Abstract: An information processing method in a content viewing system that includes: a first display apparatus and a second display apparatus configured to communicate with each other via a home network, receive and reproduce contents of a content distribution service from a server on a network; and a mobile terminal configured to communicate with each of the display apparatus, includes: a first step of obtaining account information, which the mobile terminal has, from the mobile terminal by the first display apparatus, the account information being associated with the content distribution service; a second step of transferring the account information to the second display apparatus by the first display apparatus; and a third step of receiving the contents from the server by using the account information by the second display apparatus to reproduce the contents.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session, in which a group watching session for presentation of a media content item is initiated at a first participant device and a second participant device; a segment of the media content item for which the presentation of the media content item is to be synchronized at the first participant device and the second participant device is identified; a viewing progress of the media content item at the first participant device is determined to be different from a viewing progress of the media content item at the second participant device; and in response to the determining, the viewing progress at the first and second participant devices is synchronized for the presentation of the identified segment.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for systems and methods that can be used to operate a media transmission network. In at least one embodiment, the media transmission network comprises a plurality of media processing devices configured to receive and process media streams based on control data. The media transmission network also comprises a controller coupled to the plurality of media processing devices and configured to generate a control signal for some or all of the media processing devices in the network. The controller is configured to determine the timing at which to transmit the control signal to a respective media processing device in order for the instructions in the control signal to be executed at the same time as the media data is received. The controller determines the transmission timing of each control signal by determining the latencies and delays of the network and the devices, such as, for example, network latency, processing delay, and/or control delay.

Abstract: A portable media content device for providing media content to remote devices external to a home network, the portable media content device may include a processor in communication with a memory configured to maintain media content, and a transceiver. The processor may be configured to recognize a home network provided at a first location, instruct the transceiver to transmit a media request to an in-home media recorder connected to the home network and at the first location, receive, in response to the media request, media content from the media recorder and to store the media content in the memory.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, accessing adaptive streaming information for a multimedia content segment, determining available access bandwidths for a plurality of video tracks and a plurality of audio tracks identified by the adaptive streaming information, selecting one of a plurality of candidate track pairings identified by the adaptive streaming information based on the available access bandwidths, obtaining video content of the multimedia content segment via a video track of the selected track pairing, and obtaining audio content of the multimedia content segment via an audio track of the selected track pairing. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method for service registration in a communications network. The method includes receiving a service registration request, the request identifying a network function to provide a service, a type of the service, and data administered by the service provided by the network function; and storing information in a repository, the information identifying the network function, the type of the service and the data administered by the service provided by the network function.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for content fragmentation, distribution, protection, and re-constitution within a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods enable distribution of content fragments to edge nodes (which may include user or subscriber CPE), thereby enabling edge networks or membership groups to be established wherein content can be shared solely at the edge. In one variant, high data bandwidth, symmetric uplink/downlink, low latency PHY links (e.g., 5G NR-compliant wireless interfaces) between the edge nodes participating in the edge networks or membership groups are used such that particular quality of service/experience performance requirements can be met. Distribution of the fragments also advantageously enhances redundancy and security.

Abstract: A method and device for providing live adaptive bitrate (ABR) video to a client device using a multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy is disclosed. The method includes responsive to the client device tuning to a channel or requesting a change in profile for the channel, requesting from a distribution server a burst of video fragments for the channel using a selected profile, the burst of video fragments to be delivered via unicast; responsive to the burst being completed, requesting to join a multicast for the channel, the multicast using the selected profile; and providing video for the channel to the client device via unicast using the selected profile.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for handling uplink data traversing a backhaul in a Radio Access Network (RAN). Uplink data received at access nodes of the RAN is processed by processing functions separate from the access nodes. The processing functions provide processed data for use, by further nodes, in decoding of the information transmitted from client devices. Processing can include one or more of: regenerating uplink signals, requantizing signals, and selecting a portion of received data to forward. A scheduler which controls various access nodes and processing functions concurrently with issuance of uplink grants is also provided.

Abstract: A dynamic content delivery service inserts users into groups based on when they access the service and/or known user interests, and the group provides reactions to videos or other content served to the group. Action rules determine what happens to the group as they interact with the service. For example, based on group reactions at specific time points, some or all users in the group can be switched to a new video or multiple different new videos. User reactions to content can be used to determine where to route the user when action rules indicate they should be redirected.

