Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, audio and/or video transmission to a user. An input is received from the user specifying media content that is accessible over a data network. The media content is retrieved over the data network, and presented via the set-top box.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a user computing device 1) determining current states, such as current integration states and/or current operational states, of software applications included in a suite of software applications relative to the user computing device, 2) identifying, based on the current states, access options for the software applications included in the suite of software applications, and 3) providing, by the user computing device for display, a graphical user interface that includes the access options configured to be selected by a user of the user computing device to access the software applications included in the suite of software applications. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A network device receives, from a set-top box within a local network, a discovery request for a server application within the local network. The network device identifies, based on the discovery request, a wide area network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) address for a router in the local network and retrieves, from a database of multiple discovery records, a particular discovery record with an IP address that matches the WAN IP address for the local network. The network device sends, to the set-top box, the particular discovery record for use in initiating a communication session with the server application.

Abstract: A client application, executed on a set-top box with a local network, detects that a media server application, executed on a computing device within the local network, is eligible for a software upgrade. The set-top box provides, based on the detecting, an interactive prompt, on a separate television display, to request authorization for the software upgrade. The set-top box receives user input, via a remote control, authorizing the software upgrade and provides, to the media server application on the computing device, a signal for the media server application to initiate the software upgrade.

Abstract: A device provides, to a server device, a single request for user information associated with an application provided in the device. The device also receives, from the server device and based on the single request, one or more tables in a same format as stored in the server device, where the one or more tables are not joined by the server device. The device further stores the one or more tables in a database associated with the device, queries the one or more tables in the database for the user information, and provides, to the application, the user information retrieved based on the query.

Abstract: A system may include a server device. The server device may receive, from a device, a media item in a first format associated with the device, and determine a transcoding priority to be associated with transcoding of the media item based on information regarding a transcoding job request for one or more other media items received from the user and at least one of information associated with the media item or information associated with a user of the device. The server device may also select, based on the transcoding priority and at least one of the information associated with the media item or the information associated with the user, the media item, from among a number of media items, associated with one or more users, to be transcoded, and transcode the media item to a transcoded media item in a second format that is different than the first format.

Abstract: Environmental factors may be used in a predictive text system provided in a device. The device may receive one or more characters entered by a user and determine, based on the one or more characters, words that are predicted to be words being entered by the user of the device, where the words are determined using grammar-based predictive techniques. The device may determine confidence scores, corresponding to the words. The device may refine the scores based on environmental data that includes data that describes an environment associated with the user of the device. The device may select, based on the refined plurality of scores, a subset of the plurality of words and output the subset of the plurality of words.

Abstract: A client application, executed on a set-top box with a local network, detects that a media server application, executed on a computing device within the local network, is eligible for a software upgrade. The set-top box provides, based on the detecting, an interactive prompt, on a separate television display, to request authorization for the software upgrade. The set-top box receives user input, via a remote control, authorizing the software upgrade and provides, to the media server application on the computing device, a signal for the media server application to initiate the software upgrade.

Abstract: A network device receives, from a set-top box within a local network, a discovery request for a server application within the local network. The network device identifies, based on the discovery request, a wide area network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) address for a router in the local network and retrieves, from a database of multiple discovery records, a particular discovery record with an IP address that matches the WAN IP address for the local network. The network device sends, to the set-top box, the particular discovery record for use in initiating a communication session with the server application.

Abstract: A device receives media objects and metadata associated with the media objects, and utilizes a portion of threads to upload, to a first server, metadata for a portion of the received media objects. The device also utilizes, after the metadata for the portion of the media objects is uploaded, a remaining portion of the threads to upload, to the first server, metadata for a remaining portion of the media objects. The device further utilizes a first thread and a second thread to upload a first two media objects to a second server after the metadata for the remaining portion of the media objects is uploaded, and utilizes, after the first two media objects are uploaded, a third thread and a fourth thread to upload a next two media objects to the second server.

