Abstract: Tools are provided for supporting dynamic insertion of advertisements into a content stream delivered to a viewer through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network. A viewer profile that includes at least one item of interest and an advertisement profile that includes a mapping from one or more items to at least one advertisement are maintained. An item in the viewer profile is matched to one or more advertisements based on the advertisement profile. The content stream is retrieved and an advertisement slot into which an advertisement should be inserted is identified. The advertisement to be inserted is selected from the one or more advertisements and the content of the advertisement is inserted into the advertisement slot in the content stream. A video component of the content stream with the content of the advertisement inserted is displayed on a display device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices, as well as system and methods for using them. For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for allowing a plurality of telecommunication information providers to transmit telecommunication information to a customer premises. The system can include a network interface device operable to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information. Each of the information sets can be associated with a particular telecommunication service and/or all of the information sets can be associated with the same telecommunication service.

Abstract: A network interface system is provided with an addressable application device and a processor. The addressable application device is adapted to interface with a transport medium internal to a customer premises. The processor is adapted to selectively process telecommunication information originating from a transport medium external to the customer premises. The processor is further adapted to transmit the processed telecommunication information to the addressable application device for implementation of an application over the transport medium internal to the customer premises in accordance with a state of the addressable application device. The addressable application device and the processor are disposed external to the customer premises.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. For example, one exemplary of the invention provides a method for providing an alert to a subscriber. The exemplary method comprises receiving an alert message from at least one alert source. The alert message often will be pertinent to at least one of the subscribers. The alert message can comprise an alert and associated alert information. The alert information can provide information about the alert such that the information can be analyzed determine whether a particular subscriber likely should receive the alert. Other embodiments provide systems, which can be used to perform the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for managing the reception and/or recording of media content on a base station. In certain embodiments, the base station is configured to transfer media content received by the base station to a portable media device. In one aspect, the portable media device may be a wireless phone with media playback capabilities. One set of embodiments provides a reception manager for managing the reception of media content by the base station. Merely by way of example, embodiments of the present invention may provide for monitoring of the signal strength of broadcast media content, and certain embodiments may provide for receiving and displaying information concerning media content available to the base station. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide for the management of recording and/or storing of media content.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for distributing content objects to a requester. Some of the systems include at least one content object origination, and two or more content object destinations. The two or more content object destinations are associated with customer premises. Communication links communicably couple the content object origination and at least one of the content object destinations, and at least two of the content object destinations. Local storage is associated with at least one of the content object destinations. A content object from the content object origination is maintained on a local storage associated with one of the content object destinations, and the content object is accessible via the local storage to another content object destination. The methods provide various ways for distributing content objects using systems similar to that previously 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: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for sending data in-band over a telecommunications network during an active call. Some embodiments provide a telephone user with a way to send alphanumeric data from his or her phone to a receiving party's phone, when the user and the receiving party are engaged in an active telephone call.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for medical monitoring of a patient at a patient premises. A medical-data collection device is adapted to collect medical data from the patient. The medical-data collection device is interfaced with a transport medium internal to the patient premises. A network interface device is also provided with multiple application devices interfaced with the transport medium internal to the patient premises. One of the application devices is a medical-monitoring application device adapted to process the collected medical data. Another of the application devices is adapted to exchange data with a transport medium external to the patient premises. A processor in communication with the application devices is adapted to coordinate transmission of the collected medical data over the transport medium external to the patient premises.

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: Systems and methods for authenticating digital assets in relation to a telecommunications network. In various cases, the systems include a network interface device associated with a customer premises. The network interface device includes a local authentication authority operable to authenticate one or more digital assets maintained in relation to the customer premises. In some cases, a global authentication authority can authenticate the network interface device, and implicitly authenticate the one or more digital assets. Many other cases and/or embodiments are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A network interface device located at a customer's premises includes an external interface that receives a plurality of telecommunication services via a coaxial connection from a telecommunication service provider. The services are received using Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications. The network interface device also includes at least two distinct internal interfaces that distribute the plurality of telecommunication services to at least two distinct internal transport media. The network interface device also includes a processor the is programmed to receive combined signals comprising the telecommunication services from the external interface, process the combined signals into separate signals representative of distinct telecommunication services, and map each of the separate signals to separate ones of the at least two distinct internal interfaces for distribution at the customer's premises via the internal transport media.

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 provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. For example, one exemplary of the invention provides a method for providing an alert to a subscriber. The exemplary method comprises receiving an alert message from at least one alert source. The alert message often will be pertinent to at least one of the subscribers. The alert message can comprise an alert and associated alert information. The alert information can provide information about the alert such that the information can be analyzed determine whether a particular subscriber likely should receive the alert. Other embodiments provide systems, which can be used to perform the methods of the invention.

Abstract: T Systems and methods for providing picture-in-picture, or other multi-picture displays. Some of the systems include two or more video and/or data signals that are coupled to a transmission device. In addition, a selector signal is coupled to the transmission device. The transmission device also includes a video output that, based at least in part on the selector signal, provides a derivative of one of the video and/or data signals at a first compression and bandwidth, and the other video and/or data signal at a second compression and bandwidth. Various of the methods include utilize the systems to transmit two or more video outputs based at least in part on a selector signal.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices, as well as systems and methods for using them. For instance, in accordance with some embodiments, a network interface device can comprise an isolation device, which can be configured to isolate an internal transport medium from an external transport medium, such that operational changes to the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium, and operational changes to the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for receiving media content at a base station for use on a portable media device. Merely by way of example, one set of embodiments provides a base station with a plurality of receivers and inputs for receiving media content. In some embodiments, media content received by the base station via a receiver and/or input may be transferred to the portable media device. In some aspects, the portable media device is a wireless phone configured to play the media content. In certain embodiments, the base station may record the received media and the recorded media may then be transferred to the portable media device. In certain embodiments, the base station may have a user interface to display media available to the base station and/or recorded on the base station.

Abstract: A network interface device located at a customer's premises includes an external interface that receives a plurality of telecommunication services via a fiber optic connection from a telecommunication service provider. The services are received using Internet Protocol. The network interface device also includes at least two distinct internal interfaces that distribute the plurality of telecommunication services to at least two distinct internal transport media. The network interface device also includes a processor that is programmed to receive combined signals comprising the telecommunication services from the external interface, process the combined signals into separate signals representative of distinct telecommunication services, and map each of the separate signals to separate ones of the at least two distinct internal interfaces for distribution at the customer's premises via the internal transport media.

Abstract: According to the invention, a network interface device for processing a telephone call is disclosed. The network interface device includes a first and second communication interfaces, a telephone switch and a controller. The first communication interface is coupled to at least one of a wireless phone network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) network. The first communication interface receives the telephone call from any of a number of callers that are remote to the network interface device. The second communication interface coupled to one or more phones at a user location where the one or more phones are associated with a telephone number that any of the callers can use to call the one or more phones.

Abstract: A network interface device (NID) for connecting a telecommunications line to a subscriber premises. The NID includes an enclosure that houses wiring, connectors, and active telecommunications devices. A cooling device, such as a fan, is used for cooling the active devices within the NID and is powered by a storage capacitor. The capacitor is charged by current from telecommunications signals on the telecommunications line using a power regulating circuit. The active devices within the NID generate heat, and the cooling device maintains a desired operating temperature within the NID. In one embodiment, the NID includes electronic components used for providing DSL service to the subscriber, and the lower frequency voice components of the telecommunications signals received at the NID are used for charging the capacitor. A microserver within the NID senses the current levels provided to the NID and to an active component module (e.g., DSL modem), and senses the electrical charge level at the storage capacitor.