Abstract: Some embodiments include assessing multimedia service in a particular environment, determining in real-time whether an extender device would improve the multimedia service in the particular environment, and communicating a recommendation via a graphical user interface (GUI). The assessing is based on physical layer and application layer measurements of the multimedia service in the particular environment. Some embodiments utilize an application on a mobile communications device that may be used in conjunction with a multimedia device to determine placement of an extender device among multimedia devices associated with a same multimedia service customer account for a desired performance and hence, a desired customer experience.

Abstract: Some embodiments include assessing multimedia service in a particular environment, determining in real-time whether an extender device would improve the multimedia service in the particular environment, and communicating a recommendation via a graphical user interface (GUI). The assessing is based on physical layer and application layer measurements of the multimedia service in the particular environment. Some embodiments utilize an application on a mobile communications device that may be used in conjunction with a multimedia device to determine placement of an extender device among multimedia devices associated with a same multimedia service customer account for a desired performance and hence, a desired customer experience.

Abstract: Various embodiments for customizing a user interface based on user capabilities are described herein. An embodiment operates by detecting an interaction performed by a user with a user interface of a mobile device, the interaction being detected on a detection date and time. A biometric of the user is determined based on the interaction with the user interface of the mobile device. An initial identity of the user based is generated on the determined biometric of the user. A usage history for the initial identity of the user is retrieved. The detection date and time is compared to the usage history. The initial identity of the user is verified as an actual identity of the user based on the comparing. The user interface is customized based on the capabilities of the user in interacting with the user interface corresponding to the determined biometric after the verifying.

Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments for synchronizing playback of audio and video. An embodiment operates by determining that a first quality video is being received at a media device. It is determined that a buffer of the media device is not large enough to buffer the first quality video long enough to synchronize an output of the high quality video with the output of the audio by one or more wireless speakers. A second quality of the video that the buffer can hold long enough to synchronize is identified, wherein the second quality of the video is lower than the first quality of the video. The media device outputs the video at the second quality and the corresponding audio to the one or more wireless speakers.

Abstract: Many customers have difficulty setting up a new extender device in the customer premises environment to improve their multimedia service. Some embodiments include configuring an extender device based on existing WiFi network credentials to minimize errors. Some embodiments include an application for mobile devices that may enable the transfer of network credentials from existing multimedia devices on the WiFi network to configure a new extender device in real time. For example, the configuration may be based on a customer account, a corresponding environment, and corresponding multimedia devices associated with the customer account. The extender device may be configured with the network credentials (e.g., a WiFi service set identifier (SSID) and password) that is common to the corresponding multimedia devices associated with the customer account.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for operating a user application including a user rendered context operating on a user device and maintaining a current render tree, and a user programmer context operating on a cloud computing system. The user rendered context of the user application can receive an input; and send, responsive to receiving the input, an event notification to the user programmer context of the user application. The user rendered context can further receive, from the user programmer context, a difference tree to update the current render tree, and update the current render tree based on the difference tree.

Abstract: Some embodiments include assessing multimedia service in a particular environment, determining in real-time whether an extender device would improve the multimedia service in the particular environment, and communicating a recommendation via a graphical user interface (GUI). The assessing is based on physical layer and application layer measurements of the multimedia service in the particular environment.

Abstract: Some embodiments include assessing multimedia service in a particular environment, determining in real-time whether an extender device would improve the multimedia service in the particular environment, and communicating a recommendation via a graphical user interface (GUI). The assessing is based on physical layer and application layer measurements of the multimedia service in the particular environment. Some embodiments utilize an application on a mobile communications device that may be used in conjunction with a multimedia device to determine placement of an extender device among multimedia devices associated with a same multimedia service customer account for a desired performance and hence, a desired customer experience.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphical user interface system comprises a media component configured to produce a signal comprising media content (e.g., a movie or television show being viewed by a user) and a three-dimensional graphical user interface (e.g., an interactive program guide). A display device communicatively coupled to the media component is configured to simultaneously display the three-dimensional graphical user interface and a media content image corresponding to the media content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for automatically determining the functionality and capabilities of electronic components. Some embodiments operate by transmitting a command to the display device in question (sometimes called the device under test—DUT—herein) and monitoring the device. Then, it is determined whether an action by the display device was one of a set of proper responses to the command. If the action was proper, then it is determined that the display device supports the command set associated with the command. The command set may be the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) set, although this disclosure is not limited to that example.

