Abstract: A multifunctional infrared (IR) module is configured for multiple IR applications without an additional microcontroller to be integrated into a computing device and is able to utilize voltage control instead of current control. The multifunctional IR module includes an IR light emitting diode (LED), and an IR receiver (e.g., photodiode or phototransistor). In one embodiment, the multifunctional IR module includes a resistor that is connected to the cathode of the IR LED and the drain of a transistor, with the source of the transistor grounded. In some embodiments, the multifunctional IR module additionally includes a red LED. Various configurations of the multifunctional IR module are able to perform one or more of the following functions: IR in (receiving IR signals), IR out (generating IR signals), heart rate sensing, SpO2 (oxygen saturation) sensing, distance/proximity detection, gesture detection, LED control, and ambient light detection.

Abstract: A system, a method and a computer-readable medium are disclosed for generating an infrared code from an envelope waveform of an infrared signal on a computing device. An envelope waveform is created by reflections of the original infrared signal between the emitter of the infrared signal and the receiver of the computing device. The computing device generates an intermediate signal from the received IR signal and then determines a digital envelope waveform from the intermediate signal. The computing device queries a database storing known pairs of digital envelope waveforms and IR codes and receives an IR code.

Abstract: A codeset identifier for an infrared codeset that is compatible with an electronic device can be determined without requiring the user to manually input information about the electronic device. The user points an infrared device that is configured to control the electronic device at a computing device and presses a button, which causes the infrared device to emit an infrared signal that encodes a command representing the button that was pressed. Because the infrared device is configured to control the electronic device, an infrared code associated with the emitted infrared signal is part of the codeset that controls the electronic device and can be used to identify other infrared codes that are also compatible with the electronic device. The computing device extracts the infrared code from the received infrared signal and sends a query based on the infrared code to a server, which accesses an association table to find the codeset identifier corresponding to the infrared code.

Abstract: A Device-Based Control System (DBCS) enables a device-agnostic and source-agnostic entertainment experience through use of an internet-enabled device (IED). The IED includes a media management application for navigating through media or entertainment content, controlling media devices according to a type of media content selected by the user, and sharing media experiences via social networks. The IED includes smartphones, tablet computers, and other internet-enabled processor-based devices. The DBCS leverages the internet access of the IED to enable search and discovery of all available media content. A content recommendation system (CRS) coupled to the media management application learns media preferences from user behavior, generates from numerous disparate media sources media choices corresponding to the media preferences, and presents the media choices on the IED.

Abstract: A media control system enables a device-agnostic and source-agnostic entertainment experience through use of an internet-enabled user device. The user device includes a client application for navigating through media or entertainment content, controlling media devices according to a type of media content selected by the user, and sharing media experiences via social networks. The user device includes smartphones, tablet computers, and other internet-enabled processor-based devices. The media control system leverages the internet access of the user device to enable search and discovery of all available media content. A recommendation engine coupled to the client application learns media preferences from user behavior, generates from numerous disparate media sources recommended media choices corresponding to the media preferences, and presents the recommended media choices on the user device.