Abstract: Environmental factors may be used in a predictive text system provided in a device. The device may receive one or more characters entered by a user and determine, based on the one or more characters, words that are predicted to be words being entered by the user of the device, where the words are determined using grammar-based predictive techniques. The device may determine confidence scores, corresponding to the words. The device may refine the scores based on environmental data that includes data that describes an environment associated with the user of the device. The device may select, based on the refined plurality of scores, a subset of the plurality of words and output the subset of the plurality of words.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) at least one computing device within a first computing subsystem associated with a hosted media content service, the at least one computing device configured to authenticate a user to the hosted media content service and provide at least one encrypted token to a user device associated with the user, and 2) at least one other computing device within a second computing subsystem associated with the hosted media content service, the at least one other computing device configured to store hosted media content associated with the hosted media content service, receive the at least one encrypted token from the user device, validate the at least one encrypted token, and perform, in response to the validation, at least one action on media content as part of the hosted media content service. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing contact management services. Systems and methods may maintain one or more address books. Contacts may be added to the address book from one or more sources. Systems and method may receive a command to add a party to the address book. Contact-related information associated with the party may obtained and added to the address book. A user may be notified of an incoming call placed by a calling party and destined to a communication device associated with the user. Systems and methods may receive a command, responsive to the notification, to add the calling party to an address book associated with the user. An address book may be updated to reflect changes in the contact-related information.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a user computing device 1) determining current states, such as current integration states and/or current operational states, of software applications included in a suite of software applications relative to the user computing device, 2) identifying, based on the current states, access options for the software applications included in the suite of software applications, and 3) providing, by the user computing device for display, a graphical user interface that includes the access options configured to be selected by a user of the user computing device to access the software applications included in the suite of software applications. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device provides, to a server device, a single request for user information associated with an application provided in the device. The device also receives, from the server device and based on the single request, one or more tables in a same format as stored in the server device, where the one or more tables are not joined by the server device. The device further stores the one or more tables in a database associated with the device, queries the one or more tables in the database for the user information, and provides, to the application, the user information retrieved based on the query.

Abstract: A device receives media objects and metadata associated with the media objects, and utilizes a portion of threads to upload, to a first server, metadata for a portion of the received media objects. The device also utilizes, after the metadata for the portion of the media objects is uploaded, a remaining portion of the threads to upload, to the first server, metadata for a remaining portion of the media objects. The device further utilizes a first thread and a second thread to upload a first two media objects to a second server after the metadata for the remaining portion of the media objects is uploaded, and utilizes, after the first two media objects are uploaded, a third thread and a fourth thread to upload a next two media objects to the second server.

Abstract: A device may execute a media manager application for managing media content stored by the device and download a media manager application upgrade using a background download operation that is independent from execution of the media manager application. The device may cache the media manager application upgrade in a cache memory and notify a user of the device that the media manager application upgrade is ready for installation. The device may receive an install command, corresponding to the media manager application upgrade, from the user and install the media manager application upgrade in response to the install command.

Abstract: An approach is provided for content aggregation in support of virtual channels. Query information and authentication information of a user are received from a media application associated with a set-top box. A query request is generated for media content from a content provider using the query information, the authentication information, and an identifier of a service provider. Transmission of the query request is initiated to the content provider system. One or more search results are received in response to the query request. Transmission of the one or more search results is initiated to the media application.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) at least one computing device within a first computing subsystem associated with a hosted media content service, the at least one computing device configured to authenticate a user to the hosted media content service and provide at least one encrypted token to a user device associated with the user, and 2) at least one other computing device within a second computing subsystem associated with the hosted media content service, the at least one other computing device configured to store hosted media content associated with the hosted media content service, receive the at least one encrypted token from the user device, validate the at least one encrypted token, and perform, in response to the validation, at least one action on media content as part of the hosted media content service. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system may include a server device. The server device may receive, from a device, a media item in a first format associated with the device, and determine a transcoding priority to be associated with transcoding of the media item based on information regarding a transcoding job request for one or more other media items received from the user and at least one of information associated with the media item or information associated with a user of the device. The server device may also select, based on the transcoding priority and at least one of the information associated with the media item or the information associated with the user, the media item, from among a number of media items, associated with one or more users, to be transcoded, and transcode the media item to a transcoded media item in a second format that is different than the first format.