Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a request for a transfer of content where the request is associated with a user device. It is determined if a deferred transfer should be performed. The deferred transfer defers the transfer of the content with a completion by a completion time. The request is stored in a queue where the request is associated with the completion time. The method processes the request from the queue to transfer the content at a start time. The content is transferred by the completion time. The method then adjusts, for a user associated with the user device, a charging parameter for the transfer due to the transfer being deferred.

Abstract: An active link wireless cable mesh network and a method for transmitting data in a wireless cable mesh network are provided. A plurality of end devices are connected in a mesh configuration. A data message is transmitted to a first end device via one of a plurality of antennas radiating elements which form a phased array antenna. If the message is not successfully received, the antenna radiating elements is steered to another transceiver in the mesh network to complete the transmission.

Abstract: A source device and method for authenticating a sink device. The source device and method include detecting when the sink device connects to a communication interface and in response to detecting a connected sink device, activating a sink device authentication protocol which authenticates whether the connected sink device is an approved sink device for connecting via the communication interface. The source device determines a level of authentication of the connected sink device from among a first-level authentication and a second-level authentication based on first and second authentication components, respectively derived from different master keys, which affects the type of content provided to the sink device. Responsive to the level of authentication provided through the connected sink device, modifying the content transmitted to the connected sink device, and preventing transfer of any content from the source device to the sink device in response to the sink device not being authenticated.

Abstract: Determining sensitive information and preventing the unauthorized or unintended dissemination of such information are disclosed. Terms are determined from documents associated with users in a network. Distributions among users and relative frequencies with which the terms are used are determined. Link strengths between users are calculated. Based on the distribution of the terms, the relative frequencies of use among the user profiles and link strengths between users conducting information transactions that include the terms, a sensitivity level for each term can be determined. To determine whether a particular information transaction with particular terms may be conducted between two users in the network, a combination of link strength between the users and sensitivity level of the terms with respect to the users or users' profiles are considered. If the information transaction includes terms that are unknown to one of the users, then a warning or alarm can be raised.

Abstract: In a downloadable conditional access system (DCAS), preferably all DCAS-specific code is implemented in a configurable secure (CS) processor that is in communication with the host processor. Preferably, no DCAS-specific code is executed in the host processor. The host processor delivers commands to the CS processor, which the CS processor performs to configure itself in accordance with the particular DCAS encryption scheme used by the DCAS. Once configured, the CS processor executes a DCAS software module that has been downloaded to the CS processor, which looks for the corresponding EMMs and ECMs, processes them to obtain the CW, and then uses the CW to decrypt the content stream.

Abstract: An IP client device that is connected to a display device for presentation of AV content pulls AV content for a user-selected service from a server and presents the AV content to the user. Concurrently, the IP client device pulls a selected version of AV content for an additional service from a server that hosts multiple versions of the AV content for the additional service, the multiple versions providing the AV content for the additional service at different bit rates, and temporarily storing the selected version of the AV content for the additional service in a memory. In response to a request from the user for presentation of the AV content for the additional service, the IP client device reads the selected version of the AV content for the additional service from the memory and presents the AV content for the additional service to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for fast motion estimation. One embodiment of a method for motion estimation includes classifying a macroblock of a source frame in accordance with an initial matching cost, an intermediate matching cost, and a final matching cost, where the intermediate matching cost is estimated based on a predicted motion vector for the source frame and the final matching cost is estimated based on a final motion vector for a correlated macroblock in a prior frame, performing motion estimation for the macroblock based upon the classifying, wherein an early termination is applied in accordance with a result of the classifying, and outputting a motion vector for the macroblock based on a result of the motion estimation.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for processing Type-Length-Value (TLV) Messages with TLV Engines in any TLV-based protocol by using configuration files associated with the protocol. One method provides for generating a TLV message by receiving output from a sender at a message engine, loading one or more configuration files associated with a TLV-based protocol onto the message engine, wherein the configuration files describe information about one more message elements, generating a TLV message at the message engine by creating and ordering the message elements into a TLV message according to the configurations files, and transmitting the TLV message over a network from the message engine.

Abstract: A method for resolving the synchronization of identity data from a central database server to distributed database servers is provided. The method involves synchronizing identity data to central and distributed database servers based on identity data types associated with a factory. The method first includes assigning by a configuration manager identity data types to factories which manufacture devices that will need identity data. Next an Identity Data (ID) Loader receives a file containing the identity data, and the ID Loader loads the identity data to a central database server and creates a file history record indicating a record of the file loaded. Next, a Factory Synchronizer Loader (FSL) is triggered to create and execute jobs to load identity data, configuration data or other data. Finally, the identity data is synchronized between the central data base with the remote database servers in a location of the factory.

Abstract: Authentication in a system includes presenting information to a user containing a partial sequence of a passcode along with distractors. The user is challenged to identify the partial sequence from among the information in order to gain access to the system.