Abstract: An addressing format, or intelligent Uniform Resource Locator (IURL), is used to direct users amongst content across disparate sources. Information about media content items available across the disparate sources is managed by a server which relates the media content items and the different sources from which a media content item may be accessed in a database. When a user desires to share media content, an iURL referencing the media content is generated for the user to share. When a given user selects the iURL, information about the content sources available to the given user in conjunction with the content referenced by the iURL are processed to determine a configuration of the content sources available to the given user (which often differs from the user having shared the content) to effect playback the media content.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for selecting a television function on a channel control system through a mobile device. A request to select the television function is received. The request may be generated in response to activating a link or element in an application configured on a computing device. The television function associated with the request is to select a television broadcast channel showing a particular television program. A channel showing the particular television program is determined. An infrared code comprising an instruction to select the television function associated with the determined channel is received. The system and method allow a user to access broadcast television programs from an online interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and computer program product for relating a metadata tag to a television program identifier and associating a hashtag with metadata associated with the television program. A mapping server receives a request that includes a metadata tag (e.g., a hashtag) for a social object, such as a comment or a post to a social network. The mapping server generates a graph to determine a set of television program identifiers likely associated with the metadata tag. Furthermore, the mapping server compresses graph data over time to reduce the time needed to perform a query to the graph.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for compensating for discontinuous clock signals, default-high data buses, when generating and receiving an infrared signal on a mobile device with minimal hardware. The system can compensate for clock signals that are discontinuous using an effective bitrate in place of a nominal bitrate when processing signals. The effective bitrate can be determined by determining the length of a break in the clock signal that is discontinuous and adjusting the nominal bitrate based on the length and recurrence frequency of the break in the clock signal. Additionally, processed signals transferred on default-high data buses can be inverted to ensure the correct IR signal is output or received.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for generating an infrared signal on a mobile device. The infrared signal is generated on a mobile device by generating a bitstream based on information to be transmitted as an infrared signal. The bitstream is modulated and output on a bus to an infrared-emitting diode. The bitstream is processed in a software layer configured on the computing device, enabling the computing device to generate and process signals without additional hardware configured on the device.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for receiving an infrared signal on a mobile device. The mobile device receives an infrared signal by creating an intermediate bitstream based on the received infrared signal. The intermediate bitstream is trimmed, downsampled, and demodulated in the time domain. The intermediate bitstream is then converted into a raw infrared code. The received bitstream is processed in a software layer, enabling the mobile device to process infrared signals without the use of additional hardware configured on the mobile device.

Abstract: A media control system enables a device-agnostic and source-agnostic entertainment experience through use of an internet-enabled user device. The user device includes a client application for navigating through media or entertainment content, controlling media devices according to a type of media content selected by the user, and sharing media experiences via social networks. The user device includes smartphones, tablet computers, and other internet-enabled processor-based devices. The media control system leverages the internet access of the user device to enable search and discovery of all available media content. A recommendation engine coupled to the client application learns media preferences from user behavior, generates from numerous disparate media sources recommended media choices corresponding to the media preferences, and presents the recommended media choices on the user device.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for generating an infrared signal on a mobile device. The infrared signal is generated on a mobile device by generating a bitstream based on information to be transmitted as an infrared signal. The bitstream is modulated and output on a bus to an infrared-emitting diode. The bitstream is processed in a software layer configured on the computing device, enabling the computing device to generate and process signals without additional hardware configured on the device.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for receiving an infrared signal on a mobile device. The mobile device receives an infrared signal by creating an intermediate bitstream based on the received infrared signal. The intermediate bitstream is trimmed, downsampled, and demodulated in the time domain. The intermediate bitstream is then converted into a raw infrared code. The received bitstream is processed in a software layer, enabling the mobile device to process infrared signals without the use of additional hardware configured on the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for selecting a television function on a channel control system through a mobile device. A request to select the television function is received. The request may be generated in response to activating a link or element in an application configured on a computing device. The television function associated with the request is to select a television broadcast channel showing a particular television program. A channel showing the particular television program is determined. An infrared code comprising an instruction to select the television function associated with the determined channel is received. The system and method allow a user to access broadcast television programs from an online interface.

Abstract: A Device-Based Control System (DBCS) enables a device-agnostic and source-agnostic entertainment experience through use of an internet-enabled device (IED). The IED includes a media management application for navigating through media or entertainment content, controlling media devices according to a type of media content selected by the user, and sharing media experiences via social networks. The IED includes smartphones, tablet computers, and other internet-enabled processor-based devices. The DBCS leverages the internet access of the IED to enable search and discovery of all available media content. A content recommendation system (CRS) coupled to the media management application learns media preferences from user behavior, generates from numerous disparate media sources media choices corresponding to the media preferences, and presents the media choices on the IED.