Abstract: An example computing system is configured to receive a first indication that a zone player is available for media play back; transmit, to a client station installed with a media-playback application for a cloud-based media service, a second indication that the zone player is available for play back of media from the cloud-based media service; receive a third indication that the zone player has been selected to play back media from the cloud-based media service; provide a remote playback queue that is associated with the zone player and the client station, where the remote playback queue includes data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back; and based on receiving the third indication, transmit (i) an instruction for the zone player to accept playback responsibility for the remote playback queue and (ii) data for retrieving a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service.

Abstract: A multimedia server receives a plurality of programs of a multimedia source. The multimedia server includes a tuning module to receive the plurality of programs and to select a set of programs from the plurality of programs based on a set of program select commands that is derived from select requests. A program mixer mixes the set of programs into a stream of program data. One or more transceiving modules transmit the stream of program data on to corresponding communication paths and receive the select requests. A client module produces the select requests for one or more clients. The client module includes a selection module to produce at least one of the select requests. A network interface controller transmits at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and receives the stream of program data via the communication path or paths in response.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cross-protocol time synchronization may comprise, for example, in a premises-based network: receiving, by a network controller located at a root node in the premises, signals that conform to one or more first communications protocol; bridging said received signals to conform to a second communications protocol different from the one or more first communications protocol; and communicating said bridged signals to one or more networked devices within said premises-based wired network, wherein only signals conforming to said second communications protocol are concurrently communicated in a frequency range that is independent of frequency range limitations of the one or more first communications protocol and of the second communications protocol, and that is limited only by a frequency range of wiring in the premises-based network. One of the signals conforming to the one or more first communications protocol comprises a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for streaming content to an access network in an interactive information distribution system. The method encapsulates the content in accordance to an Internet Protocol (IP). The content is then transcoded into a format supported by the access network, and streamed over a distribution network to a remote server or to a subscriber terminal that is coupled to the access network. The apparatus is embodied as stream caching server for streaming the content encapsulated within the packet to access networks via a stream distribution network in response to a request for content. A packet processor is coupled to the stream server for processing the encapsulated content within the IP packets into a format native to the access network.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a multiplexing device includes: a packet generating unit which generates one or more third packets based on at least one of one or more first packets and a second packet; a main signal generating unit which generates from the third packets a main signal; an information generating unit which generates transmission multiplexing control information; a slot generating unit which generates a slot by combining the transmission multiplexing control information and the main signal corresponding to the information described in the transmission multiplexing control information having been generated a predetermined number of frames prior to the currently generated transmission multiplexing control information; and a time writing unit which writes a time in the second packet in the main signal included in the generated slot.

Abstract: Method and devices for optimizing wireless network connections in transportation vehicles are provided. An onboard computing device in a transportation vehicle identifies blackout area with severe wireless signal interference caused by nearby wireless access points in the blackout area. The wireless interference can be remedied by dynamically switching wireless channel for the in-vehicle wireless connection between the onboard computing device and a mobile device in the vehicle. The wireless interference can also be remedied by pre-caching the data needed for a content presentation during a time period when the vehicle travels within the blackout area.

Abstract: A testing system that provides a separate set of virtualization container probes for each of at least a subset of devices that is under testing can perform Wifi Layer 2 and Wifi Layer 3 tests in a manner that minimizes or avoids wireless interference is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.

Abstract: A host device to pair with a modular device includes an environmental data collection system to provide motion data, and a data analysis circuit to filter the motion data to provide motion information. The data analysis circuit further to detect anomalies in the motion data to provide anomaly data. The host device further including a pairing system to determine whether the host device is proximate to the modulate device based on a comparison of the motion information with received motion information from the modular device. The pairing circuit is further to pair with the modular device responsive to a match between a key and a received key from the modular device. The host device further including a key generator to generate the key based on a comparison between the anomaly data and received anomaly data from the modular device responsive to a determination that the modular device is proximate.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide loop detection and loop prevention mechanisms for messaging passing in between peers in a multi-tier hierarchy. In some embodiments, the messaging header is modified to track which peers have received a copy of the message. Each peer appends its identifier to the message header before passing the message to another peer. When selecting a receiving peer, the sending peer ensures that the receiving peer is not already identified in the message header. If the receiving peer has already received the message, then another peer from a next-peer list is selected to receive the message. If all peers in the next-peer have been traversed, the sending peer returns an error message via a reverse traversal of the peers in the message header.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment provides an efficient method and architecture that allows the transmission of at least two different data services with different quality of service (QOS) and source encoding for the IEEE 802.11.ax-HEW (and beyond, 802.11ax+) Wi-Fi systems/networks. An exemplary embodiment capitalizes on the behavior of spatial modulation (SM-OFDM) transmission techniques to allow, for example, using different channel encoding rates for each category/service of data.

