Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Sony Network Entertainment International LLC

Eric Holcomb

Aran London Sadja

Leo M Pedlow, Jr

True Xiong

Leo Pedlow

Viral Mehta

Kathy Fielder

Provided are systems and methods for using an existing management server infrastructure to deliver video-on-demand or streaming content, including real-time live streaming. Existing client content playback devices, such as IPTVs, may be employed to stream content items, obtain advertisements, track user's viewing behaviors, and the like. By reusing existing client devices, there is no need for additional hardware purchases on the user side. By reusing existing management server infrastructures, capital expenses are also reduced. In such a system, a user can watch both video-on-demand and streaming audiovisual content.

System, method, and infrastructure for real-time live streaming content

Filtering contents and services streamed live to a client device, including: establishing a private relationship between a server and the client device; determining capabilities of the client device and preferences of a user of the client device; and filtering and transmitting a list of servers, services, and contents with contents and services that are at least one of: (a) preferred; and (b) capable of being presented, viewed, played, or processed on the client device. Keywords include live media stream and content filtering.

Filtering live streaming contents and services

Managing digital rights of contents and services streamed to a client device, including: receiving and validating a certificate from the client device; enabling the client device to log into and communicate with a server using a secure protocol to establish a private relationship between the client device and the server; and transmitting a resource identifier to the client device using the secure protocol when the private relationship is established.

Digital rights management of streaming contents and services

A cable television method for a cable television network involves sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box; receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; and compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Cable television viewing statistics

A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network sends a polling message to a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes; receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter; determining that one of the operational parameters is outside of a specified range of values; and aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set top boxes.

Polling cable diagnostic and monitoring system that aggregates responses from multiple terminals

A method and apparatus for obtaining and installing software updates on consumer electronics devices is described. In one embodiment, the method may include obtaining a software update for a consumer electronics (CE) device and a communications protocol for installing the software update on the CE device. The method may also include a portable device installing the software update on the CE device utilizing the communications protocol, in response to the portable device detecting a communications link between the portable device and the CE device.

System, apparatus, and method for an upgrader module

A method of auditing operation of a television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Location detector for digital television appliances

A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network consistent with certain embodiments involves sending a polling message to a plurality of modems forming a part of a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top boxes; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes; receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter of the television set top boxes; determining that one of the operational parameters from one of the television set top boxes is outside of a specified range of values; and aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes received in the response messages to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set top boxes. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Cable diagnostic and monitoring system

A method of auditing operation of a cable television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the cable television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the cable television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the cable television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Growing community of inventors

San Marcos, CA, United States of America

Eric Holcomb