Time Warner Cable Inc.

Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC

Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

Ncr Corporation

Other

Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC

Advanced Digital Broadcast Holdings S.a.

Sandraic Logic, Llc.

Tranceive Technologies, Inc.

Patrick G Ladd

George W Sarosi

David De Andrade

John G Leddy

John Jason Brzozowski

Eric B Miller

Aaron James Kamienski

William Lynn Helms

Yasser Fouad Syed

Derik Yarnell

Gary L Logston

Aidan Ridley

Labeeb Ismall

Systems and methods for providing one or more secure services are disclosed. One method can comprise authenticating and/or authorizing a user device to receive a security token. A request for information can be processed using the security token to facilitate the secure provision of services to the user device.

Systems and methods for providing secure services

Methods, systems, and computing devices are described herein for request and transmission, to a computing device, of media content based on the importance of a portion of the media content. Media content may comprise baseline media content and enhancement data. Based on determining that an importance of a portion of the media content meets a threshold, the computing device may receive the enhancement data. The computing device may receive the enhancement data via a separate interface than the baseline media content. Information about baseline media content, enhancement data, and the importance of a portion of the media content may be contained in a manifest. The threshold for importance may be based on the media content, the enhancement data, an interface to be used, and/or user preferences.

Media content enhancement based on content importance

Methods and apparatus for managing display elements such as GUI windows in a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) running multiple related or unrelated applications. In one embodiment, an improved window management entity is provided within the device with which HAVi-compliant application(s) can interface in order to access display elements according to a priority structure or hierarchy. One or more privileged applications are designated and allowed to affect the priority structure, including requesting a new in-focus application to be placed atop the priority structure. The network operator can also optionally control the operation of the window manager remotely via a network agent. Improved client device and network configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for display element management in an information network

Methods, systems, and computing devices are described herein for request and transmission, to a computing device, of media content based on the importance of a portion of the media content. Media content may comprise baseline media content and enhancement data. Based on determining that an importance of a portion of the media content meets a threshold, the computing device may retrieve the enhancement data. The computing device may retrieve the enhancement data via a separate interface than the baseline media content. Information about baseline media content, enhancement data, and the importance of a portion of the media content may be contained in a manifest. The threshold for importance may be based on the media content and/or user preferences.

Methods and apparatus for control of a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using applications. In one aspect, an improved hardware registry is provided within the device with which the application(s) can interface to both identify and control available hardware resources. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box having digital video recording (DVR) capability. An application downloaded to the device discovers the registry and software interfaces associated therewith, and then utilizes the interfaces to automatically control the requisite hardware capability. Improved client device, network and head end configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for hardware registration in a network device

Methods and apparatus for perform association of stored content downloaded over a network with a unique identification. In one embodiment, the content is stored locally, and the association is performed in a secure manner using network or source-specific information (e.g., the organization identification or 'orgID' of the bearer network or MSO). This association is used to ensure that the content stored on the playback device can be accessed for viewing only when the playback device is connected to the same network from which the content was obtained. Use of the orgID allows the content association and protection functionality to be implemented in existing networks with only minor software changes.

Method and apparatus for network association of content

Methods and apparatus for logging, analysis, and reporting of events such as reboots in a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using applications. In one aspect, an improved event logging and monitoring system is provided within the device with which the application(s) can interface to record event or error data. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box having Java-enabled middleware adapted to implement the various functional aspects of the event logging system, which registers to receive event notifications (including resource exhaustion data) from other applications running on the device. The network operator can also optionally control the operation of the logging system remotely via a network agent. Improved client device and network configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for event logging in an information network

Apparatus and methods for improved software programming interface functionality in a network. In one exemplary embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable network with CPE in which network-specific programming interfaces (e.g., APIs) may be downloaded to the CPE, registered, authenticated, stored and executed in a software protocol stack implementing OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) or Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standards. The host device software comprises a 'manager' module that registers APIs identified by the OCAP Monitor Application, such that all applications launched thereafter on the device can use these communications APIs, provided they have the appropriate permission(s). This relieves individual applications from having to support details regarding network-specific protocols and APIs. In an alternate embodiment, class and data files associated with the API functionality are downloaded along with an application. The downloaded application registers the API using a modified version of the API using a description file (DF). The DF describes the class and data files provided with the application that are part of the registered API.

Apparatus and methods for implementation of network software interfaces

Methods and apparatus for extending the capabilities of a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using one or more on-demand applications. In one aspect, an improved media handling extension is provided within the device with which the various application(s) can interface to facilitate on-demand interaction between the CPE and the head end or other network entity. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box (DSTB) having Java-enabled middleware adapted to implement the OCAP/ACAP/MHP mandated Java Media Framework (JMF) APIs. A specially configured application is downloaded to the DSTB and run, the application configuring the paths within the device to provide, inter cilia, media access to the on-demand application(s) according to one or more network specific protocols. Accordingly, the network MSO can also uniquely configure the CPE within its network for on-demand capability according to its own specific protocols from the head-end. Improved client device and head-end configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

San Marcos, CA, United States of America

Patrick G Ladd