Abstract: A network element (400) can receive (101) (from an end user (404) and via a data network (403)) a message as regards an aggregation of multiple different renderable content items. By one approach this message comprises, at least in part, selection criteria as have been selected by the end user. This network element can then automatically use (102) this selection criteria to select a plurality of specific renderable content items from amongst a plurality of candidate different renderable content items. These teachings will then support automatically combining (103) the plurality of specific renderable content items to form the requested aggregation of multiple different renderable content items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that personalizes preferences for a thin client using custom menus is disclosed. The method may include receiving registering capabilities from the thin client, storing feature list for all devices, generation of a custom alert settings menu based on the thin client's capabilities, storing selected alert settings, and generating a list of all registered devices that have similar alert capabilities as the thin client. The custom menu can be view by a user on any device that has display capabilities. The user can select from among the alert settings supported by the thin client or select the alert settings for the thin client that is similar to a registered device. Apparatus is also provided for mapping alert capabilities from the feature list and the received alert preferences from a user. Thin client mapping of mapping of alert type is also provided for processing an alert request from an external device.

Abstract: A network element (200) receives (101), from a plurality of different end users (205), information regarding content clips as pertain to audio-visual content and uses (102) that information to automatically infer a relative popularity of audio-visual content as corresponds to the content clips to provide popularity information. Such audio-visual content can comprise, for example, televised content. The aforementioned information can comprise, for example, such items as a start time and a stop time for a given one of the content clips, at least a portion of a given one of the content clips, a content identifier of some kind, and so forth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed whereby the context of user activity can be used to tailor the ambient information system. The method and apparatus use both short-term context such as recent activity and long-term context such as historical patterns to highlight specific content on channels or widgets that are likely to be of most immediate interest to the user. This contextual information provided by the framework can also be used to make intelligent decisions about how to tailor the user experience after a user has interacted with the item in question. Additionally, context information accumulated on one device such as a mobile phone can be broadcasted to other devices to influence the ambient information display application on a second device such as a desktop based on enabling remote access to the local context repository.

Abstract: A method for scheduling the reception of content in a content receiver, for example, in an STB/DVR, includes scheduling (210) the reception of selected content by a tuner resource of the STB/DVR at a particular time. The scheduling may be performed at the STB/DVR, or alternatively at a remote device, for example, at a cellular telephone using an EPG. A virtual tuner is provided (230) to the STB/DVR in the event that the tuner resource of the STB/DVR is not available to receive the selected content when scheduled. In one implementation, usage of the virtual tuner is conditioned on consent to viewing additional non-selected content.

Abstract: A method and architecture for managing a communication campaign direct toward a plurality of media consumption devices associated with a common user (101), including obtaining communication addresses for each of the plurality of media consumption devices (110, 116, 122) associated with the common user, associating the common user with a communication campaign, and prompting transmission of communications to the common user via the plurality of media consumption devices based on a campaign policy.

Abstract: A method of generating an implicit vote for a media item based on user behavior may comprise recording information identifying a first set of user inputs to a media client associated with playing of a first media item, receiving and storing an explicit vote for the first media item, and storing information that correlates a user input from the first set of user inputs with the explicit vote. The first set of user inputs may comprise at least one user input. The method may comprise recording information identifying a second set of user inputs to the media client associated with playing of a second media item, wherein the second set of user inputs may comprise at least one user input matching the stored correlated user input. The method may comprise generating an implicit vote for the second media item based on the stored information correlating the stored correlated user input with the explicit vote.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that creates reviews of media content on a mobile communication device is disclosed. The method may include identifying media content being played for a user, receiving a review from the user based on the played media content, and sending the user's review to a remote media content server for processing.

Abstract: A content recommendation system (100) to schedule a delivery of diverse content when a user is more receptive to the recommendation is provided. The system can include an outlier scheduling module (120) for scheduling an insertion of an outlier (224) in a recommended content based on a schedule model (125) and a trigger policy (127), an outlier selection module (140) for selecting the outlier from recommended content of an affinity model (145) based on a selection policy (147), and an outlier evaluation module (160) for monitoring a current user context and adjusting the selecting and the scheduling of the outlier in response to a user feedback of the outlier. The content recommendation system can expose the user to diverse content based on the user's current consumption pattern and current context.

