Abstract: A system and method for communicating content data to the in-vehicle system includes the in-vehicle infotainment system detecting a home local area network and joining the home local area network. The home local area network comprises a set top box. The in-vehicle infotainment system communicates a data request to the set top box in response to joining the local area network. The set top box communicates data corresponding to the request to the in-vehicle infotainment system through the local area network. The in-vehicle system stores the data at the in-vehicle infotainment system.

Abstract: A processor may create a preference vector by generating preference vector entries in fields that correspond to content attributes associated with at least one media program presented via a media device, each entry including a playback duration and a year. The processor may create a media entity matrix of entity vectors for entities associated with production of media programs. For each entity vector, the processor may generate matrix entries in fields that correspond to content attributes associated with at least one media program associated with the entity, each matrix entry including a year and a score, the score weighted by an epoch factor based upon a time span associated with the at least one media program presented via the media device. The processor may determine entity rankings based upon dot products between the preference vector and the entity vectors and provide a recommendation based upon the rankings.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a cloud location storing content titles, communicating at least one of the content titles to a user device to form communicated content titles. The user device is in communication with the cloud location through a network. The user device generates a selection signal for selecting a first content title from communicated content titles to form a selection. The user device negotiates settings by intercommunicating between the user device and the cloud location in response to form the selection. The user device communicates the selection to the cloud location. The cloud location has a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content in response to the optimal settings. The cloud location communicates the transcoded content to the user device.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to bookmark a frame of media content. A media content user interface component that controls playback of the media content in a media player is activated. The component includes a circular progress bar. A frame within the media content is identified and bookmarked. A bookmark is displayed on the circular progress bar and reflects the location of the bookmarked frame. The bookmark is selected to begin play from the bookmarked frame.

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: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments receiving audio content in a multi-channel sound format over a communication network resulting in multi-channel audio content. Further embodiments can include identifying a compression ratio of the audio content. Additional embodiments can include determining a rendered sound externalization for rendering the audio content according to the compression ratio of the audio content. Also, embodiments can include rendering the audio content in a binaural audio format for headphone playback on an audio device according to the rendered sound externalization. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying first and second users and identifying first and second locations of the first and second users in a presentation area, determining first and second media content associated with the first and second users where the first media content includes first audio content and first video content and where the second media content includes second audio content, presenting the first video content at a display device during a particular time period, adjusting the first audio content resulting in adjusted first audio content, presenting the adjusted first audio content directed to the first location during the particular time period, and presenting the second audio content directed to the second location during the particular time period. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a gateway device receiving satellite or cable content, storing the satellite or cable content in a memory, receiving broadband content from a broadband source, and storing the broadband content in the memory. The user device communicates a listing request to the gateway device. The gateway device forms a list comprising broadband content stored in the memory and satellite or cable content stored in the memory in response to the listing request and communicates the list to the user device through a network including the gateway device and the user device. The user device generates a selection signal corresponding to a first content from the list and communicating the selection signal to the gateway device through the network. The gateway device determines a network condition, allocates gateway resources in response to the network condition and communicates the first content therethrough after allocating.

Abstract: A system and method for a system for communicating with a user device includes a broadcast management system generating content channel data signals. The system also includes a software download manager in communication with the broadcast management system. The software download manager generates an announcement file and a download resolution file. The download manager communicates the announcement file. The user device has user device identifier data and receives the download resolution file in response to the announcement file and stores the software image in the user device in response to the download resolution file.

Abstract: A gateway device includes a first communication system, a second communication system and a network processor. The first communication system and the network processor communicate first network signals therebetween. The first network signals comprising first higher priority network signals and first lower priority network signals. The second communicate system and the network processor communicating second network signals therebetween. The second network signals comprising second higher priority network signals and second lower priority network signals. The network processor communicates a first congestion notification request signal to the first communication system. The first communication system modifies the first lower priority network signals at the first communication system in response to the first congestion notification signal to form first modified network signals and communicates the first modified network signals from the gateway device.

Abstract: A technique for managing transitions between streaming media sources can include receiving a request from a client to change a streaming media source from an initial streaming media source to a next streaming media source. The initial streaming media source includes last segments being streamed to the client and the next streaming media source is selected by the client from a virtual master playlist. The technique further includes identifying the next streaming media source in a master playlist of a content delivery network, inserting a discontinuity between last segments of the initial streaming media source and first segments of the next streaming media source, and streaming the first segments of the next streaming media source to the client as a continuous stream from the last segments of the initial streaming media source with the discontinuity between the last segments and the first segments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a set-top box records playback content. The playback content comprises at least one frame that displays first media content and a first advertisement simultaneously. Moreover, the first advertisement is associated with an expiry date. The set-top box receives a selection to view the playback content on a viewing date and determines that the viewing date is past the expiry date associated with the first advertisement. When the viewing date is past the expiry date associated with the first advertisement, the set-top box updates the playback content by replacing the first advertisement in the at least one frame of the playback content with a second advertisement. The set-top box communicates the updated playback content to a display device. The updated playback content comprises at least one frame that displays media content and the second advertisement simultaneously.

