Abstract: Some embodiments use proxies on host devices to suppress broadcast traffic in a network. Each host in some embodiments executes one or more virtual machines (VMs). In some embodiments, a proxy operates on each host between each VM and the underlying network. For instance, in some of these embodiments, a VM's proxy operates between the VM and a physical forwarding element executing on the VM's host. The proxy monitors the VM's traffic, and intercepts broadcast packets when it knows how to deal with them. The proxy connects to a set of one or more controllers that provides a directory service that collects and maintains global information of the network. By connecting to the controller cluster, the proxy can obtain information that it can use to resolve broadcast requests. In some embodiments, the connection between the proxy and the controller cluster is encrypted and authenticated, to enhance the security.

Abstract: An example method includes analyzing bandwidth usage data corresponding to bandwidth usage associated with streaming media. The example method also includes determining a size of a buffer based on the bandwidth usage data. The example method further includes determining an end time of the media based on the size of the buffer. In some examples, the end time occurs a period of time after downloading of data associated with the media is completed.

Abstract: A method includes dividing a data object into data partitions. The method further includes, for each data partition: dividing the data partition into data segments; dispersed storage error encoding the data segments to produce sets of encoded data slices; storing the sets of encoded data slices in a first set of storage units; and generating a segment allocation table regarding storage information of the sets of encoded data slices. The method further includes generating a directory of segment allocation tables. The method further includes receiving an access request regarding at least a portion of the data object. The method further includes accessing the directory to identify one or more segment allocation tables containing storage information for the at least a portion of the data object. The method further includes accessing encoded data slices of the at least the portion of the data object based on the storage information.

Abstract: A method of preparing data streams to facilitate seamless switching between such streams by a switching device to produce an output data stream without any switching artifacts. Bi-directional switching between any plurality of data streams is supported. The data streams are divided into segments, wherein the segments include synchronized starting points and end points. The data rate is increased before an end point of a segment, to create switch gaps between the segments. Increasing the data rate can include increasing a bandwidth of the plurality of data streams, for example by multiplexing, or compressing the data. The present invention can be used, for example, with MPEG or AC-3 encoded audio and MPEG encoded video segments that are multiplexed into MPEG-2 transport streams. Also included are specific methods for preparing MPEG video streams and multiplexing MPEG video with MPEG or AC-3 audio streams to allow a receiver to create seamless transitions between individually encoded segments.

Abstract: The present invention defines a HTTP or CoAP request message that combines one or more HTTP or CoAP requests along with timing information (432-1). The message is sent by a control device (132) to a network proxy (i.e. a network router (112)) via a control network (120). The network proxy decodes the message and subsequently controls destination devices, in particular luminaires (L1, L2, L3, L4), in a timed manner using the HTTP or CoAP requests. The network proxy is application-independent and also enables control of third party HTTP-or CoAP-based devices that are not aware of timed requests. Improved timing performance is obtained by choosing the network proxy location “close by”, in terms of network hops and/or latency, to the destination devices to be controlled.

Abstract: A scalable, storage cloud enabled data center includes a cluster of enterprise storage nodes. Each storage node includes a storage grid, a computation grid, and data availability and data protection modules. The data center is scaled by adding additional storage nodes to a cluster of storage nodes which are interconnected, e.g., via a hardware interface, switches, and switch-routers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for seeking to a non-key frame in a compressed video. The compressed video has a plurality of frames, each with a playback timestamp. At least one of the frames is a key frame. A selection of a non-key frame is received, and a temporally proximate key frame is identified. The set of frames between the identified key frame and the selected frame is played in a reduced time interval, and the selected frame is displayed as if it were a key frame.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods in which a media player is connected via an interface device over a network to a source of content. Some conventional media players such as DVD players and televisions are equipped with hardware to render content disposed on and playable from a removable memory device, in particular a SD card. A memory card may be equipped with networking functionality, in particular, WI-FI networking, to enable connectivity over a local area wireless network. The memory card further may be provided with a processor. By providing an interface device that includes a processor, networking functionality, and storage, with suitable software on the storage, the media player may be connected over a network to locally networked or remote content sources. In some embodiments, the interface device also includes its own locally stored content.

Abstract: An approach is provided for navigating media content by specifying a time to start playback of the media content.

