Abstract: Client and server devices identify each other over a LAN or similar network through a series of unicasts. Rather than broadcasting a service announcement or discovery request as a broadcast or multicast, for example, a device instead transmits a series of unicast messages using a finite set of recipient network addresses and port numbers. Responses to the unicast messages can be collected and tracked to thereby allow subsequent communications to occur via unicasts with only the recognized addresses, with a multicast to only the recognized addresses, and/or otherwise as desired. By allowing the clients and servers to communicate with a finite set of unicast messages, a “broadcast” type message can be sent on the network without a need for router configuration. Moreover, unicasts can be sent using different protocols (e.g., TCP) than the subsequent traffic (e.g., UDP), thereby making discovery of compatible devices on the network more reliable.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and program products are provided, which support multiple Digital Rights Management (DRM) schemes or platforms during the placeshifting of media content. A given placeshifting session may be initiated between a placeshifting device and a user-controlled client media receiver executing a browser player. In one embodiment, the DRM placeshifting method includes storing, in a memory associated with the placeshifting device, DRM-protected content; receiving a request from the client media receiver over a communications network to stream the DRM-protected content to the device; and obtaining a placeshifting key and initialization instructions for the DRM-protected content. The DRM-protected content is streamed to the client media receiver in an encrypted format accessible with a placeshifting decryption key.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for optimizing streaming bitrate during multiclient streaming sessions based, at least in part, on display profiles associated with client media receivers to which different video streams are concurrently provided. The method may be carried-out by a streaming media server in communication with first and second client media receivers over a network. In various embodiments, the method may include establishing at the streaming media server first and second bandwidth allotment thresholds based, at least in part, on display profiles assigned to display devices associated with the client media receivers. During an ensuing multiclient streaming session, the streaming media server further encodes segments of video streams at variable bitrates regulated in accordance with the established bandwidth allotment thresholds.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for optimizing streaming bitrate during multiclient streaming sessions based, at least in part, on display profiles associated with client media receivers to which different video streams are concurrently provided. The method may be carried-out by a streaming media server in communication with first and second client media receivers over a network. In various embodiments, the method may include establishing at the streaming media server first and second bandwidth allotment thresholds based, at least in part, on display profiles assigned to display devices associated with the client media receivers. During an ensuing multiclient streaming session, the streaming media server further encodes segments of video streams at variable bitrates regulated in accordance with the established bandwidth allotment thresholds.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for optimizing streaming bitrate in response to variations in processor load. In various embodiments, a streaming media server includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-readable code or instructions. When executed by the processor, the computer-readable code causes the server to encode segments of a video stream at a final variable bitrate (ABRFINAL). The encoded segments are transmitted from the server, over a network, and to a first client media receiver for presentation to an end user. The steps of encoding and transmitting are repeated during a streaming video session with the first client media receiver, while varying a value of ABRFINAL based, at least in part, upon a running average of a processor load placed on the processor (LOADAVG).

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for generating reminder notifications pertaining to time-sensitive media content. In various embodiments, the method includes the step or process of establishing whether time-sensitive media content is desirably viewed by an end user of the media receiver. If establishing that time-sensitive media content is desirably viewed by the end user, it is further determined whether a reminder notification should be generated for the time-sensitive media content at a specified time relative to a change in availability of the time-sensitive media content from a media content provider. If further determining that a reminder notification should be generated for the time-sensitive media content, the reminder notification is generated at the specified time; e.g., the media receiver may generate the reminder notification itself or transmit instructions to a user-carried electronic device to generate the notification reminder.

Abstract: Various arrangements of wireless tracking systems are presented. A tag device may be presented that include a first plurality of antennas. Each antenna of the first plurality of antennas may have an antenna radiation pattern pointed in a different direction. The tag device may include a wireless transmitter interface that transmits via each antenna of the first plurality of antennas. The wireless tracking system may also include a tracker device that tracks a direction to the tag device. The tracker device may include a second plurality of antennas. Each antenna of the second plurality of antennas may have an antenna radiation pattern pointed in a different direction. The tracker device may include a wireless interface receiver that performs a plurality of signal strength measurements using the second plurality of antennas.

Abstract: Electronic device and methods supporting secure boot functionalities performed utilizing an unsecured System-on-Chip (SoC) are provided. In various embodiments, the electronic device contains an unsecured SoC, a locked off-chip Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) component, and an unlocked off-chip NVM component. An on-chip or first stage boot loader program is stored in a first on-chip memory area; and, when execute, causes an on-chip processor to loads an image of a cryptographic key, such as a public key, into a second on-chip memory area. The cryptographic key is stored in the locked off-chip NVM component, possibly in conjunction with a second stage boot loader program. The on-chip processor then utilizes the cryptographic key, alone or in combination with other data, as a root-of-trust to verify the authenticity of one or more software components, such as an operating system, stored in the unlocked off-chip NVM component prior to booting the software component(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a media stream transmitted from an encoding system to a remotely-located media player that requests segments of the media stream. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of encoding a media stream provided from an encoding system to a remotely-located client includes establishing a data connection with the client and acquiring, from the client, client information including a client identifier, a public internet protocol (IP) address, and a geographical location associated with the client. The method further includes determining, based on the client information, whether historical bit rate data is available in a historical bit rate data store provided by the encoding system. If such historical bit rate data is available, an initial bit rate parameter is set for the media stream and the media stream is encoded at the encoding system according to the initial bit rate parameter and transmitted to the client.

