Abstract: A video processing system detects an overlay image, such as a logo, in a picture of a video stream, the overlay for example being a broadcaster's logo. The detection is based on evaluation of blending characteristics of a picture frame. The method of detection of an overlay defines first and second areas within the image, the first and second areas being non-overlapping. Next an alpha-blended value is calculated for the mean color value of the second area with an overlay color value. Then, if the mean color value of the first area is closer to the alpha-blended value than it is to the mean color value of the second area, the overlay can be indicated as detected and defined within the picture. Detection of the overlay can be used to identify an owner of the video, or detect when a scene change such as a commercial occurs.

Abstract: A video processing device is provided that includes a buffer, a luminance component, a maximum threshold component, a minimum threshold component and a flagging component. The buffer can store frame image data for a plurality of video frames. The luminance component can generate a first luminance value corresponding to a first frame image data and can generate a second luminance value corresponding to a second frame image data. The maximum threshold component can generate a maximum indicator signal when the difference between the second luminance value and the first luminance value is greater than a maximum threshold. The minimum threshold component can generate a minimum indicator signal when the difference between the second luminance value and the first luminance value is less than a minimum threshold. The flagging component can generate a flagged signal based on the maximum indicator signal and the minimum indicator signal.

Abstract: In a streaming server, companion content may be received and incorporated along with media that is streamed to clients. The companion content may originate from one of the clients, in some cases. In other cases, the companion content may originate from a source other than a client. The companion content may be any media relates to the media being streamed to the clients or directives that control the processing of the media being streamed to the clients.

Abstract: A method of estimating a defect location within a network is provided. Information of pre-equalization coefficients of an adaptive pre-equalizer of a terminal network element on the network is received. A total amount of equalization applied by a negative delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer relative to a main tap level and a total amount of equalization applied by a positive delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer relative to the main tap level is determined. The terminal network element is determined as being affected by a defect if at least one of the total amount of equalization applied by the negative or positive delay portions relative to the main tap level is at an unacceptable level. If a defect is identified, a location of the defect is estimated differently depending upon whether the negative or positive delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer applies the greatest amount of equalization.

Abstract: An adaptive bit rate system uses adaptive streaming to deliver content to client devices capable of adaptive bit rate streaming. Enhancing or generating compound manifest files for delivery to clients in an adaptive streaming environment permits a direct acquisition of media segments to services not currently being viewed. For example, the compound playlist can be designed to offer direct access to neighboring channels or other services in the same genre. These novel enhancements to the manifest files may reduce channel change times as well as the efficient delivery of manifest files.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining contexts and determining associated emotion profiles using information received from multiple emotion sensor enabled electronic devices, are disclosed. Contexts can be defined by a description of spatial and/or temporal components. Such contexts can be arbitrarily defined using semantically meaningful and absolute descriptions of times and locations. Emotion sensor data is associated with or includes context data that describes the circumstances under which the data was determined. The emotion sensor data can include emotion sensor readings that are implicit indications of an emotion for the context. The sensor data can also include user reported data with explicit descriptors of an emotion for the context. The emotion sensor data can be filtered by context data according a selected context. The filtered sensor data can then be analyzed to determine an emotion profile for the context that can be output to one or more users or entities.

Abstract: Advanced set top devices are beginning to merge with home network gateway devices and will soon become the major single entry point into the home. A growing trend and implementation of home gateways is to provide a centralized data entrance point to end user home. Behavioral information may be compiled from each individual device in the home network, and the home network gateway device determines advertisements to insert specifically to each device based on the entirety of the behavioral information compiled from within the home network. The advertisements provided to individual users within the home network may be determined by the home network gateway device, transparent to entities outside the home network. For example, a headend that delivers content to a home network may not know how many devices are connected to a home network gateway device, the type of devices connected, or which devices are receiving content.

Abstract: A sampling filter process is provided for scalable video coding. The process provides for re-sampling using video data obtained from an encoder or decoder process of a base layer (BL) in a multi-layer system using adaptive phase shifting to improve quality. Examples of a multi-layer encoder or decoder process are MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). The re-sampled BL data can be used in encoding or decoding of a corresponding video data of higher layers in a scalable video coding system. For example, the re-sampled or upsampled data can be used as a basis for prediction of the higher resolution video data.

Abstract: A method includes: storing, via a network storage device, information related to the playback history of a content playing device; receiving, via a network digital video recorder scheduler, a request to record requested content; receiving, via a network digital video recorder, the requested content in a first format and the requested content in a second format; and storing, via the network digital video recorder, only one of the requested content in the first format or the requested content in a second format based on the information related to the playback history.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of providing preset video processor configuration information in a video program stream is disclosed, the method including: identifying event boundaries of a video program; classifying the video program as an event type based on program title; selecting a preset from a list of at least two video processor configuration information presets for the event type; and delivering the program stream to one or more subscribers.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a histogram generating component, an analyzing component, a comparator and an encoding component. The histogram generating component can generate a histogram for image data of an image frame. The analyzing component can analyze the histogram, can identify an isolated spike in the histogram and can output at least one strobe parameter. The comparator can compare the at least one strobe parameter with at least one predetermined threshold, can output a first instruction signal when the at least one comparison operation is indicative of a strobe and can output a second instruction signal when the at least one comparison operation is not indicative of a strobe. The encoding component can encode the image data in a first manner based on the first instruction signal and can encode the image data in a second manner based on the second instruction signal.

