Abstract: Methods and systems provide a selected video segment to customer premises equipment. A request is received from the customer premises equipment for transmission of the selected video segment. A copy of the selected video segment is transferred to one of a plurality of buffers. One of the plurality of buffers is mapped through a routing network to a port interfaced with the customer premises equipment. The selected video segment is transmitted from the one of the plurality of buffers through the routing network and port to the customer premises equipment.

Abstract: Tools are provided for distributing access-restricted content in an internet protocol television (“IPTV”) environment based on portable entitlement keys. Such tools can include a decoder, an encoder, and a network entitlement handler. The decoder may be configured to receive a key associated with entitlement information, and transmit the entitlement information over a network. The encoder may be configured to receive content from content providers, and to encode the content to create IP-compatible content, with access restrictions based on entitlement. The network entitlement handler may be configured to receive a request for requested content from the decoder; receive the access-restricted content including (including the requested content) from the encoder; and transmit the requested content over the network to the decoder using IP, when the decoder is entitled to receive the requested content.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide novel apparatus, methods and systems for providing relatively high-speed bandwidth to enable, inter alia, video transmission services over media previously unable to support such services. In accordance with certain embodiments, a device located at the telecommunication service provider can logically couple two or more physical media to provide a single, consolidated source of bandwidth, which can be used to transmit data, which can represent a video signal. In accordance with other embodiments, a device located at the subscriber's location can be used to receive the data from each of the two physical media and recreate the video signal from the data, such that the video signal can be transmitted to a display device, such as a television, monitor, etc.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed at methods and systems for transmitting utility usage data using a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”). The methods and systems may include collecting utility usage data pertaining to a customer premises with a utility meter at the customer premises. The utility usage data may be transmitted automatically from the utility meter to an access point of a public broadband network. The utility usage data may be received at the access point. A digital subscriber line (“DSL”) modem in communication with the access point may modulate the utility usage data at the access point. The utility usage data may be transmitted securely through the public switched telephone network to an Internet point of presence. The utility usage data may be received at the Internet point of presence. The utility usage data may be transmitted from the Internet point of presence to a utility provider via the Internet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. In different embodiments, a communication system is described, comprising a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. In various embodiments, components of the larger system are described. In some cases, various location related mapping functions for a device are discussed. In other embodiments, systems and methods which provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described. In still other embodiments, the disclosure addresses systems and methods of efficiently determining the location of a mobile device. In some embodiments, different notification schemes based on the location of a device and specified preferences are described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. In different embodiments, a communication system is described, comprising a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. In various embodiments, components of the larger system are described. In some cases, various location related mapping functions for a device are discussed. In other embodiments, systems and methods which provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described. In still other embodiments, the disclosure addresses systems and methods of efficiently determining the location of a mobile device. In some embodiments, different notification schemes based on the location of a device and specified preferences are described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. In different embodiments, a communication system is described, comprising a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. In various embodiments, components of the larger system are described. In some cases, various location related mapping functions for a device are discussed. In other embodiments, systems and methods which provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described. In still other embodiments, the disclosure addresses systems and methods of efficiently determining the location of a mobile device. In some embodiments, different notification schemes based on the location of a device and specified preferences are described.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and software are disclosed for generating a network usage profile. Certain embodiments of the network usage profile include a devices-by-node profile, indicating the set of customer devices available for use in communicating with a customer-side network node located at a customer side of an access network over a period of time, where some of the customer devices are not in operative communication with the customer-side network node during a portion of that time. Other embodiments associate the network usage profile with customer information to generate device-by-customer profiles. Still other embodiments associate the network usage profile with network traffic information to generate traffic-by-device profiles. Even other embodiments associate the multiple sources and types of information to generate traffic-by-customer profiles and/or traffic-by-device-by-customer profiles.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques to enable data to be tested on subscriber set-top boxes. Some solutions can connect a sever with a group of subscriber set-top boxes through a television distribution network. In some cases, a plurality of set-top boxes are selected, and at least one set-top box is determined to be inactive. In some cases, data are loaded and tested on the inactive set-top.

