Abstract: A system and method for the management of multiple digital assistants enabling the collection and analysis of voice commands and the selective instruction of the digital assistant having the most appropriate capability and/or connectivity to respond to the analyzed voice command. In a preferred embodiment the digital assistants are networked via a DAC. The controller serves to as a central node programmed to recognize the voice commands received by networked digital assistants and determine which assistant or assistants are best qualified to respond. This determination is a function of the command type, as well as the location and capabilities of each digital assistant. In addition, the system and method enhance the utility of the digital assistants, enabling a voice command received by a particular digital assistant to be acted upon by one or more digital assistants located outside of the audible range of the spoken voice command.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling the selection of audio associated with one or more concurrently displayed video programs to be controlled. This system and method enable a user to select one or more concurrently displayed video programs and consequently control the routing and volume of the audio associated with one or all of the concurrently displayed video programs. The concurrently viewed videos can be presented in a picture-in-picture format.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic management of the presentation of information from two or more media sources. This automatic management includes the selective viewing of video information on a prescribed screen, screen window or screen configuration, as well as the selective provision of audio information to a particular port or appliance. This management is performed in response to and a s a function of consumer preferences, as well as the source, type and content of the video and audio information. The management system may be entirely located within the consumer's residence, or reside in whole or in part in a connected network or cloud. The system can initiate video/audio management in an entirely autonomous manner, or initiate only in response to user input (keypad, graphical user interface, voice, etc.).

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically controlling multiple wireless speakers in response to the sensed location of one or more listeners and predefined audio preferences associated therewith. The position of a device associated with a given user is continuously monitored and the state of the wireless speakers adjusted accordingly so as to provide the user with a customized, yet consistent audio experience as they move with respect to the wireless speakers. Prioritization among multiple user devices is also provided for, thereby ensuring that higher-priority users are provided with the aural environment they have specified, or placing the wireless speaker system into an operational state that provides a suitable audio environment for all users.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling and supporting the use of a single user interface to monitor and control multiple IoT systems or devices. The system utilizes displays, interfaces and pointing devices (television remote controls, television screens, smart phones) that are familiar to a significant population of prospective users, and enables aggregation supporting the control/monitoring of multiple, disparate IoT systems via a single device/interface.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling the selection of audio associated with one or more concurrently displayed video programs to be controlled. This system and method enable a user to select one or more concurrently displayed video programs and consequently control the routing and volume of the audio associated with one or all of the concurrently displayed video programs. The concurrently viewed videos can be presented in a picture-in-picture format.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling media systems identified as co-located with one or more voice-command responsive devices. The disclosed technology is responsive to predetermined activation and/or deactivation phrases so as to control the audio output of the identified media systems and provide an improved sonic environment for a voice command to be properly received and interpreted by the voice-command responsive device(s). The activation phrase for the disclosed system and method can be the same one utilized by the co-located voice-command responsive devices, thereby providing a user with an intuitive and substantially immediate means of improving the sonic environment prior to issuing one or more voice commands.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically controlling multiple wireless speakers in response to the sensed location of one or more listeners and predefined audio preferences associated therewith. The position of a device associated with a given user is continuously monitored and the state of the wireless speakers adjusted accordingly so as to provide the user with a customized, yet consistent audio experience as they move with respect to the wireless speakers. Prioritization among multiple user devices is also provided for, thereby ensuring that higher-priority users are provided with the aural environment they have specified, or placing the wireless speaker system into an operational state that provides a suitable audio environment for all users.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic management of the presentation of information from two or more media sources. This automatic management includes the selective viewing of video information on a prescribed screen, screen window or screen configuration, as well as the selective provision of audio information to a particular port or appliance. This management is performed in response to and a s a function of consumer preferences, as well as the source, type and content of the video and audio information. The management system may be entirely located within the consumer's residence, or reside in whole or in part in a connected network or cloud. The system can initiate video/audio management in an entirely autonomous manner, or initiate only in response to user input (keypad, graphical user interface, voice, etc.).

Abstract: A system and method for the management of multiple digital assistants enabling the collection and analysis of voice commands and the selective instruction of the digital assistant having the most appropriate capability and/or connectivity to respond to the analyzed voice command. In a preferred embodiment the digital assistants are networked via a DAC. The controller serves to as a central node programmed to recognize the voice commands received by networked digital assistants and determine which assistant or assistants are best qualified to respond. This determination is a function of the command type, as well as the location and capabilities of each digital assistant. In addition, the system and method enhance the utility of the digital assistants, enabling a voice command received by a particular digital assistant to be acted upon by one or more digital assistants located outside of the audible range of the spoken voice command.

Abstract: An arrangement for simulating a short depth of field in a captured videophone image is provided in which the background portion of the image is digitally segregated and blurred to render it indistinct. Thus, the displayed video of a user in the foreground is kept in focus while the background appears to be out of focus. Image tracking or fixed templates are used to segregate an area of interest that is kept in focus from the remaining captured video image. Image processing techniques are applied to groups of pixels in the remaining portion to blur that portion of the captured video image. Such techniques include the application of a filter that are alternatively selected from convolution filters in the spatial domain (e.g., mean, median, or Gaussian filters), or frequency filters in the frequency domain (e.g., low-pass or Gaussian filters). User-selectable control is optionally implemented for controlling the type of foreground/background segregation technique utilized (i.e.

Abstract: An arrangement for simulating a short depth of field in a captured videophone image is provided in which the background portion of the image is digitally segregated and blurred to render it indistinct. Thus, the displayed video of a user in the foreground is kept in focus while the background appears to be out of focus. Image tracking or fixed templates are used to segregate an area of interest that is kept in focus from the remaining captured video image. Image processing techniques are applied to groups of pixels in the remaining portion to blur that portion of the captured video image. Such techniques include the application of a filter that are alternatively selected from convolution filters in the spatial domain (e.g., mean, median, or Gaussian filters), or frequency filters in the frequency domain (e.g., low-pass or Gaussian filters). User-selectable control is optionally implemented for controlling the type of foreground/background segregation technique utilized (i.e.

Abstract: A multimedia server distributes closed captioning over a network to a client device running a media player that does not support standardized closed captioning. The multimedia server receives a media stream including closed captioning that is encoded according to a closed captioning standard such as Consumer Electronics Association CEA-608-B or CEA 708-B, Advanced Television Systems Committee ATSC A/53 or the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers SCTE 20 and/or SCTE 21. The multimedia server transcodes the closed captioning into a format that is usable by the media player and transmits the transcoded closed captioning to the client device over the network so that the media player can render the closed captioning synchronously with programming content included in the media stream.