Abstract: Provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for synchronizing playback of audio and video associated with a content, such as a movie or TV show. Also provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for coordinating devices in a whole home entertainment system that includes a wireless network, to improve collective utilization of the wireless network and thereby enhance user experience.

Abstract: Disclosed herein system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for using technology in innovative ways to automatically and intelligently predict performance of content delivery networks (CDNs) in a crowdsourced manner in order to deliver the highest resolution content possible with little or no buffering. In some embodiments, a media device downloads and displays primary content on a display device. The media device determines that secondary content should be stitched into the display of the primary content. Accordingly, the media device requests that a crowdsource server determine a bit-rate variant of the secondary content to download. The crowdsource server determines the bit-rate variant in a crowdsourced manner such that subsequent download of the identified bit-rate variant by the media device results in a zero buffer experience.

Abstract: Provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for synchronizing playback of audio and video associated with a content, such as a movie or TV show. Also provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for coordinating devices in a whole home entertainment system that includes a wireless network, to improve collective utilization of the wireless network and thereby enhance user experience.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for determining time and content restrictions based user identification. An embodiment operates by automatically identifying a user who is using a media device using at least one of a network-oriented method of user discovery and an user-action oriented method of user discovery. Preferences, including at least one of a time limit or content restriction, associated with the identified user are accessed. The accessed restriction is enforced against the identified user.

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: 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: 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: 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: Disclosed herein system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for using technology in innovative ways to automatically and intelligently predict performance of content delivery networks (CDNs) in a crowdsourced manner in order to deliver the highest resolution content possible with little or no buffering. In some embodiments, a media device downloads and displays primary content on a display device. The media device determines that secondary content should be stitched into the display of the primary content. Accordingly, the media device requests that a crowdsource server determine a bit-rate variant of the secondary content to download. The crowdsource server determines the bit-rate variant in a crowdsourced manner such that subsequent download of the identified bit-rate variant by the media device results in a zero buffer experience.

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: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for interaction-based user identification. An embodiment operates by receiving an interaction between a user and a mobile device. The mobile device can communicate with a streaming media device. Based on the interaction, an identity of the user is determined. User settings corresponding to the identity for the streaming media device are determined. The streaming media device is configured based on the user settings.

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 transmitting a discovery signal over a network, and receiving a response to the discovery signal from a mobile device coupled to the network. Based on the response it is determined whether the mobile device is within a threshold vicinity of the streaming media device. Which if it is, user settings corresponding to a user of the mobile device, which may also be a user of another device associated with the settings are determined. The other device is then configured based on the user settings.

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: Systems, methods and devices are described to encode, deliver and playback a placeshifted media stream via the Internet or another network. The media stream is appropriately encoded at a quality level (e.g., at a bit rate, frame rate, resolution, etc.) that allows content to be delivered faster than it is played back. This sort of “faster than real time” encoding allows the placeshifted media stream to be buffered at the remote device for more effective performance.

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 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: 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. A user ID corresponding to the motion based on the comparison is determined. Access to a system is provided based on the determined user ID.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for managing content stored on a distributed network. Content is initially placed onto the network and populated across one or more nodes. The content is distributed in association with decay parameters that define a lifetime for the population of the content on the network. Various communication nodes of the distributed network are configured to process the content decay parameters to determine whether to delete the content during subsequent time periods.