Abstract: A method is provided for updating identity data on network-enabled devices. The method provides for providing certificate signing requests and/or device identifiers to an external trust authority, which in response generates digital certificates and/or key pairs. The generated digital certificates and/or key pairs can be provided to a network-enabled device in response to an update request.

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

Abstract: A method of scheduling a digital video recording via a remote device, comprising providing a digital video recorder comprising one or more tuners and a recording database stored on a storage device within the digital video recorder, the recording database being configured to store one or more recording schedules that describe programming events to be recorded by the digital video recorder, receiving a message over a data network connection from a remote device, the message describing instructions to add a new recording schedule about a particular programming event to the recording database, comprising a program identifier, a program name, a program icon URL, a channel identifier, a start time, an end time, a deletion priority, and a recording type, processing the message to add the new recording schedule to the recording database, and transmitting an error message to the remote device when the new recording schedule conflicts with another recording schedule already stored in the recording database.

Abstract: Buffer bloat continues to cause latency problems for all kinds of network traffic, e.g., internet protocol traffic. Implementing network based control of packet upstream packet discards enables a scheduler of packets to manage congestion, instead of the network element with bloat. In embodiments, a cable modem termination system may schedule delivery of packets and, after receiving the scheduled packets, discarding packets. The cable modem termination system may determine when to discard a packet based on a detected backlog of data in a cable modem upstream flow queue. For example, a late discard of such packets may be based on information in a schedule request received from the network element.

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.

Abstract: A method for scrolling through a representation of data that is too large to be presented legibly in its entirety within confines of a display is disclosed. The method includes presenting a section of the representation on the display. A portion of the representation is selected, using the section presented on the display, for scrolling on. The presentation of the section presented on the display is modified to include additional representation based on the portion selected. The additional content is to be presented in a non-linear fashion. Input from a user interface associated with movement through the additional content is received. The movement is to provide non-linear scrolling through the additional content. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for managing and adjusting adaptive streaming traffic to optimize fairness are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a request for a media segment; locating the media segment; determining the bitrate of the requested media segment; and assigning priority information to the media segment, wherein a media segment having a lowest guaranteed bitrate is assigned a higher priority than media segments having higher bitrates.

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: Devices and methods for scoring viewer's interactions with content broadcast on a presentation device by processing at least one audio signal received by a microphone proximate the viewer and the presentation device, to generate at least one audio signature, which is compared to at least two different reference audio signatures.

Abstract: User-preference datapoints are collected. At least some of these datapoints are associated with user-preference information about an item (e.g., a movie), and some of these datapoints are associated with user-preference information about an attribute (e.g., a movie genre or an actor). A profile of the user is created based, at least in part, on these datapoints. When a new datapoint is collected, the new datapoint is assigned a user-preference “score.” If, for example, the new datapoint does not come with an explicit user-preference rating, then the score is based on related item and attribute datapoints already in the profile. Depending upon the relationship of the new datapoint to the already existing datapoints, a confidence value is assigned to the user-preference score. The profile is then updated with the new datapoint along with its assigned score and confidence rating. The user profile can be used in performing any number of actions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method detects a user input for a telestration on an image being displayed on a display device and determines a plurality of image portions of the image based on the telestration. The plurality of image portions are determined by a boundary around each image portion based on the telestration. The method then determines a set of tags for the plurality of image portions. The set of tags are determined based on image recognition of content in the plurality of image portions. An operator is determined based on the telestration where the operator characterizes an operation to perform for the plurality of image portions. The method determines a search query based on applying the operator to the set of tags and causes a search to be performed using the search query.

Abstract: When an advertisement is presented to a viewer, that viewer is also presented with a question related to the contents of the advertisement. The viewer is rewarded if he correctly answers the question. In some embodiments, the reward is the cancellation of the unviewed portion of the advertisement. The viewer's response is directly related to this viewer's familiarity with and reaction to the advertising campaign. Information about that response is gathered and analyzed. If it is determined that the viewer is sufficiently aware of this advertisement, then a different advertisement could be sent in the future to avoid boring the viewer. Responses from several viewers could be used to determine when a particular phase of an advertising campaign has reached an optimum “saturation” level among the viewers. The campaign can then move on to the next phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for remotely controlling other devices. The control device comprises a first device interface for transmitting control signals to a first device that is remote from the control device, a second device interface for receiving an input signal from a second device, a user interface corresponding to a function of the first device, and a protocol translator. The control signal is in accordance with a first communication protocol. The input signal is in accordance with a second communication protocol. The user interface is operable by a user so as to cause a control signal to be transmitted by the first device interface, for use by the first device. The protocol translator is configured to convert signals received by the second device interface from being in accordance with the second communication protocol to being in accordance with the first communication protocol.

Abstract: Devices and methods that match audio signatures to programming content stored in a remote database.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing selective access to supplemental program content may include receiving a program stream, outputting the program stream to a display, receiving an indication of a viewer request for supplemental program content, obtaining an identifier related to supplemental program content, requesting supplemental program content using the identifier, receiving reception information related to the supplemental program content, and receiving the supplemental program content based upon the reception information. Another method includes, but is not limited to, transmitting a first program stream, receiving a request for supplemental program content, the request comprising metadata, identifying supplemental program content using the metadata from the request, sending reception information for the identified supplemental program content, and transmitting supplemental program content in accordance with said reception information.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs for implementing radio frequency (RF) and Internet Protocol (IP) virtual channel maps (VCM) in an integrated RF/IP digital video receiver (DVR) are provided. One embodiment comprises a method for managing virtual channel information in an integrated RF/IP digital video receiver. One such method comprises: receiving a data set associated with at least one IP transport stream; determining at least one virtual channel number (VCN) and at least one corresponding delivery parameter associated with the IP transport stream; and associating the VCN with the delivery parameter in a virtual channel map (VCM).

Abstract: A method of operating an IP client device for presentation of video content to a viewer includes the step of transmitting a trickplay request to a server. The client device receives from the server a manifest that references at least first and second consecutive video content fragments. The first fragment contains a sequence of N1 frames and the second fragment contains a sequence of N2 frames, and defines a set of M1 frames of the first fragment, where M1 is less than N1, and a set of M2 frames of the second fragment, where M2 is less than N2. The client device transmits a request for the M1 frames and the M2 frames and receives the M1 frames and the M2 frames. The client device presents the M1 frames and the M2 frames consecutively at the uniform, predetermined frame rate. The sequence of the M1 frames and the M2 frames has a presentation duration of (M1+M2)/F.

Abstract: Systems and methods for blackout management in media distribution systems may include a central data center in a service provider's domain. The central data server may coordinate with a blackout manager that implements control features for blackout. In contrast to (or to supplement) blackout control solutions that require integrated receiver decoders (IRD)s to be physically installed at each of the regional headends in the service provider network, the blackout manager may provide three functions: 1) a Virtual IRD (VIRD) function 2) access control functions via access control component, and 3) VIRD-to-EndPoint mapping function in the linkage manager.

Abstract: When a user is about to perform a “communicative act” (e.g., to send an e-mail or to post to a social-networking site), the proposed communicative act is reviewed to see if it may lead to a privacy leak. If, upon review, it is determined that performing the proposed communicative act could lead to a privacy leak, then an appropriate response is taken, such as preventing the proposed act from being performed or suggesting a modification to the proposed act that would lessen the likelihood of a privacy leak. A privacy server creates a privacy profile for a user based on information about the user's personae and how those personae are used. Using that profile, the privacy server can judge whether a proposed communicative act would support an unwanted inference.