Abstract: A 5 GHz wireless stereo sound system having a transmitter and a receiver; the transmitter and the receiver are wirelessly connected via a 5 GHz signal. The 5 GHz wireless stereo sound system wirelessly transmits on a 5.2/5.8 GHz frequency in 24-bit/48K digital only, thereby avoiding interference from wireless devices that transmit on 2.4 GHz frequency band (including Bluetooth and personal area networks), infrared devices and so forth, thus solving the problems of mutual interference between conventional wireless devices and instability of signal transmission, thereby ensuring transmission stability.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for simulating a traditional television experience with streamed on-demand content. Streamed content may be buffered to allow a user to preview content even when the content is not organized in a traditional numbered channel format. A user may progress through a series of content items (e.g. simulated channel up/down) in order to preview the on-demand content without having to unduly wait for each content item to load and/or buffer.

Abstract: Supplemental digital content is provided to be played in synchronization with primary digital content on a media device, such as a television, handheld device, smart phone, computer, and so forth. The supplemental digital content is timed to a long-form version of the primary content and is then synchronized based upon a linearized content (e.g., broadcast) schedule of the long-form content with populated pods.

Abstract: A method and system for filtering content streamed over HLS and other streaming technologies are disclosed. A Streaming Filtering Solution may generate a content map for a movie or other content, identifying filterable elements associated with vulgarity, sex/nudity, violence, etc. A filterable element may identify a category and subcategory of content (e.g., “vulgarity”: “f---” word), a begin time and end time, and other characteristics. The Streaming Filtering Solution may generate media segment files based on the filterable elements. The Streaming Filtering Solution may obtain a filter with categories and sub-categories of content to exclude or retain when the content is played. When content is requested, the Streaming Filtering Solution may apply the filter to the media segment files to determine that some media segment files should be dynamically generated based on the filter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for transmitting media resources. The method includes: obtaining related information of media resources on a media server (101); sending an instruction message including the related information of the media resources to a telephony server, wherein the instruction message instructs the telephony server to perform session negotiation with a communication peer according to the related information of the media resources to establish a first multimedia session (102); obtaining information of a communication interface used by the telephony server to receive the media resources (103); sending an instruction message according to the information of the communication interface, wherein the instruction message instructs the media server to send the media resources to the telephony server, so that the telephony server transmits the media resources to the communication peer through the first multimedia session (104).

Abstract: A coupling device for use in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network may be configured to disable an upstream path through it when there is only noise incident on the upstream path, and enable the upstream path through it when a desired transmission from a cable modem downstream of the coupling device is incident on the upstream path. The coupling device may be a trunk amplifier, a distribution amplifier, a splitter, or the like. The coupling device may comprise a single upstream interface coupled to a plurality of downstream interfaces. The enabling and/or disabling may be in response to a signal strength indicated by the SSI being below a threshold and/or in response to one or more control messages indicating whether any downstream cable modem is, or will be, transmitting.

Abstract: System and method for providing a probabilistic order of tiles relative to a current section of a video that a user is viewing. A cache implementation uses this ordering to decide what tiles to evict from the cache, i.e. which tiles will probably not be accessed within a particular timeframe, but not when to evict (this is up to the cache implementation). A cache implementation can also use the prioritized list of the present embodiment to pre-fetch tiles.

Abstract: Different data communication architectures receive a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, for consumers. The architectures employ channel bonding to deliver more bandwidth than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures receive distributed video programming in the form of MPEG2 TS packets, flagged by marker packets. Channel bonding synchronization information may be present in packets defined above the data-link layer or received in fields within data-link layer frames.

