Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Rathe Hollingum

Min Liu

Anthony Vincent Discolo

Renaud Bordelet

Ying Wu

Lorcan Mooney

Lucian Dragne

Zhen Ma

Gunther Logemann

Wei Ning

A fast and efficient automated satellite constellation detection process can be implemented at least in part independent of in-band data in the satellite signal. The automated detection process iterates through a set of various predefined transponder settings to detect one or more accessible satellite constellations through each satellite dish connected directly or through a switch to a satellite receiver. The process determines whether the satellite receiver is able to lock onto a satellite signal at each transponder setting. Based on the combinations of which satellite constellations are available at each transponder setting, the process allocates a specific satellite constellation to each satellite dish. In one implementation, channel information can be used to further refine the detection and identification of accessible satellite constellations for each satellite dish.

Automatic detection of communications satellite

A system is disclosed for media content search and retrieval, and a virtual television channel capable of using that system. The present system may be implemented on a computing device, such as for example a media service server, and a client device, such as for example a set top box for a television system, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant or a gaming console. A first aspect of the present system relates to a media download control engine which enables a client device with limited capabilities to play media content which comes from a website in a format not supported by the client device. A second aspect of the present system may make use of the media download control engine to obtain media content and create customized virtual channels. The second aspect in particular relates to a virtual channel engine that schedules a continuous stream of content for the user, which content is selected based on topics of interest to the user.

Media content retrieval system and personal virtual channel

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Dublin, Ireland

Rathe Hollingum