Abstract:
A method of determining a current orientation of an antenna compared to a desired orientation is presented. In the method, current orientation data indicating a current orientation of the antenna is generated in circuitry mounted to the antenna. Data indicating a desired orientation for the antenna at the geographical location of the antenna is received. The desired orientation data is compared with the current orientation data. Based on this comparison, alignment information is generated which indicates whether the current orientation of the antenna aligns with the desired orientation of the antenna.
Abstract:
Various embodiments reduce disruptions in recorded programming, by automatically recording retransmissions of prior programming. In one embodiment, a recording manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The recording manager detects a disruption in a recorded program. In response, the recording manager automatically records, or schedules a recording of, a later transmission of the same program.
Abstract:
Various embodiments facilitate foreign language instruction. In one embodiment, a foreign language tutor is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The foreign language tutor facilitates language instruction by enabling a user to view a received program in various languages, even though those languages may not be part of the audio or subtitles of the received program. In particular, the user may view the received program with an audio track in his/her native language and a subtitle track in a foreign language, or vice versa. In addition, the foreign language tutor is configured to obtain and display reference information (e.g., a dictionary definition) for a word of a subtitle track.
Abstract:
Systems and methods may provide for setting a timer via an interactive trigger. The interactive trigger may be combined with a video stream and detected when the video stream is to be displayed. Based on the detection, a selectable display object associated with the interactive trigger may be displayed with the display of the video stream. Selection of the selectable display object may enable a timer to be set based on the interactive trigger. The timer enabled by the interactive trigger may be a recording timer, an auto-tune timer or a reminder timer.
Abstract:
Parental control settings may be managed between multiple entertainment devices, such as digital televisions (DTVs). A system (100) includes a first entertainment device (102) and a second entertainment device (104). The first entertainment device is configured to selectively block content based on a first set of parental control settings (220), and the second entertainment device configured to selectively block content based on a second set of parental control settings (222). The first entertainment device and the second entertainment device may selectively exchange information (226) to modify the parental control settings of the devices.
Abstract:
A programming communication synchronizer (100) embodiment communicates a portion of a program to a receiving device (118) during a first time period, communicates a corresponding portion of the program to a mobile device (140) during a second time period, and coordinates the first time period with the second time period so that the portion of the program is deliverable to a presentation device (120) coupleable to the receiving device at approximately the same time the corresponding portion of the program is deliverable to the mobile device (140).
Abstract:
Described herein are systems and methods for securing transmission of content from a smart card in a host television receiver to a client television receiver. The smart card can receive the encrypted content stream from the television service provider, decrypt the content stream with the global network key, identify the client television receiver as the destination of the content stream, generate a unique key specific to the content stream, encrypt the unique key with a local key known to the client television receiver, encrypt the content stream with the unique key, and transmit the encrypted content stream along with the encrypted unique key to the client television receiver. The client television receiver can then receive the encrypted content stream and the encrypted unique key, decrypt the unique key, decrypt the content stream with the unique key, and transmit the content stream to a display device of the client television receiver.
Abstract:
Various arrangements for restricting mobile device usage are presented. A mobile device may collect movement and location sensor data. The mobile device may determine it is being operated within a moving vehicle based on the sensor data. The mobile device may use interaction data indicative of a user's interactions with the mobile device while the mobile device is being operated within the operating vehicle. An in-vehicle mobile device usage profile may be created based on the sensor data and the collected user interaction data. The in-vehicle mobile device usage profile may be analyzed to determine that a user of the mobile device is currently an operator of the moving vehicle. In response to determining that the user of the mobile device is currently the operator of the moving vehicle, access to one or more functions of the mobile device may be restricted.
Abstract:
A method for operating a programming receiver is provided. The method displays, by the programming receiver, a sequence of recorded video content comprising a video presentation and a plurality of segments of interstitial content; receives, at the programming receiver, a command to skip one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content; and presents a screen comprising a picture advertisement for the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content, the screen requesting confirmation to skip the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content in the sequence.
Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network using a RS-DVR system involves receiving, at the RS-DVR system, a request for a portion of the media content from a media player on a client device via the network, receiving, at the RS-DVR system, the portion of the media content from an origin server on the network, buffering the portion of the media content at the RS-DVR system, and transmitting the portion of the media content to the media player on the client device. The portion of media content may be transmitted using a modified transport layer protocol, and in some embodiments, marked as non-cacheable.