Abstract: System and method for providing a probabilistic order of tiles relative to a current section of a video that a user is viewing. A cache implementation uses this ordering to decide what tiles to evict from the cache, i.e. which tiles will probably not be accessed within a particular timeframe, but not when to evict (this is up to the cache implementation). A cache implementation can also use the prioritized list of the present embodiment to pre-fetch tiles.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device interposed in a network path between a source and a receiver, video optimized for a wired network link located between the source and the network device, identifying the receiver as a wireless device, optimizing the video for wireless transmission, and transmitting the video optimized for wireless transmission to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of verifying a blackout event is disclosed that includes receiving blackout event data from an event log database of a video distribution platform at a subscriber event transmission interface (SETI) communicating with an electronic data warehouse (EDW) system. The method also includes creating at least one EDW load-ready file that includes at least a portion of the blackout event data.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for transmission of multiple data streams from a mobile device to a network. In an embodiment, the system includes a multipath wireless router configured to provide a plurality of network connections including cellular, satellite, or wired Ethernet. An encoding module provided on the mobile device is configured to encode high volume data (e.g. high definition video) recorded by the mobile device into multiple data streams in dependence on the number of network connections available for transmission via the multipath wireless router. The encoding module provided on the mobile device transmits the multiple data streams to the wireless router using Wi-Fi to provide a local, short-hop, high capacity network connection. The plurality of network connections available via the multipath wireless router provides the necessary capacity and reliability to transmit a high volume of data, such as high definition video, virtually live.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of streaming video content from a server to a client over a channel via a network. Video content is offered as a set of consecutive fragments, each fragment of said set of consecutive fragments being offered in a plurality of quality levels corresponding to respective encoded data rates. The method comprises a session of transmitting one or more of requests for fragments and receiving via the network one or more replies to the requests containing fragments with target quality levels at said client. These fragments are displayed at said client. At a capture node requests and/or replies to the requests of the session are captured. The captured data is used to reconstruct at least part of the session as experienced (QoE) at the client.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is enhanced to allow for low-latency channel surfing and to enable a user to quickly see the content carried over a selected channel while searching channels for desired content. The techniques for reducing the channel change latency may be implemented in a transmitter, receiver, or in a combination of transmitter and receiver. The wireless communication system is optionally a DVB-H communication system. The transmitter may generate and transmit one or more auxiliary channels, where each auxiliary channel contains reduced resolution content corresponding to one or more channels. The receiver may process the one or more auxiliary channels to present the reduced resolution content while processing the full resolution channel for display. The receiver caches portions of content from one or more non-selected channels and presents the cached content when the channel is selected while concurrently searching and processing the full resolution channel content.

Abstract: Different data communication architectures receive a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, for consumers. The architectures employ channel bonding to deliver more bandwidth than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures receive distributed video programming in the form of MPEG2 TS packets, flagged by marker packets. Channel bonding synchronization information may be present in packets defined above the data-link layer or received in fields within data-link layer frames.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting a QoS in a portable communication system are provided. The method includes, when using a high quality video communication service, sending a request for the high quality video communication service to a destination terminal using a Circuit Service Data (CSD) channel, receiving a reply message to the high quality video communication service request and, when the reply message is an acceptance of an execution of the high quality video communication service, disconnecting the CSD channel and then connecting a Packet Service Data (PSD) channel, and providing the high quality video communication service using the PSD channel.

Abstract: A system includes a signal-processing engine configured to generate a video data stream including a plurality of data packets based on a received video signal. A first subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of content having a first quality and all of the plurality of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having a second quality. The second quality is higher than the first quality. The signal-processing engine is further configured to distinguish the first subset of the plurality of data packets from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by applying a tag to particular data packets to form tagged data packets. The system also includes a transmitter coupled to the signal-processing engine and configured to transmit the plurality of data packets of the video data stream.

Abstract: A method includes displaying content on a television, detecting a personal display device in proximity of the television, detecting a selection of content displayed on the television, detecting an instruction associated with the selection, displaying, based on the instruction, information associated with the selection on the personal display device and displaying on the television an alert indicating that the information associated with the selection is on the personal display device.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving apparatus capable of changing a layout of broadcast and communication content items includes: a communication content item receiving unit receiving the communication content item distributed through communication; a broadcast content item receiving unit receiving the broadcast content item; a plane for holding a picture of a broadcast video represented by the broadcast content item, and a picture of a communication video represented by the communication content item; a layout information obtaining unit obtaining layout information indicating a layout of the broadcast and communication videos; and a superimposing unit superimposing the picture of the broadcast video and the picture of the communication video held in the plane, according to the layout information for each set of the pictures, and outputting an image in which the picture of the broadcast video and the picture of the communication video are superimposed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cross-protocol time synchronization may comprise, for example, in a premises-based network, receiving, by a root node network controller in the premises, signals that conform to one or more first communications protocols, where the signals may be received from sources external to the premises. The received signals may be bridged to conform to a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol. The bridged signals may be communicated to one or more networked devices within the premises-based wired network, where only signals conforming to the second communications protocol may be concurrently communicated in at least two frequencies, a first in a frequency range of the first communications protocol and a second in a frequency range of the second communications protocol, the frequency range used by the first communications protocol being different from and not overlapping with the frequency range used by the second communications protocol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a TV box, where the TV box is connected to a display via lined connection or wireless connection, and the TV box includes a control unit, a network interface circuit and an output unit. The control unit connects to a first external server and an audio/video source via the network interface circuit, the control unit obtains a channel list from the first external server, and obtain audio/video information from the audio/video source by referring to a user inputted command and the channel list, where contents of the channel list is allowed to be edited by a user, and the control unit transmits the audio/video information to the display via the output unit.