Abstract: Various embodiments for customizing a user interface based on user capabilities are described herein. An embodiment operates by detecting an interaction performed by a user with a user interface of a mobile device, the interaction being detected on a detection date and time. A biometric of the user is determined based on the interaction with the user interface of the mobile device. An initial identity of the user based is generated on the determined biometric of the user. A usage history for the initial identity of the user is retrieved. The detection date and time is compared to the usage history. The initial identity of the user is verified as an actual identity of the user based on the comparing. The user interface is customized based on the capabilities of the user in interacting with the user interface corresponding to the determined biometric after the verifying.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphical user interface system comprises a media component configured to produce a signal comprising media content (e.g., a movie or television show being viewed by a user) and a three-dimensional graphical user interface (e.g., an interactive program guide). A display device communicatively coupled to the media component is configured to simultaneously display the three-dimensional graphical user interface and a media content image corresponding to the media content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for customizing a user interface on a remote control (or other device, such as a display device or mobile device) based on biometrics of the user. In a non-limiting embodiment, a method operates by receiving an interaction by a user of the remote control, wherein the interaction relates to a biometric of the user. An identity of the user is determined based on the interaction. Information associated with the determined user identity is accessed. Then, the user interface on the remote control is customized based on the accessed information. The biometric may be, for example, associated with a finger size of the user, or associated with motions made by the user with the remote control in forming the interaction. In an embodiment, the user identity is verified by comparing a date/time of the interaction with viewing history of the user, and/or by comparing the date/time of the interaction with a schedule of the user.

Abstract: A set-top box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR), video player or other host device receives and interacts with a transcode module to provide enhanced transcoding capabilities that may be useful in placeshifting or other applications. The transcode module includes a host interface that couples to and communicates with the host device. The transcode module also includes a processor that receives an encrypted media stream from the host device via the bus interface, decrypts the encrypted media stream, transcodes the encrypted media stream to a different format, re-encrypts the transcoded stream, and provides the re-encrypted media stream to the host device via the host interface. The transcoded media content may be placeshifted to a remote player, stored at the host, or used for any other purpose.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for automatically determining the functionality and capabilities of electronic components. Some embodiments operate by transmitting a command to the display device in question (sometimes called the device under test—DUT—herein) and monitoring the device. Then, it is determined whether an action by the display device was one of a set of proper responses to the command. If the action was proper, then it is determined that the display device supports the command set associated with the command. The command set may be the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) set, although this disclosure is not limited to that example.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for network-based user identification. An embodiment operates by determining a media access control (MAC) address of each of a plurality of mobile devices that have previously interacted with a streaming media device. A discovery signal is transmit to the MAC addresses of the plurality of mobile devices. Responses indicating a network address of each of the respective responding mobile devices are received. One or more user settings of the streaming media device are determined based on identified user settings corresponding to the plurality of responding mobile devices. The streaming media device is configured based on the identified one more user settings.

Abstract: Many customers have difficulty setting up a new extender device in the customer premises environment to improve their multimedia service. Some embodiments include configuring an extender device based on existing WiFi network credentials to minimize errors. Some embodiments include an application for mobile devices that may enable the transfer of network credentials from existing multimedia devices on the WiFi network to configure a new extender device in real time. For example, the configuration may be based on a customer account, a corresponding environment, and corresponding multimedia devices associated with the customer account. The extender device may be configured with the network credentials (e.g., a WiFi service set identifier (SSID) and password) that is common to the corresponding multimedia devices associated with the customer account.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments for user identification based on the motion of a device. An embodiment operates by detecting a motion of a remote control. The detected motion is compared with one or more stored motions, wherein each stored motion is associated with a user ID. A user ID is determined to correspond to a user operating the remote control based on the comparing of the detected motion. A confirmation that the determined user ID corresponds to a user associated with the detected motion is requested. Access to a system is provided based on at least the determined user ID.

Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments for synchronizing playback of audio and video. An embodiment operates by determining that a first quality video is being received at a media device. It is determined that a buffer of the media device is not large enough to buffer the first quality video long enough to synchronize an output of the high quality video with the output of the audio by one or more wireless speakers. A second quality of the video that the buffer can hold long enough to synchronize is identified, wherein the second quality of the video is lower than the first quality of the video. The media device outputs the video at the second quality and the corresponding audio to the one or more wireless speakers.

Abstract: Many customers have difficulty setting up a new extender device in the customer premises environment to improve their multimedia service. Some embodiments include configuring an extender device based on existing WiFi network credentials to minimize errors. Some embodiments include an application for mobile devices that may enable the transfer of network credentials from existing multimedia devices on the WiFi network to configure a new extender device in real time. For example, the configuration may be based on a customer account, a corresponding environment, and corresponding multimedia devices associated with the customer account. The extender device may be configured with the network credentials (e.g., a WiFi service set identifier (SSID) and password) that is common to the corresponding multimedia devices associated with the customer account.