Abstract:
Systems and methods for determining access to a home automation system may include receiving a command from a user to perform a home automation function, and determining a privilege for the user, which may be based on the location of the user. The methods may include comparing the command and the user privilege to an authorization list, where the authorization list defines system access to perform home automation functions based at least on individual commands and associated privileges. The methods may also include determining whether to allow the user access to the home automation system to perform the commanded home automation function.
Abstract:
Systems and methods that graphically present a virtual environment are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment receives a request from an electronic device an owner or a guest to present the owner's virtual environment that includes a virtual bookshelf case with a personal virtual digital video disc (DVD) collection of the owner that includes a plurality of virtual DVDs located on a virtual bookshelf case; communicate data corresponding to the owner's virtual environment that includes first data used to render an image of the virtual bookshelf case of the owner, second data used to render images of the plurality of individual virtual DVDs that are included in the owner's personal virtual DVD collection, and third data corresponding to a virtual object; and present a graphical representation of the virtual bookshelf case, the plurality of virtual DVDs on at least one shelf of the virtual bookshelf case, and the virtual object.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for placeshifting data. An exemplary method of transmitting data from a source device to a destination device over a first communications channel involves identifying interference with transmission of the data from the source device to the destination device and initiating operation of a third device on a second communications channel after identifying the interference, wherein the operation of the third device is configured to mitigate the interference with the data transmission over the first communications channel.
Abstract:
Systems, devices and methods are provided to support multiple audio tracks in an adaptive media stream. Segments of the adaptive stream are encoded so that the player is able to locate and request a specific one of the available audio tracks using byte range requests or the like. Audio content can be removed from video segments, or at least moved to the end of the segments so that a byte range request obtains just the video content when the default audio is not desired. The audio content can be obtained from a separate audio segment. Indeed, multiple audio tracks can be packaged into a common audio segment so that byte range requests can obtain just the particular audio track desired.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for producing and displaying an enhanced program guide may include a method including identifying each channel viewed by a user over a period of time at an electronic device. The method may include storing data associated with each channel viewed, and may include producing a list of each channel viewed with the electronic device. The produced list may be ordered from most watched channel to least watched channel. The method may also include receiving a command at the electronic device to display an electronic program guide, and may still include incorporating at least a portion of the list into the electronic program guide at the electronic device for display.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are operable to retrieve at least a portion of a missed media content event. An exemplary embodiment detects an occurrence of a failed recording of at least a portion of a media content event of interest; transmits a notification of the detected occurrence of the failed recording of the at least the portion of the media content event of interest from a media device to a replacement content device; and receives, at the media device, at least a portion of missed media content corresponding to at least the portion of the media content event of interest that failed to record.
Abstract:
An RJ-45 insertion and extraction tool is disclosed that allows a user to plug and unplug an RJ-45 connector from an RJ-45 socket in a quick and easy way that does not disturb other cables plugged into adjacent sockets.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are operable to record a media content event at a media device. An exemplary embodiment grabs a series of subsequently received image frames from the media content event that is being recorded after a monitored real time reaches a closing credits monitor time, wherein the closing credits monitor time is a recording end time less a predefined duration. The embodiment then analyzes each of the image frames to identify an occurrence of text presented in the analyzed image frame, determines that the identified text corresponds to closing credits of the media content event if the at least one attribute of the identified text matches a corresponding predefined closing credits attribute, and initiates an end of the recording of the media content event in response to determining that the identified text corresponds to the closing credits of the media content event.
Abstract:
A computing device is programmed to receive one or more parameters providing characteristics of media data. The computing device compares the parameters with characteristics of segments of a first item of media content. Based on the comparison, the computing device selects segments to be included in a second item of media content. The selected segments are assembled in a sequence based on indexes associated with the respective segments.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are operable to recommend media content events with a personalized user incentive. An exemplary embodiment generates a media content event recommendation banner that is concurrently presentable with a presented electronic program guide (EPG), wherein the media content event recommendation banner includes at least one identifier of a recommended media content event and at least one personalized user incentive that is configured to be selected by the user.