Abstract: A streaming media server is provided that receives a request over a network from a customer premises gateway to receive a streaming media content item that is to be presented on two or more client devices in a synchronized manner. Responsive to the request, the streaming media server sends a manifest associated with the requested streaming media content item to the customer premises gateway only when it has been incrementally updated to remove an oldest media segment URL from the manifest and add a most recent media segment URL to the manifest.

Abstract: In some embodiments, security and/or automation systems, collectively referred to as automation systems, may facilitate communications between a remote user and an occupant of a residence. The automation system may receive one or more communications from a user and deliver the communication to the specified recipient when the recipient occupies the residence. The automation system may determine the recipient is proximate the residence and may notify the recipient of the pending communication. The recipient may use the control panel or another device associated with the security and/or automation system to receive the message.

Abstract: A request from a watcher client to obtain presence information of a presentity client may be processed at a presence server using a system configuration of the presence server that stores local presence authorization rules (“pres-rules”). By storing pres-rules locally at the presence server, these pres-rules may be used by the presence server in lieu of, or in combination with, other pres-rules that may be maintained by a separate pres-rules storage server, such as an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Document Management Server (XDMS). The system configuration may specify configurable parameters that control the behavior of the presence server in engaging the XDMS when processing requests from watcher clients, as well as the behavior of the presence server in merging pres-rules retrieved from the XDMS with the local pres-rules maintained by the presence server.

Abstract: A Cloud federator may be used to allow seamless and transparent access by a Cloud Client to Cloud services. Federation may be provided on various terms, including as a subscription based real-time online service to Cloud Clients. The Cloud federator may automatically and transparently effect communication between the Cloud Client and Clouds and desired services of the Clouds, and automatically perform identity federation. A Service Abstraction Layer (SAL) may be implemented to simplify Client communication, and Clouds/Cloud services may elect to support the SAL to facilitate federation of their services.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention enable quality based streaming. A content player in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: a processor; a network interface; and memory containing a content player application. The content player application can direct the processor to: receive quality metadata describing a plurality of streams, where: the plurality of streams are encoded at different maximum bitrates; each stream is divided into content segments; and the quality varies between content segments in each stream. Furthermore, the content player application directs the processor to measure available bandwidth; request content segments from the plurality of streams based upon the available network bandwidth and the quality metadata, where the requested content segments include content segments encoded at a maximum bitrate and having quality that is the lowest maximum bitrate that achieves a target quality level.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for managing large datasets. The system comprises a physical network. The physical network comprises a plurality of computing devices with a plurality of processors. The system further comprises a logical peer-to-peer (P2P) network with a plurality of nodes. The system further comprises a distributed file system for distributing data and jobs received by the system randomly across the plurality of nodes in the P2P network. The system duplicates the data to neighboring nodes of the plurality of nodes. The nodes monitor each other to reduce loss of data. The system further comprises a task scheduler. The task scheduler balances load across the plurality of nodes as tasks, derived from jobs, are distributed to various nodes. The task scheduler redistributes and forwards tasks to ensure the nodes processing the tasks are best suited to process those tasks.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a kiosk that provides high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as travel terminals or public spaces. The kiosks may provide instructions to users about how to receive some of the content on user devices via a high speed data transfer. The kiosk may detect and prepare a user device for receipt of electronic content by wirelessly exchanging information with the user device, such as consent information, memory allocation information, and/or other relevant data. The high speed data transfer may use high speed data transfer protocols that enable download of full-length movies in a matter of a few seconds.

Abstract: A networking device for use as a gateway for a local network is configured to be remotely managed by a remote management protocol. The networking device includes a controller configured to detect whether the networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session, and an indicator configured to indicate whether the networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session, being controlled by the controller.

Abstract: Transferring workloads between computing devices in a distributed computing system, including: receiving, by a mobile computing device via a proximity-based communications protocol, a first computing device identity; receiving, by the mobile computing device, information describing one or more workloads executing on the first computing device; identifying, by the mobile computing device, a second computing device in the distributed computing system that is capable of executing at least a portion of the one or more workloads executing on the first computing device; and initiating, by the mobile computing device, a transfer of at least a portion of the one or more workloads executing on the first computing device to the second computing device.