Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for video mixing in a distributed computing environment. For example, a method comprises the following steps. At a first mixing device, one or more local video streams are received from one or more sources local to the first mixing device. The first mixing device generates a first partially-composited video stream, wherein the first partially-composited video stream comprises: (i) a partial set of video elements of the one or more local video streams; and (ii) information about video elements of the one or more local video streams. The first mixing device sends the first partially-composited video stream to at least a second mixing device remote from the first mixing device. The first mixing device and the second mixing device may be part of a video conferencing system.

Abstract: Area tracking systems including a plurality of short range sensors that are communicatively connected to a server and methods of tracking electronic devices. The electronic devices are tracked by polling for the electronic devices, the polling including transmission of electronic addresses corresponding to the electronic devices and determining whether a reply to the poling is received. The electronic addresses are each stored on one of a plurality of lists. Each of the lists may be polled at a different frequency and may include a different number of electronic device addresses.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an input button includes receiving at least one image frame captured through a camera lens and analyzing the at least one image frame at a processor to determine if the at least one image frame is indicative of a button press. If the at least one image frame is indicative of a button press, a trigger module generates a trigger event that causes an application to perform an action.

Abstract: A camera emulation server enables integration of real and logical digital video streams within a video surveillance system. The camera emulation server produces a logical digital video stream emulating a real video surveillance camera, in which the logical digital video stream includes data other than original video surveillance data. The camera emulation server provides the logical digital video stream to a video management server via a packet-switched network for integration with a real digital video stream that includes video surveillance data captured by a remote physical video surveillance camera. The video management server routes the logical digital video stream and the real digital video stream to a video receiving device for simultaneous display in respective window panes configured in a tiled format on at least one display device of the video receiving device.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a method comprising: detecting one of a pinch gesture and a zoom gesture as a first event; detecting the other of the pinch gesture and the zoom gesture as a second event; and generating a single event command representing the first and second events if the second event is detected within a desired time period from detecting the first event, the single event command indicating a user-desired function.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing streaming content. For example, one method comprises monitoring one or more operating conditions of a communications network configured to provide at least one content stream to one or more communications devices. The method further comprises selecting an interstitial transition for insertion into the content stream based on a length of the interstitial transition, in response to the one or more monitored operating conditions of the communications network, wherein the interstitial transition is selected from a plurality of varied-length interstitial transitions.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for video mixing in a distributed computing environment. For example, a method comprises the following steps. At a first mixing device, one or more local video streams are received from one or more sources local to the first mixing device. The first mixing device generates a first partially-composited video stream, wherein the first partially-composited video stream comprises: (i) a partial set of video elements of the one or more local video streams; and (ii) information about video elements of the one or more local video streams. The first mixing device sends the first partially-composited video stream to at least a second mixing device remote from the first mixing device. The first mixing device and the second mixing device may be part of a video conferencing system.

Abstract: A camera emulation server enables integration of real and logical digital video streams within a video surveillance system. The camera emulation server produces a logical digital video stream emulating a real video surveillance camera, in which the logical digital video stream includes data other than original video surveillance data. The camera emulation server provides the logical digital video stream to a video management server via a packet-switched network for integration with a real digital video stream that includes video surveillance data captured by a remote physical video surveillance camera. The video management server routes the logical digital video stream and the real digital video stream to a video receiving device for simultaneous display in respective window panes configured in a tiled format on at least one display device of the video receiving device.

Abstract: Area tracking systems including a plurality of short range sensors that are communicatively connected to a server and methods of tracking electronic devices. The electronic devices are tracked by polling for the electronic devices, the polling including transmission of electronic addresses corresponding to the electronic devices and determining whether a reply to the poling is received. The electronic addresses are each stored on one of a plurality of lists. Each of the lists may be polled at a different frequency and may include a different number of electronic device addresses.

Abstract: A user platform (“Smart Grid Phone” (SGP)) facilitates enhanced consumer awareness of utility consumption and cost data associated with a user premises. In one example, the SGP provides electrical energy consumption and cost data and may be implemented with interfaces to either legacy electric meters or next-generation smart electric meters. Novel methods are described herein for coupling the SGP to an external energy monitoring service to receive externally-produced content (such as historical energy usage displays) and deriving supplemental content such as annotated energy events, time-varying pricing data, and customized displays which may be displayed simultaneously with or alternatively to the externally-produced content.