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.

Abstract: A system for providing drone piggybacking on vehicles is disclosed. In particular, the system may enable drones or other unmanned mobile connected devices to piggyback onto various types of hosts, such as vehicles, in a symbiotic fashion. Through the symbiotic relationship created between the drones and hosts, the drones may utilize the hosts as a means for transport, such as while delivering a good to an intended destination, and the hosts may receive certain incentives in exchange for transporting the drones. Drones may be paired with hosts based on any number of factors, such as whether the host is traveling on a route that corresponds with reaching the intended destination, whether the host is capable of recharging the drone, and whether the drone has sufficient power to reach the intended destination. By enabling drones to piggyback with hosts, the required traveling range for a drone may be reduced.

Abstract: A system for providing digital video recorder options for editing content is disclosed. In particular, the system may include receiving requests for a first version of media content and providing access to the first version of the media content. A user that accesses the first version of the media content may select a portion of the media content, and indicate whether, for example, the portion should be skipped, modified, or emphasized when the media content is accessed on a subsequent occasion. The system, based on the selection and indication, may edit the first version of the media content to create a second version of the media content. When a subsequent attempt is made to access the first version of the media content, the system may provide the user with the option to access the second version of the media content.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may obtain images of an object captured at different viewing angles of a first portion of a viewing perspective of the object, and generate additional images for a second portion of the viewing perspective based on interpolation, extrapolation or both of the captured images. Holographic content for the object based on the captured images and the additional images is generated, in accordance with load balancing. The holographic content and second video content of a second user at a second location are provided to the first local device for presentation at a first display device that simulates the second user and the object being present at the first location and simulates interaction of a first user at the first location with the object based on movement of the first user with respect to the holographic content. 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: Consistent contextual patterns may confirm ownership. Current usage of mobile and smart devices may be compared to historical usage. If a device is being used as historically observed, then ownership of the device may be confirmed. If, however, the current usage fails to coincide with historical usage, new ownership may be inferred.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate mobile device self-optimizing technology selection thresholds for a wireless communication system are provided. In one example, a method comprises: generating, at a first time, first information in a repository of information specific to and stored at the apparatus, wherein the first information comprises an identifier for a first access point device and a determined acceptable signal strength usable to obtain an acceptable jitter value between the apparatus and the first access point device; and initiating a defined type of communication via the first access point device, at a second time, based on a first determination that a detected signal strength at a third time satisfies a defined condition relative to the acceptable signal strength, wherein the second time is after the first time and wherein the third time is between the first time and the second time.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing digital video recorder options for editing content is disclosed. In particular, the system may include receiving requests for a first version of media content and providing access to the first version of the media content. A user that accesses the first version of the media content may select a portion of the media content, and indicate whether, for example, the portion should be skipped, modified, or emphasized when the media content is accessed on a subsequent occasion. The system, based on the selection and indication, may edit the first version of the media content to create a second version of the media content. When a subsequent attempt is made to access the first version of the media content, the system may provide the user with the option to access the second version of the media content.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may capture images using a camera system at a location associated with a user, transmit video content representative of the images over a network for presentation by another media processor at another location, receive at a media processor object content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user, and present at a display device of the location the object content and the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the other user at the location, where at least one of the object content and the video content is presented as three dimensional content or holographic content. 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 for providing drone piggybacking on vehicles is disclosed. In particular, the system may enable drones or other unmanned mobile connected devices to piggyback onto various types of hosts, such as vehicles, in a symbiotic fashion. Through the symbiotic relationship created between the drones and hosts, the drones may utilize the hosts as a means for transport, such as while delivering a good to an intended destination, and the hosts may receive certain incentives in exchange for transporting the drones. Drones may be paired with hosts based on any number of factors, such as whether the host is traveling on a route that corresponds with reaching the intended destination, whether the host is capable of recharging the drone, and whether the drone has sufficient power to reach the intended destination. By enabling drones to piggyback with hosts, the required traveling range for a drone may be reduced.

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, 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 for providing digital video recorder options for editing content is disclosed. In particular, the system may include receiving requests for a first version of media content and providing access to the first version of the media content. A user that accesses the first version of the media content may select a portion of the media content, and indicate whether, for example, the portion should be skipped, modified, or emphasized when the media content is accessed on a subsequent occasion. The system, based on the selection and indication, may edit the first version of the media content to create a second version of the media content. When a subsequent attempt is made to access the first version of the media content, the system may provide the user with the option to access the second version of the media content.

Abstract: Various techniques for enhancing wireless networks and/or devices that can receive wireless signals are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing digital video recorder options for editing content is disclosed. In particular, the system may include receiving requests for a first version of media content and providing access to the first version of the media content. A user that accesses the first version of the media content may select a portion of the media content, and indicate whether, for example, the portion should be skipped, modified, or emphasized when the media content is accessed on a subsequent occasion. The system, based on the selection and indication, may edit the first version of the media content to create a second version of the media content. When a subsequent attempt is made to access the first version of the media content, the system may provide the user with the option to access the second version of the media content.

Abstract: A method or apparatus accessing, by a recipient device, media content supplied by a source device. The media content is modified to generate first updated media content, wherein the media content is modified according to a comparison of first information descriptive of a first environment of the source device to second information descriptive of a second environment of the recipient device. Images are obtained of a gesture performed within the second environment. A command is identified from the gesture and the first updated media content is modified to generate second updated media content according to the command. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing drone piggybacking on vehicles is disclosed. In particular, the system may enable drones or other unmanned mobile connected devices to piggyback onto various types of hosts, such as vehicles, in a symbiotic fashion. Through the symbiotic relationship created between the drones and hosts, the drones may utilize the hosts as a means for transport, such as while delivering a good to an intended destination, and the hosts may receive certain incentives in exchange for transporting the drones. Drones may be paired with hosts based on any number of factors, such as whether the host is traveling on a route that corresponds with reaching the intended destination, whether the host is capable of recharging the drone, and whether the drone has sufficient power to reach the intended destination. By enabling drones to piggyback with hosts, the required traveling range for a drone may be reduced.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may, for example, receive a request for a telepresence seat at an event, obtain media content comprising event images of the event that are captured by an event camera system, receive images that are captured by a camera system at a user location, and provide the media content and video content representative of the images to a processor for presentation at a display device utilizing a telepresence configuration that simulates the first and second users being present at the event, where the providing of the first and second video content establishes a communication session between the first and second users. Other embodiments are disclosed.