Abstract: Embodiments facilitating mixed service use of bonded satellite transponders in communication systems are provided. An apparatus comprises a first multiplexer configured to receive first content from first channels of a first type of channel, a second multiplexer configured to receive second content from second channels of a second type of channel, and a transport stream processor (TSP). The TSP can be configured to output the received first content and the second content to modulators respectively associated with different channels for transmission of the first type of channel and the second type of channel, wherein the different channels are transmitted to a bonded satellite transponders, which transmits to a receiver. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a multiplexer aggregator coupled between the TSP and the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer. The first content can be high bit-rate information and the second content can be lower bit-rate information.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for testing and determining outages of communication systems. A server can receive signal-reception-related information from set-top boxes (STBs) in a particular geographical region, where a STB: receives signals having a predefined pattern, generates a comparison of the predefined pattern to reference patterns stored on the STB, generates the signal-reception-related information based on the comparison, and sends the signal-reception-related information. The server can determine an outage status for the particular geographical region based on the signal-reception-related information. The server can generate an output based on the outage status. The output is configured to provide information related to the outage status of the particular geographical region and information for possible responses related to the outage status. The server can send the output.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, apparatus that includes a first port that receives a radio frequency signal input, a second port that provides a high-speed Internet connection and the radio frequency signal input and receives a power supply current, and a third port that receives the high-speed Internet connection and receives the power supply current and that the first port is isolated from the power supply current. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for searching using a user device associated with a display includes a controller displaying a plurality of search screens on the display device, each of the plurality of search screens perform a content search. The user device also includes a search module generating respective search results from each of the plurality of search screens and a search retention module storing the respective search results in a memory of the user device and retrieving saved search results from the memory corresponding to the previously accessed search screen when a previously accessed search screen is displayed. The controller displays the saved search results.

Abstract: A system and method of entering a low power mode includes an external tuner module having a first external tuner and a receiving device having a first receiving tuner. The receiving device has a controller determining an unused tuner from one of the first external tuner or first receiving tuner and controls entering a low power mode at the unused tuner.

Abstract: A method of provisioning entitlement including: receiving within a headend and at a policy management module first conditions and rules for content from a service provider or a third party device; and generating, for a point of presence (POP) device of a customer, a policy for entitlement and usage of content (merged policy). The generating of the merged policy includes: merging conditions and rules of policies including the first conditions and rules to generate the merged policy based on a predetermined hierarchy of the policies. Rules and conditions of the merged policy are multi-dimensional to include customer, POP device, and provider dimensions; and generating a configuration file including conditions or condition based parameters. The method further includes: presenting an offer for the content to the customer via the POP device; receiving an acceptance of the offer from the POP device; and enforcing the merged policy according to the configuration file.

Abstract: A system and method for operating with profiles includes a head end associating a first account profile having first profile settings and a first identifier and a second account profile having second profile settings and a second identifier with a user account. A first user receiving device operates with the first profile settings. The head end communicates second profile settings to the first user receiving device and the first user receiving device operates with the second profile settings.

Abstract: A mobile device including a content module, an imaging module, and an interface. The content module is configured to attempt to access content including transmitting a content request signal from the mobile device to a user receiving device. The imaging module is configured to acquire an image of at least a portion of a screen shown on a display connected to the user receiving device. The interface is configured to transmit the image or information pertaining to the image to the user receiving device, a head end or a content provider to cause the user receiving device or the mobile device to receive an authorization signal for access to the content.

Abstract: A satellite broadcast system is used to transmit streams of variable bit-rate content using fixed bit-rate channels that correspond to respective satellite transponder carriers. High bandwidth content is transmitted over multiple transponder carriers in parallel with a combined bandwidth sufficient for the peak bit-rate of the high bandwidth content, whereas multiple streams of low bandwidth content can be transmitted over a single transponder carrier simultaneously by multiplexing the low bandwidth content. High bandwidth content may be multiplexed with low bandwidth content rather than assigning all high bandwidth content to be transmitted exclusively over dedicated high bandwidth transponders.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for controlling a set-top box includes receiving at processor a request from a user to access a web page. The content of the web page is scanned at the processor for items relating to content that may be available through the set-top box. The processor then provides a web page to the user with an embedded widget which the user can use to select commands to be executed by the set-top box. The processor receives the widget command and sends the widget command to the set-top box for implementation.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a mobile device at a headend includes the mobile device communicating a request for content to the headend. The headend requests geographic coordinate location data from the mobile device and, when geographic coordinate data is available, determines a first geographic region associated with the mobile device in response to the geographic coordinate location data. When geographic coordinate data is not available from the mobile device, the headend extracts an IP address from the request and determines a second geographic region based on the IP address and a confidence level. When the confidence level is below a threshold, the headend determines a third geographic region based on subscriber data for the mobile device. The headend controls the mobile device in response to one of the first geographic region, the second geographic region and the third geographic region.

