Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for an IoT shell are provided. A system includes an internet of things (IoT) device, a database, and a license manager. The database may include one or more sets of authorized licenses, each set of authorized licenses associated with a respective vendor software. The license manager may be in communication with the IoT device and the database, and further include a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by the processor. The license manager may be configured to receive a request to reserve a license for a first vendor software, determine an availability of the license associated with the first vendor software, register a unique identifier of the IoT device in association with the license, and grant the license to the IoT device.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing error detection in a network, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing error and/or fault detection in a network and/or media stream and providing options to address the error and/or fault in the network and/or media stream. In various embodiments, a computer might detect an error in a first network and send a notification indicating that the error has occurred. The notification might contain one or more options to address the error in the first network. The computer, a user device, a service provider device, or a content provider device might receive and display the notification containing the one or more options. The computer, the user device, the service provider device, or the content provider device might then select at least one of the one or more options to address the error in the first network.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing error detection in a network, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing error and/or fault detection in a network and/or media stream and providing options to address the error and/or fault in the network and/or media stream. In various embodiments, a computer might detect an error in a first network and send a notification indicating that the error has occurred. The notification might contain one or more options to address the error in the first network. The computer, a user device, a service provider device, or a content provider device might receive and display the notification containing the one or more options. The computer, the user device, the service provider device, or the content provider device might then select at least one of the one or more options to address the error in the first network.

Abstract: A license manager includes a processor and non-transitory computer readable media having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive a request, from a virtual machine, to reserve an individual license of the set of authorized licenses for a vendor software instance, determine the availability licenses for the requested vendor software, register a unique identifier of the virtual machine in association with an available individual license, grant the individual license to the virtual machine, and prevent the granted individual license from concurrent use by other virtual machines or devices.

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: 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: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing data and source validation for equipment output data and/or for equipment failure predict. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might retrieve and analyze the first data to determine whether the first data can be trusted. If so, the computing system might send the first data to the requesting device. If not, the computing system might send a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing a copy of the first data. In response to the blockchain system identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive the identified blockchain; might abstract the block containing the copy of the first data from the identified blockchain; might abstract the first data from the block; and might send the first data to the requesting device.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing tracking or storing of equipment configuration data using immutable ledger functionality of blockchains. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first configuration data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might determine whether a communicatively coupled data repository contains the first configuration data. If so, the computing system might retrieve and send (to the requesting device) the first configuration data. If not, the computing system might send, to a blockchain system, a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing the first configuration data.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for utilizing blockchain to implement named data networking. In various embodiments, a computing system might determine whether a cache that is communicatively coupled to the computing system contains data that is responsive to a first request received from a user. If so, the computing system might retrieve and send (to the client device) data that is responsive to the received first request. If not, the computing system might send, to a blockchain system, a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing data responsive to the received first request. In response to identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive a copy of the identified blockchain; might abstract, from the identified blockchain, the block containing the data responsive to the received first request; might abstract the data from the identified block; and might send the data to the client device.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for invoking virtualized network functions. In some embodiments, a programmable service backbone might comprise at least one virtualized network function, and might provide virtualized network functions required to provision a service offering. In some cases, at least one application programming interface might be configured to invoke the at least one virtualized network function of the programmable service backbone. An application programming interface gateway might be configured to manage access to the at least one application programming interface, and the application programming interface gateway might comprise a security layer.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for an IoT shell are provided. A system includes an internet of things (IoT) device, a database, and a license manager. The database may include one or more sets of authorized licenses, each set of authorized licenses associated with a respective vendor software. The license manager may be in communication with the IoT device and the database, and further include a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by the processor. The license manager may be configured to receive a request to reserve a license for a first vendor software, determine an availability of the license associated with the first vendor software, register a unique identifier of the IoT device in association with the license, and grant the license to the IoT device.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing media content tracking functionality, and, in particular embodiments, implementing temporal markers for tracking at least partial playback of media content. