Abstract: Embodiments and techniques described herein advantageously permit multiple users in disparate physical locations, using different devices and media content providers, to each initiate playback of selected media content, and to continuously temporally synchronize each playback with every other playback through analysis of the information corresponding to each playback (e.g., audio recording of the playback, information corresponding to the video playback and/or closed captioning information).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for the automatic determination of a state of a consumer electronic device via power monitoring. A switching device receives a power signature signal associated with a consumer electronic device. The power signature signal is compared to one or more reference power signatures. A determination of whether a level of similarity between the power signature signal and the one or more reference power signatures meets a threshold condition is made. If so, a determination that the consumer electronic device is in a state associated with the one or more reference power signatures is made. In response to determining that the level of similarity between the power signature signal and the one or more reference power signatures does not meet the threshold condition, a corrective action is performed. In another aspect, a reference power signature is calibrated for a consumer electronic device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for recommending content based on content being engaged with by a user's social media contacts. For example, embodiments described herein advantageously provide a user with content recommendations that are based on what other people associated with the user (e.g., via a social media service) are consuming. For instance, content being engaged with by a user's social media contacts are monitored via multimedia devices utilized by the user and his contacts and/or are inferred via social media posts of the user's contacts. Once the content is determined, the user is provided with recommendations for that contact. The recommendations may be provided to the user while the user is watching content and/or browsing for content. The recommendations may also be provided based on periodicity of the media content.

Abstract: A switching device is enabled to automatically perform one or more actions based on one or more notifications received thereby. A notification may be received by a device communicatively coupled to the switching device, or alternatively, may be internally-generated. Upon receiving the notification, the switching device utilizes a notification-to-action mapping to determine which action(s) are to be performed based on the notification received. The action(s) include automatically switching the switching device to a device coupled to a port thereof and/or automatically launching an application executing on that device in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification. In other example, the action(s) may include sending the notification to another device, such as a user's mobile phone and/or causing an application executing on the mobile phone to be launched in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable a user to share content with another user. In embodiments, a portion of the multimedia content presented by an output device (e.g., a streaming media player, a set-top box, etc.) may be selected for sharing (e.g., with one or more user(s)). Information associated with the multimedia content may be further determined (e.g., metadata, a service or source device providing the content, a time, an identification, etc.). Upon receiving a selection to share the multimedia content, a user-interactive identifier (e.g., a hyperlink) and at least one of the information and the portion of the multimedia content may be transmitted to enable the user(s) to access the content. In this manner, access to multimedia content may be easily and quickly shared with another user with relatively low user effort.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for sharing content viewed by a user. Multimedia content may be presented by an output device to an audience. A selection of a portion of the multimedia content is selected for sharing by an audience member. Additionally, synchronized combinations of captured real-time media content with played-back digital content are generated by systems and devices. A media content stream from a source device that is to be played back by a sink device is buffered. Messages pertaining to the capture of a first media clip are received from a media capture device, and based on the messages, a portion of the buffered content stream is identified and extracted to generate a second media clip. Combined media content is generated by combining the first and the second media clips, and the combined media content is stored for later playback and sharing.

Abstract: A switching device is enabled to automatically perform one or more actions based on one or more notifications received thereby. A notification may be received by a device communicatively coupled to the switching device, or alternatively, may be internally-generated. Upon receiving the notification, the switching device utilizes a notification-to-action mapping to determine which action(s) are to be performed based on the notification received. The action(s) include automatically switching the switching device to a device coupled to a port thereof and/or automatically launching an application executing on that device in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification. In other example, the action(s) may include sending the notification to another device, such as a user's mobile phone and/or causing an application executing on the mobile phone to be launched in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for sharing content viewed by a user. Multimedia content may be presented by an output device to an audience. A selection of a portion of the multimedia content is selected for sharing by an audience member. Additionally, synchronized combinations of captured real-time media content with played-back digital content are generated by systems and devices. A media content stream from a source device that is to be played back by a sink device is buffered. Messages pertaining to the capture of a first media clip are received from a media capture device, and based on the messages, a portion of the buffered content stream is identified and extracted to generate a second media clip. Combined media content is generated by combining the first and the second media clips, and the combined media content is stored for later playback and sharing.

Abstract: A switching device is enabled to automatically perform one or more actions based on one or more notifications received thereby. A notification may be received by a device communicatively coupled to the switching device, or alternatively, may be internally-generated. Upon receiving the notification, the switching device utilizes a notification-to-action mapping to determine which action(s) are to be performed based on the notification received. The action(s) include automatically switching the switching device to a device coupled to a port thereof and/or automatically launching an application executing on that device in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification. In other example, the action(s) may include sending the notification to another device, such as a user's mobile phone and/or causing an application executing on the mobile phone to be launched in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification.

Abstract: Embodiments and techniques described herein advantageously permit multiple users in disparate physical locations, using different devices and media content providers, to each initiate playback of selected media content, and to continuously temporally synchronize each playback with every other playback through analysis of the information corresponding to each playback (e.g., audio recording of the playback, information corresponding to the video playback and/or closed captioning information).

Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable detection of remote control activity. For example, a determination may be made whether an RF remote control is in use by detecting a non-RF signal transmitted by the RF remote control. The non-RF signal need not actually control any device, but it may be used to detect when the RF remote control is in use. An AV switch may detect an RF remote control is in use by detecting a non-RF signal. For example, when a user uses an RF remote (e.g., to control an STB with an RF signal) the use may be detected by detecting a non-RF (e.g., an IR signal) signal and the AV switch may use the detection, for example, to control a TV (e.g., turn on), control the switch (e.g., port selection for a TV to display STB output) and/or other devices.

Abstract: A unified search system is described herein. The unified search system is configured to enable, in a control device (e.g., a remote control), a user to input a search query. The unified search system includes a plurality of content providing device interfaces configured to interface the control device with a plurality of content providing devices. Each content providing device interface is configured to receive the search query from the user input interface, format the search query according to a corresponding input device type, and provide the formatted search query to one or more corresponding content providing devices. Search results received from the content providing devices are displayed at a display of the control device and/or at another display (e.g., a television).

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a multimode graphical user interface (GUI), where a first mode of the GUI uses an unguided navigation model and a second mode uses a guided navigation model in which the GUI is distilled down to only its most critical elements. This may be achieved by sequentially displaying a single user interface element and removing all other user-interface elements of the GUI. The second mode of the GUI may lead a user through multiple options one at a time, thus creating a guided navigation model. The second mode may be initiated upon detecting a certain event (e.g., a period of inactivity, an explicit command from the user, etc.). The multimode GUI may be used to guide a user through one or more recommended items of media content from one or more different content-providing sources.

Abstract: Methods for blended content searches across disparate sources and display of results in a user interface are performed by systems, devices, and apparatuses. Blended searches and results provide for a search and result delivery mechanism to enable users to find content they are looking for across multiple and/or disparate sources. Content that is searched is located spread across different, unrelated services/sources that have exclusive access for searching the content, or live television, on different multimedia devices, as well as on local devices in the form of recordings and locally stored libraries. The blended content searches performed allow for results obtained across disparate sources to be returned to a user from a single search and provided to a single user interface in a common format. Search results are displayed based on rankings and categories associated with the content and content sources.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for recommending content based on content being engaged with by a user's social media contacts. For example, embodiments described herein advantageously provide a user with content recommendations that are based on what other people associated with the user (e.g., via a social media service) are consuming. For instance, content being engaged with by a user's social media contacts are monitored via multimedia devices utilized by the user and his contacts and/or are inferred via social media posts of the user's contacts. Once the content is determined, the user is provided with recommendations for that contact. The recommendations may be provided to the user while the user is watching content and/or browsing for content. The recommendations may also be provided based on periodicity of the media content.

Abstract: A switching device is enabled to automatically perform one or more actions based on one or more notifications received thereby. A notification may be received by a device communicatively coupled to the switching device, or alternatively, may be internally-generated. Upon receiving the notification, the switching device utilizes a notification-to-action mapping to determine which action(s) are to be performed based on the notification received. The action(s) include automatically switching the switching device to a device coupled to a port thereof and/or automatically launching an application executing on that device in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification. In other example, the action(s) may include sending the notification to another device, such as a user's mobile phone and/or causing an application executing on the mobile phone to be launched in order to view the notification and/or content associated with the notification.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system is described that includes a loudspeaker and an extender. The loudspeaker can be positioned on the ground and the extender can be optionally connected thereto. When the extender is connected to the loudspeaker, the loudspeaker is capable of selectively sending high-frequency components of an input audio signal to the extender and the extender is capable of playing back such high-frequency components to produce high-frequency audio. Due to the fact that an audio-producing apparatus of the extender can be positioned at a higher elevation than the loudspeaker, the high-frequency audio (which is more directional than lower-frequency audio) can be produced at a height that is likely to match that of the ear height of a user as opposed to producing the audio at floor height.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable detection of remote control activity. For example, a determination may be made whether an RF remote control is in use by detecting a non-RF signal transmitted by the RF remote control. The non-RF signal need not actually control any device, but it may be used to detect when the RF remote control is in use. An AV switch may detect an RF remote control is in use by detecting a non-RF signal. For example, when a user uses an RF remote (e.g., to control an STB with an RF signal) the use may be detected by detecting a non-RF (e.g., an IR signal) signal and the AV switch may use the detection, for example, to control a TV (e.g., turn on), control the switch (e.g., port selection for a TV to display STB output) and/or other devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for remote control device usage detection. A smart battery may be inserted into a remote control device. The smart battery provides power to the remote control device as well as monitors the power consumption when a particular one or more interface elements of the remote control is interacted with by an end user. The power consumption information is transmitted to a receiver, which may identify the remote control device and/or the interface element(s) that has been interacted with based on the received data.