Abstract: Personal content server apparatus and associated methods that allow a user (e.g., cable or satellite network subscriber) to access content, such as a video program, from a location outside the subscriber's network. In one embodiment, a personal content server streams the content to the subscriber over a network connection from the local e.g., (subscription) network to a remote network upon authorization by a content manager process. Various access, business or operational rules are applied depending on the content and delivery mode; e.g., to live video broadcast, video-on-demand (VOD), or archived content from the subscriber's digital video recorder (DVR) or networked PVR. In another variant, reservation information (for example program or asset ID information) is cached at a headend or hub server, thereby obviating the subscriber (or the network) having to access the subscriber's premises device. In yet another variant, a “virtual” CPE experience is provided for the remote user.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device including: a cable port to which an external device is connected; a reading unit that reads identification information from the external device; a determination unit that determines whether the external device is the source-side wireless communication device; an authentication memory unit that performs an authentication process with the source-side wireless communication device; a wireless communication unit that performs a wireless communication with the source-side wireless communication device; and a physical address processing unit that controls the source-side wireless communication device to store a physical address of a source-side device calculated based on from the read identification information of the sink-side device.

Abstract: The invention relates to which source of multimedia information a user can and may access through a number of devices like gateways, servers, media controllers and presentation devices like AV systems, remote commanders, cell phones, media players e.g. an IPod and alike. The access is considered to be multilayer access principle through a chain of media devices from the source, via gateways and destination devices up to a personal handheld portable device in front of the user. The access control method to be used in a multiuser and multi domain environment.

Abstract: A source rate associated with a video bit stream (112) and a channel (140) rate associated with an LTE environment can be identified. The video bit stream (112) can be a Scalable Video Codec (SVC) of an H.264/MPEG4 Advanced Video Coding. The channel (140) rate can be associated with one or more segment bandwidth (142) rates. An enhancement path from an enhancement profile (332) associated with the SVC can be determined. The enhancement profile (332) can include one or more cumulative source rates and an associated enhancement options. The enhancement options can be a frame quantity, frame size, and a frame quality (122, 124, 126). The enhancement path can be a subset of nodes of the enhancement graph (400). The channel (140) rate can be matched to a cumulative source rate to a node within the enhancement path. One or more Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) units (144) with the appropriate enhancement values can be conveyed.

Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises a reception unit that receives a reception signal from a metal cable and extracts reception data; a transmission unit that sends a transmission signal obtained by modulating transmission data with a frequency included in a first frequency band to the metal cable; an interference signal detection unit that detects a signal used in communication using a cable modem, modulated by a frequency included in a second frequency band, and transmitted over the metal cable as an interference signal; and a signal transmission control unit that instructs the transmission unit to modulate transmission data using a frequency included in a third frequency band that does not have any frequency band overlapping the second frequency band when the interference signal is detected and a frequency band overlapping both the first frequency band and the second frequency band exists.

Abstract: A user recovers and records multiple programs communicated simultaneously using a communications channel, e.g., QAM communications channel. The simultaneous communication may be by communicating, e.g., an MPEG-2 transport stream including data corresponding to multiple programs through a corresponding to QAM communications channel. Thus a user device, e.g., a set top box, is able to receive and record programs corresponding to multiple simultaneously broadcast programs using a single tuner. This allows a device to receive and record or display more programs at any given time, than the number of QAM tuners and/or receivers in the user device. Novel user interface features which facilitate a user's ability to identify and record multiple programs corresponding to a QAM channel are also described. Methods and apparatus for determining program to communication channel mappings based on user program recordation information are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a digital communication between the embedded cable modem (eCM) and embedded set-top box (eSTB) via a shared memory. The communication is carried out by packet transfer mechanism as per the protocol without adding any extra header overhead. The communication link is established between the eSTB and eCM mainly in layer 2 and partly in layer 1 according to an implementation of the OSI model. Further, eSTB is used as an eSAFE device coupled to eCM where the eCM and eSTB are considered to be placed on two SoCs with a separate CPU to each SoC (System-On-Chip) with a shared memory (via high speed data bus protocol). DMA (Direct Memory Access) engines are used to accelerate data transfer and to reduce load. DMA of only eCM, SoC is used to minimize hardware resources.