Abstract: Video and audio content is searchable using a text search. A search component can analyze respective items of content to identify words spoken in the items of content, and generate respective transcripts of the respective words of the items of content based on the analysis. The search component receives a text search comprising a keyword and analyzes the respective transcripts to determine whether a transcript(s) contains a word that matches or substantially matches the keyword. The search component generates a search result(s) associated with the transcript(s) that at least is a substantial match to the keyword. The search component can present a time indicator indicating a time position in proximity to where the word is located in the content of the search result(s), and presentation of the content can start from that time position. The search component can be executed in a set-top box associated with a presentation device.

Abstract: A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a satellite signal determination module in the set top box receives a satellite signal from a satellite comprising a first satellite signal identifier. A memory in the set top box stores a second satellite signal identifier for a location of the user device. The user device also includes a comparison module comparing the first satellite signal identifier to the second satellite signal identifier and a disable module disabling the user device from processing satellite signals in response to comparing.

Abstract: A user device and method comprises a screen display and a user interface. A display control module defines a first display area with a first boundary therearound and displaying a first category indicator for a first category therein. The display control module defines a second display area with a second boundary and displays a second category indicator for a second category therein. A gesture control module receives a movement signal from the user interface for moving the first display area relative to the second display area using a user interface. The display control module defines a third boundary around a third display area representing the first category and the second category when the first boundary and the second boundary touch or overlap and displays the first category indicator and the second category indicator within the third boundary. When the third display area is selected, a function may be performed.

Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for dynamically scaling the color temperature and luminance of a display output according to a user preference. For instance, in one example, a video output signal comprising a plurality of image frames is delivered to a display device. A time is detected at which to adjust an amount of blue light emitted by the display device, in accordance with a user preference. The color temperature of a subset of the plurality of image frames that have yet to be delivered to the display device is adjusted from a default color temperature to an adjusted color temperature that scales the amount of blue light emitted by the display device. The subset of the plurality of image frames is then delivered to the display device, subsequent to the adjusting.

Abstract: A method of provisioning entitlement including: receiving within a headend and at a policy management module first conditions and rules for content from a service provider or a third party device; and generating, for a point of presence (POP) device of a customer, a policy for entitlement and usage of content (merged policy). The generating of the merged policy includes: merging conditions and rules of policies including the first conditions and rules to generate the merged policy based on a predetermined hierarchy of the policies. Rules and conditions of the merged policy are multi-dimensional to include customer, POP device, and provider dimensions; and generating a configuration file including conditions or condition based parameters. The method further includes: presenting an offer for the content to the customer via the POP device; receiving an acceptance of the offer from the POP device; and enforcing the merged policy according to the configuration file.

Abstract: A content delivery network and method for operating the same includes a content delivery network (CDN) origin server and a content delivery network edge server receiving a request for a first content from a first client device and communicating the request for the first content to the content delivery network origin server. The CDN origin server communicates a pull signal to a publisher origin server when the request for the first content is a first request, receives the first content from the publisher origin server and stores the first content. The CDN origin server communicates the first content to the first client through the CDN edge server.

Abstract: Example methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums to facilitate a hybrid media stream delivery using multiple network connections are disclosed. An example method may include receiving, from a destination device, a request for data to be delivered to the destination device over one of a network pathway or a satellite pathway. The method may further include determining a first cost of transmission of the data over the network pathway to the destination device and determining a second cost of transmission of the data over the satellite pathway to the destination device. The method may then determine a least costly pathway for transmission of the data between the network pathway and the satellite pathway using the first cost and the second cost and transmit the data over the least costly pathway of the network pathway and the satellite pathway to the destination device.

Abstract: A gateway device includes a media processor module comprising a gateway application module. The gateway device also includes a router module comprising a gateway abstraction module and an interface handler module. The gateway device also includes a shared interface module in communication with the router module and the media processor module. The shared interface module receives a service request signal from the gateway application module. The gateway abstraction module obtains the service request signal from the shared interface module through an interface handler module. The gateway abstraction module communicates a response signal to the media processor module through the shared interface module. The media processor module performs a function in response to the response signal.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request for sports programming recommendation, responsive to the receiving step, determining an upcoming program vector and a weighted historical vector, performing a similarity calculation comparing the upcoming program vector and the weighted historical vector to derive a recommendation score, and generating a recommendation based on the recommendation score.