Abstract: A method is disclosed of analyzing a video stream using a video analyzer. The video stream includes image frame data corresponding to an integer N number of image frames, respectively. The video analyzer includes a controller and a frame processor. The method includes setting a problem threshold value corresponding to a parameter of the image frame data, receiving first image frame data corresponding to a first image frame, analyzing the parameter of a portion of the received first image frame data and generating an analyzed value and determining whether there is a problem based on the analyzed value and the problem threshold value. The portion of the analyzed portion of the received first image frame data is less than the total received first image frame data.

Abstract: A method determines a value for a first flag that controls whether a temporal motion vector is used for a slice. If the value of the first flag is a first value, the method performs: evaluating a first condition to determine whether to encode or decode a second flag; if the first condition indicates the second flag should be used, encoding or decoding the second flag in encoding or decoding the slice; evaluating a second condition to determine whether to encode or decode position information that indicates a position that contains the collocated reference picture; and if the second condition indicates the position information should be used, encoding or decoding the position information in encoding or decoding the slice. If the first flag is a second value, the method does not encode or decode the second flag and the position information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method determines whether a flag that controls whether a temporal motion vector is used for slice is present in an encoded bitstream. If the flag is present, the method determines a value for the flag, and if the flag is not present, the method infers that the value for the flag is a default value. Then, the method evaluates whether to determine a collocated reference picture in decoding the slice from the encoded bitstream based on the value of the flag.

Abstract: A video content delivery system is provided for set top boxes (STBs) that may be relocated as well as mobile clients using the Internet to retrieve content manifest files pertaining to the geographic area in which they are located. To provide this system, the edge cache in each geo-location region of a content provider is configured to append location specific metadata to a client's original HTTP request for content, making the request geo-location or region specific. The specific metadata appended by the edge cache in each region prevent clients from bypassing blackout or other content restrictions by moving from a non-restricted area and sending inaccurate location information. In another feature of the system to prevent client bypassing of blackout restrictions, the edge cache when communicating with the STB removes any location specific information which the client provides.

Abstract: Systems and methods that improve video quality by signaling of parameters in a sample adaptive offset (SAO) process are disclosed. The methods and systems described herein generally pertain to video processing such as video encoders and decoders.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of methods and systems for processing access-only user-behavior data and developing and using user-preference models. In one example embodiment, a method for ascribing a score to a first portion of preference data includes establishing a model of user-preference data and receiving the first portion of preference data at a first computerized device and storing that data. The method further includes calculating at least one statistic in relation to the first portion of the preference data by way of a processing device of either the first computerized device or a second computerized device and performing at least one additional operation, by way of either the processing device or another processing device, by which the at least one statistic is evaluated in relation to the model, whereby as a result of being evaluated, the at least one statistic is converted into the score.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for embedding and recovering a spatial fingerprint in a sequence of video frames. The sequence includes marked frames that include marked groups having markable positions. The embedding method selects a frame offset and marking period for the marked frames, and determines a marking strength for modifying each marked group. A portion of the spatial fingerprint is embedded in each marked group of a first subgroup of the marked groups, and an ordering of the portion embedded in the first subgroup is embedded in each marked group of a second subgroup of the marked groups. The recovering method analyzes a quality ratio of the DCT transform energy and the residual for each markable position in the frame to determine whether the frame is a marked frame. The recovering method recovers the spatial fingerprint when the marked groups maintain the quality ratio in a number of successive marked frames.

Abstract: A device for stacking signals in an expanded frequency range includes an upconverter and a multiplexer. The upconverter is configured to receive upstream signals that are in a first frequency range, upconvert some of the upstream signals that are in a first frequency sub-range of the first frequency range and pass some of the upstream signals that are in a second frequency sub-range of the first frequency range. The multiplexer is configured to stack the upconverted upstream signals and the upstream signals in the second frequency sub-range and output the stacked upstream signals.

Abstract: The presence of micro-reflections is determined in a network by determining micro-reflections from amplifier and diplex filter impedance mismatches and micro-reflections from drop cable impedance mismatches. The micro-reflections from impedance mismatches are determined by instructing network element to transmit a test signal at a first symbol rate and a first resolution for amplifier and diplex filter impedance mismatches and a second frequency with a second symbol rate and second resolution for micro-reflections from drop cable impedance mismatches. The tests are performed with several frequencies and the channels with the least micro-reflections are identified.

Abstract: Techniques (400, 600, 700) and apparatuses (102, 106, 108, 800) are described that enable a policy for secure packet transmission using required node paths and cryptographic signatures. These techniques and apparatuses enable a secure execution environment (SEE) of a target device to receive trustworthy sensitive data.

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 method of distributing video program material includes encoding the program material in accordance with a first distribution constraint (CBR) to produce a first stream (A), encoding the program material in accordance with a second distribution constraint, which is more relaxed that the first distribution constraint, to produce a second stream (B), and employing the first and second streams to produce a third stream (C) representing differences between the first and second streams.

Abstract: A two-pass encoder determines a quantization parameter (QP) value to control an actual number of bits consumed in a second encoding pass. The two-pass encoder includes a first encoding module, a rate control module and a second encoding module. The first encoding module includes a circuit configured to perform a first encoding pass to encode input video sequences. The rate control module is configured to determine R, a target bit rate for a picture in the second encoding pass, and ?, a variable dependent on a QP value range, a picture type, and complexity. Q, a QP value for the picture or an MB of the picture in the second encoding pass, is also determined based on R and ?. The second encoding module is configured to use Q to encode the picture or the MB of the picture in the input video sequence in the second encoding pass to form an output bitstream. The rate control module is further configured to update ? to encode a next picture or a next MB of the picture in the second encoding pass.

Abstract: Data are received at a receiving device from a server, where the data are encoded into one of a plurality of different versions, each version having a different fidelity level. A data stream having a buffer with an initial maximum window size for buffering received data is requested from the server, wherein the data stream initially has a first fidelity level. The maximum window size is managed to prevent the current window size from falling below a threshold that might trigger an adjustment by the server in the fidelity level of the data stream sent by the server, unless and until the accumulation of data in the buffer due to a decrease in the present processing capabilities of the controller of the receiving device falls below a threshold of processing power necessary for processing the data stream at the higher fidelity level for more than a transitory period of time.

Abstract: A sequence of picture slices is encoded as reference slices and non-reference slices, wherein the reference slices include B slices, by forming, for each B slice, at least one data packet containing data values derived from brightness and color information pertaining to the slice. The data packet for each B slice includes a header element indicating whether the B slice is a reference slice. The header element of each reference B slice has a value that depends on depth of the reference B slice in a hierarchy of discardability.

Abstract: A system estimates impairment contributions for upstream communications in a cable television system. The system receives equalization coefficients used by end devices in the cable television system. The equalization coefficients are used by equalizers to mitigate distortion in upstream channels for the end devices. The system analyzes the coefficients based on impairment thresholds to determine whether impairment problems exist and to identify the types of impairment problems that exist.