Abstract: The subject system allows a source device providing a content stream over a network connection to a sink device to adaptively bypass a transcoding portion of a content processing pipeline when the original content stream, e.g. the non-transcoded content stream, can be decoded by the sink device and/or when no actions that utilize transcoding have been requested for the content stream. The source device may power down the transcoding portion of the content processing pipeline when the transcoding portion is not in use. When an action that utilizes transcoding is requested, and the transcoding portion of the pipeline is being bypassed, the source device may power on the transcoding portion and adaptively modify the pipeline to pass the content stream through the transcoding portion. The source device may provide configuration messages to the sink device when the pipeline is modified to provide information for decoding the transcoded content stream.

Abstract: The subject system allows a source device providing a content stream over a network connection to a sink device to adaptively bypass a transcoding portion of a content processing pipeline when the original content stream, e.g. the non-transcoded content stream, can be decoded by the sink device and/or when no actions that utilize transcoding have been requested for the content stream. The source device may power down the transcoding portion of the content processing pipeline when the transcoding portion is not in use. When an action that utilizes transcoding is requested, and the transcoding portion of the pipeline is being bypassed, the source device may power on the transcoding portion and adaptively modify the pipeline to pass the content stream through the transcoding portion. The source device may provide configuration messages to the sink device when the pipeline is modified to provide information for decoding the transcoded content stream.

Abstract: The subject system allows a source device providing a content stream over a network connection to a sink device to adaptively bypass a transcoding portion of a content processing pipeline when the original content stream, e.g. the non-transcoded content stream, can be decoded by the sink device and/or when no actions that utilize transcoding have been requested for the content stream. The source device may power down the transcoding portion of the content processing pipeline when the transcoding portion is not in use. When an action that utilizes transcoding is requested, and the transcoding portion of the pipeline is being bypassed, the source device may power on the transcoding portion and adaptively modify the pipeline to pass the content stream through the transcoding portion. The source device may provide configuration messages to the sink device when the pipeline is modified to provide information for decoding the transcoded content stream.

Abstract: The subject system allows electronic devices in an infrastructure network to discover direct peer-to-peer services, such as screencasting, access to peripheral devices, etc., that can be provided over the infrastructure network. Since the electronic devices already have a layer two (link layer) connection with each other over the infrastructure network, pre-association device and/or service discovery protocols, such as those provided by Wi-Fi Direct and the like, are not available to the electronic devices. Thus, the subject system provides a post-association mechanism that allows the electronic devices to query, advertise, discover, and access direct peer-to-peer services over the infrastructure network. Furthermore, the subject system extends access of the direct peer-to-peer services to wired networks, such as Ethernet networks, Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) networks, powerline networks, and the like.

Abstract: Power management techniques for a network device providing services to other network devices. In one embodiment, a first device communicates requests for access to and release of a resource (such as a media serving service) hosted by a second device. Power management functionality in the second device selectively controls power to the resource based, at least in part, on such requests. For example, a resource may be placed in an inactive state following receipt of a request for release of the resource. Access to the resource may be provided through a network interface that is separately activated or deactivated by the power management functionality. In further embodiments, information relating to the state of the resource and/or network interface is provided by a proxy device.

Abstract: The subject system allows network devices utilizing any number of networking technologies (including to-be-developed technologies) to access a common abstraction layer and/or the network operations facilitated by a common abstraction layer. The subject system allows a device that is added to a network to communicate whether existing devices on the network should retrieve communication protocol information for facilitating communication with the added device from a remote server. For example, the devices may locally store communication protocol information for certain network technologies, e.g. legacy network technologies, while information corresponding to other network technologies may not be locally stored. The added device may provide a resource locator to the existing devices for accessing the communication protocol information from the remote server.

Abstract: A technique of using a remote control device to identify a source for transferring content on a home network, a renderer for rendering the content and a pathway within a home network to couple the source to the renderer to transfer the content. The remote control device then transmits control information to the source to set a control parameter value within the source to send the content and transmits control information to the renderer to set a control parameter value within the renderer to receive the content. The commands from the remote configure parameter values associated with a media layer in the source and/or the renderer to initiate a hand-shake to effect the content transfer, so that the source and the renderer need not initiate the hand-shake between themselves.

Abstract: The subject system allows a source device providing a content stream over a network connection to a sink device to adaptively bypass a transcoding portion of a content processing pipeline when the original content stream, e.g. the non-transcoded content stream, can be decoded by the sink device and/or when no actions that utilize transcoding have been requested for the content stream. The source device may power down the transcoding portion of the content processing pipeline when the transcoding portion is not in use. When an action that utilizes transcoding is requested, and the transcoding portion of the pipeline is being bypassed, the source device may power on the transcoding portion and adaptively modify the pipeline to pass the content stream through the transcoding portion. The source device may provide configuration messages to the sink device when the pipeline is modified to provide information for decoding the transcoded content stream.

