Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating data gathering and expectations setting according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting an invitation relating to an event, where the invitation may include an invitation to an invitee to attend the event. The method may further include obtaining data relating to the event from a plurality of sources, where the data further relates to other invitees of the event. The method may further include interpreting the obtained data based on one or more of filtering factors and relevancy factors, generating recommendations based on the interpreted data, where the recommendations may include expectations relating to the event. The method may further include facilitating communication of the recommendations to set the expectations for the invitee in anticipation of the event.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for managing power use during operation of an electronic device capable of processing and/or playback of audio and/or video (AV) content. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example: (1) to stop decoding and/or rendering of AV content upon detecting that a user wishes to stop or is otherwise unable to consume (e.g., hear/listen to or otherwise utilize) such AV content; and/or (2) to continue/re-enable decoding and/or rendering of AV content upon detecting that a user wishes or is otherwise able to continue/resume consumption thereof. In some cases, use of the disclosed techniques/architecture may reduce central processing unit (CPU) cycles, audio digital signal processing (DSP), rendering hardware usage, etc., and/or otherwise make more efficient use of battery charge, and thus may realize an improvement in battery life, for example, for a mobile/battery-operated device capable of AV processing and/or playback.

Abstract: Technologies are presented that provide location-based information distribution to targeted media devices. A method of distributing information by an information server in a networked media system may include determining a location of a first media device, determining one or more topics being consumed on the first media device, obtaining information categorically associated with one or more of the determined topics or the location of the first media device, and providing the obtained information to one or more of the first media device or a second media device in use within a predetermined proximity of the first media device. Determination of the location of the first media device may include determining whether the first media device is within a predetermined proximity of one or more other media devices with fixed known locations or of the information server. The provided information may include such information as advertisements, media recommendations, etc.

Abstract: A content device such as a digital video recorder may be coupled to a television and a viewer of the television may receive an incoming call on a wireless device such as a mobile phone while viewing content on the television. The content device and wireless device may be paired with each other and the wireless device may send a notification to the content device in response to detecting an incoming call. The content device may pause the program displayed on the television and then initiate recording of the program. The wireless device may send a second notification to the content device in response to ending the call and the content device may stop recording the program and resume the program on the television. The coordination between the content device and the wireless device and the television may be based on the context awareness and independent of the user intervention.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and methods for adaptively controlling air quality in a vehicle compartment are described. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a sensor interface configured to interface with one or more sensors, disposed at one or more locations at one or more sides or in an interior space of a vehicle compartment, and configured to measure one or more indicators of air quality at the one or more locations. The apparatus may further include one or more airflow controllers configured to adaptively control a plurality of ventilation components of the vehicle compartment to regulate airflow in the interior space, based at least in part on the measured indicators of air quality. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for managing power use during operation of an electronic device capable of processing and/or playback of audio and/or video (AV) content. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example: (1) to stop decoding and/or rendering of AV content upon detecting that a user wishes to stop or is otherwise unable to consume (e.g., hear/listen to or otherwise utilize) such AV content; and/or (2) to continue/re-enable decoding and/or rendering of AV content upon detecting that a user wishes or is otherwise able to continue/resume consumption thereof. In some cases, use of the disclosed techniques/architecture may reduce central processing unit (CPU) cycles, audio digital signal processing (DSP), rendering hardware usage, etc., and/or otherwise make more efficient use of battery charge, and thus may realize an improvement in battery life, for example, for a mobile/battery-operated device capable of AV processing and/or playback.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for managing power use during operation of an electronic device capable of processing and/or playback of audio and/or video (AV) content. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example: (1) to stop decoding and/or rendering of AV content upon detecting that a user wishes to stop or is otherwise unable to consume (e.g., hear/listen to or otherwise utilize) such AV content; and/or (2) to continue/re-enable decoding and/or rendering of AV content upon detecting that a user wishes or is otherwise able to continue/resume consumption thereof. In some cases, use of the disclosed techniques/architecture may reduce central processing unit (CPU) cycles, audio digital signal processing (DSP), rendering hardware usage, etc., and/or otherwise make more efficient use of battery charge, and thus may realize an improvement in battery life, for example, for a mobile/battery-operated device capable of AV processing and/or playback.

Abstract: A content device such as a digital video recorder may be coupled to a television and a viewer of the television may receive an incoming call on a wireless device such as a mobile phone while viewing content on the television. The content device and wireless device may be paired with each other and the wireless device may send a notification to the content device in response to detecting an incoming call. The content device may pause the program displayed on the television and then initiate recording of the program. The wireless device may send a second notification to the content device in response to ending the call and the content device may stop recording the program and resume the program on the television. The coordination between the content device and the wireless device and the television may be based on the context awareness and independent of the user intervention.