Abstract: An example implementation includes a computer-implemented method including generating a dynamic user-interactable graphical interface using a performance summary including viewer traffic statistics for a first show and competing shows at discrete time intervals, the interface being configured to graphically display a comparison of performance of the first show and the competing shows at the discrete time intervals and provide the interface for display via on the user device. The method may also include receiving a user input selecting from the interface a time interval of the first show and the competing shows and updating the interface with the comparison of the viewer traffic between the first show and the competing shows at the time interval selected by the user input.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for processing one or more data chunks on a host server. The one or more data chunks are destined for storage within a portion of a data array coupled to the host server. The one or more data chunks are stored within a host cache system included within the host server. Storage criteria concerning the portion of a data array is reviewed. The storage criteria includes an array bandwidth allotment that defines a maximum bandwidth between the host server and the portion of the data array. The one or more data chunks are written to the portion of the data array based, at least in part, upon the storage criteria.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with a memory device. The processor is configured to send to the memory device, via the interface, a sequence of write commands that program multiple types of memory pages that incur respective different programming durations in the memory device, while inserting in the sequence suspension periods for permitting execution of storage commands that are not part of the sequence, such that at least some of the suspension periods are followed by write commands of types that do not have a shortest programming duration among the programming durations.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing content to packet-enabled devices in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a network architecture is disclosed which enables delivery of content to IP-enabled devices such as mobile smartphones and tablet computers using a traditional high-speed data connection. This capability allows the managed network operator to provide content services to an IP-enabled device associated with a non-data subscriber. In one variant, a cable modem is provided which is limited to only retrieve content for delivery to the devices, yet which performs no other functions/services (including provision of high-speed data services). Alternatively, a “media server” modem is utilized to enable delivery of content from the managed network to a client or user device which is also able to obtain high-speed data service from a non-managed or third party managed network via a third-party access point. Security and authentication mechanisms for the transmitted content are also disclosed.

Abstract: Data is cached at a mobile communication site, such as a cell phone mast or tower computer. The caching is based on collection of “live data,” such as the number of communication devices (for example, cell phones) connected in data communication directly to the site, information known about users of the various communication devices connected directly to the site, etc. By caching data that is likely to be useful to the users before it is actually requested, the information can be supplied from the site to the directly connected users more quickly when it is later requested.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network including at least a user device and a network node separated by at least a packet-switched part of the telecommunications network, the user device including a primary jitter buffer having a constant packet play-out rate, the network node including a secondary jitter buffer, incoming packets destined for the user device are received and passed through the secondary jitter buffer of the network node downstream towards the primary jitter buffer of the user device. The departure times of packets passing through the secondary jitter buffer of the network node downstream towards the primary jitter buffer of the user device are monitored. On the basis of the monitoring and one or more known characteristics of the primary jitter buffer, an estimate of a current state of the primary jitter buffer is maintained. Operation of the secondary jitter buffer is dynamically controlled according to the maintained estimate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate anticipatory pushing of content to clients of a communications network in such a way that the content is unusable by the anticipatory clients until explicitly requested. Embodiments apply one or more self-keying techniques to a content dataset to generate an anticipatory dataset, such that the anticipatory dataset cannot be used to reconstruct the content dataset without a keying dataset that also can only be generated using the content dataset. The anticipatory dataset is pre-pushed to a client in anticipation of a future request for the content. If and when the client subsequently issues a request for the content dataset, the server intercepts the new copy of the content dataset received in response to the request, uses the content dataset to generate the keying dataset, and communicates the keying dataset to the client for local reconstruction of the content dataset by the client.

Abstract: A technique for managing storage tiering in a data storage apparatus operates at a fine level of granularity in response to write requests as blocks are allocated for writing. As write requests arrive or are otherwise processed by the data storage apparatus, the data storage apparatus identifies a quality of service to be provided for satisfying each write request and allocates a set of blocks from storage devices of storage tiers that provide the identified quality of service. The data storage apparatus may then store the information specified in the write request in the newly allocated blocks.

Abstract: A sequence of performance data to be loop-reproduced is read out repetitively for at least two cycles, and audio data repeating for at least two cycles are created on the basis of the read-out performance data. Audio data of a second or subsequent cycle of the created audio data have mixed therein a residual portion (release portion or reverberation portion) of a tone generated in a preceding cycle. The audio data of the second or subsequent cycle are stored as audio data for loop reproduction, and thus, the stored audio data for loop reproduction will include a residual portion of a tone generated in a preceding cycle. Thus, if the stored audio data for loop reproduction are reproduced repetitively, it is possible to achieve loop reproduction reflecting therein a residual portion of a tone generated in a preceding cycle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for requesting potentially missing fragments in a media stream index are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a fragmented media stream index at a client system, where the media stream index includes a list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers. Fragments listed in the media stream index can be requested from a server system. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing in the media stream index can be identified based, at least in part, on a determined naming convention indicating the sequential arrangement of the fragment identifiers. Fragments can be requested based on the potentially missing fragment identifiers and processed for display when received.

