Caavo Inc

Gopinath, Vinod

Satheesh, Sharath Hariharpur

Kumar, Siddharth

Mittal, Neha

Aggarwal, Ashish

Niclavose, Bitto

Vinod K Gopinath

Ashish Dharmpal Aggarwal

Sharath Harihapur Satheesh

Bitto Niclavose

Neha Mittal

Siddharth Kumar

Nino Vincenzo Marino

Sravan Kumar Andavarapu

Amrit P Singh

Shivam Khandelwal

Karthik Shrinarsi

Sharath Hariharpur Satheesh

Andrew E Einaudi

Conrad Savio Jude Gomes

Pankaj Kashyap

Shankara Raman Sundararajan

Jayanth Manklu

Anu Godara

Nino V Marino

Vinu Joseph

Rahul D Nakhate

Shankara R Sundararajan

Embodiments described herein enable a user to share content with another user. In embodiments, a portion of the multimedia content presented by an output device (e.g., a streaming media player, a set-top box, etc.) may be selected for sharing (e.g., with one or more user(s)). Information associated with the multimedia content may be further determined (e.g., metadata, a service or source device providing the content, a time, an identification, etc.). Upon receiving a selection to share the multimedia content, a user-interactive identifier (e.g., a hyperlink) and at least one of the information and the portion of the multimedia content may be transmitted to enable the user(s) to access the content. In this manner, access to multimedia content may be easily and quickly shared with another user with relatively low user effort.

Sharing of content viewed by a user

A system is described that includes an electronic program guide (EPG) data receiver and a media content catalog enhancer. The EPG receiver is configured to receive EPG data from an EPG data provider. The media content catalog enhancer is configured to determine that an item of media content identified by the EPG data comprises new media content and, in response to determining that the item of media content identified by the EPG data comprises new media content, to cause a web crawler to crawl a source website associated with the new media content to obtain information about the new media content and to store the obtained information about the new media content in a database, the database comprising a catalog of media content that is searchable by an end user to identify and access content for playback via an end user device.

Targeted crawler to develop and/or maintain a searchable database of media content across multiple content providers

Methods for a soft universal remote (SUR) controller are performed by systems and apparatuses. Audio/visual (A/V) devices may be controlled by hardware remote controllers that are not configured to control other devices of an audio/visual system. A SUR controller implemented by an A/V device provides consumable control signals to such other devices based on control signals from the A/V device remote controller. A SUR controller determines another device for which a received control function is directed, and transmits a generated consumable control signal for the control function of the received control signal to the other device. User interfaces are provided by SUR controllers for the configuration of SUR controllers and remote controllers, and for control of other A/V devices via the user interfaces.

Soft universal remote controller

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for automatically navigating a graphical user interface (GUI) of a media device. In embodiments, objects (e.g. selectable items) in device GUI menu screens may be located, identified, and selected by another device (e.g., a switch) using several types of image processing, image recognition, and automated screen navigation techniques. For instance, a device may receive an operation request, for example from a user, receive a video signal from the connected media device, extract a video frame, process the video frame using one or more algorithms, and automatically navigate the GUI of the device by transmitting one more navigation commands for application to the GUI. In this manner, multi-step, time-consuming manual GUI navigation to achieve a desired result may be reduced to an automated technique, allowing users to save time and frustration in navigating a GUI using a remote control to find a particular resource.

Automatic screen navigation for media device configuration and control

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for automatically determining a state signature for consumer electronic device(s) coupled to a switching device and/or other devices communicatively coupled to the consumer electronic device(s). The state signature is indicative of functional state(s) in which the consumer electronic device(s) are in. Such states include a power state, a proximity state, a communication state, and/or an operational state of the consumer electronic device(s). Based on the state signature(s), the switching device may infer which of the consumer electronic device(s) the user would like to use (or is using) and cause action(s) to be performed. Such actions include automatically switching to the AV port(s) to which such consumer electronic device(s) are connected, transmitting command(s) to such consumer electronic device(s), transmitting a notification message to such consumer electronic device(s), etc.

Determining state signatures for consumer electronic devices coupled to an audio/video switch

Methods for a soft universal remote (SUR) controller are performed by systems and apparatuses. Audio/visual (A/V) devices may be controlled by hardware remote controllers that are not configured to control other devices of an audio/visual system. A SUR controller implemented by an A/V device provides consumable control signals to such other devices based on control signals from the A/V device remote controller. A SUR controller determines another device for which a received control function is directed, and transmits a generated consumable control signal for the control function of the received control signal is provided to the other device. User interfaces are provided by SUR controllers for the configuration of SUR controllers and remote controllers, and for control of other A/V devices via the user interfaces.

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for obtaining enhanced metadata for media content searches. In one embodiment, computer program logic embodies a metadata receiver and a media content metadata matcher and combiner. The metadata receiver receives program metadata for a plurality of programs from a plurality of metadata sources. The media content metadata matcher and combiner is configured to perform a matching process whereby metadata associated with each of the plurality of programs is compared to metadata of each of the other plurality of programs to determine if the compared programs are the same program and if so, to combine the metadata from each program into a single program including enhanced metadata and store such in a database. A subsequent search for a program corresponding to the stored program returns at least some of the metadata associated with the program, and that enables accessing the program.

Obtaining enhanced metadata for media content

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for an adaptive multi-protocol control of a device. A plurality of communication protocols suitable for communication with a particular device may be determined. A request may be received to control the device, such as a via a remote control, voice control, etc. A first communication protocol from among the plurality of communication protocols may be selected to transmit a first control signal. The first control signal may be transmitted to the device using the first communication protocol. In some implementations, a second communication protocol may be selected for transmitting a second control signal to the device, such as where the request may be associated with a plurality of control commands or where the device did not react to the first control signal. As a result, a device may be controlled using one or more communication protocols in an adaptive fashion.

Adaptive multi-protocol control of a media device

Embodiments described herein enable a media device to be controlled from any location via a network-based device. For example, a user, using a control device, initiates a command that identifies media content to be streamed by the media device. The command is transmitted to a proxy device coupled to the media device and a network-based device. The proxy device transmits the command to the network-based device, which translates the command into a format compatible with the media device. The translated command is transmitted to the proxy device, which transmits the translated command to the media device. The media device streams the media content based on the received translated command. Alternatively, the control device and the proxy device are integrated as a single device, which generates and transmits the command to the network-based device, receives the translated command from the network-based device, and transmits the translated command to the media device.

Network-based control of a media device

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for enhancing metadata of a recorded items of media content stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) associated with an end user. First metadata associated with the recorded item is determined from the DVR. An aired instance of the first media content is determined in program data from an electronic program guide that corresponds to the recorded item. Second metadata associated with the first media content is retrieved from at least one data source based at least on the identifying information. The first metadata and the second metadata are stored in an end user database in association with the end user.

Enhancement of metadata for items of media content recorded by a digital video recorder

Embodiments described herein enable a switching device to automatically select AV port(s) coupled to electronic device(s) that a user would like to use to watch and/or listen to content. The AV port(s) may be automatically selected based on receiving a command, determining that a particular remote control device is being used, and/or determining that a particular piece of content has been selected. Upon detection of such events, a source device for providing content is identified from among a plurality of source devices. Thereafter, an AV port from among a plurality of AV ports to which the identified source device is connected is identified. The identified AV port is then selected so that the identified source device becomes connected to an AV port to which a sink device is connected. In this way, the switching device can provide content from the identified source device to the sink device for presentation thereby.

Growing community of inventors

Bengaluru, India

Vinod K Gopinath