Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling each wideband tuner of a television converter device such as a set-top box to receive transponders from any satellite location and provide a unique feed per television converter device (e.g., per set-top box) input, giving each television converter device tuner its own set of six, eight or more transponders. The capacity of transponder stacking in the digital domain is extended to a system and method to make use of wideband tuner/demodulators. Each television converter device has a single wideband tuner/demodulator for six, eight or more transponders with each transponder being from any of all possible satellite locations. Bandwidth to each television converter device is thereby usefully increased.

Abstract: A system includes a server in communication with a first set top box and a second set top box. The server receives a request from the first set top box to access an available tuner of the second set top box, accesses account information associated with the first set top box, and commands the second set top box to stream content from the available tuner to the first set top box according to the account information. A method includes identifying available tuners of set top boxes assigned to different customers, receiving a request from a first set top box to access an available tuner of a second set top box, accessing account information associated with the first set top box, and commanding the second set top box to stream content to the first set top box according to the account information of the first set top box.

Abstract: A media content processing system includes a receiver configured to receive a media content signal, associated with a media content instance, from a plurality of sources including a first source and a second source. The media content processing system further includes a processing device programmed to generate a first recorded segment that includes a portion of the media content instance received from the first source, determine a signal strength of the media content signal received from the first source, compare the signal strength to a predetermined level, request the media content signal from the second source if the signal strength is below the predetermined level, generate a second recorded segment that includes a portion of the media content instance received from the second source, and concatenate the second recorded segment to the first recorded segment.

Abstract: A wireless headset receives audio data wirelessly from a television receiver and outputs audio to the user through earphones. The wireless headset includes an inertial sensor that detects an orientation of the user's head. If the orientation of the user's head indicates that the user is sleeping, then wireless headset turns off the wireless receiver, thereby saving battery life.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing, transcoding, and caching off-air programming at a location local to the consumer. According to certain embodiments, a device is provided that receives off-air (e.g., broadcast) and/or cable (e.g. ClearQAM) programming via one or more antennas and caches the programming in various streams having various bit rates for later viewing using, for example, Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) streaming. Such a device can be incorporated in a larger system that can stream content via a data communication network (e.g., the Internet) and the device in a seamless manner. The device also can be controlled by a remote system via the data communication network, and further can be configured to stream content to a remote device via the data communication network.

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: 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 and methods of graphically presented virtual DVDs are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment receives a request from an electronic device of one of an owner or a guest. In response, data corresponding to the owner's personal virtual DVD collection is communicated to the electronic device, wherein the communicated data is used to present a first image corresponding to a graphical representation of a virtual bookshelf case to the owner and to present a plurality of second images each corresponding to a graphical representation of one of a plurality of virtual DVDs in the owner's personal virtual DVD collection.

Abstract: A content selection menu is generated and provided to a user. The content selection menu includes a plurality of audiovisual (AV) programs that are provided for user selection. The AV programs may be positioned in the content selection menu in accordance with their associated score for content attributes. Upon providing the content selection to a user, the user may select a program for viewing or the user may indicate interest in a program. If the user indicates interest in a program a second content selection menu is generated based at least in part on the attributes of the program of interest.

Abstract: A secondary television receiver device includes one or more television tuners that can be integrated into a whole-home television receiving system. The secondary device that is enhanced with tuner capability registers the tuners with a primary receiver, which allocates tuners from available sources as needed. The tuned video stream may be directed to the primary television receiver for storage, trick play or other features prior to re-transmission to the ultimate viewing device. Alternatively, the received video stream may be directly rendered to a video display attached to the enhanced secondary receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods of coordinating home automation activity may include accessing event data from a storage database communicatively coupled with an electronic device. Each item of event data may include a time and date at which the event data was collected. The methods may also include generating an event table identifying the number of events occurring during discrete time intervals for a date range. The event table may include a graphical depiction of the number of events that occurred for each discrete time interval. The methods may further include outputting the event table from the electronic device for display on a display device.

Abstract: A solar powered satellite system is provided. A power control system, for example, of the solar powered satellite system may include, but is not limited to, a first interface configured to receive a power signal from the satellite receiver, a voltage converter electrically coupled to the first interface, the voltage converter configured to reduce a voltage of the power signal received from the satellite receiver to a predetermined voltage, a second interface configured to receive a power signal from the solar panel assembly, a third interface configured to be coupled to at least one power consumer of a satellite antenna system, and a source selection circuit electrically coupled to the voltage converter, the solar panel assembly and the third interface, the source selection circuit configured to output a selected power signal based upon a comparison between the predetermined voltage and a voltage of the power signal from the solar panel assembly.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are described to transfer a media program from a media server to a playback device over a network. The media program is encoded in a multi-layer format having a plurality of layers comprising a base layer and at least one additional layer. The base layer supports playback of the entire media program at a lower resolution and each of the additional layers provides additional data that, when combined with the base layer, supports playback of the media program at a higher resolution. The base layer is initially transferred to allow playback of the media program at the lower resolution on the playback device. If sufficient resources remain after transfer of the base layer, then at least one of the additional layers may be subsequently transferred to allow playback of the media program at the higher resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing media mosaics are described. One embodiment provides a media mosaic management method in a media device. The method generates a mosaic filter based on a program selected from a first media mosaic. The mosaic filter is used to identify related programs for presentation in a second, customized media mosaic.

Abstract: Various arrangements are provided for using an unmanned aerial vehicle with a home automation system. The home automation host system may determine that a home automation event has occurred. The system may determine to perform unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance of the home in response to the home automation event. Deployment of a UAV may be triggered in response to determining to perform the UAV surveillance of the home. Video may then captured by the UAV of a portion of the home, possibly corresponding to the location of the home automation event. The video captured by the UAV of the portion of the home in association with an indication of the home automation event that triggered deployment of the UAV may be recorded.

Abstract: A remote control having an ultraviolet light emitting device for disinfecting the outer surfaces of the remote control is disclosed. In particular, the remote control may include an ultraviolet transmissive housing and internal ultraviolet emitting light emitting diodes. The ultraviolet transmissive housing allows the light from the internally mounted ultraviolet emitters to pass through the remote control's housing and kill bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms on the outer surface of the remote control by employing methods to automate safe and effective operations of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An automated voice-based customer service system assists TV subscribers without engaging a customer service representative at a call center. A spoken user query is captured by a hand-held remote control device equipped with a microphone. The remote control device transmits voice data to a television content receiver and the voice data is sent to an automated customer service system. The automated customer service system decodes the user query and formulates a response. The response is then transmitted back to the television content receiver for presentation to the user as a voice response, on-screen text response, or as a modification to equipment settings. The user is able to converse verbally with the voice-based automated customer service system. Such a protocol assists subscribers in solving most common, routine problems without involvement of a human customer service representative.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided which facilitate the resolution of recording conflicts of a digital video recorder (DVR). A DVR identifies a recording conflict between a first recording timer associated with a first television program and a second recording timer associated with a second television program. A communication is initiated to a communication device associated with a user of the digital video recorder to inform the user of the recording conflict. Responsive to the communication, the user provides information to the DVR via the communication device requesting to resolve the recording conflict. The DVR utilizes the provided information to modify one or more of the conflicted recording timers to resolve the conflict.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device programmed to receive an alert signal indicating an issue associated with a customer premises. The computing device is further programmed to transmit a notification signal to a plurality of remote devices, determine whether at least one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification signal, and transmit an update signal to the other of the plurality of remote devices after one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification. The update signal indicates that one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification signal.