Abstract:
A communication device is operable to receive broadcast information communicated by a network access device specifying one or more advertised services provided via the network access device. The communication device then determines whether to connect via the network access device based on the received information. The network access device comprises an IEEE 802.11 access point, a user end-point device, a private access point network access device, and/or a wired network routing device. The advertisement broadcast is performed via beacon signals, other broadcast messages, and/or utilizing advertisement framing procedure, wherein service related information are set directly into beacons signal messaging, and/or communicated via advertisement subframes. The advertisement communication may comprise a multi-stage procedure, where a first stage enables obtaining service related information without attachment and/or full login into the network access device. User authentication and/or validation may be performed in subsequent stages.
Abstract:
A portable control unit that interacts with a variety of types of media equipment. The control unit searches for media equipment (including media players) located within an area and retrieves user interaction information corresponding to discovered media players. The control unit can be instructed to control any of the discovered media players. The control unit uses the retrieved user interaction information to adapt. The control unit may periodically, or when relocated, look for new media players in its neighborhood. The control unit interacts with multiple multimedia sources that supply video and/or audio to the media players. The control unit may have a screen on which it displays a video in addition to controlling selection and presentation of a video and/or an audio in any one of the discovered media players. The control unit maintains an updateable media guide that provides a list of multimedia elements available for viewing and/or listening.
Abstract:
Techniques are described herein for supporting user controlled regional display of mixed two and three dimensional content. A display system includes a pixel array, a screen assembly, and a screen surface. The screen assembly and the pixel array are controlled to cause various settings for a regionally adjustable characteristic of the screen assembly to be applied to respective regions of the screen assembly. Each setting specifies a value of the regionally adjustable characteristic that is to control or affect a visual characteristic that is associated with content that is to be presented in the corresponding region. A user may provide an input signal that specifies setting(s) for the regionally adjustable characteristic with respect to specified region(s) of the screen assembly.
Abstract:
A control device that interacts with a television system. The control device may receive a user input identifying a video selection. At least one module of the control device may display video information corresponding to the video selection. The control device may alternately, or in addition, cause display of the video information on a television system. The control device may respond to a second user input identifying a storage selection by triggering storage of the video information in a storage unit corresponding to the storage selection. The control device may also receive a third user input identifying a replay request for other video information that may be selected from a plurality of stored videos. The control device may direct display of the other video information on the television system and/or on a display of the control device.
Abstract:
Systems and methods that provide satellite-based media processing are described. In one embodiment, a system that exchanges media may include, for example, a communications device that may be coupled to a network and to an antenna. The communications device may provide two-way communications with the network and may provide one-way communications with the antenna. The communications may receive media content from the antenna and/or the network. The communications device may send the media content to the network.
Abstract:
A method for allocating communication resources for communication includes, in a first communication system including a plurality of transmitters, allocating frequency and time bandwidth for communication with a second communication system; determining a first portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with the second communication system based, at least in part, on information obtained from the second communication system; and allocating the first portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. A second portion of the plurality of transmitters may be allocated for a purpose other than communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. The allocating of the second portion of the plurality of transmitters includes allocating the second portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with a third communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth.
Abstract:
Overlay to augment quality of currently playing media. The overlay operates to enhance the quality format of media so that it is output in a different quality format. As one example, when playing media content encoded in accordance with a standard definition television (SDTV) quality format, an appropriate overlay would operate to upgrade the quality format thereof to enhanced definition television (EDTV) quality format, high definition television (HDTV) quality format (or some other quality format). An appropriate overlay may also operate in accordance with audio content (e.g., upgrading a quality format of the audio content). With the advent of Blu-Ray discs (and other higher quality format discs), many individuals presently have libraries of media that are encoded with legacy/previous quality formats. An appropriate overlay that operates in conjunction with media encoded with a legacy/previous quality format allows the same content to be enjoyed in accordance with a newer/improved quality format.
Abstract:
A system and method for encoding dynamic image information for an image generated by a computer application executing on a processor. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining a first set of information describing a reference image. A second set of information may be determined for describing an image, wherein the second set of information comprises information indicative of movement between the image and the reference image. For example, a set of primary movement directions may be determined based at least in part on the computer application generating the image. Such set of primary movement directions may be utilized for analyzing the image relative to the reference images. The difference between the image and the reference image may, for example, be analyzed using at least one of the set of primary movement directions. A movement direction may, for example, be utilized to describe the image.
Abstract:
A private access point may be utilized to establish a local network that is accessible by client devices when the client devices are communicatively coupled to the private access point. The private access point is then operable to determine services that may be provided in its local network to the client devices, and to advertise these services within its local network. The services comprise network and/or data accessibility, and bandwidth availability. Private access points are also operable to utilize local and/or remote resources to provide additional services, comprising audio/video processing capability, storage, and/or processing. Offering of services in private access point networks is incentivized to the private access points and/or to client devices. Incentives comprise offering pay and/or credit to the private access points. Providing access to, blocking, limiting and/or modifying available/offered services is managed in private access point networks, based on incentives and/or availability of resources.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for automatically monitoring and controlling at least one media peripheral device in a media exchange network. A communication link is established between a media management system (MMS) and a media peripheral (MP) device in the media exchange network and an operation of the MP device is automatically selected via the MMS over the communication link. Finally, the operation of the MP device is automatically carried out (i.e., performed). Also, after establishing a communication link between a media management system (MMS) and a media peripheral (MP) device in the media exchange network, at least one status parameter of the MP device may be automatically monitored via the MMS over the communication link. The status parameter may be automatically stored and/or displayed via the MMS.