Abstract: Utilizing a voice capturing device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, smart speaker) to capture voice commands and send the voice commands to a cloud based voice recognition/processing engine to convert the commands to text commands. Processing the text commands at an access point for a WiFi network. The voice commands may include search queries about particular wireless devices that are associated with the WiFi network. The access point may search the configuration and connectivity data for the WiFi network to determine what access point the wireless device is connected to and a location for the access point. The result of the search may be announced to the user via the voice capturing device. The voice activated search may be to find wireless devices that have misplaced or for inventory management. The voice activated commands may also include voice WiFi network configuration commands.

Abstract: A method of granting access to a wireless network is provided allowing approval by a trusted authenticator. The method includes receiving a request to join a wireless network at a gateway from a client device, determining with the gateway whether the client device is within a predefined trusted zone, sending a notification of a potential new connection with the client device from the gateway to the trusted authenticator. The trusted authenticator then provides a response regarding the potential new connection, wherein the gateway denies network access to the client device when the gateway determines that the client device is outside the trusted zone or when the response from the trusted authenticator rejects the potential new connection, and wherein the gateway grants network access to the client device when the gateway determines that the client device is inside the trusted zone and when the response from the trusted authenticator approves the potential new connection.

Abstract: Utilizing a voice capturing device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, smart speaker) to capture voice commands and send the voice commands to a cloud based voice recognition/processing engine to convert the commands to text commands. Processing the text commands at an access point for a WiFi network. The voice commands may include search queries about particular wireless devices that are associated with the WiFi network. The access point may search the configuration and connectivity data for the WiFi network to determine what access point the wireless device is connected to and a location for the access point. The result of the search may be announced to the user via the voice capturing device. The voice activated search may be to find wireless devices that have misplaced or for inventory management. The voice activated commands may also include voice WiFi network configuration commands.

Abstract: A method of granting access to a wireless network is provided allowing approval by a trusted authenticator. The method includes receiving a request to join a wireless network at a gateway from a client device, determining with the gateway whether the client device is within a predefined trusted zone, sending a notification of a potential new connection with the client device from the gateway to the trusted authenticator. The trusted authenticator then provides a response regarding the potential new connection, wherein the gateway denies network access to the client device when the gateway determines that the client device is outside the trusted zone or when the response from the trusted authenticator rejects the potential new connection, and wherein the gateway grants network access to the client device when the gateway determines that the client device is inside the trusted zone and when the response from the trusted authenticator approves the potential new connection.

Abstract: In a streaming server, companion content may be received and incorporated along with media that is streamed to clients. The companion content may originate from one of the clients, in some cases. In other cases, the companion content may originate from a source other than a client. The companion content may be any media relates to the media being streamed to the clients or directives that control the processing of the media being streamed to the clients.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.

Abstract: In a streaming server, companion content may be received and incorporated along with media that is streamed to clients. The companion content may originate from one of the clients, in some cases. In other cases, the companion content may originate from a source other than a client. The companion content may be any media relates to the media being streamed to the clients or directives that control the processing of the media being streamed to the clients.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability. In a requesting STB, a command is received from a user to begin recording a content item. A query is sent from the requesting STB to the content broker to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs. A response is received from the content broker. If the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs is then currently recording the content item, the content item is recorded in the requesting STB. If the response identifies a recording STB that is then currently recording the requested content, an internal content list is updated in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB.

Abstract: A media device includes a memory for storing a file transfer application and a storage device for storing content. The device also includes at least one processor and an input-output (I/O) interface over which the file transfer application transfers content. The device also includes a protocol stack that is executable by the processor. The protocol stack includes a file transfer application layer, a transport protocol layer that does not include native support for security, and a security emulation layer located between the file transfer application layer and the transport protocol layer. The security emulation layer is executed in the transport protocol layer.