Abstract: A system and method in a television system for providing information associated with a user-selected person in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Abstract: A system and method supporting the automatic conversion of multimedia information from a first format to a second format in a broadband access gateway and/or network-based server are disclosed. The broadband access gateway and/or network-based server may convert multimedia information that is in a format that an access device is not capable of processing. The gateway and/or server may automatically detect the format incompatibility, and may automatically convert or arrange for conversion of the multimedia information to a format that is compatible with the access device, based upon compatibility information associated with the access device. The conversion may be based upon a set of user-defined quality of service criteria, and may be subject to the control of digital rights management parameters associated with the requested multimedia information.

Abstract: A method for allocating communication resources for communication includes, in a first communication system including a plurality of transmitters, allocating frequency and time bandwidth for communication with a second communication system; determining a first portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with the second communication system based, at least in part, on information obtained from the second communication system; and allocating the first portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. A second portion of the plurality of transmitters may be allocated for a purpose other than communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth.

Abstract: Remote control devices that can be used to independently modify multiple visual presentations that are simultaneously displayed by a screen assembly are described, wherein at least one of the visual presentations is observable by a first viewer but not a second viewer. The remote control devices can also be used to independently select media content upon which each of the multiple visual presentations is based and to control the manner in which such media content is delivered to the screen assembly. In accordance with certain embodiments, at least one of the visual presentations comprises a three-dimensional visual presentation. Display systems that include such remote control devices and methods of operating the same are also described.

Abstract: A communication device may select a communication path to check for pending messages in a multiple network environment. The communication device may exit from a power-saving operating mode during which the communication device does not receive messages from a message server. After exiting the power-saving operating mode, the communication device may identify multiple different communication paths. The multiple communication paths may include different communication networks in the multiple network environment. The communication device may determine a selected communication path from among the multiple communication paths and communicate with a message server across the selected communication path to check for messages.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an information communication path based on energy requirements. Various aspects of the present invention provide a method that comprises identifying a plurality of information communication paths that may be utilized to communicate information (e.g., one or more units of information). A communication path identification module may perform such identification. Respective amounts of energy to communicate the information may be estimated for at least a portion of the identified plurality of information communication paths. A communication energy estimation module may perform such estimation. An information communication path may be selected from the identified plurality of information communication paths based, at least in part, on the estimated respective amounts of energy. A communication path selection module may perform such selection.

Abstract: A system and method in a local television system for responding to user-selection of an object in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Abstract: A system and method in a television system for responding to user-selection of an object in a television program based on geographical location, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Abstract: Remote control devices that support interaction by a viewer with a screen assembly of a display device are provided. The eyes of the viewer have a first position within a premises relative to the screen assembly of the display device. The remote control device has a second position within the premises relative to the screen assembly of the display device. The remote control device includes an input interface that receives viewer input, a communication interface that supports wireless transmissions, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry participates in a generation of location information relating to the first position of the eyes of the viewer. The processing circuitry causes the communication interface to make at least one wireless transmission relating to the generation of the location information. The processing circuitry, at least in part, causes a reconfiguration of the screen assembly based on the location information.

Abstract: A system and method in a television system for providing information associated with a user-selected person in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Abstract: A battery includes one or more rechargeable cells, a wireless power coil, a battery charger circuit, and may further include an RFID module. The wireless power coil is operable to generate an AC voltage from a wireless power electromagnetic field. The battery charger circuit is operable to generate a battery charge voltage from the AC voltage in accordance with a battery charge control signal and, when enabled, to charge the one or more rechargeable cells via the battery charge voltage. If the battery further includes the RFID module, it is operable to generate the battery charge control signal and communicate with a wireless power transmitter device.

