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: Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server.

Abstract: A digital media player device includes, without limitation, a processor and a communication module coupled to the processor and configured to support data communication with a digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module cooperate to attempt to establish data communication with the digital media place-shifting device in accordance with a connection mode sequence that identifies a plurality of different data communication modes supported by the digital media player device, until one of the plurality of different data communication modes can be used to initiate a data communication session between the digital media player device and the digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module also cooperate to perform data communication with the digital media place-shifting device, using the one of the plurality of different data communication modes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are described to identify server nodes operating on a data network that are available to a client node. A registry server receives registration messages from each of the of server nodes and maintains a listing server nodes and their associated server addresses. When a request is received from a client, the registry server identifies server nodes having the same network address as the client, thereby indicating that the client and server nodes are likely to reside behind a common router or on a common local area network. A list of identified server nodes can then be forwarded to the client so that the client can establish connections as desired. These techniques may be used, for example, to establish video placeshifting connections between a placeshifting server device and a phone, tablet or other media client.

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: Systems and methods are described for aggregating media content from multiple sources for viewing on a local display or for placeshifting to a remote display. The aggregation system responds to instructions received from a remote device via the digital network to provide the video output incorporating the media content received from any of the media sources to the locally-connected display. The media aggregation system also simultaneously provides a placeshifted video stream to the remote device via the digital network that incorporates media content received from any of the plurality of media sources selected in response to the instructions received from the remote device.

Abstract: A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server.

Abstract: A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server.

Abstract: A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address.

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.

Abstract: A digital media player device includes, without limitation, a processor and a communication module coupled to the processor and configured to support data communication with a digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module cooperate to attempt to establish data communication with the digital media place-shifting device in accordance with a connection mode sequence that identifies a plurality of different data communication modes supported by the digital media player device, until one of the plurality of different data communication modes can be used to initiate a data communication session between the digital media player device and the digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module also cooperate to perform data communication with the digital media place-shifting device, using the one of the plurality of different data communication modes.

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 and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server.

Abstract: A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for object based motion compensation forms objects from blocks of an input image based on motion similarity of the blocks in the input image and a reference image. In addition, object motion compensation vectors for each formed object and object relative block motion compensation vectors for each object's constituent blocks relative to the object's motion compensation vector are computed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for perceptual model based video compression calculates a bitrate value that follows with stabilizing delay the actual bitrates of previous frames. A current quantization coefficient is determined with the calculated bitrate value and a perceptual model. The current quantization coefficient's rate of change is limited based on a previous quantization coefficient. After the current quantization coefficient has been calculated and limited, a current frame is encoded with the limited current quantization coefficient.