined threshold period of time, and applying the home automation settings associated with the second location to the home automation system.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a systems and methods for finding wireless signals sufficient for installation of wireless home automation devices. Before such home automation devices are installed, or during the process of installing such home automation devices, the remote-control device of a wireless home automation hub may detect whether a suitable wireless signal is able to be received from the home automation hub or from a wireless repeater device at various locations on the customer premises and indicate that on the remote-control device. The remote control device may continue to display such an indication regarding the signal, or lack thereof, as the user moves about the customer premises with the remote control. In this manner, the user may find what locations on the customer premises are suitable for installation of home automation devices to communicate wirelessly with the home automation hub.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide media content events to media devices. An exemplary system receives a request for a media content event from a first media device; communicates the media content event to an edge server that is communicatively coupled to the first media device based on an identifier of the requesting media device; identifies a second media device based on preferred media content event characteristics associated with the second media device, wherein at least one media content event characteristic of the requested media content event corresponds to at least one of the preferred media content event characteristics of the second media device, and wherein the second media device is able to communicatively couple to the edge server; and in response to identifying the second media device, communicates an identifier of the second media device to the edge server, wherein the requested media content event is communicated to the second media device.

Abstract: The present technology relates to systems and methods for control of home automation activity based on user characteristics. More specifically, the present technology relates to using a home automation system to control home automation activity based on user characteristics and weighting home automation sensors based on priority. Example embodiments include receiving an input including user preferences, assigning a weight to HVAC sensors using the preferences, generating a profile using the set of preferences and the weights, transmitting the profile to an HVAC system to run the HVAC system, receiving HVAC data recorded by the HVAC sensors, updating the HVAC profile, and transmitting the updated HVAC profile to be displayed on a television display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable for monitoring the transmission of media content events. An exemplary embodiment receives a media content stream at a media device from a media content transmission device at a first transmission rate, wherein the media content stream comprises at least one media content event selected for presentation on a media presentation device; stores at least a portion of the media content stream in a media device buffer; calculates a buffer metric; transmitting the buffer metric to the media content transmission device; and receives the media content stream from the media content transmission device at a second transmission rate based on the transmitted buffer metric.

Abstract: In a method for identifying a user in a network of broadcast communication receivers, a physical characteristic of a user is analyzed in association with the user accessing a first of the receivers. First biometric information based on the characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the first receiver is generated. Data associated with use of the first receiver by the user is also generated and associated with the first biometric information. The physical characteristic of the user is then analyzed in association with the user accessing a second receiver. Second biometric information based on the physical characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the second receiver is generated. The first and second biometric information are then compared. If the first and second biometric information indicate the physical characteristic of the same user, the data is employed in conjunction with the user accessing the second receiver.

Abstract: Various arrangements for determining and setting an authorization level for an unknown person are presented. Facial recognition may be performed on a received video stream. An authorized user may be recognized in the video feed. Additionally, an unknown person may be identified in the video feed. A provisional authorization level may be granted for the unknown person based on proximity between the unknown person and the authorized user in the received video stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to increase brightness output from a display. An exemplary embodiment detects a predefined user action of a remote control, and then increases brightness of a currently presented image that is being presented on the display in response to detecting the predefined user action so that an ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display is increased.

Abstract: Various systems and methods allow aggregation and display of content information associated with entertainment devices using a device-to-device messaging protocol such as that provided by the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard. Content information such as electronic program guide (EPG) data for multiple entertainment devices may be displayed, for example, using the on-screen display (OSD) of a single entertainment device.