Abstract: A transmission/reception system includes first to Nth channels, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 3; a transmission chip suitable for transmitting first to (N?1)th signals through the first to (N?1)th channels and transmitting a correction signal generated by using the first to (N?1)th signals to the Nth channel; and a reception chip suitable for receiving signals of the first to Nth channels and generating restored signals of the first to Nth channels by using the first to Nth channels.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and communication systems for allocating and managing voice channels are provided. After receiving first voice data, a voice server can search for a voice channel corresponding to a first user of the first voice data. When successfully finding the first voice channel corresponding to the first user, the voice server can write the first voice data to the first voice channel. When successfully allocating a second voice channel that is currently already-timed-out to the first user, the voice server can write the first voice data to the second voice channel, and mark the second voice channel as assigned to the first user. Utilizing efficiency of the voice channels is therefore improved and deploying of hardware resources can be reduced.

Abstract: Data streams are generally selected according to user preferences and transmitted to the user in general alignment with expressed preferences of the user. Such data streams may be music, including music videos. Users may indicate their general or specific preferences with regards to song, artists, or albums. Any other aspects or factors that might affect the user's preferences can be taken into account. A playlist is created that combines all of these factors. The playlist then serves as the basis for feeding the data streams to the user. Each user is able to express his or her own preferences and receive music corresponding to those preferences on an on-going basis.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus including a synthesized stream creation unit, a stream transmission unit, a process information retaining unit, a count information addition unit, a stream reception unit, and a processing unit is provided. The electronic apparatus enables synthesis of a plurality of streams into one stream and then transmission of the stream with external devices. A stream transmission and reception method of the electronic apparatus, a program, a host device, a stream transmission and reception method of the host device are also provided.

Abstract: A scrubbing noise remover includes a proxy device that is operable to intercept a request from a video player to a streaming video server for at least one scrubbing segment of a selected one of a plurality of video programs, and in response, sending at least one corresponding fixed segment to the video player, and pass a request from the video player to the streaming video server for a plurality of non-scrubbing segments of the selected one of the plurality of video programs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing simplified copy offload operations are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes creating a persistent point-in-time image of a data set of a source storage device in response to receiving a token request for a copy offload operation from a host. Creating the persistent point-in-time image includes generating pointers to data blocks of the data set, but does not include duplicating the data blocks. The method also includes transmitting a token that is a representation of the persistent point-in-time image to the host in response to the request.

Abstract: A system controls access to a group of media items. A client device is operable by a user. A media server is coupled to at least one media data source, wherein the at least one media data source stores one or more media items for supply, by the media server, to the client device over a network. An authorization server is coupled to an authorization data source. The authorization data source stores data identifying a group of media items of fixed group size N that are accessible by the user, each media item in said group having a different associated availability parameter value indicating a number of time periods M within which access to the media item is available, wherein the authorization server is arranged to authorize the media server to supply a media item to the client device if said media item belongs to the group of media items.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and publishing content are described. A content item, such as a video, having a first time length, is identified by a system to be included in a program scheduled for a first time period. The video may be hosted on a third party system. A first span of time within the first program is allocated for the video, wherein the first span of time is longer than the first time length. The system determines, prior to or at the first time period, a time difference between a current length of the video and the first span of time. At least partly in response to determining that the video has a time length shorter than the first span of time, the system selects supplemental content based at least in part of the determined time difference to be streamed to user terminals over a data network within the first time period.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may relate to handling a plurality of data transmissions from printing devices. Namely, a system may include a primary server and a secondary server. The primary server may include a primary processor and a primary storage device. The secondary server may include a secondary processor and a secondary storage device. The primary processor may be configured to receive and store a plurality of data transmissions from a corresponding plurality of printing devices. The data transmissions may be stored in an active database associated with the primary storage device. Metadata corresponding to the data transmissions may be generated. Some or all of the data transmissions may be archived as secondary data at a secondary server. The secondary data may be pre-processed to form a normalized database. In some embodiments, the metadata and/or the normalized data may be subject to search queries or statistical analysis.

Abstract: A resource delivery network and method for distributing content in the network is disclosed herein. The network comprises a plurality of servers arranged in tiers and partitioned. Each server includes a resource store with a set of resources for distribution to a successive tier. Updates to each successive tier are provided by a pull-forward client on servers in the tier. This forward propagation mechanism maximizes resource availability at edge servers in the network. Resources transmitted to the edge tier servers may be transformed, combined, and rendered without taxing lower tier servers. Transformation and pre-rendering of data can be performed by low priority CPU tasks at each layer of the system.

