Abstract: Network planning based on collected crowd-sourced access point quality and selection data can optimize access point frequency and/or bandwidth selection. A cloud-based application can be utilized in conjunction with a mobile device to build a database of access point quality and thresholds suitable for real-time and other jitter-sensitive services. The mobile device jitter measurements and selection thresholds can be collected at a cloud platform, which creates an access point performance and selection threshold profile from which the network can facilitate access point frequency and/or bandwidth selections.

Abstract: Network planning based on collected crowd-sourced access point quality and selection data can optimize access point frequency and/or bandwidth selection. A cloud-based application can be utilized in conjunction with a mobile device to build a database of access point quality and thresholds suitable for real-time and other jitter-sensitive services. The mobile device jitter measurements and selection thresholds can be collected at a cloud platform, which creates an access point performance and selection threshold profile from which the network can facilitate access point frequency and/or bandwidth selections.

Abstract: Network planning based on collected crowd-sourced access point quality and selection data can optimize access point frequency and/or bandwidth selection. A cloud-based application can be utilized in conjunction with a mobile device to build a database of access point quality and thresholds suitable for real-time and other jitter-sensitive services. The mobile device jitter measurements and selection thresholds can be collected at a cloud platform, which creates an access point performance and selection threshold profile from which the network can facilitate access point frequency and/or bandwidth selections.

Abstract: Utilization of collected crowd-sourced access point quality and selection data for intelligent network selection can optimize access point device selection. A cloud-based application can be utilized in conjunction with a mobile device to build a database of access point quality and thresholds suitable for real-time and other jitter-sensitive services. In one embodiment, a first mobile device can receive access point data associated with a second mobile device. The access point data associated with the second mobile device can then inform the first mobile device on whether to communicate with the access point device or utilized cellular communication.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, monitoring a user in a showroom to generate shopping parameters of the user, determining that the user is seeking to purchase a product in the showroom according to the shopping parameters, obtaining user data of the user in response to the determining that the user is seeking to purchase the product, analyzing the user data, selecting interaction data from among a group of interaction data according to the analyzing of the user data, and providing the interaction data to a computing device of a sales agent to enable the sales agent to transact with the user for the purchase of the product. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, monitoring a user in a showroom to generate shopping parameters of the user, determining that the user is seeking to purchase a product in the showroom according to the shopping parameters, obtaining user data of the user in response to the determining that the user is seeking to purchase the product, analyzing the user data, selecting interaction data from among a group of interaction data according to the analyzing of the user data, and providing the interaction data to a computing device of a sales agent to enable the sales agent to transact with the user for the purchase of the product. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a processor operable to determine whether a correlation exists between first products or services consumed by a subscriber leader and second products or services consumed by a plurality of subscriber followers. The first and second products or services can be distributed by a media service provider over a communication system and can be consumed by way of one or more media processors. The processor can be further operable to identify a plurality of market sector classifications for each of the second products or services consumed, to assess a plurality of values of consumption for the plurality of market sector classifications, and to determine a plurality of marketable values for the subscriber leader. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method or apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for retrieving a plurality of sensory information from an environment of a device. A digital representation of the environment of the device is identified corresponding to the plurality of sensory information from the environment of the device. A media presentation element of the device associated with media content of the device is identified. A user interface of the media presentation element is adapted to modify a presentation of the media content by the media presentation element of the device according to the digital representation of the environment of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, communicating with a server via a first type of communication path to obtain permission to provide media content, that is stored locally at a device, to another device; and responsive to obtaining the permission from the server, providing at least some of the media content to the another device, the media content being provided to the another device via a second type of communication path that is different from the first type of communication path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining first personal content associated with a first mobile communication device, obtaining recognition information associated with a target individual where the recognition information is associated with at least one of images of the target individual and audio of the target individual, obtaining second personal content associated with the first mobile communication device, and performing recognition analysis on the second personal content using the recognition information to detect the target individual being present in second images of the second personal content, where a communication device associated with the target individual is provided with access to the second images. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal directed to a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, receive usage information from the radio frequency identifier tag, determine a measure of wear and tear of the first item from the usage information, compare the measure of wear and tear to a threshold, detect from the comparison a state of usage of the first item, and submit a notice representative of the state of usage of the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, monitoring access by communication devices of second users to personal content associated with a first user, selecting advertisement content based on the monitoring of the access, and providing the advertisement content for presentation with the personal content when the personal content is accessed by a communication device of a third user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal directed to a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, receive usage information from the radio frequency identifier tag, determine a measure of wear and tear of the first item from the usage information, compare the measure of wear and tear to a threshold, detect from the comparison a state of usage of the first item, and submit a notice representative of the state of usage of the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, monitoring access by communication devices of second users to personal content associated with a first user, selecting advertisement content based on the monitoring of the access, and providing the advertisement content for presentation with the personal content when the personal content is accessed by a communication device of a third user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, communicating with a server via a first type of communication path to obtain permission to provide media content, that is stored locally at a device, to another device; and responsive to obtaining the permission from the server, providing at least some of the media content to the another device, the media content being provided to the another device via a second type of communication path that is different from the first type of communication path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method or apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for adapting media content of a source device for a recipient device. Characteristics of a first environment of a source device and of a second environment of a recipient can be identified. At least one difference between the characteristics of the first environment of the source device and the characteristics of the second environment of the recipient device can be determined. A presentation of media content can be modified according to the at least one difference between the characteristics of the first environment of the source device and the characteristics of the second environment of the recipient device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller operable to determine a behavioral pattern of at least one of a subscriber leader and a plurality of subscriber followers who track activities of the subscriber leader. The controller can be further operable to detect a first request to transmit first media content from a first device of a first plurality of devices of the subscriber leader to a second plurality of devices of the plurality of subscriber followers, identify in the first media content a first substitutable advertisement product, substitute the first substitutable product in the first media content with a first advertisement product selected according to the determined behavioral pattern to generate updated first media content, and transmit the updated first media content to the second plurality of devices of the plurality of subscriber followers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus incorporates teachings of the present disclosure and may include, for example, a method including detecting at least one of a plurality of sensor data sources for capturing sensory data from a physical environment of the source device, receiving from the at least one of the plurality of sensor data sources sensory information representing the sensory data from the physical environment of the source device, identifying a plurality of characteristics of the physical environment of the source device from the received sensory information, sending to a second device media content and the sensory information representing the plurality of characteristics of the physical environment of the source device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for mitigating returns is disclosed. In particular, the system may analyze an order made by a user for an item. The system may apply one or more filters to the order to determine if the ordered item is compatible with the user's profile, devices, accounts, preferences, or a combination thereof. Based on the application of the filters, the system may determine if a conflict exists between the ordered item and the user's profile, devices, accounts, preferences. If a conflict is determined to exist, the system may notify the user and adjust the order to generate a new order for a different item that is compatible for the user so as to mitigate a return. An order may then be transmitted to a virtual assistant for approval, which may reject the order or approve the order for completion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and updating user availability based upon presence and television viewing behavior are described herein. In one embodiment, a presence system is used to detect a user's presence to update the user's availability status. The availability status is then used to update a contact list, voicemail message, and/or busy message. In further embodiments, user preferences are used in combination with presence data to update the user's availability status. In still further embodiments, a user's television viewing behavior is used in combination with the presence data, user preferences, or both to update the user's availability status. Alternative embodiments provide systems and methods in accordance with the present invention for other interactive devices.