Abstract: The subject system allows network devices utilizing any number of networking technologies (including to-be-developed technologies) to access a common abstraction layer and/or the network operations facilitated by a common abstraction layer. The subject system allows a device that is added to a network to communicate whether existing devices on the network should retrieve communication protocol information for facilitating communication with the added device from a remote server. For example, the devices may locally store communication protocol information for certain network technologies, e.g. legacy network technologies, while information corresponding to other network technologies may not be locally stored. The added device may provide a resource locator to the existing devices for accessing the communication protocol information from the remote server.

Abstract: The subject system allows electronic devices in an infrastructure network to discover direct peer-to-peer services, such as screencasting, access to peripheral devices, etc., that can be provided over the infrastructure network. Since the electronic devices already have a layer two (link layer) connection with each other over the infrastructure network, pre-association device and/or service discovery protocols, such as those provided by Wi-Fi Direct and the like, are not available to the electronic devices. Thus, the subject system provides a post-association mechanism that allows the electronic devices to query, advertise, discover, and access direct peer-to-peer services over the infrastructure network. Furthermore, the subject system extends access of the direct peer-to-peer services to wired networks, such as Ethernet networks, Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) networks, powerline networks, and the like.

Abstract: A wireless station within a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio gathers participatory data based on communications involving the wireless station and non-participatory data based on communications the wireless station listens to, but does not participate in. The processor produces an operational report based on the participatory data and the non-participatory data and provides the operational report to the WLAN. The processor further alters a gain vector of the directional antenna based on instructions received from the WLAN in response to the operational report.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing distribution of three dimensional visual media to a plurality of displays. For example, there is a content server for managing distribution of three dimensional (3D) visual media to a client over a. network, where the client has a display. The content server comprises a server processor configured to determine a plurality of supported 3D) modes of the client, enable one the plurality of supported 3D modes, and provide the 3D visual media to the client for presentation on the display of the client.

Abstract: A technique of using a remote control device to identify a source for transferring content on a home network, a renderer for rendering the content and a pathway within a home network to couple the source to the renderer to transfer the content. The remote control device then transmits control information to the source to set a control parameter value within the source to send the content and transmits control information to the renderer to set a control parameter value within the renderer to receive the content. The commands from the remote configure parameter values associated with a media layer in the source and/or the renderer to initiate a hand-shake to effect the content transfer, so that the source and the renderer need not initiate the hand-shake between themselves.

Abstract: Power management techniques for a network device providing services to other network devices. In one embodiment, a first device communicates requests for access to and release of a resource (such as a media serving service) hosted by a second device. Power management functionality in the second device selectively controls power to the resource based, at least in part, on such requests. For example, a resource may be placed in an inactive state following receipt of a request for release of the resource. Access to the resource may be provided through a network interface that is separately activated or deactivated by the power management functionality. In further embodiments, information relating to the state of the resource and/or network interface is provided by a proxy device.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data directly between a plurality of client network devices in a network is disclosed. The system may include a first client network device having a first client (“STA”) module and a second client network device of the plurality of client network devices where the second client network device includes a Dual Access Point and Station enabled device (“DAS-enabled device”).

Abstract: A wireless station within a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio gathers participatory data based on communications involving the wireless station and non-participatory data based on communications the wireless station listens to, but does not participate in. The processor produces an operational report based on the participatory data and the non-participatory data and provides the operational report to the WLAN. The processor further alters a gain vector of the directional antenna based on instructions received from the WLAN in response to the operational report.

Abstract: A technique to remotely identify a source of a transaction for transferring content on a home network and to identify a plurality of renderers for rendering the content when transferred. Where multiple pathways are present to transfer the content, remote identification of one or more pathways are also determined to transfer the content. Then, a rendering parameter is determined for each renderer for rendering the content and based on one or more criteria, a renderer is selected for rendering the content, along with the pathway for delivering the content.

Abstract: A Wireless Access Point (WAP) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio supports communications with a plurality of wireless terminals to gather participatory data, and listens to, but does not participate in transmissions of at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals to collect non-participatory WAP data. Based upon the participatory WAP data and non-participatory WAP data, the processor creates WAP operational reports and provides the WAP operational reports to the WLAN. The WLAN creates directions based thereon and directs the WAP to alter the gain pattern of the directional antenna.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for managing distribution of three dimensional visual media to a plurality of displays. For example, there is a content server for managing distribution of three dimensional (3D) visual media to a client over a network, where the client has a display. The content server comprises a server processor configured to determine a plurality of supported 3D modes of the client, enable one the plurality of supported 3D modes, and provide the 3D visual media to the client for presentation on the display of the client.

Abstract: A technique to identify and characterize meta-data associated with an original content that is being transferred from a source to a renderer in a home network, in which the original content is to be rendered by the renderer. Instead of making available for rendering the original content, an alternate content for delivery to the renderer is located, wherein the alternate content is identified by associating the alternate content to the original content via characterization of the meta-data. Then, the alternate content is rendered instead of the original content or rendered in addition to the original content.