Abstract: A globally accessible list contains the identification of content casting applications, and the identification of stream receivers. When a casting application is launched to select a streaming content file, the casting application then accesses the global casting list and searches for the ID of the content casting application, and then selects the associated stream receiver to cast the URL to that stream receiver. This allows the user to not have to select the stream receiver every time a stream is cast. The list can be formed by an app, e.g., an application that forms the global list which may be an application that is provided with one of the stream receivers, for example. In one embodiment the list can be stored on a computer, e.g. the first computer that runs the application. The global casting list also contains, for each content casting application, an ordered list of IDs of user selected stream receivers by app and for by user. A stream receiver is selected based on order of the list.

Abstract: An Augmented Reality (AR) device, places manual controls and virtual displays onto a surface of a controllable electronic device (CED) or next to the CED as viewed through the AR device allowing the user to manipulate the controls and view feedback via the virtual displays associated with the controllable device. The AR device overlays an image on a surface of the CED with virtual control objects and virtual feedback image(s) are displayed on a surface of the CED or adjacent to the CED. The user views the control objects and virtual displays on the surface and/or area adjacent to the CED. These control objects are manipulated via voice, hand, head, and eye gestures recognized by the AR device and will be able to see real time feedback displayed on the virtual displays.

Abstract: A content stream caster can transfer playing of a content stream from the content stream caster to any of a plurality of stream receivers. The content stream caster wirelessly initiates contact with one of a plurality of stream receivers after which the content stream caster must authenticate with the receiver before the receiver permits the receiving of a URL identifying the location of the content source. A content stream caster, communicates with a stream receiver, an authentication software application residing on both devices and wired or wireless connections between the devices and between the devices and the stream source. The content stream caster may present the content stream or send the content source URL to the receiving device. The content stream caster authenticates with the receiver then sends the source content URL to the receiver.

Abstract: A single stream receiver is preselected from a global list residing on a client computing device hosting a content casting application. Once a user launches a content casting application and selects a content stream from local or networked storage, the content casting application accesses the global list to obtain the ID of the stream receiver to receive the content stream. The global list has at least one preselected stream receiver ID that will receive a casted content stream without the user having to manually select a stream receiver for each stream that is casted. The preselected stream receiver can be the last one that was used, or can be the last one that was used for a specified user, or the last one that was used for a specified application. The stream receiver can be preselected in some other way.

Abstract: Techniques to ensure that a content stream will be encrypted prior to it being served it to the stream receiver if either the stream receiver returned an initial status to the stream caster indicating that only encrypted streams will be accepted or if the user of the stream caster optioned that only encrypted streams will be cast. A stream casting device is capable of locally sourcing and encrypting streams. A content stream server is capable of sourcing encrypted streams and encrypting streams on the fly. A stream receiver device is also described. The system manages key exchanges, encryption, and decryption across the devices serving streams, and stream receiving devices. The casted streams, residing on either a content stream server or on the stream casting devices will be encrypted prior to being served.

Abstract: A stream receiver device that receives information indicative of streams to be played from remote devices. The stream receiver has a network connection, receiving information indicative of streams to be played from remote devices, e.g., stream senders. A processor in the stream receiver operates to receive the information and operates to play a stream based on the information. The stream receiver has an access list, which can be a white list or a black list. The stream is played when allowed by the white list or not-blocked by the black list. The lists can also include times during which the entries are active, and file types to be allowed or blocked.

Abstract: An infra-red assembly for a television, that has a plurality of layers operating for creating an image from pixels formed of illuminated color filters. The plurality of layers including a backlight, a polarization layer adjacent the backlight, a TFT layer over the polarization layer, an LCD layer overlying the TFT layer, and a color filter layer overlying the LCD layer. Wherein at least one of the layers includes an opening, and another of said layers includes an infrared filter that passes infrared and blocks light that is not infra red, and where another of said layers underlying said infrared layer includes an infrared receiver that receives the infrared through said opening and said infrared filter, and where said opening and said filter and said receiver are located in registration with one another, such that infrared passes through the opening and passes through the filter and passes to the receiver.

Abstract: A system which synchronizes audio and video, that uses a sensor sensing the display of video and audio from an external device. The sensor creates timestamps for each of the video and audio, and then calculates a difference between those timestamps. The differences sent to the external device which then compensates for the difference.

Abstract: A device such as a television automatically determines, on initial power up, its geographical location. If the television is determined to be residing in a retail store location it will automatically default to retail mode where picture and audio quality will be set to pre-specified settings conducive to a retail environment where the ambient light and sound levels are not what would typically be found in a residential environment. The invention consists of a software module and a database resident in the television that can determine, from interrogating either a GPS chip set, or obtaining identifying data from an attached wired or wireless network and matching the data to identifying data for retail store locations to determine if the television is located in a retail store. If the location of the television is determined to be in a retail store the television will initialize the video and audio quality for a retail store environment.

Abstract: A system includes a television that has access to one or more services hosted on provider servers through a network. The television has software that displays both program information and services information in an electronic program guide. Upon selecting of a program information entry in the electronic program guide, the software changes the current channel of the television to the channel associated with the program entry information. Upon selecting of one of the services entries in the electronic program guide, the software presents a browsing menu to the viewer, the browsing menu presenting pages from the provider servers and accepting inputs from the viewer.

