Abstract: Devices and methods for using base layer intra prediction mode for enhancement layer intra mode prediction are disclosed.

Abstract: The power of analytical modeling is added to existing methods for specifying policies. Generally speaking, humans use their knowledge and experience to draft policies at a relatively high level. These policies then incorporate analytical models which provide the intelligence on how to most effectively apply the high-level policy to a particular situation. When a policy is invoked, the analytical model provides up-to-date intelligence at a level of completeness and refinement not possible with previous techniques. As a result, fewer policies need to be drafted, and those few need to be updated less frequently than in previous schemes. Rather than updating the policy itself, the analytical model is automatically updated whenever new data are fed into it. As the analytical model incorporates new observational data, it grows more powerful and thus automatically increases the effectiveness of the high-level policy.

Abstract: A method for automatic recognition of human activity is provided and includes the steps of decomposing human activity into a plurality of fundamental component attributes needed to perform an activity and defining ontologies of fundamental component attributes from the plurality of the fundamental component attributes identified during the decomposing step for each of a plurality of different targeted activities. The method also includes the steps of converting a data stream captured during a performance of an activity performed by a human into a sequence of fundamental component attributes and classifying the performed activity as one of the plurality of different targeted activities based on a closest match of the sequence of fundamental component attributes obtained during the converting step to at least a part of one of the ontologies of fundamental component attributes defined during the defining step. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for automatically identifying performance of workout routines is provided. The system includes a set of sensors wearable on a body of an exerciser during performance of exercises. Each sensor is configured to measure a parameter selected from motion, acceleration, position, and applied force, and to communicate parameters measured. The system also includes a device configured to receive a set of parameters measured over a period of time by the set of sensors and to access stored pattern information corresponding to a plurality of predetermined exercise activities and a plurality of predetermined workout routines to identify one or more performed exercise activities performed by the exerciser and to identify a performed workout routine performed by the exerciser during the period of time. Apparel and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Low resolution information streams are combined in a broadcast carrier and broadcast along with full resolution information streams down a television broadcast network. The low resolution streams may be decoded and displayed in mosaic display with multiple images from separate low resolution streams simultaneously displayed. When a user selects a particular channel to be displayed, a low resolution stream associated with the selected channel is displayed (video and audio) while the full resolution stream is processed for display. Once the full resolution stream is available for display, it replaces the low resolution stream. The user perceives a much lower channel change time by viewing the low resolution stream during the channel change delay. The low resolution stream may also be provided directly to a portable media player (PMP) in a low resolution format required for display by the PMP.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for complexity-scalable video coding. One embodiment of a method for video coding includes receiving a sequence of one or more video frames, obtaining a budget for the one or more video frames, the budget specifying a maximum number of computations that may be used in performing motion estimation for the one or more video frames, allocating the maximum number of computations among individual ones of the one or more video frames, performing motion estimation in accordance with the allocating, and outputting a motion estimate for the sequence.

Abstract: A computing device for providing Advertisement Decision Management services to a subscriber network that connects display devices. The computing device acquires a network program media stream associated with a network service from a provider network, delivers the network program media stream to a display device connected to the subscriber network, and collects usage data for the display device. When the computing device detects an advertising opportunity in the network program media stream, it selects an advertisement to fulfill the advertising opportunity, delivers the advertisement to the display device at the start time of the advertising opportunity, and delivers the network program media stream to the display device at the end time of the advertising opportunity. To select the advertisement, the computing device either requests the advertising opportunity from an advertisement server, or retrieves the advertisement from local data storage.

Abstract: Power saving in computing devices is provided. A first computing device communicates with a second computing device using a first set of tones. A low power event is detected by the first computing device. In response to the detected low power event, a request to communicate using a second set of tones is sent to the second computing device by the first computing device. The second set of tones has fewer tones than the first set of tones, and may be a subset of the first set of tones.