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive a request for media content from a user over a network, and might retrieve the media content from a database. A transcoder might insert temporal markers in a transport stream of the media content, which is sent to the user device. The user device might decode the transport stream, might track each temporal marker as the media content is presented to the user, might generate a message by compiling a list of the accessed temporal markers, and might send the message to the computing system. The computing system might receive the message comprising the list of temporal markers, which are indicative of portions of the media content that were actually presented to the user.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing error detection in a network, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing error and/or fault detection in a network and/or media stream and providing options to address the error and/or fault in the network and/or media stream. In various embodiments, a computer might detect an error in a first network and send a notification indicating that the error has occurred. The notification might contain one or more options to address the error in the first network. The computer, a user device, a service provider device, or a content provider device might receive and display the notification containing the one or more options. The computer, the user device, the service provider device, or the content provider device might then select at least one of the one or more options to address the error in the first network.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing self-organizing mobile networks (“SOMNETs”) of drones and platforms. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive first data from each of a plurality of vehicles; might receive second data from each of a plurality of platforms; might analyze the first data to determine a status of each vehicle; and might analyze the second data to determine a status of each platform. Based at least in part on the analyzed first and second data, the computing system might generate at least one of first control instructions to at least one first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles or second control instructions to at least one first platform of the plurality of platforms that respectively cause the at least one first vehicle to perform one or more first actions or cause the at least one first platform to perform one or more second actions.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing auto-switching and/or auto-playing video content. In various embodiments, a computing system might determine whether a display device that is communicatively coupled to the computing system is in an off-state, and might determine whether a first video content will begin its broadcast from a first content source within a predetermined period after initiating such determination. Based on a determination that the display device is in the off-state and based on a determination that the first video content will be broadcast within the predetermined period, the computing system might automatically switch the display device to an on-state, and might automatically set the display device to display the first video content being broadcast from the first content source.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing error detection in a network, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing error and/or fault detection in a network and/or media stream and providing options to address the error and/or fault in the network and/or media stream. In various embodiments, a computer might detect an error in a first network and send a notification indicating that the error has occurred. The notification might contain one or more options to address the error in the first network. The computer, a user device, a service provider device, or a content provider device might receive and display the notification containing the one or more options. The computer, the user device, the service provider device, or the content provider device might then select at least one of the one or more options to address the error in the first network.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing error detection in a network, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing error and/or fault detection in a network and/or media stream and providing options to address the error and/or fault in the network and/or media stream. In various embodiments, a computer might detect an error in a first network and send a notification indicating that the error has occurred. The notification might contain one or more options to address the error in the first network. The computer, a user device, a service provider device, or a content provider device might receive and display the notification containing the one or more options. The computer, the user device, the service provider device, or the content provider device might then select at least one of the one or more options to address the error in the first network.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content delivery. In some embodiments, a globally unique identifier (“GUID”) associated with a particular media content might be embedded in headers of packets of a transport stream of the media content. When the transport stream is received by a user device, the GUID might enable retrieval of the necessary metadata (and/or updates of metadata) for enabling presentation of the media content. Alternatively or additionally, ratings or similar information can likewise be embedded in the headers of packets or I-frames of the transport stream, which enables a user (e.g., parent) to easily block or skip objectionable content from children who may be present. Alternatively or additionally, the transport stream may be combined with auxiliary data streams containing metadata and other associated auxiliary content to create a combined transport stream, to ensure no lost or corrupted media content during transmission.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content delivery. In some embodiments, a globally unique identifier (“GUID”) associated with a particular media content might be embedded in headers of packets of a transport stream of the media content. When the transport stream is received by a user device, the GUID might enable retrieval of the necessary metadata (and/or updates of metadata) for enabling presentation of the media content. Alternatively or additionally, ratings or similar information can likewise be embedded in the headers of packets or I-frames of the transport stream, which enables a user (e.g., parent) to easily block or skip objectionable content from children who may be present. Alternatively or additionally, the transport stream may be combined with auxiliary data streams containing metadata and other associated auxiliary content to create a combined transport stream, to ensure no lost or corrupted media content during transmission.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for signatures and entitlements of entertainment printables are provided. A method might include receiving, at a three-dimensional (“3-D”) printer, a request from a user to print a 3-D model and determining, with the 3-D printer, whether the user is authorized to print the 3-D model. The method might further include printing, with the 3-D printer, the 3-D model based on a determination that the user is authorized to print the 3-D model and embedding, with the 3-D printer, within the 3-D model, a unique identifier. The unique identifier may indicate that the user was authorized to print the 3-D model and identify at least one of an original creator of the 3-D model, the 3-D model itself, a limited edition of the 3-D model, or an owner of the 3-D model.