Abstract: A method performed by an apparatus provides for adaptive bit rate content delivery to one or more client devices. The method includes: receiving data presentation content encoded into a first data stream using a first set of encoding parameters, wherein the first data stream comprises a first plurality of frames corresponding to a first encoded bit rate, wherein each frame in the first plurality of frames includes as payload a portion of the data presentation content; receiving a request, for a client device, for a second data stream having a second bit rate that is lower than the first encoded bit rate; determining a first subset of the first plurality of frames, which corresponds to the second bit rate, and generating the second data stream using the first subset of the first plurality of frames, for delivering the data presentation content to the client device.

Abstract: A video processing system enhances quality of an overlay image, such as a logo, text, game scores, or other areas forming a region of interest (ROI) in a video stream. The system separately enhances the video quality of the ROI, particularly when screen size is reduced. The data enhancement can be accomplished at decoding with metadata provided with the video data for decoding so that the ROI that can be separately enhanced from the video. In improve legibility, the ROI enhancer can increase contrast, brightness, hue, saturation, and bit density of the ROI. The ROI enhancer can operate down to a pixel-by-pixel level. The ROI enhancer may use stored reference picture templates to enhance a current ROI based on a comparison. When the ROI includes text, a minimum reduction size for the ROI relative to the remaining video can be identified so that the ROI is not reduced below human perceptibility.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining contexts and determining associated demographic profiles using information received from multiple demographic sensor enabled electronic devices, are disclosed. Contexts can be defined by a description of spatial and/or temporal components. Such contexts can be arbitrarily defined using semantically meaningful and absolute descriptions of time and location. Demographic sensor data is associated with or includes context data that describes the circumstances under which the data was determined. The demographic sensor data can include demographic sensor readings that are implicit indications of a demographic for the context. The sensor data can also include user reported data with explicit descriptions of a demographic for the context. The demographic sensor data can be filtered by context data according a selected context.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining contexts and determining associated health profiles using information received from multiple health sensor enabled electronic devices, are disclosed. Contexts can be defined by a description of spatial and/or temporal components. Such contexts can be arbitrarily defined using semantically meaningful and absolute descriptions of time and location. Health sensor data is associated with or includes context data that describes the circumstances under which the data was determined. The health sensor data can include health sensor readings that are implicit indications of health for the context. The sensor data can also include user reported data with explicit descriptions of health for the context. The health sensor data can be filtered by context data according a selected context. The filtered sensor data can then be analyzed to determine a health profile for the context that can be output to one or more users or entities.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives a trigger initiation command for configuring a trigger command and receives the trigger command from a trigger device that is separate from the computing device. The trigger command is based on a selection of a trigger command input on the trigger device. Then, the method determines a state of a complex navigation that requires multiple actions to output content associated with the state. An association is stored between the state of the complex navigation and the trigger command. The method receives the trigger command from the trigger device where the trigger command is sent based on a single input selecting the trigger command input. Then, the state of the complex navigation is recalled to output the content.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for delivering CATV content over a fiber optic network to a receiver.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives packets including video data that was encoded or decoded. The packets are dynamically routed through processing elements in different routes and some of the packets include signatures from processing elements that processed each respective packet. The method then determines a plurality of captures each including a set of packets and determines for each capture, a set of processing elements that processed the set of packets. The set of processing units inserted respective signatures into a user data section of the packets that is defined by a standard used to encode or decode the video data. The determined set of processing elements are analyzed for each capture to determine a processing element in the set of processing elements that is considered to be causing a performance degradation. Then, the method performs a remedial action associated with the processing element.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes: receiving, via a network digital video recorder, a request to record requested content; receiving, via a network digital video recorder at a first time, the requested content in a first format and the requested content in a second format; storing, via the network digital video recorder, the requested content in the first format; storing, via the network digital video recorder, the requested content in the second format; deleting, from network digital video recorder, the requested content in the second format after a predetermined time period; and transcoding, via an on demand transcoder, the requested content in the first format to the requested content in a third format after the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A system and method for issuing a license for a device through a license server is provided. A server receives identification information for a device that communicates to the server if a first license binding identity and/or a first display identity has changed. A previous license for the device is revoked and a previous license credit is returned to a user's credit pool if the first license binding identity and/or the first display identity has changed. A license request is received, which includes a second license binding identity identifying the device. If the second license binding identity is the same as the first license binding identity, the previous license for the device is issued. If the second license binding identity is not the same as the first license binding identity, a new license for the device is issued and a new license credit is deducted from the user's credit pool.