Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating enhanced VR content. The system generates, for display on a user device, a view of a virtual 3D environment. The system receives, from the user device, a request to capture the view of the virtual 3D environment. The system accesses data used to generate the view of the virtual 3D environment for display on the user device. The system accesses additional data of the virtual 3D environment other than the data used to generate the view of the virtual 3D environment for display on the user device. The system generates an image based on (a) the data used to generate the view of the virtual 3D environment for display on the user device, and (b) the additional data of the virtual 3D environment.

Abstract: A user device associated with a user interacting with a virtual environment is identified. Using an emulation application, a virtual instance of the user device is launched. User preferences for the user device, retrieved from user data, are then applied to the virtual instance of the user device. A graphical representation of the virtual instance of the user device is then generated for presentation to the user within the virtual environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating enhanced VR content. The system generates, for display on a user device, a view of a virtual 3D environment. The system detects that a location in the view of virtual 3D environment matches one or more criteria. In response to the detecting that the location in the virtual 3D environment matches the one or more criteria, the system automatically stores an image of the virtual 3D environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating for display, at an extended reality (XR) device executing an application, an XR environment comprising an entity and associated with an XR session of a user profile. Execution of the application enables the XR device, while generating for display the XR environment, to transmit data to, and receive data from, a particular device using a first communication protocol, and transmit data to, and receive data from, the entity using a second communication protocol. Based on monitored activity of the user profile during the XR session, the XR device may be enabled to transmit data, received at the XR device from the entity using the second communication protocol, to the particular device using the first communication protocol, and transmit data, received at the XR device from the particular device using the first communication protocol, to the entity using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing an action in response to a change in status of an input device. A media item is generated for output at a computing device, and a change in status of an input device associated with the computing device is identified. An indication of the change in status of the input device is received, and, in response to receiving the indication, an action is performed based on the media item.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating for display, at an extended reality (XR) device executing an application, an XR environment comprising an entity and associated with an XR session of a user profile. Execution of the application enables the XR device, while generating for display the XR environment, to transmit data to, and receive data from, a particular device using a first communication protocol, and transmit data to, and receive data from, the entity using a second communication protocol. Based on monitored activity of the user profile during the XR session, the XR device may be enabled to transmit data, received at the XR device from the entity using the second communication protocol, to the particular device using the first communication protocol, and transmit data, received at the XR device from the particular device using the first communication protocol, to the entity using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: A system, a controller, and methods are described herein for enabling a user of a user device while located in a visited local area network (e.g., their friend's local area network) to remotely access a device which is located within a home local area network (e.g., their household local area network).

Abstract: Methods, video terminals, and systems are disclosed for generating a montage of video segments for display by a video terminal. At least one video viewing preference associated with the video terminal is identified. Metadata associated with video segments in at least one video file is searched to identify video segments that correspond to the identified at least one video viewing preference. A montage of the identified video segments is generated for display by the video terminal.

Abstract: A streaming server and a method are described herein for providing a content stream with advertisements embedded therein through a network (e.g., IP network, CDN network, wireless network) to a client (e.g., personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a HTTP capable television).

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods control communication of content streams through a content distribution network. A data repository is accessed to retrieve information which identifies a group of user equipment nodes that are registered with one of a plurality of subscriber accounts and which further identifies weight values that are associated with the group of the user equipment nodes. Communication bit rates that are provided by a weighted fair queuing scheduler node to individual ones of a group of the content streams within bandwidth allocated to a virtual pipe for carrying the group of the content streams through the content distribution network to the group of the user equipment nodes, are regulated responsive to the weight values associated with the group of the user equipment nodes. Weighted fair queuing scheduling can thereby be provided at a virtual pipe level and, furthermore, at a user equipment node level.

