Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to interact with a social networking structure for an internet website on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. The present disclosure provides for accessing an internet site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program to a display, retrieving content from the internet site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay or user interface on the display simultaneous with the program. The user interface provides the ability to access multiple profiles for determining whose content or message to display, and also includes a rotating carousel message display system, with a current message surrounded above and below by a previous message and a next message in the display queue in a different size or font.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a scannable code is described including scanning the scannable code, launching a browser, browsing to an IP address to access a web configuration page of an access device, logging into the web configuration page of the access device with default login credentials, accessing a default wireless network via a default network identification and default wireless network password and setting up the default wireless network using default wireless network access information of the access device.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program without a first commercial, the recorded program recorded from a first program having the first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of obtaining location information of the first commercial in the first program responsive to a command to play back the recorded program; inserting a second commercial at a first location according to the location information of the first commercial; and playing back the recorded program with the inserted second commercial.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program having a first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of if a date of playing back the recorded program is less than a date associated with the recorded program, playing back the recorded program including the first commercial; and if the date of playing back the recorded program is more than the associated date, replacing the first commercial in the recorded program with a second commercial and playing back the recorded program including the second commercial.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) 700 is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program without a first commercial, the recorded program recorded from a first program having the first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of obtaining location information of the first commercial in the first program responsive to a command to play back the recorded program; inserting a second commercial at a first location according to the location information of the first commercial; and playing back the recorded program with the inserted second commercial.

Abstract: A method of displaying an alert from a broadcast source in an electronic device while the electronic device is not playing back a currently received broadcast signal is disclosed. The method comprises steps of playing back a signal recorded in a first device connected to the electronic device responsive to a user command; detecting an alert from a broadcast source while playing back the recorded signal; and presenting the alert responsive to detecting the alert.

Abstract: Audio from online, real-time activity is routed through a filter to remove inappropriate language associated with parameters received by a user interface. The filter automatically removes audio based on the parameters and/or derived parameters. The parameters can be directly input by a user and/or a list can be provided to the user from which they select their desired parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to interact with a social networking structure for an internet website on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. The present disclosure provides for accessing an internet site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program to a display (402), retrieving content from the internet site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program (410), and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay or user interface (700) on the display simultaneous with the program (412). The user interface (700) provides the ability to access multiple profiles for determining whose content or message to display, and also includes a rotating carousel message display system, with a current message (702) surrounded above and below by a previous message (706) and a next message (714) in the display queue in a different size or font.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing wireless local area network communications are described including receiving a request, from a wireless device, to join a multicast group in order to receive multicast data, determining if the request is a request from a subsequent wireless device for the same multicast data, converting the multicast data to unicast data, if the request is not from a subsequent wireless device or the request is not for the same multicast data and transmitting the converted data to the wireless device that requested the multicast data.

Abstract: A gateway device communicates with a client device on a local area network. The gateway device receives a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request from the client device; wherein the DHCP request includes information indicating whether, or not, the client device supports quality of service (QoS) treatment; and if the client device supports QoS treatment, the gateway device sends packets destined for the client device with QoS priority tagging information; and if the client device does not support QoS treatment, the gateway device sends packets destined for the client device without QoS priority tagging information.

Abstract: A viewer viewing audio-visual content on an audio-visual display (12) advantageously can receive information as to potential sources of alternative audio (241-24n) via a set-top box (14). The set-top-box collects metadata identifying the audio-visual content viewed by the viewer and provides that metadata to a database (26) that searches for and identifies to the set-top-box the source(s) of alternative audio-if any. The set-top box will alert the viewer who can then select one of the identified sources of alternative audio in place of the audio embedded in the currently viewed audio-visual content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a video frame and scraping the captured frame for data contained therein is provided. The scraping of the frame extracts data from the frame. A user, while watching television, requests a screen capture function. The video frame is stored in a (e.g., advertisement for local store, or frame buffer and further processing is performed to scrape the screen of data contained therein. In one example, text information such as phone numbers, web addresses, etc. can be identified using OCR technology. Once extracted, the information can be provided to the user in many different formats for further use or further processing.

Abstract: The present application provides the user with an option to permanently erase an episode in a series recording, or a non-series recording of media content from their PVR/DVR storage. After watching recorded content on a PVR/DVR, the user is provided with an option to “permanently delete” the particular media content. In the example of a series recording, the user is provided with the ability to prevent their PVR/DVR from recording an already watched episode in a series recording and thereby saving valuable storage space on the PVR/DVR.

Abstract: Methods and systems for employing a set top box as a gateway application client are disclosed. The set top box can permit a user to interact with a gateway directly and efficiently to run applications or modify configuration settings of the gateway. Further, the set top box can be configured to include an executable file or application to perform at least a portion of processing of one or more applications provided at the gateway. In addition, the set top box can perform a display/input function and act as a conduit for information transmitted between a user and a gateway.

Abstract: A viewer viewing audio-visual content on an audio-visual display (12) advantageously can receive information as to potential sources of alternative audio (241-24n) via a set-top box (14). The set-top-box collects metadata identifying the audio-visual content viewed by the viewer and provides that metadata to a database (26) that searches for and identifies ties to the set-top-box the source(s) of alternative audio-if any.

Abstract: A device for recording a scheduled program comprises a means adapted for receiving data from a multi-program transport stream system that is configured to transmit multiple audio or video programs over a channel in multiple streams, the multi-program transport stream system further providing program identifiers to the streams in the channel that identifies a first program identifier with a first stream having at least a portion of a scheduled program and indentifies a second program identifier with a second stream having the scheduled program in its entirety; and a storage means adapted for identifying the scheduled program by the second program identifier and recording the scheduled program in its entirety while the unscheduled interrupting program is provided in real time.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) 700 is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.