Abstract: An electronic device includes a pressure-sensitive user interface component, a memory device, and a processor. The memory device has executable instructions that are executed by the processor to display a media player on a display of the electronic device. The media player includes a window for presentation of media content, a progress bar, and a play head indicating a playback position, wherein time scrolling of the media content is achieved by selection and movement of the play head along the progress bar. The method receives activation control information associated with selection of the play head, the control information including a force measurement of an amount of force imparted on the pressure-sensitive component, and the method renders a thumbnail image of the media content in response to receiving the control information, the thumbnail image having a displayed size that is influenced by the force measurement.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a pressure-sensitive user interface component, a memory device, and a processor. The memory device stores executable instructions to perform a method that displays a media player on a display of the electronic device. The media player has a window for presentation of media content, a progress bar, and a play head that indicates a playback position of the media content, wherein time scrolling of the media content is achieved by selection and movement of the play head along the progress bar. The method continues by receiving activation control information associated with selection of the play head, the control information including a force measurement corresponding to an amount of force imparted on the pressure-sensitive component. The method continues by controlling a variable user feedback setting for time scrolling of the media content, in response to the force measurement.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a pressure-sensitive user interface component, a memory device, and a processor. The memory device has executable instructions stored therein to perform a method that displays a media player on a display of the electronic device, the media player having a window for presentation of media content, a progress bar, and a play head that indicates a playback position of the media content, wherein time scrolling of the media content is achieved by selection and movement of the play head. The method continues by receiving activation control information associated with selection of the play head during presentation of the media content, the control information including a force measurement corresponding to an amount of force imparted on the pressure-sensitive component. The method continues by controlling a variable granularity setting for time scrolling of the media content, in response to the force measurement.

Abstract: A portable video delivery device includes data storage, a secure processor, and a wireless network interface that acts as an access point for a secure personal wireless network. Transcoded media files are stored in the data storage so that the portable device maintains a library of stored media programs that can be carried along with the user during commuting, travel and/or other activities. To playback the stored programming, other media player devices use the personal wireless network to securely connect to the portable device and to obtain previously-transcoded content from the data storage of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow playback of a media stream received via a network. The media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for aggregating media content from multiple sources for viewing on a local display or for placeshifting to a remote display. The aggregation system responds to instructions received from a remote device via the digital network to provide the video output incorporating the media content received from any of the media sources to the locally-connected display. The media aggregation system also simultaneously provides a placeshifted video stream to the remote device via the digital network that incorporates media content received from any of the plurality of media sources selected in response to the instructions received from the remote device.

Abstract: A portable video delivery device includes data storage, a secure processor, and a wireless network interface that acts as an access point for a secure personal wireless network. Transcoded media files are stored in the data storage so that the portable device maintains a library of stored media programs that can be carried along with the user during commuting, travel and/or other activities. To playback the stored programming, other media player devices use the personal wireless network to securely connect to the portable device and to obtain previously-transcoded content from the data storage of the device.

Abstract: A method for providing recommendations for audio/video content is provided. The method obtains, by a computing device, a plurality of promotion frequencies, each of the plurality of promotion frequencies being associated with presentation of promotional advertisements for a respective set of audio/video content; identifies, by the computing device, a subset of the plurality of promotion frequencies indicative of highly-promoted sets of audio/video content; compares, by the computing device, the subset to viewing habits of a user to identify corresponding data; and determines, by the computing device, recommendations for potential viewing by the user, based on the corresponding data.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow playback of a media stream received via a network. The media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream.

Abstract: Processes, systems and devices are described to enhance the television or other media viewing experience based upon excitement data that is associated with the program. Excitement data can be used to identify the most exciting portions of media programs, therefore allowing for improved identification of programs or portions of programs for viewing, streaming, recording or other purposes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for adaptively recognizing gestures indicated by user inputs received from a touchpad, touchscreen, directional pad, mouse or other multi-directional input device. If a user's movement does not indicate a gesture using current gesture recognition parameters, additional processing can be performed to recognize the gesture using other factors. The gesture recognition parameters can then be adapted so that subsequent user inputs that are similar to the previously-rejected inputs will appropriately trigger gesture commands as desired by the user. Gestural data or parameters may be locally or remotely stored for further processing.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for placeshifting data. An exemplary method of placeshifting a media program from a first device to a second device involves receiving, by a server on a network, from the second device, a request for a placeshifting session over the network with the first device, identifying, by the server, recommended communications configuration information for the placeshifting session, and providing, by the server, the recommended communications configuration information to one of the second device and the first device in response to the request.

Abstract: A portable video delivery device includes data storage, a secure processor, and a wireless network interface that acts as an access point for a secure personal wireless network. Transcoded media files are stored in the data storage so that the portable device maintains a library of stored media programs that can be carried along with the user during commuting, travel and/or other activities. To playback the stored programming, other media player devices use the personal wireless network to securely connect to the portable device and to obtain previously-transcoded content from the data storage of the device.

Abstract: An account management server, a communication device and a service device are provided for managing access to an account.

Abstract: PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the placeshifting device directs a media recording device to receive the media program and to store the program. The placeshifting device may digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary, and transmit the media program to the remote device for playback.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for adaptively recognizing gestures indicated by user inputs received from a touchpad, touchscreen, directional pad, mouse or other multi-directional input device. If a user's movement does not indicate a gesture using current gesture recognition parameters, additional processing can be performed to recognize the gesture using other factors. The gesture recognition parameters can then be adapted so that subsequent user inputs that are similar to the previously-rejected inputs will appropriately trigger gesture commands as desired by the user. Gestural data or parameters may be locally or remotely stored for further processing.

Abstract: Processes, systems and devices are described to enhance the television or other media viewing experience based upon excitement data that is associated with the program. Excitement data can be used to identify the most exciting portions of media programs, therefore allowing for improved identification of programs or portions of programs for viewing, streaming, recording or other purposes.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are described to encode, deliver and playback a placeshifted media stream via the Internet or another network. The media stream is appropriately encoded at a quality level (e.g., at a bit rate, frame rate, resolution, etc.) that allows content to be delivered faster than it is played back. This sort of “faster than real time” encoding allows the placeshifted media stream to be buffered at the remote device for more effective performance.

Abstract: A method for presenting feedback to a user when a command is received is provided. The method receives, at a content retransmitter, a command for navigating audio/video content selections for retransmission to a user device; transmits the received command to a set-top box for execution, wherein execution of the command at the set-top box produces a result; while gradually receiving the result at the content retransmitter, creates a period of latency when the result is only partially available for retransmission; during the period of latency, retrieves a still-image frame associated with execution of the command; and transmits the still-image frame to the user device for presentation until the result is completely available for retransmission.

Abstract: A configuration settings datastore is partitioned into data groups. Each data group includes a set of configuration settings, a set of membership criteria, and a weight. A request is received for configuration settings for a networked device, the request including a set of parameters associated with the networked device. A set of desired configuration settings are selected from the datastore based on the sets of membership criteria, the set of parameters, and the weights of the plurality of data groups. The desired configuration settings are then transmitted to the networked device.