Abstract: Tools are provided for supporting content syndication to a set top box. The set top box requests a syndicated feed at regularly scheduled times, and receives the syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network. Hence, a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed. Additionally, the set top box converts the syndicated feed for use by the set top box, and causes at least one image based at least in part on the syndicated feed to be displayed on a display device for a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. A particular system comprises a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. Components of the larger system are also described. In some cases, various location related mapping functions for a device are discussed. Systems and methods can also provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described. The disclosure also addresses systems and methods of efficiently determining the location of a mobile device. Different notification schemes might be based on the location of a device and specified preferences are described. There can also be keyword monitoring based on the location of a device.

Abstract: An isolation device isolates a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media. A first interface communicates with the external transport medium and a second interface communicates with the internal transport medium. An addressable set-top box external to the customer premises receives encoded telecommunication information from the external transport medium and generates television signals from the encoded telecommunication information for transmission over the internal transport medium.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing parties with levels of transparency into filtering functionality of network traffic inspection implementations. Embodiments include receiving a filter change request from a subscriber over a network that defines a modification to a set of filter criteria for filtering network traffic, the filter criteria being stored in association with the subscriber in a filter criteria data store; updating the set of filter criteria in the filter criteria data store as a function of the filter change request; receiving a content dataset relating to the network traffic; identifying the content dataset as being associated with the subscriber; retrieving the set of filter criteria associated with the subscriber from the data store; and filtering the network traffic as a function of the set of filter criteria. Embodiments further provide layers of access for different entities to the filtered traffic.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are described for generating or extracting keywords based on trend data related to contemporary news events, social media topics, and/or Internet searches, etc. Local and/or remote content catalogs, which are respectively associated with local and remote content libraries, are searched for relevant multimedia content (e.g., video, audio, and/or written content) using the generated or extracted keywords. Dynamic automated on-demand and/or broadcast channels are generated that incorporate the relevant multimedia content, and streamed and/or broadcast to one or more user devices (including PCs, televisions, and mobile devices). User-interactive selection capabilities are optionally provided during the channel generation process.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques to enable more robust electronic program guides in television distribution systems. Some solutions can obtain data (e.g., from the Internet) about a program listed on an electronic program guide and integrate that data with electronic program guide. In some cases, this information can be obtained and/or updated dynamically, in real-time or near real-time, for example to provide, up-to-date information can be provided in the electronic program guide, rather than requiring the viewer to tune to an information channel. In some cases, the system can provide a generalized electronic program guide that can be rendered by the system to be displayed on a plurality of different devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for associating images with location and/or other information. In some cases, the systems include an image sensor, a location sensor, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is communicably coupled to a computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the microprocessor to: receive a location from the location sensor; receive an image from the image sensor; and associate the location with the image. Some of the methods provide for capturing an object image of an object using an image sensor; capturing a location of the image sensor; and associating the location with the object image. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of replacing a network demarcation device that isolates an internal transport medium from an external transport medium includes establishing a connection from a service computer to the demarcation device via a service interface of the demarcation device and accessing a storage arrangement of the demarcation device with the service computer. The method also includes using the service computer to select configuration information of the demarcation device and establishing a connection between the service computer and a service interface of the replacement demarcation device. The method also includes using the service computer to cause the selected configuration information to be transferred from the demarcation device to the replacement demarcation device interfacing the replacement demarcation device to the internal transport medium and the external transport medium.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting an initial bandwidth setting. A determination is made that a client is initiating a communication session. Network conditions for the client are determined. A bandwidth setting for the client is selected utilizing the network conditions and a previous bandwidth setting saved in a memory. The communication session for the client is initiated utilizing the bandwidth seating.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide novel solutions for providing real-time content in an on-demand environment. In a novel aspect of some embodiments, a real-time on demand server may be configured to integrate real-time content with on-demand content. This can allow a subscriber to enjoy the benefits of on-demand programming without having to forego access to real-time news, sports, weather information and/or the like.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for managing the reception and/or recording of video content on a wireless digital video recorder. In certain embodiments, the wireless digital video recorder comprises a wireless phone with video reception and video recording capabilities. One set of embodiments provides a reception manager for managing the reception of video content by the wireless digital video recorder. Merely by way of example, embodiments of the present invention may provide for monitoring of the signal strength of broadcast video content, and certain embodiments may provide for receiving and displaying information concerning video content available to the wireless digital video recorder. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide for the management of recording and/or storing video content on the wireless digital video recorder e.