Abstract: A method for multi-streaming multimedia content data over a network to affiliated client devices is provided. A manifest including a list of Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) for different segments of multimedia content data for selected primary multimedia content and a list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate multimedia content related to and different from the selected primary multimedia content is built and made available for download over the network with a transfer protocol. Synchronization of display of the selected primary multimedia content on a primary display and display of the at least one alternate content on the at least one auxiliary client device is thereby enabled. A system for streaming multimedia data over a network to affiliated client devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for admitting a new data file into a channel, a request for admission of the new data file into the channel is received. It is determined as to whether at least a minimum number of bits of at least one current data file has been transferred to the receiver. The rate at which the at least one current data file is transferred is reduced below a minimum constant bit rate in response to a determination that at least a minimum number of bits of the at least one current data file has been transferred to the receiver and the new data file is admitted into the channel.

Abstract: A method, system and devices for delivering a switched digital video (SDV) channel to a network element, such as an end user set-top box, based on the decoding capabilities of the network element. The system determines whether to deliver the SDV channel in a first format, such as MPEG-4, or a second format, such as MPEG-2. When only network elements capable of decoding MPEG-4 content are tuned to the SDV channel, the system can realize bandwidth savings by delivering only the MPEG-4 version of the SDV channel. When legacy network elements capable of decoding only MPEG-2 content tune to a particular SDV channel, the system delivers only the MPEG-2 version of the SDV channel. The methods and devices can be used in headends, including those that deploy switched digital video, and other appropriate locations within the content distribution system, such as within the edge devices in the distribution hub.

Abstract: Syntax cleanup methods and systems for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for streaming media content to a client device includes a server providing, for the client device, a variant playlist file that identifies a plurality of variant streams having different encoded bitrates; tracking sequence numbers of a first set of media segments downloaded by the client device from a first playlist file that corresponds to the first variant stream encoded at a first bitrate; receiving, from the client device, a request for a second playlist file that identifies a second set of media segments from a second variant stream encoded at a second bitrate; determining whether to identify, in the second playlist file, at least one media segment in the second set of media segments that has a same sequence number as any of the media segments, from the first variant stream, downloaded by the client device; and providing, to the client device, the second playlist file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing streamed media to client devices includes providing, for a client device, a variant playlist file that identifies a plurality of variant streams each corresponding to a different encoding of the same presentation but each presenting the same content having the same duration; and receiving, from the client device, a first request to provide a first set of identifiers that directs the first client device to a first set of media segments from a first variant stream of the plurality of variant streams in the variant playlist file, wherein the first set of media segments corresponds to a first encoding. The method further includes, responsive to the first request, providing a second set of identifiers that directs the client device to a second set of media segments, which corresponds to a second encoding, to use in downloading a first portion of the content.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a coding mode are described. For example, the method receives at least one block of a signal to be encoded. The method determines a frame vertical pixel difference in the at least one block and determines a field vertical pixel difference in the at least one block. The method then compares the frame vertical pixel difference with the field vertical pixel difference to determine a first coding mode for the at least one block.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: A method of acquiring and accumulating data from a server via a network is provided. A request is transmitted for a plurality of items of data and includes at least one ingestion marker associated with the data. The at least one ingestion marker represents a last occurrence of when a change was made to the data. Data is received with a transfer protocol in response to the request. The data has at least one associated ingestion marker different than the at least one associated ingestion marker transmitted with the request. The received data and the at least one associated ingestion marker is stored in memory. The request is transmitted and the data is received and stored electronically by an electronic client device communicating with the server over the network. A system of acquiring and accumulating Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data from a web-server over a network is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and computing device for assessing the integrity of receivers in a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to improve load balancing. The method configures a load balancing manager to move registered modems between the receivers, where each receiver is tuned to a frequency. The method obtains a signal quality measurement for each receiver, and, for each receiver, evaluates the signal quality measurement, and identifies the receiver as an impaired receiver when the frequency to which the receiver is tuned is identified by the evaluating as an impaired frequency. The method attempts to repair each impaired receiver, and notifies the load balancing manager to not allow moving the registered modems to each impaired receiver that is not repairable, and to allow moving the registered modems to each receiver that transitions from impaired to unimpaired.

Abstract: A method and system for secure access to data files copied onto a second storage device from a first storage device. A computer receives data from a first storage device that is in communication with the computer. A data file is stored to a second storage device. A passkey is generated and associated with the data file. A passkey image file corresponding to the passkey is generated. The passkey image file is transmitted to the first storage device for storage. Subsequent access to the data file on the second storage device requires entry of the passkey. The passkey is only accessible to a user that has access to read the passkey image file on the first storage device.