Abstract: A wireless broadband access gateway having a wireless interface compatible with any of a number of commercial wireless wide area network standards provides enhanced wire area network coverage via a broadband network. The gateway may function as a wireless wide area network base station having a small coverage area, and may be communicatively coupled via a broadband access provider to a broadband wireless controller that cooperatively coordinates call management for access devices comprising cellular or mobile multimedia handsets. The broadband network may comprise cable, digital subscriber line, satellite, T1, or T3 type networks, and may carry traffic unrelated to the signaling, control, voice, and multimedia information of associated with wide area network calls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the data rate and providing antenna diversity using multiple transmit antennas utilize a set of bits of a digital signal to generate a codeword. Delay elements may be provided in antenna output channels, or, with suitable code construction, delay may be omitted. n signals represent n symbols of a codeword are transmitted with n different transmit antennas. At the receiver, the noisy received sequence is decoded. The parallel transmission and channel coding enables an increase the data rate over previous techniques, and recovery even under fading conditions. The channel coding may be concatenated with error correction codes under appropriate conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for the aggregation of multimedia information storage via a broadband access gateway is disclosed. Information about storage resources accessible to a broadband access gateway may be collected and used in selecting storage capacity used for storing multimedia information such as, for example, streaming video, broadcast video, digitized video, digitized audio, text, and digitized images. The gateway may manage storage and retrieval of the multimedia information based upon user defined criteria and characteristics of the available storage resources. Multimedia information may be parsed for storage across multiple storage resources, and the location and nature of the storage resources used for storage of multimedia information items may be unknown to the user. Storage services accessible via a broadband connection may also be used as storage resources.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing multiple communication pathways for communication hand-off (e.g., in a MIMO system). Various aspects of the present invention may comprise an access point communicating with a communication system utilizing a first number of transceivers. After determining to perform a hand-off of the communication system to a second access point, simultaneously, a second number of communication system transceivers may be utilized to communicate with the first access point and a third number of communication system transceivers may be utilized to communicate with the second access point. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise an access point initially communicating with a communication system utilizing a first number of transceivers. After determining to hand-off the communication system, the access point may communicate with the communication system utilizing a second number of transceivers that is different from the first number of transceivers.

Abstract: A system and method supporting access, coordination, modification, updating, and management of multiple sources of multimedia information resident on a plurality of access device is disclosed. A broadband access gateway may support applications that perform user services involving multiple sources of multimedia information across a network by acting as a focal point for access to multimedia information related to the applications. Using information that identifies such sources, the broadband access gateway may coordinate modification of one or more multimedia information sources based upon the content of other related sources of multimedia information. One such application may include the coordination of calendars for the planning of a meeting involving multiple participants.

Abstract: A wireless microphone and wireless earpiece each may exchange radio frequency (RF) signals with a base unit and render content contained within the exchanged RF signals to a user. This wireless earpiece further includes a wireless interface, a processor, a speaker, a user interface, and an authentication module. The wireless interface allows the earpiece to wirelessly communicate with the base unit. The processor recovers communications exchanged with the base unit that the speaker then renders audible. A user interface coupled to the processor may alert the user to any additional incoming audio communications. Having received the alert, the user may select between the communications. The authentication module allows the wireless earpiece and microphone to pair and register with the base unit.

Abstract: A communication system may include a plurality of entities comprising a hybrid network controller, one or more femtocells, one or more access points and/or one or more end-point devices. The hybrid network controller may determine and/or communicate configuration parameters corresponding to space, time, frequency and/or code domains that may enable communication of data between and/or among two or more of the entities. The configuration parameters may comprise frequency, time slot, codes and/or antenna pattern assignments. The network controller may control communication between a communication device external to the communication system and one or more of the entities within the communication system. Availability of frequencies, time slots, codes and/or antenna patterns may be monitored. The network controller may assign the femtocells, access points and/or end-point devices to handle the communication of the data.

Abstract: A method and system for simulcasting multimedia information via a broadband access gateway and a wireless wide area network, is disclosed. An access device such as, for example, a mobile multimedia handset engaged in a call served by a wireless wide area network may migrate to within the coverage area of an associated broadband access gateway with a wireless interface. The wireless wide area network may simulcast call content to the broadband access gateway via a broadband network. A user in the proximity of the broadband access gateway may be notified of the simulcasting of the call, and may elect to continue the call via a WLAN/PAN-enabled wireless handset or other access device that is compatible with the wired and/or wireless interfaces of the broadband access gateway.

Abstract: A battery includes one or more rechargeable cells, a wireless power coil, a battery charger circuit, and may further include an RFID module. The wireless power coil is operable to generate an AC voltage from a wireless power electromagnetic field. The battery charger circuit is operable to generate a battery charge voltage from the AC voltage in accordance with a battery charge control signal and, when enabled, to charge the one or more rechargeable cells via the battery charge voltage. If the battery further includes the RFID module, it is operable to generate the battery charge control signal and communicate with a wireless power transmitter device.