Abstract: In a first device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the first device to perform functions of receiving, from a second device via a signal connection, a request to project visual content from the second device, the first device being in a locked state to restrict access to the first device that requires valid authentication to transition from the locked state to an unlocked state; determining that the second device has a permission to project the visual content to the first device; receiving, from the second device via the signal connection, data for projecting the visual content to the first device; and based on the received data, displaying, on a display, the visual content.

Abstract: In a first device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the first device to perform functions of receiving, from a second device via a signal connection, a request to project visual content from the second device, the first device being in a locked state to restrict access to the first device that requires valid authentication to transition from the locked state to an unlocked state; determining that the second device has a permission to project the visual content to the first device; receiving, from the second device via the signal connection, data for projecting the visual content to the first device; and based on the received data, displaying, on a display, the visual content.

Abstract: Techniques for projection via a device are described. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable a locked host device to output data projected from another device while the host device remains in a locked state. In at least some implementations, device context for a host device (locked or unlocked) can be considered in determining whether to broadcast availability to receive projected content.

Abstract: Techniques for projection via a device are described. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable a locked host device to output data projected from another device while the host device remains in a locked state. In at least some implementations, device context for a host device (locked or unlocked) can be considered in determining whether to broadcast availability to receive projected content.

Abstract: Techniques for projection via a device are described. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable a locked host device to output data projected from another device while the host device remains in a locked state. In at least some implementations, device context for a host device (locked or unlocked) can be considered in determining whether to broadcast availability to receive projected content.

Abstract: Techniques for projection via a device are described. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable a locked host device to output data projected from another device while the host device remains in a locked state. In at least some implementations, device context for a host device (locked or unlocked) can be considered in determining whether to broadcast availability to receive projected content.

Abstract: Technologies for selecting a media representation out of a plurality of representations of the same media offered by a media provider wherein the selected representation is a preferred representation and the selecting is based on metadata of the media representations evaluated against scoring criteria.

Abstract: Technologies for measuring a data throughput rate of a link typically used for transferring media catalogs and media between a media provider and an UPnP Control Point.

Abstract: A topology management process is implemented in peer-to-peer content distribution clouds using tracker nodes. Tracker nodes have information about available peers and assist peers in finding other peers to connect to. Various algorithms for use at the tracker nodes are described for selecting which peers to return as potentials for forming connections to. In addition, architectures and algorithms to allow efficient scaling of tracker nodes in peer-to-peer clouds are described.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods (“tools”) are described that enable a digital rights management policy to be associated with digital media having an arbitrary content type or transfer control protocol. In some embodiments, the tools encrypt data segments of a media file and add a descriptor to each of those segments. These descriptors can enable a receiver of the encrypted media file to decrypt the file and consume it according to the correct digital rights management policy.

Abstract: A method is provided for allowing Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology to be used over the Internet or other wide area communications networks. In one illustrative example, a first UPnP-enabled device is to provide a UPnP service such as streaming media to various users over the Internet. The first UPnP-enabled device provides an on-line identity provider such as Windows Live or the like with user IDs of those users who are authorized to access the first UPnP-enabled device from a remote location. When a user wishes to receive the UPnP service from the first UPnP-enabled device, the user logs in to the on-line identity provider using his user ID and receives from the on-line provider an IP address associated with the first UPnP-enabled device. The user's media player or other application constructs a URL from the IP address and contacts the UPnP-enabled device at that URL. The UPnP-enabled device provides the user with a list of media libraries that are available on it.

Abstract: Embedded within at least some Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP) messages sent from a media content source to a recipient is a session description message that describes a media presentation being streamed to the recipient. The session description message can be associated, for example, with one of a plurality of pieces of media content in a play list of media content being streamed from the device to the recipient. In accordance with certain aspects, an RTCP message that embeds a session description message includes at least three fields: a first field containing data identifying the RTCP message as being a type that embeds a session description message; a second field containing data that is the session description message for a media presentation; and a third field containing data identifying a length of the RTCP message, generated by summing the length of the first, second, and third fields.

Abstract: Automatically recovering from broken network connections in streaming media scenarios. Server software executing on the server communicates with client software executing on the client during the streaming media session. If the streaming media session is interrupted, the server software and the client software exchange messages to associate the client with a client state stored by the server and to re-synchronize playback of the content.

Abstract: The invention describes a control node for a content distribution network and a method of automatically verifying content distributed over a network at a node in the network. In the method, a content description is received which comprises a content identifier, a publisher identifier, publisher authorization information and content checking information. The integrity and validity of this information are checked and if both the checks are passed, the content description is stored.

Abstract: Technologies for measuring a data throughput rate of a link typically used for transferring media catalogs and media between a media provider and an UPnP Control Point.

Abstract: A data stream is encrypted to form encryption units that are packetized into RTP packets. Each RTP packet includes an RTP packet header, one or more payloads of a common data stream, and a RTP payload format header for each payload and including, for the corresponding encryption units, a boundary for the payload. The payload can be one or more of the encryption units or a fragment of one of the encryption units. The encryption units are reassembled the using the payloads in the RTP packets and the respective boundary in the respective RTP payload format header. The reassembled of encryption units are decrypted for rendering. Each RTP payload format header can have attributes for the corresponding payload that can be used to render the payload. The RTP packets can be sent server-to-client or peer-to-peer.

Abstract: Session description message extensions include information describing a multimedia presentation or a single media presentation. The session description message is typically sent from one device to another device to which the multimedia or single media presentation will be streamed. Several extensions are described that extend the information that can be included in the session description message.

Abstract: Session description message extensions include information describing a multimedia presentation or a single media presentation. The session description message is typically sent from one device to another device to which the multimedia or single media presentation will be streamed. Several extensions are described that extend the information that can be included in the session description message.

Abstract: Various embodiments utilize methods of protecting content, such as Digital Rights Management (DRM), to enable secure playback of content on machines and devices within a local network, such as a home media network. In at least some embodiments, messages and content are delivered using, respectively, a control protocol for streaming and a transport protocol. In at least some embodiments, the control protocol for streaming is Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), and the transport protocol is Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP).

Abstract: A method in a computer network for automatically detecting a most advantageous protocol for communication by a client computer, said client computer being configured to be coupled to a server computer via a computer network. The method includes initiating a plurality of protocol threads for sending from the client computer to the server computer, a plurality of data requests. Each of the data requests employs a different protocol and a different connection. The data requests are configured to solicit, responsive to the data request, a set of responses from the server computer. Each of the responses employs a protocol associated with a respective one of the data requests. The method further includes receiving at the client computer at least a subset of the responses. The method also includes initiating a control thread at the client computer.