Abstract: A television set top box (STB) or similar receiver device uses information obtained from a wireless interface to automatically detect when the device has been moved to a different location. The device may initially obtain a list of wi-fi zones or in-range wireless devices that can be quantified or stored for later comparison. If the device later finds that the original zones/devices are no longer present or that substantial numbers of new zones/devices are present, then the device can recognize that it has been moved to a new location. The device may respond to the detected location change by disabling premium content, by reporting back to a security service, by simply recording the change in location, or by taking other actions as appropriate.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating user access to virtual reality (VR) containers. A VR container registry may identify any type of container and optionally list requirements for accessing the container, constraints relating to when access is permitted, characteristics describing container features, lists of other containers accessible from within the container, container output formats, accepted input formats, etc. The registry may be organized in a hierarchical structure, make use of or be comparable to a domain name system, and include one or more top-level items each having one or more second-level items organized beneath. A service provider may host a VR container to facilitate user access to other VR containers, allow users to transfer between unconnected remote VR containers while staying within a VR session or without having to exit all VR sessions, and provide transformation services to ensure container and VR system compatibility.

Abstract: Before receiving an instruction from a media player to encode a media program, a placeshifting device or other video encoder pre-encodes at least a portion of the media program to a low-bandwidth format that can be readily transmitted to the media player upon request. When the media player does instruct the placeshifting device to encode the media program, the placeshifting device initially provides the pre-encoded portion of the media program to thereby allow the media player to begin immediate playback of the pre-encoded portion. After providing the preencoded portion of the media program, the placeshifting device live encodes the remaining portions of the media program according to then-current network conditions to thereby provide the placeshifted video stream to the media player.

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated processes detect piracy of broadcast television signals through selective delay of decrypted code words that are used to render satellite or other received television signals. Smart cards or similar access control hardware are programmed to selectively delay delivery of cryptographic code words based upon the identity of the receiver device. The delayed delivery of the code words produces intentional glitches in the content rendered by the receiver, thereby allowing viewers of the rendered content to ascertain the identity of the device.

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: Song shuffling system plays a series of songs selected from a shuffled plurality of predefined audio content sources. An exemplary embodiment concurrently receives, during a shuffle operation, a stream of audio content from each of the predefined audio content sources, wherein each of the streams of audio content comprises a plurality of serially received songs. Each song is stored by the media device as the song is received. A first predefined audio content source is selected from the predefined audio content sources. Then, a first song is selected having a beginning portion that is stored in the memory medium and that was provided by the selected first predefined audio content source. A second predefined audio content source is selected from the predefined audio content sources that is to provide a second song that is to be presented to the user upon conclusion of the presentation of the first song.

Abstract: Arrangements of integrated door lock and position sensor devices are presented. A wireless interface may be configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more remote computerized devices. A sensor may be incorporated into the device that detects when the door is open or closed. A lock may be incorporated into the device that, when engaged and the door is closed, prevents the door from being opened from at least one side of the door may be incorporated into the device. A controller may be configured to determine when the door is open, shut, locked, and/or unlocked using information from the lock and the sensor.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are described to adapt segment requests placed by an autonomous media player during media streaming to compensate for fluctuations in the bandwidth consumed by the requested segments due to variances in the underlying video content. By providing predictive data about the bandwidth consumption of upcoming video segments, client devices can adapt requests for future segments accordingly. Further, predictive consumption data can be shared between players operating within shared bandwidth to assist players needing additional bandwidth for upcoming video sequences.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods and computer program products for suggesting television programs to a user by, for example, analyzing closed caption or subtitle content of unwatched or unrecorded video content to determine if the video content is of interest to the user. The user may indicate one or more keywords for use in the analysis and the analysis may scan the text of the closed caption or subtitle content to identify matches to the keywords. Beside user input keywords, the keywords may also be determined through analysis of video content watched or recorded by the user to determine frequently encountered words. These frequently encountered words may automatically be used in matching the text of the closed caption or subtitle content. The users may also or alternatively select particular words of the frequently encountered words to use for matching.

Abstract: A method for producing an audio representation of aggregated content includes selecting preferred content from a number of sources, wherein the sources are emotion-tagged, aggregating the emotion-tagged preferred content sources, and creating an audio representation of the emotion-tagged aggregated content. The aggregation of emotion-tagged content sources and/or the creation of the audio representation may be performed by a mobile device. The emotion-tagged content include text with HTML tags that specify how text-to-speech conversion should be performed.