Abstract: A method for determining the health of a network includes determining, for a set of clients within the network, a total air percentage for each of the plurality of clients, and determining a total air percentage for a first access point within the network. The method further includes determining a transmit opportunity corresponding to a percentage of time a channel medium is free; determining a total air percentage used by a set of second access points; determining an air margin for the network, and determining an overall health classification for the network based on the air margin.

Abstract: A portable computers or other client device that obtains files or media streams from a portable digital video recorder (DVR) or similar target device may not be able to obtain certain web content when the target device operates in an offline mode in which the Internet or a similar wide area network (WAN) is unavailable. When the client device contacts a web domain for authentication or other purposes, however, the client device suitably opens a secondary data connection to the domain to transparently request and received web content. The received content is cached by the client device for subsequent use in offline mode when the WAN is unavailable.

Abstract: A method of encoding packets of a media stream includes establishing a data connection between a client device and a server, sending a first packet of the media stream from the server to the client device at a first bit rate, receiving, at the server, a first acknowledgment signal from the client device responsive to receipt of the first packet, determining a second bit rate based on the first acknowledgment signal, and sending a second packet of the media stream from the server to the client at the second bit rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing remote control of separate media sources over a network using, for example, pop-up windows graphically depicting remote control devices within corresponding tabbed windows of a web browser. A browser plug-in or add-on application provides a graphical depiction of a remote control device associated with each media source and receives a command from the viewer via interaction with the graphical depiction of the remote control device.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and program products are provided, which support multiple Digital Rights Management (DRM) schemes or platforms during the placeshifting of media content. A given placeshifting session may be initiated between a placeshifting device and a user-controlled client media receiver executing a browser player. In one embodiment, the DRM placeshifting method includes storing, in a memory associated with the placeshifting device, DRM-protected content; receiving a request from the client media receiver over a communications network to stream the DRM-protected content to the device; and obtaining a placeshifting key and initialization instructions for the DRM-protected content. The DRM-protected content is streamed to the client media receiver in an encrypted format accessible with a placeshifting decryption key.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards presenting text along with video content to a user at a speed specific for that user. Various features regarding the user and the text, such as how fast the user can read, the user's native language, the language of the text, user speed selection, user profile information, or other characteristics of the user or text, are determined and utilized to select a speed at which to display text to the user. The text is then presented along with the video content such that the text moves on the screen at the selected speed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for quick charging of batteries. For example, a battery charging system can include a battery charger integrated circuit (IC) and a fuel gauge IC coupled between a battery and a central processor to execute a stored multi-phase battery charging protocol. Executing the protocol can include charging the battery in a constant current regulation phase by applying a constant charge current until a charge voltage (e.g., measured by the battery charger IC) reaches a defined regulation voltage that is higher than the nominal voltage of the battery plus the voltage drop across series components of the battery. Protection of the battery during such charging includes monitoring a present relative state of charge (RSOC) of the battery (e.g., by the fuel gauge IC) to detect when the present RSOC reaches a defined regulation RSOC level that may be substantially 100 percent of the charge capacity of the battery.

Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to identify a first camera model associated with a first video capture device of video capture devices within a system that aggregates video feeds from the video capture devices. A process includes receiving, by the video processing device, a first video sample from the first video capture device; sending, from the video processing device, a first command to the first video capture device; receiving, by the video processing device, a second video sample from the first video capture device subsequent to the sending of the first command; evaluating, by the video processing device, the first video sample and the second video sample in view of the first command to identify a first command response; and determining the first camera model based on the identified first command response.

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated processes provide robust, computationally-efficient and secure protection of media content or other electronic data stored on a user-supplied storage device through the use of efficient file system encryption. Only certain portions of the content are encrypted by the host device, thereby reducing the computational demand in comparison to encrypting all of the content. By selecting the particular portions to encrypt, the formatting and structure of the stored data can be concealed, thereby making the use of the unencrypted content very difficult, if not impossible.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for viewing video content are provided. Video content is displayed in a video region of a display, while application content is displayed in an application region of the display. Based on the application content, candidate video content relevant to the application content is determined and, in response to user input, selected video content is displayed in the video region of the display.

Abstract: Devices (e.g., client media receivers), methods, and program products are provided enabling personal network streaming and concurrent Wide Area Network (WAN) access. In embodiments, the method is carried-out by a client media receiver utilized with a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and a display device. The method includes the step or process of identifying a user desire to conduct a wireless PVR viewing session utilizing the receiver, while maintaining wireless access to a WAN. When identifying such a user desire, the receiver: (i) creates a personal Local Area Network (LAN) enabling wireless communication between the receiver and the PVR, and (ii) establishes Dual Virtual Antenna (DVA) parameters defining first and second virtual antennae assigned to the WAN and to the personal LAN, respectively. The second virtual antenna is then utilized to support a wireless PVR viewing session, while WAN data is concurrently routed through the first virtual antenna as needed.