Abstract: A television has first and second electronic subsystems which collectively operate to produce a display. The television is controlled by a processor, the processor also operating to determine a period of time where no output is being produced, and to maintain the first electronic subsystem and said second electronic subsystem into a power reduced state, e.g., a sleep state. The television maintains a database of times when it is likely to operate to produce said output, and automatically removing the first electronic system from the power reduced state, and not removing the second electronic subsystem from the power reduced state at one of the times, and without an indication.

Abstract: A globally accessible list contains the identification of content casting applications, and the identification of stream receivers. When a casting application is launched to select a streaming content file, the casting application then accesses the global casting list and searches for the ID of the content casting application, and then selects the associated stream receiver to cast the URL to that stream receiver. This allows the user to not have to select the stream receiver every time a stream is cast. The list can be formed by an app, e.g., an application that forms the global list which may be an application that is provided with one of the stream receivers, for example. In one embodiment the list can be stored on a computer, e.g. the first computer that runs the application. The global casting list also contains, for each content casting application, an ordered list of IDs of user selected stream receivers by app and for by user. A stream receiver is selected based on order of the list.

Abstract: A tuner device, such as a television set, set top box, game console, personal computer with a dongle or device, creates digital fingerprints indicative of information received over a channel. The digital fingerprints are uploaded to a server along with metadata indicative of the specific tuner device that obtain them. The server maintains a tuner database based on that information, and can automatically request new fingerprints.

Abstract: A simplified way of connecting electronic devices with limited user input capabilities to wireless network routers. A smart device with a user interface and input capabilities is connected to a Wifi router and remembers the Wifi variables used for the connection. It is then paired with the electronic device and transfers the Wifi connection variables to the electronic device. The smart device with the first software program has a user interface that facilitates the user initially connecting with a local Wifi router. The connection variables used during the connection process are saved by the smart device. The user may then connect the smart device to the electronic device via a paired communications link and the connection variables for the router are passed over the link. The electronic device executing the second software module connects to the router using the connection variables it received from the smart device.

Abstract: A computer system comprising that has a display screen that displays information from a computing device. An auxiliary device such as a cover or a keyboard is pivotally attached to the display screen. When the angle between the display screen and the auxiliary device is a first angle that makes it likely that the device is being used normally, the device is then locked against orientation rotation. The angle between the auxiliary device and the display needs to be brought into an unnatural angle in order to allow automatic orientation rotation.

Abstract: An infra-red assembly for a television, that has a plurality of layers operating for creating an image from pixels formed of illuminated color filters. The plurality of layers including a backlight, a polarization layer adjacent the backlight, a TFT layer over the polarization layer, an LCD layer overlying the TFT layer, and a color filter layer overlying the LCD layer. Wherein at least one of the layers includes an opening, and another of said layers includes an infrared filter that passes infrared and blocks light that is not infra red, and where another of said layers underlying said infrared layer includes an infrared receiver that receives the infrared through said opening and said infrared filter, and where said opening and said filter and said receiver are located in registration with one another, such that infrared passes through the opening and passes through the filter and passes to the receiver.

Abstract: A single stream receiver is preselected from a global list residing on a client computing device hosting a content casting application. Once a user launches a content casting application and selects a content stream from local or networked storage, the content casting application accesses the global list to obtain the ID of the stream receiver to receive the content stream. The global list has at least one preselected stream receiver ID that will receive a casted content stream without the user having to manually select a stream receiver for each stream that is casted. The preselected stream receiver can be the last one that was used, or can be the last one that was used for a specified user, or the last one that was used for a specified application. The stream receiver can be preselected in some other way.

Abstract: A stream receiver device that receives information indicative of streams to be played from remote devices. The stream receiver has a network connection, receiving information indicative of streams to be played from remote devices, e.g., stream senders. A processor in the stream receiver operates to receive the information and operates to play a stream based on the information. The stream receiver has an access list, which can be a white list or a black list. The stream is played when allowed by the white list or not-blocked by the black list. The lists can also include times during which the entries are active, and file types to be allowed or blocked.

Abstract: An Augmented Reality (AR) device, places manual controls and virtual displays onto a surface of a controllable electronic device (CED) or next to the CED as viewed through the AR device allowing the user to manipulate the controls and view feedback via the virtual displays associated with the controllable device. The AR device overlays an image on a surface of the CED with virtual control objects and virtual feedback image(s) are displayed on a surface of the CED or adjacent to the CED. The user views the control objects and virtual displays on the surface and/or area adjacent to the CED. These control objects are manipulated via voice, hand, head, and eye gestures recognized by the AR device and will be able to see real time feedback displayed on the virtual displays.

Abstract: A light emitting diode system, with an LED junction, energized to emit light, and a lens cap, covering the LED junction device and receiving the light. The lens cap can be formed in a shape to focus the light, for example. The material forming the lens cap has quantum dots mixed in with the supporting material, which can be in multiple colors. The supporting material can also have particles of glass or other crystalline material mixed therein. There can also be an outer casing over the supporting material, and the outer casing can also have glass or other crystalline particles mixed in.