Abstract: Techniques for enhanced content seek are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a content management module, and the content management module may be operative on the processor circuit to receive an instruction to initiate a seek presentation mode for a content item, determine content description information for the content item, and generate seek presentation information comprising the content description information. In this manner, an improved seek presentation may be realized that provides descriptive information regarding portions of content as a seek is being performed through those portions of content, such that a user may be better able to identify a point at which a desired location within the content has been reached. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Improved seek techniques for content playback are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a content management module, and the content management module may be operable by the processor circuit to determine a seek destination comprising an event within a content item, identify a time index value corresponding to the event, and initiate playback of the content item at the time index value. In this manner, improved seek results may be realized that allow users to seek to specific events or points of interest within consumed content. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods may determine a visibility state of an application window associated with a media stream, and selectively decode a media stream based on a visibility state. One or more decode operations with respect to media content, such as video content, may be prevented if a visibility state indicates that at least a portion of an application window includes a blocked state. One or more decode operations with respect to media content, such as video content, may be permitted if a visibility state indicates that at least a portion of an application window includes a visible state. The systems and methods result in benefits to resource utilization, such as processor utilization, power consumption, and so on.

Abstract: In some embodiments, remote graphics rendering may be facilitated by causing thin clients, that send raw graphics data to a local server for rendering, to downscale the data to a size appropriate for use by the local server. In some embodiments this avoids the storage of unnecessary data which is not useful for the local server because the actual display size on the local server is smaller than what the transmitted raw data would permit.

Abstract: Multiple applications may display information in distinct regions of the display screen at the same time. Multiple user applications using different rendering technologies can display information simultaneously in distinct regions of the same display screen. In addition, a user interface application or user experience application may use different rendering technology than the user applications. The user application may use any desired rendering technology and still simultaneously display information on the user interface by enabling an off screen mode to be automatically implemented by an agent in the rendering technology.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) to execute instructions, a hub coupled to the CPU, and multiple physical devices coupled to the hub. The physical devices may each correspond to a different network communication protocol, and may each include a physical unit to forward packets to the hub while the system is in a low power mode. The hub may remain enabled during the low power mode and may include media access control functionality for handling incoming packets of different physical devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a first processor to execute instructions, a subordinate processor coupled to the first processor, and multiple physical devices coupled to the subordinate processor. The physical devices may each correspond to a different network communication protocol, and may each include a physical unit to forward packets to the subordinate processor while the system is in a low power mode. The subordinate processor may remain enabled during the low power mode and may include media access control functionality for handling incoming packets of different physical devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for allowing a host CPU to sleep while service presence packets and responses to search requests are sent by an alternate processor. While the CPU is in a low power state, the alternate processor monitors the network for incoming request packets. Also, while the CPU is asleep, the alternate processor periodically may transmit presence packets, announcing the presence of a service available from the host system of the CPU. In one embodiment, the alternate processor is a low power processor. If a search request is received when the CPU is in a low power state, the alternate processor responds to the search request according to whether the PC provides that service. If a service request is received, then the ME wakes the CPU of the PC to provide the requested service. In the wireless case, when the CPU is asleep, portions of the wireless upper MAC are implemented by the ME. When the CPU is awake the wireless upper MAC is implemented in the CPU.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for allowing a host CPU to sleep while service presence packets and responses to search requests are sent by an alternate processor. While the CPU is in a low power state, the alternate processor monitors the network for incoming request packets. Also, while the CPU is asleep, the alternate processor periodically may transmit presence packets, announcing the presence of a service available from the host system of the CPU. In one embodiment, the alternate processor is a low power processor. If a search request is received when the CPU is in a low power state, the alternate processor responds to the search request according to whether the PC provides that service. If a service request is received, then the ME wakes the CPU of the PC to provide the requested service. In the wireless case, when the CPU is asleep, portions of the wireless upper MAC are implemented by the ME. When the CPU is awake the wireless upper MAC is implemented in the CPU.

Abstract: A computing device is equipped with file system services and media related services that automatically make visible to a user of the computing device, through an user interface of the file system, availability of one or more UPNP media renderers, on discovery of the availability of the one or more UPNP media renderers. In various embodiments, the file system services and the media related services are further equipped to cause a media content to be rendered by a UPNP media renderer, in response to the user dragging and dropping the file system entry corresponding to the media content into the file system entry corresponding to the UPNP media renderer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a first processor to execute instructions, a subordinate processor coupled to the first processor, and multiple physical devices coupled to the subordinate processor. The physical devices may each correspond to a different network communication protocol, and may each include a physical unit to forward packets to the subordinate processor while the system is in a low power mode. The subordinate processor may remain enabled during the low power mode and may include media access control functionality for handling incoming packets of different physical devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Device write operations may be controlled by receiving a request to perform a write operation to a device and determining whether the device is activated or inactivated. If the device activated, the device may be accessed to perform the requested write operation. If the device is inactivated, the write operation may be buffered to physical memory. Device read operations may be controlled by receiving a request from a process to read a portion of a file from a device and determining whether a limited power condition exists. If a limited power condition does not exist, the device is accessed to read the requested file portion into memory. If a limited power condition exists, the device is accessed to read a superset (either the entire file or less than the entire file) of the requested file portion into memory.