Abstract: In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with remote control of media devices. In embodiments, a remote control and a content player may be configured to facilitate a secured pairing process. The remote control may be configured to send non-secured signals (such as through an IR transmitter) as well as send and receive secured signals (such as via Bluetooth™ using an RF transceiver). The remote control, in response to being turned on or asked to pair, may send a pairing request to the player that includes an identifier for the remote control and which identifies the remote control as an eligible pairing device without requiring separate entry of a security code by a user. The remote control and player may then perform a pairing process without requiring additional action on the part of a user. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with remote control of media devices. A remote control and a content player may be configured to facilitate a secured pairing process. The remote control may be configured to send non-secured signals (such as through an IR transmitter) as well as send and receive secured signals (such as via an RF transceiver). The remote control may non-securely broadcast an uncompressed identifier of itself. Then, in response to being turned on or asked to pair, the remote control may send a pairing request to the player that includes a compressed identifier. The player may then identify the remote control based on the compressed identifier and the previously-broadcast uncompressed identifier and the remote control and player may then perform a pairing process without requiring additional action on the part of a user. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with remote control of media devices. A remote control and a content player may be configured to facilitate a secured pairing process. The remote control may be configured to send non-secured signals (such as through an IR transmitter) as well as send and receive secured signals (such as via an RF transceiver). The remote control may non-securely broadcast an uncompressed identifier of itself. Then, in response to being turned on or asked to pair, the remote control may send a pairing request to the player that includes a compressed identifier. The player may then identify the remote control based on the compressed identifier and the previously-broadcast uncompressed identifier and the remote control and player may then perform a pairing process without requiring additional action on the part of a user. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with remote control of media devices. In embodiments, a remote control and a content player may be configured to facilitate a secured pairing process. The remote control may be configured to send non-secured signals (such as through an IR transmitter) as well as send and receive secured signals (such as via Bluetooth™ using an RF transceiver). The remote control, in response to being turned on or asked to pair, may send a pairing request to the player that includes an identifier for the remote control and which identifies the remote control as an eligible pairing device without requiring separate entry of a security code by a user. The remote control and player may then perform a pairing process without requiring additional action on the part of a user. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments a differential communication channel compensates for electrostatic discharge capacitance of an electrostatic discharge component by increasing an impedance of the differential communication channel near the electrostatic discharge component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments a differential communication channel compensates for electrostatic discharge capacitance of an electrostatic discharge component by increasing an impedance of the differential communication channel near the electrostatic discharge component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method of transcoding video data for distribution over a variety of media. A digital data stream is decoded and optionals down sampled to reduce the bit rate of the original stream. The decoded stream is further encoded to further reduce the bit rate of the data stream to be consistent with the reliable delivery capabilities of the media over which the data stream is to be transmitted and/or the display on which display is to occur.

Abstract: A system and method of transcoding video data for distribution over a variety of media. A digital data stream is decoded and optionals down sampled to reduce the bit rate of the original stream. The decoded stream is further encoded to further reduce the bit rate of the data stream to be consistent with the reliable delivery capabilities of the media over which the data stream is to be transmitted and/or the display on which display is to occur.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for outputting a programming signal from a personal video recorder as received and alternately outputting the programming signal after being compressed and uncompressed.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling mixed audio output from a media center. Audio signals from a processing system within the media center are sent to an audio mixer codec. Audio signals from a multimedia processing device within the media center are also sent to the audio mixer codec. The audio signals from the multimedia processing device are decoded and mixed with the audio signals from the processing system. The mixed audio signal is then AC3 encoded. The AC3 encoded signal is output over a digital interface, such as a Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF).

Abstract: A marker device for to a user the location in a piece of literature where the user was previously reading. The marker device includes a panel member for positioning between pages of literature. The panel member has a front side and a back side. A front surface of the front side has indicia thereon. The panel member has a top end and a bottom end. A marking membrane for producing markings on the front side of the panel member is releasably positionable on the front side of the panel member. The markings are producible on the panel member adjacent to the appropriate indicia relating to positions on the pages of the literature when the marking membrane is depressed against the front surface of the panel member, and deletable when the marking membrane is separated from the panel member.

Abstract: Service providers generally seek to provide more channels and/or services over increasingly limited communication pathways, e.g., cable, Internet, etc. To do so, compression techniques may be used to compress transmissions. For example, a digital signal carried by a cable television cable may include multiple channels, each including a compressed video stream, such as an Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) data stream. While such compression facilitates maximizing usage of available bandwidth, a drawback to compression is that locking on to a new channel requires some portion of a channel to be collected before the channel can be presented. This collection takes time, and introduces a noticeable delay or “lag time” between selecting a new channel, and the new channel being presented. To help avoid a delay, various embodiments of the invention concern predictively buffering channels so that a request to change to a buffered channel results in an immediate presentation of buffered data.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a computer system allows an expansion component of the computer system to properly operate even when the computer system is in a low-power mode. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a local system bus has a first section and a second section. An isolation circuit is included which selectively establishes a connection between the first section of the local system bus and the second section of the local system bus during a normal-power mode of the computer system and removes the connection between the first section of the local system bus and the second section of the local system bus during a low-power mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting data stored in a nonvolatile memory. First, a locking signal is initiated to indicate to the memory that write and erase operations are to be prevented. Next, in response to this locking signal, the supply voltage that supports write and erase operations in the memory is lowered below a threshold value. In doing so, protection circuitry that is contained within the memory prevents write and erase operations in the memory.

Abstract: An emergency call routing system includes a platform having a call router and a processor for identifying destinations to which such router directs emergency calls. The processor receives administration commands from administrators, some of which are at a public safety answering point (PSAP) to which the router directs calls for handling and redirection to emergency service providers (ESPs). Some of such administration commands relate to defining intervals during which a particular PSAP is, according to an administered night service schedule, to be inactive with respect to handling emergency calls. Other of such commands relate to administrative operations to place such PSAPs into such inactive state earlier than the schedule. Others of such commands relate to administrative directions to withdraw such PSAP from such inactive state before the scheduled time.