Abstract: Energy-efficient discovery techniques are provided for a client node to discover at least one peer provider node in an ad hoc network. For example, the client node can be configured to turn on its first ad hoc interface while in a discovery mode to establish a channel for a first time period. The client node can then transmit a first beacon to advertise its presence to other nodes within the transmission range of the client node to acquire service information from at least one of a plurality of prospective peer provider nodes within the transmission range of the client node. At least one of the prospective peer provider nodes is configured to turn on its second ad hoc interface for a second period of time to listen for beacons from other nodes. The second period of time is less than or equal to the first period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method (300-400) are disclosed for selectively rendering media content on remote displays (604-612). An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device (100) having a controller (106) that manages operations of a wireless transceiver (102). The controller can be programmed to detect (402) a display server (200) in a wireless local area network, receive (410) from the display server its capabilities for presenting content, create (414-418) displayable content conforming to the capabilities of the display server, and transmit (420) the displayable content to the display server. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A self-contained installation program having at least one payload condition is provided (314) and distributed (316) to a plurality of selected nodes, using a wireless link, that subsequently installs the self-contained program based, at least in part, on a correspondence with the at least one payload condition.

Abstract: A memory-based collaborative filtering algorithm is optimized for large numbers of users by employing a personalized location-based data partitioning method that allows the system to scale even for very large datasets. Collaborative filtering then takes place on the scaled dataset.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (101) for direct communication with one or more near-proximity devices (111, 113) to form an adhoc network is provided. The wireless communication device comprises a transceiver (201) configured to send, via wireless link, a beacon signal. The beacon signal includes a device identifier (305) and a service map (307) associated with the wireless communication device. The service map identifies one or more applications (223, 225, 227) that may operate on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A system and method for processing information about an incident is provided. The system comprises two or more communication devices (104, 112-126) in communication with each other and a central authority (128) capable of receiving data from the communication devices. Each communication device (104, 112-126) includes a media sensor (222) to collect data relating to an incident event (102). One communication device (104), in response to a user activation input, transmits a request signal to one or more other communication devices (112-126). Any communication device (112-126) that receives the request signal may collect data relating to the incident event (102) in response to the request signal. The central authority (128), after receiving the data collected by the wireless communication devices (104, 112-126), performs an action in response to receiving the data.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (104) for providing guidance about surrounding conditions and a communication server (1000) for receiving data feeds from cooperative wireless devices are provided. The wireless communication device (104) comprises a device discovery mechanism (214, 302) to identify second devices (116-150) in a vicinity (106-114) of the device, a processor (306) to determine a coverage capability for each area surrounding the first device (104), and a display (208, 310) to represent the coverage capability of each area surrounding the first device. The communication server (1000) comprises a network interface (1002) to receive one or more data feeds associated with a location of a first device (104), a processor (1004) to associate each data feed with an area adjacent to the first device, and a display (1008) to represent surrounding cells surrounding the first device.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a terminal management system 10 including a terminal management network element 100 and at least one wireless terminal 20. The terminal management network element 100 includes a wireless terminal condition-based control information generator 120 that generates wireless terminal condition-based control information 16 represented by extensible markup language code. The wireless terminal condition-based control information 16 includes selected action data 46 and selected condition data 42 associated with a terminal management action to execute on at least one wireless terminal 20. The selected condition data 42 is associated with the selected action data 46 and selected attribute data 44. The selected attribute data 44 is associated with the selected action data 46.

Abstract: To address the need for managing both mobile (109-111) and non-mobile (112-113) terminals without the need for terminals to support multiple system managing protocols, a method, apparatus, and system for enterprise management is described herein. A gateway (102) is provided that translates and schedules commands for the non-mobile network into commands for the mobile network. Such a gateway (102) allows for the system manager to utilize a single network management protocol to access both the mobile and non-mobile networks.