Abstract: Control of functions associated with a vehicle can be shared between a vehicle operator and a communication device and associated user. The communication device can comprise a control component used to facilitate controlling or sharing control of certain functions associated with the vehicle. The functions can relate to vehicle operation, navigation system, climate control system, media system, or other functions. The communication device can be in the vehicle or can be remotely located from the vehicle. The control component can communicate with a vehicle control system of the vehicle to gain access rights to certain control functions to facilitate controlling certain functions of the vehicle. In instances where vehicle control is shared with more than one communication device, the vehicle control system or vehicle operator, which can be a device or a person, can resolve any conflicts between control requests or commands received from the communication devices.

Abstract: A user device includes a viewer tracking module that tracks viewer events to form a viewer tracking log and a recommendation module that generates a timeslot viewing profile based on the viewer tracking log. The timeslot viewing profile includes television programs watched previously and a prioritized timeslot series profile determined by summing and prioritizing the count of a plurality of watched programs in a series. The recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile of available television programs during the timeslot, generates a first content recommendation list of available television programs, receives related content identifiers for related content that identify content that is available and is related to the television programs of the first content recommendation, and, based on the related content identifiers, generates a second content recommendation list including content that is available during the timeslot different from the first content recommendation list.

Abstract: A system includes a first processor and a second processor coupled to the first processor through a high speed connection and a low speed connection. The first processor and the second processor are disposed within a first device. The first processor and the second processor exchange heartbeat signals therebetween through the low speed connection. The first processor communicates a first reset signal through a reset line to the second processor when the first processor does not receive a first heartbeat signal of the heartbeat signals from the second processor. The second processor resets in response to the first reset signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for angularly aligning an antenna disposed at a geographical location is disclosed. A corresponding apparatus comprises a plurality of reticle members, each reticle member having a reticle, and a plurality of reference members, each adjustably engaged with an associated one of the plurality of reticle members, wherein each of the plurality of reference members comprises an associated template having a reference mark positioned thereon according to the geographical location of the antenna and the antenna is angularly aligned when each reference mark of each template is aligned with the reticle associated with the reference mark. A corresponding method comprises the steps of affixing an associated template having a reference mark positioned thereon according to the geographic location of the antenna to each of the plurality of reference members and angularly aligning each of the plurality of reticle members with each reference mark of each associated template.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems for monitoring advertisements. A system for monitoring advertisements in a broadcast television channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a sound level monitor for monitoring an audio level of a first broadcast television channel, a data tagger, coupled to the sound level monitor, for tagging a start and an end of an advertisement segment within the first broadcast television channel, and a receiver, wherein when the receiver is first tuned to the first broadcast channel and then tuned to a second broadcast channel, an on-screen display is displayed on a monitor displaying the second broadcast channel, the OSD being displayed when the end of the advertisement segment within the first broadcast channel occurs.

Abstract: A system and method includes a network, a first device, and a server device in communication with the first device through the network. The server device communicates main content to a first device. The main content comprises a plurality of main content packets comprising first continuity counter values and a second plurality of main content packets having second continuity counter values different than but continuous with the first continuity counter values. The server device determines insert content continuity counter values from insert content. The insert content comprises a plurality of insert packets comprising the insert continuity counter values. The replacement metadata determination module determines replacement continuity counter values for the insert content based on the main content continuity counter values.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining social network information associated with a first user, wherein the social network information includes information identifying a second user who is related to the first user. A determination is made that the first user had selected, during a presentation of a first media content item by a first media processing device of the first user, recording of a second media content item that had been advertised during the presentation of the first media content item. Responsive to the determining that the first user had selected the recording of the second media content item, a second media processing device of the second user is directed to record the second media content item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a devices and methods related to satellite information broadcasting. Example embodiments may include frequency shifting an intermediate frequency (IF) signal down-conversion from the microwave-band. As an example, down-conversion involving local oscillators may lead to frequency drift due to varying temperature and/or humidity conditions. Correcting for the frequency drift may provide an opportunity to remove or filter excess bandwidth. Further embodiments may include receiving, in a tuning request, information about a transponder type. A frequency translation module may be adjusted based, at least in part, on the transponder type related to the IF signal being input into the frequency translation module. Such frequency-shifting and transponder-specific filtering may allow Single-Wire Multiswitch (SWM) devices to provide output signals with narrower bandwidth, which may improve signal quality, cable run length, reduce power demands, etc.