Abstract: An unencoded video frame of a sequence of video frames is encoded to generate an encoded bit-stream representative of the unencoded video frame. The encoded bit-stream includes a header portion and a video data payload portion. The unencoded video frame may be divided into an array of prediction blocks, including a first prediction block. A coding mode is selected from a plurality of coding modes for use in encoding the first prediction block. The first prediction block is encoded using the selected coding mode to generate a portion of the video data payload of the encoded bit-stream. A coding mode selection flag is provided in the header portion of the encoded bit-stream, which indicates which coding mode of the plurality of coding modes was selected for encoding the first prediction block.

Abstract: Users are able to browse a digital-media content based on social-graph-related criteria, time-related criteria, and geolocation-related criteria. A social-chronographic-geographic media file browsing system builds a social-chronographic-geographic media query and retrieves digital-media content (and associated metadata) based on a given user's search criteria. In accordance with various embodiments, the social-chronographic-geographic media file browsing system retrieves an interactive map from cartographic data provider and then places a graphical media control on the interactive map according to the provided geolocation-related criterion.

Abstract: An unencoded video frame of a sequence of video frames is encoded to generate an encoded bit-stream representative of the unencoded video frame. The encoded bit-stream includes a header portion and a video data payload portion. The unencoded video frame may be divided into an array of prediction blocks, including a first prediction block. A coding mode is selected from a plurality of coding modes for use in encoding the first prediction block. The first prediction block is encoded using the selected coding mode to generate a portion of the video data payload of the encoded bit-stream. A coding mode selection flag is provided in the header portion of the encoded bit-stream, which indicates which coding mode of the plurality of coding modes was selected for encoding the first prediction block.

Abstract: Disclosed is software which enables a service which allows users to load screen-shots of webpages to boards as clipped content, which preserves “live” links to the webpages from the clipped content, which identifies the content which was clipped, and which preserves links and other dynamic content in the clipped content.

Abstract: To synchronize data between a remote database and a local object-graph-and-persistence-framework, a synchronization framework receives messages from the local object-graph-and-persistence-framework indicating that a locally-managed object has been retrieved from a local datastore and instantiated or that the locally-managed object has been created, modified, or deleted. When the synchronization framework determines that the message was instigated by a local user's activity (as opposed to a background synchronization process), the synchronization framework synchronizes the locally-managed object with the remote database.

Abstract: A game platform can distinguishes between users in different jurisdictions, can offer eligible players the choice of playing games with the opportunity to enter sweepstakes for monetary and non-monetary rewards, and allows heterogeneous users—those eligible as well as ineligible for monetary reward—to participate in game activity as part of teams.

Abstract: Disclosed is a service which obtains media directly from users and from online sources, which obtains events and anniversaries from online sources, which obtains location and date information associated with photographs, which dynamically provides users with a selection of automatically curated collections of photographs based on the then-current location of the user, based on and relevant to personal and publicly recognized anniversaries and holidays (with dates obtained directly from the users and from online sources), based on specific people or locations associated with dates, events, and anniversaries, and which presents intelligently organized location-based collections which can be quickly re-organized by a user.

Abstract: In a system comprising media files resident on various devices, devices equipped with media servers can deliver files to devices with media clients for purposes of playback (rendering) and/or storage. Some media servers may be capable of delivering files in various formats and may offer clients delivery format options. Media clients are aware of preferential list of formats that can be supported on a device and can choose from delivery options provided by media servers. Media files are introduced on the devices either via means external to this system or by leveraging system's media servers and media clients to transfer content between devices. When media files are introduced on the devices by means external to this system, media scanners detect such media files and make it available to media servers and thus to the rest of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is software which enables a service which allows users to load screen-shots of webpages to boards as clipped content, which preserves “live” links to the webpages from the clipped content, which identifies the content which was clipped, and which preserves links and other dynamic content in the clipped content.

Abstract: To synchronize data between a remote database and a local object-graph-and-persistence-framework, a synchronization framework receives messages from the local object-graph-and-persistence-framework indicating that a locally-managed object has been retrieved from a local datastore and instantiated or that the locally-managed object has been created, modified, or deleted. When the synchronization framework determines that the message was instigated by a local user's activity (as opposed to a background synchronization process), the synchronization framework synchronizes the locally-managed object with the remote database.

Abstract: Disclosed is a software routine which determines which photographs in a corpus are similar, groups the similar photographs, and which then determines which photographs within a group meet criteria of “better” photographs.

Abstract: A ringback tone service may be configured by determining an indication to suggest one or more callers to a user of a mobile-telephony device and obtaining historical call data describing recent calls placed by recent callers to the mobile-telephony device in a recent period of time. After identifying a number of frequent callers for whom no custom ringback tone is currently provisioned, the user is prompted to select from a list of custom ringback tones that are available to provision for incoming calls from the frequent caller(s). In some cases, the user may send a message to the caller, allowing the caller to select his or her own custom ringback tone via a user interface provided by a ringback tone-service provider.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layout software routine which automatically creates complex and aesthetically pleasing layouts without any user interaction, though user interaction is possible.

Abstract: Disclosed is a service which obtains media directly from users and from online sources, which obtains events and anniversaries from online sources, which obtains location and date information associated with photographs, which dynamically provides users with a selection of automatically curated collections of photographs based on the then-current location of the user, based on and relevant to personal and publicly recognized anniversaries and holidays (with dates obtained directly from the users and from online sources), based on specific people or locations associated with dates, events, and anniversaries, and which presents intelligently organized location-based collections which can be quickly re-organized by a user.

Abstract: A game platform can distinguishes between users in different jurisdictions, can offer eligible players the choice of playing games with the opportunity to enter sweepstakes for monetary and non-monetary rewards, and allows heterogeneous users—those eligible as well as ineligible for monetary reward—to participate in game activity as part of teams.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layout software routine which automatically creates complex and aesthetically pleasing layouts without any user interaction, though user interaction is possible.

Abstract: To synchronize data between a remote database and a local object-graph-and-persistence-framework, a synchronization framework receives messages from the local object-graph-and-persistence-framework indicating that a locally-managed object has been retrieved from a local datastore and instantiated or that the locally-managed object has been created, modified, or deleted. When the synchronization framework determines that the message was instigated by a local user's activity (as opposed to a background synchronization process), the synchronization framework synchronizes the locally-managed object with the remote database.

Abstract: Disclosed is a software routine which determines which photographs in a corpus are similar, groups the similar photographs, and which then determines which photographs within a group meet criteria of “better” photographs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a service which obtains media directly from users and from online sources, which obtains events and anniversaries from online sources, which obtains location and date information associated with photographs, which dynamically provides users with a selection of automatically curated collections of photographs based on the then-current location of the user, based on and relevant to personal and publicly recognized anniversaries and holidays (with dates obtained directly from the users and from online sources), based on specific people or locations associated with dates, events, and anniversaries, and which presents intelligently organized location-based collections which can be quickly re-organized by a user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layout software routine which automatically creates complex and aesthetically pleasing layouts without any user interaction, though user interaction is possible.