Abstract: An edge node, a parent node, and a method in a Content Delivery Network (CDN) configured to utilize adaptive streaming to deliver a piece of electronic content to requesting clients. The content includes a plurality of segment files referenced by an associated manifest document, and the nodes are configured to defragment an incomplete piece of content and ensure that a copy stored in each node contain all segment files referenced by the manifest document. Each node analyzes the manifest document and the segment files stored in its cache memory to determine whether any segment files referenced by the manifest document are absent from the memory. If so, the node pulls the absent segment files from another node in the CDN to complete the piece of content. The defragmentation may be performed during a period of minimum network usage to minimize network impact and within a popularity time window to ensure timely storage of the defragmented content in each node.

Abstract: A system, an authentication engine and a method are described herein for authenticating an end user and associating their set-top box with a third party web based application to stream a third party video to the set-top box. In one example, the end user may utilize a client device (e.g., computer, laptop computer, smart phone) to access via the internet the third party video provider which lists a number of videos that the end user could watch on their television. The end user would select one of the videos to watch and then their cable provider would stream the video to the end-user's set-top box to be displayed on their television. To enable this service, the authentication system authenticates the end user and associates their set-top box with the third party video provider's web based application.

Abstract: An adaptive streaming server, a method, and a system are described herein that create a content stream to be delivered to one or more clients by segmenting the content into data structures which are stored in random access memory (volatile storage) rather than segmenting the content into segment files which are stored on a disk or database (non-volatile storage).

Abstract: An adaptive streaming server and a method are described herein for determining if a congestion level within a network exceeds a predetermined threshold and when this occurs then one or more lower bit rate segments of a content stream will be transmitted to a client.

Abstract: A stream manager and a method are described herein for creating an adaptive stream manifest file (e.g., HTTP adaptive stream manifest file) associated with original content where the original content is subsequently modified while being streamed based on input from a user of a user device. The user device is configured to request, receive and playback the original content and the modified content associated with the adaptive stream manifest file.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a capability is disclosed for conveying a link to further information over a cable system to a consumer device, wherein the video link can be associated with an external video source. The information can be conveyed to the consume device in one embodiment by embedding the video link information within a stream of MPEG formatted video information using an EBIF application. The video link information can be a URL from which the external information, typically video information, can be received. Upon detecting the link, the consumer device opens up a display window on a television image, which is presented to the viewer in an overlaid manner in addition to the MPEG video information on a television display. Typically, after the external video is presented, the window is closed.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods control communication of content streams through a content distribution network. A data repository is accessed to retrieve information which identifies a group of user equipment nodes that are registered with one of a plurality of subscriber accounts and which further identifies weight values that are associated with the group of the user equipment nodes. Communication bit rates that are provided by a weighted fair queuing scheduler node to individual ones of a group of the content streams within bandwidth allocated to a virtual pipe for carrying the group of the content streams through the content distribution network to the group of the user equipment nodes, are regulated responsive to the weight values associated with the group of the user equipment nodes. Weighted fair queuing scheduling can thereby be provided at a virtual pipe level and, furthermore, at a user equipment node level.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for associating content are disclosed. First content, such as video content or audio content, may be associated with second content, such as text, images, audio content, or video content, using content association data. The content association data may include triggering information that specifies one or more triggering parameters and one or more associated triggering conditions. Upon satisfaction of at least one of the triggering condition(s) associated with a corresponding at least one triggering parameter, the second content associated with the at least one triggering parameter may be presented to a user, for example, during playback of the first content. Further, one or more identifiers determined to be associated with a geographical location associated with a user device may be used to identify related content for presentation to a user of the user device.

Abstract: A system, method, and web-based application platform enabling a television viewer to utilize an Internet device to request a Video-On-Demand (VOD) server to stream a selected video to the viewer's Set Top Box (STB). An Internet Protocol (IP) connection is established between the Internet device and an application executing at a web site, and an Internet device identifier is passed to the application. The application communicates with the VOD server to obtain a listing of available videos, and provides the listing to the Internet device. When the viewer selects a video, the application accesses an equipment-mapping table, which associates the Internet device identifier with an STB identifier. The application then sends the STB identifier and a request for the selected video to the VOD server, which delivers the video to the STB over a television delivery system.

Abstract: A streaming server and a method are described herein for providing a content stream with advertisements embedded therein through a network (e.g., IP network, CDN network, wireless network) to a client (e.g., personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a HTTP capable television).