Abstract: A hierarchical decoder is operable to decode a hierarchical multi-layer data package. The hierarchical multi-layer data package includes a plurality of layers and one or more subpackages in each layer. To decode the data package, an objective function is created based on parameters for identifying data in the data package most relevant to information of interest. Subpackages in one or more layers are evaluated using the objective function and a subpackage is selected. Information for the selected subpackage, which may include a summary and metadata, is used to determine whether the subpackage satisfies an information need. If the information need is not satisfied, a drill down procedure is performed to evaluate subpackages in a next lower layer of the data package.

Abstract: A method is provided for updating identity data on devices. The method provides for acquiring a device comprising a component associated with a component identifier and having a One Time Programmable Key installed on the component, submitting the component identifier and the One Time Programmable Key to an External Trust Authority, receiving new identity data tied to the component identifier from the External Trust Authority that is encrypted with the One Time Programmable Key, loading the new identity data onto an Update Server, receiving a request at the Update Server from the device that requests new identity data, and providing the new identity data upon receipt of the request, upon which the device decrypts and installs the identity data using the One Time Programmable Key installed on the component within the device.

Abstract: A constrained variable rate coding technique limits the number of bits used in an encoding process. A quality setting indicates a maximum level of quality to be used in the encoding process which limits the number of bits used in the encoding process. A bandwidth reclamation factor which indicates an amount of bandwidth to conserve may also be used with the quality setting. The constrained variable rate coding technique using a lower quality encoding process for less complex video data and a higher quality encoding technique for higher quality video data.

Abstract: A system (10), method (90) and apparatus (14) are provided for provisioning a multicast stream, such as an IP multicast stream, in a network. The system includes a first tier (12), such as a national backbone, with a first Multicast Address Discovery (MCAD) directory (34), and at least one second tier having a headend, such as a regional headend (14), with a second MCAD directory (36, 38). The system (10) includes a tiered MCAD directory network that allows the assignment of multicast addresses to multicast streams received from an upper tier MCAD directory. The tiered MCAD directory structure allows for requesting and storing stream descriptors and delivering stream descriptors on-demand to MCAD-enabled devices throughout the system. The system (10) also allows for stream provisioning maintenance and validation at lower tier headends via MCAD-enabled device queries or re-queries of upper tier MCAD directories.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method determines a first address of a sender and a second address of a receiver. The first address includes a first hierarchy of a plurality of domains and the second address includes a second hierarchy of a plurality of domains. The method then calculates a crossover point and an index based on the crossover point and the first hierarchy of the first address. The method sends a message from the sender to the receiver where the message includes the index. Before the index reaches a predefined value, each node that receives the message adjusts the index and sends the message to a parent node based on the first address. Also, when the index reaches a predefined value, each node sends the message to a child node based on the second address until a domain in which the receiver is located is reached.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling load balancing of modems may include receiving an indication of impairment of a channel, placing modems using the impaired channel into a partial service mode and removing the impaired channel from a list of channels available for load balancing, monitoring the quality of the impaired channel, and, responsive to detection of acceptable quality on the impaired channel, removing the modems from partial service mode and adding the channel back to the list of channels available for load balancing. Another method includes, but is not limited to, receiving an indication of a partial service mode for a modem, incrementing a partial service mode counter for a channel associated with the partial service mode indication, computing a partial service mode metric based in part upon the partial service mode counter, and responsive to a determination that the partial service mode metric meets a threshold, determining an allocation of modems to channels.

Abstract: A system includes a data storage configured to store a model human visual system, an input module configured to receive an original picture in a video sequence and to receive a reference picture, and a processor. The processor is configured to create a pixel map of the original picture using the model human visual system. A first layer is determined from the pixel map. A weighting map is determined from a motion compensated difference between the original picture and the reference picture. A processed picture is then determined from the original picture using the weighting map and the first layer.

Abstract: Primary presentation stream is received and presented to user. Alternate presentation stream received according to channel prediction stands ready for presentation if user selects channel processed as alternate stream. Prediction is made according to pre-indication of channel selection or time-selected usage history.

Abstract: Generating a sequential semantic representation and a resulting content item sequence or presentation is disclosed. A set of nodes and paths among the nodes are determined. Each node includes a corresponding a set of criteria. The paths define a relationship among the plurality of nodes. Transitional operators that define additional criteria for the nodes, are associated with the paths. Content items that include characteristics that are determined to match the corresponding set of criteria for at least one of the nodes are retrieved.

Abstract: A system to facilitate AR processing includes receiving captured media from a user device and context information relating to media that is being delivered to a receiving device. The system may use the media being delivered with the captured media to generate one or more virtual objects. The user device may augment a user's view of reality that is reflected in the captured media by overlaying or otherwise incorporating the virtual objects in the user's view of reality.