Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management system and method includes a method of altering an operating condition of a device located at a site. The method includes the steps of establishing communication with at least one device located at the site and acquiring device data from the device. Subsequently, the device data is communicated to a server disposed remotely from the site and an availability of a control action data is detected at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the device data. The system includes a processor operable to initiate establishing communication with the at least one device and initiate acquiring device data. A communication interface is operable to communicate the device data to the remote server and detect an availability of the control action data at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the device data.

Abstract: A system and method migrating virtualized environments is disclosed. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a database configured to store site report data received from a plurality of residential sites using a wireless home energy network at each site. Each residential site includes a thermostat accessible to the wireless home energy network. A processor is operably coupled to the database and configured to access the site report data and detect a current temperature set-point of the thermostat at a first residential site; detect a first seasonal profile of the thermostat; detect a current operating mode of a HVAC system operably coupled to the thermostat; and determine a thermostat schedule of the thermostat using the first seasonal profile and the current operating mode of the HVAC system.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management apparatus for a home energy management system and method includes a processor operable to manage energy use at a site. The processor is configured to convert an incoming message received from a wireless energy network into XML enabled output data and format an outgoing message to be output to the wireless energy network using XML enabled input data. A communication interface is configured to enable access to a communication device having access to the wireless energy network, wherein the communication interface is further configured to detect the outgoing message formatted by the processor to be output using the wireless energy network; configure the outgoing message to a message bus format, detect the incoming message received from the wireless energy network, and convert the incoming message from the message bus format to access the incoming network device data.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a network device disposed at a residence and a wireless home energy network capable of establishing communication with the network device. A server is disposed remotely from the residence and capable of generating a control action report to control the network devices. A controller is located at the residence and in communication with the server and configured to establish the wireless home energy network; initiate a plurality of operating status requests of the network device; receive device data in response to at least one of the operating status requests; generate a site report including the device data; initiate a communication of the site report to the remote server; and detect an availability of the control action report at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the site report.

Abstract: A content delivery system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a personal computer having a storage device. The personal computer may have a software application saved on the storage device. In practice, the application may be capable of directing the personal computer to communicatively couple with a network based resource and to initiate presentation of a graphical user interface (GUI) at the user computer system. In some cases, the GUI may act as a user interface for the network based resource. The system may also include a portable audio file player with a collection of locally saved instructions. The instructions may direct a processor of the player to maintain an updateable user interface that includes a menu of selectable icons and to modify the updateable user interface in connection with receiving an audio file from the personal computer.

Abstract: An audio system and method are disclosed. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, making a user interface available to a user. In practice, the user may indicate a desire to download a content file by selecting a link on the user interface page, which may be a webpage. In response, a first copy of the content file having an appropriate format may be made available for download to the user's cellular telephone over a wireless link and a second copy of the content file having a different format may be made available to the user's personal computer.

Abstract: A business method includes the steps of providing a referral advertisement for a digital media subscription and receiving a request to subscribe in association with the referral advertisement. The method further includes receiving a request to distribute a promotional item operable to store a subscriber-based deliverable to a digital media subscriber and determining a delivery mode to deliver the promotional item. The method also includes communicating a confirmation of the subscription to a referring site, the confirmation provided in association with distributing the promotional item and distributing the promotional item using the confirmation to the digital media subscriber.

Abstract: An audio system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an electronic device having a display, a digital satellite receiver, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the digital satellite receiver is secured. The system may also include a device interface system that has a sound system connector and a mounting region. The sound system connector may communicatively couple the device interface system to an existing sound system, and the mounting region may be capable of releasably engaging the electronic device such that a contact portion of the device interface system contacts a conductive element of the electronic device to form at least a portion of a communication path interconnecting the sound system and the electronic device.

Abstract: An audio system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an electronic device having a display, a memory, an audio file player, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the memory and the audio file player are secured. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be a portable MP3 player. The system may also include a processor or playlist engine that can maintain a first playlist and a second playlist. In practice, the first playlist may include a selection of audio content having a corresponding audio file saved in the memory of the electronic device. In one embodiment, the system may also include an automobile having an automobile sound system that has a speaker and an in dash sound system component, which may be removably coupled to the electronic device via a cable.