Abstract: A device is enabled to display Internet TV by accessing a management server and receiving back from the server a user token and a service list of predefined content servers. A user can select a content server on the service list which causes the device to upload its user token to the management server, which in turn sends back the network path to the content server along with a content server-user-unique service token (SUIT) that the device uses to access the content on the content server, in some embodiments on per-title PPV access, per-content category PPV access, or per-service PPV access.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method are disclosed for transmitting one or more videos provided by one or more video cameras disposed at a mobile object traveling along a pre-defined route. The method includes receiving the videos, bandwidth map data for multiple communication channels, travel time data for the mobile object, and service level agreement (SLA) parameters. The received video is transformed into multiple video layers. For each video layer, a transmission cost over the multiple communication channels is computed based on the bandwidth map data, the travel time data and the SLA parameters. Out of the multiple communication channels, a particular communication channel is selected for each video layer, which has the minimum transmission cost over the selected communication channel. The video layers are scheduled for transmission over the respective selected communication channels. The scheduled video layers are transmitted with respect to at least one of the SLA parameters.

Abstract: Aspects of the innovations herein are consistent with a storage system for storing variable sized objects. The storage system may be a transaction-based system that uses variable sized objects to store data. The storage system may be implemented using arrays disks that are arranged in ranks. Each rank may include multiple stripes. Each stripe may be read and written as a convenient unit for maximum performance. A rank manager may be provided to dynamically configure the ranks to adjust for failed and added disks by selectively shortening and lengthening the stripes. The storage system may include a stripe space table that contains entries describing the amount of space used in each stripe. An object map may provide entries for each object in the storage system describing the location (e.g., rank, stripe and offset values), the length and version of the object.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for a fault resilient collaborative media serving array comprising a plurality of nodes. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for creating a fault resilient collaborative media serving array where the array nodes do not share memory, the serving of a content file is accomplished by the collaborative efforts of many nodes in the array, and where there is no fixed allocation of sessions to nodes.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for improving the audio quality during a in a living-room type of environment having multimedia equipment. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the audio signals emanating from various speakers are modified/altered, so as to capture audio signals with the highest signal to noise ratio. One situation where embodiments of the present invention are usable is in the context of a video/audio call. Since the positions of the microphone and speakers are generally fixed, in some embodiments, the speaker outputs are controlled/modified to provide an improved signal-to-noise ratio. In accordance with one embodiment, the audio emanating from the central speaker is subdued or eliminated to reduce significantly the problems that occur due to the audio from the center speaker being captured by the microphone, which is typically in close proximity to the center speaker. The audio may be provided to the speakers by various ways, such as HDMI, RCA, and so on.

Abstract: A client on a packet based network is provided with a stream of encoded video data. The system is maximizes the bit-rate of the video stream by adapting to fluctuations in network capacity. Adaptation of the bit-rate of the transmitted enclosed video data is timed to occur upon a scene change in the video sequence. In this way the interruption to the viewer when the perceived quality of the video sequence increases or decreases is minimized as it is ‘hidden’ in the scene change. The technique may be applied to hierarchically encoded video data and to other encoding technique which adapt to network conditions.

Abstract: A communication system has a communication controller for multiplexing and transmitting a power supply voltage and an audio signal to be played back by a plurality of channels, and a plurality of communication adapters which start in response to reception of the multiplexed/transmitted power supply voltage, and play back the audio signal using a playback device. The communication controller includes an audio data modulation circuit configured to modulate audio data by shifting, based on a first modulation ratio, a modulation carrier clock for modulating the audio data and a data transmission rate for transmitting the audio data in order to set a command transmission frequency bandwidth, and a command data modulation circuit configured to modulate command data by shifting, based on a second modulation ratio, a modulation carrier clock for modulating the command data and a data transmission rate for transmitting the command data in the command transmission frequency bandwidth.

Abstract: An encoding method comprises generating a character map of an alphanumeric character string, identifying runs of like character type symbols in sequential positions, and removing the runs of character type symbols from the character map. The center for the center infix run is determined, and the characters of each character type are encoded into binary encoded substrings. A decoding method comprises parsing the one or more run fields in the alphanumeric header to determine a number of characters of each type of a plurality of character types represented in the binary encoded string, generating a character map having a string of character type symbols representing the binary encoded string, including determining a reduced character map, centering the character type symbols for a center infix run about the center of the reduced character map, completing a final character map, and decoding each binary encoded string.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for upgrading both hardware and software components of a digital media server without disrupting media delivery services. In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method employ an object-oriented model that allows system servers to remain fully operational while software upgrades at both the operating system and application levels are installed. Additionally, the system and method use redundant or partitionable programmable logic devices to perform firmware upgrades without disrupting media delivery services.