Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain a delivery session with a set top box for streaming of media content thereto where the media content is multiple content from a plurality of media sources, maintain retrieval sessions for each of the plurality of media sources where the controller switches between the retrieval sessions to obtain the media content while maintaining the delivery session, and temporarily store the media content in a buffer for the streaming to the set top box using the delivery session. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Targeted content is delivered to and received by at least one user device based on user information stored locally at the user device. Program content and targeted content are received. The targeted content received is associated with user information stored locally on the user device, while the program content is broadcast to multiple users. A determination by a scanning process is made at what position or at what time in the program content to include the targeted content. The program content and the targeted content are rendered, with the targeted content included at the determined position or time in the program content, for presentation to the user.

Abstract: Targeted content associated with user information stored in a database within a network in communication with a user device is received along with program content. A determination by a scanning process is made at what position or at what time in the program content to include the targeted content. The program content and the targeted content are rendered, with the targeted content included at the determined position or time in the program content, for presentation to at least one user. This rendering may occur within a network or within a user device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for providing interactive services used with a time sensitive interactive application are provided. A request is received for interactive services that corresponds to a program. A program identification (ID) for the program is determined. An interactive application that corresponds to the program is determined based on the program ID, where the interactive application has a corresponding interactive application ID. The interactive application ID that corresponds to the interactive application for the program is provided.

Abstract: An assembly for forming a back-contact photovoltaic module includes an integrated back-sheet with a substrate, an electrically conductive metal circuit adhered to a front surface of the substrate, and a back insulating layer adhered to the electrically conductive metal circuit. The back insulating layer has openings aligned with the electrically conductive metal circuit and with electrical contacts on the back side of a back-contact solar cell. A front sheet and front encapsulant layer are provided on a front surface of the solar cell. The back insulating layer or the front encapsulant layer has a concave opening that complements the solar cell profile. When the back-contact solar cell is received in the concave opening, the electrical contacts on the back side of the solar cell align with the openings of the back insulating layer and with the electrically conductive metal circuit. A process for forming the described assembly is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products index content. An audio stream is converted to a stream of phonemes. The stream of phonemes is filtered according to a list of popular phoneme strings. A weighting is computed for the content based on at least one popular phoneme combination occurring in the stream of phonemes. The content is indexed based on the weighting.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate user input based upon the relative position of their fingers. In the context of a method, sensor information is received that is indicative of the position of a first finger relative to a second finger. The first finger may be a thumb such that the sensor information is indicative of the position of the thumb relative to the second finger. In conjunction with the receipt of sensor information, the method receives sensor information from a sensor that is offset from an interface between the first and second fingers so as not to be positioned between the first and second fingers. The method also determines, with a processor, the relative position of the first and second fingers based upon the sensor information and causes performance of an operation in response to the relative position of the first and second fingers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products that automatically categorize and/or assign ratings to content (video and audio content) uploaded by individuals who want to broadcast the content to others via a communications network, such as an IPTV network, are provided. When an individual uploads content to a network, a network service automatically extracts an audio stream from the uploaded content. Words in the extracted audio stream are identified. For each identified word, a preexisting library of selected words is queried to determine if a match exists between words in the library and words in the extracted audio stream. The selected words in the library are associated with a particular content category or content rating. If a match exists between an identified word and a word in the library, the uploaded content is assigned a content category and/or rating associated with the matched word.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooperative guest firmware are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the launch of a virtual machine (VM) including a guest operating system (OS) and guest firmware. Prior to launching the VM, a data structure is generated in memory and is associated with the guest firmware to provide a virtualization policy provided by the VM as well as processor and platform configuration information to the guest firmware. In one embodiment, the guest firmware uses the data structure to access static information regarding the virtualization policy, as well as the processor and platform configuration information in response to requests from the guest OS. However, when the guest OS requires a host platform service, a virtual machine monitor (VMM) services the guest firmware requests for host platform services. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products that automatically categorize and/or assign ratings to content (video and audio content) uploaded by individuals who want to broadcast the content to others via a communications network, such as an IPTV network, are provided. When an individual uploads content to a network, a network service automatically extracts an audio stream from the uploaded content. Words in the extracted audio stream are identified. For each identified word, a preexisting library of selected words is queried to determine if a match exists between words in the library and words in the extracted audio stream. The selected words in the library are associated with a particular content category or content rating. If a match exists between an identified word and a word in the library, the uploaded content is assigned a content category and/or rating associated with the matched word.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for providing podcasts via Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) are disclosed herein. Exemplary embodiments include a network-based method for providing digital media podcasts. The method includes receiving a request to render at least one podcast on a communications device authenticated on an IPTV network, retrieving the at least one podcast from the IPTV network, and providing the at least one podcast to the communications device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer products for content conversion and presentation enabled services for television and Internet Protocol television applications. In exemplary embodiments, the system and method identify program content having embedded text, apply a conversion to the program content to extract voice data and play voice data in conjunction with the program content.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids and methods for conferring resistance to bacterial disease in plants. The present invention also provides promoters and promoter sequences useful for controlling expression in transgenic plants.

Abstract: A technique for providing podcasts via an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is provided. A network-based technique provides digital media podcasts. The technique includes receiving a request to render podcast on a communications device authenticated on an IPTV network, retrieving the podcast from the IPTV network, and providing the podcast to the communications device.

Abstract: Frequency and voltage scaling are performed for each virtual processor in a virtual environment. The characteristics of the workload performed by each virtual processor are dynamically profiled and a scaling algorithm determines a scale factor for that virtual processor as a function of the profiled characteristics. The profiled characteristics may include virtualization events associated with the workload being performed. In addition, a particular scaling algorithm and profiling technique may be selected based on which virtual processor is currently running.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for providing podcasts via Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) are disclosed herein. Exemplary embodiments include a network-based method for providing digital media podcasts. The method includes receiving a request to render at least one podcast on a communications device authenticated on an IPTV network, retrieving the at least one podcast from the IPTV network, and providing the at least one podcast to the communications device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for providing podcasts via Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) are disclosed herein. Exemplary embodiments include a network-based method for providing digital media podcasts. The method includes receiving a request to render at least one podcast on a communications device authenticated on an IPTV network, retrieving the at least one podcast from the IPTV network, and providing the at least one podcast to the communications device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller configured to obtain information associated with media content, to generate a first group of tones representative of the information associated with the media content, and to generate a media stream comprising the media content and the first group of tones; and a communication interface configured to transmit the media stream to a media device whereby the media device presents the media content and a sequence of tones, where the sequence of tones is generated based at least in part on the first group of tones, where the first group of tones comprises high frequency tones and low frequency tones, and where one of the high and low frequency tones represents a binary one and the other of the high and low frequency tones represents a binary zero. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer products for DVR management and scheduling. In exemplary embodiments, a system is provided that includes DVR management and scheduling services including, but not limited to: DVR capacity indication; recorded and viewed programs indication; cancellation options for recorded and viewed programs; deletion priority for recorded and viewed programs; schedule change conflict resolution; DVR scheduling; remote and local DVR interface management; DVR searching and programming; multi-level DVR content searching, storage and management; search saving and favorite channel management; DVR management alerts and notifications; offsite DVR recovery; and DVR capacity provisioning.

Abstract: Frequency and voltage scaling are performed for each virtual processor in a virtual environment. The characteristics of the workload performed by each virtual processor are dynamically profiled and a scaling algorithm determines a scale factor for that virtual processor as a function of the profiled characteristics. The profiled characteristics may include virtualization events associated with the workload being performed. In addition, a particular scaling algorithm and profiling technique may be selected based on which virtual processor is currently running.