Abstract:
A system and method for routing an output signal comprising at least one channel carrying a selected program to the user selecting the selected program. Based on information relating to the user, a server inserts or substitutes, or both, remotely from the user's premises, programming other than the selected program into the channel carrying the selected program. The system transmits the other programming to the user, in addition to or in place of the selected program, for the duration of the other programming.
Abstract:
Tools and techniques for transmitting utility usage data. In some cases, the tools receive utility usage data provided by a utility meter and transmit that data for reception by a utility provider. In particular cases, the utility usage data may be received at a network interface device. The network interface device might, in some instances, include a broadband modem, such as a digital subscriber line modem, which can be used to transmit the utility usage data to the utility provider.
Abstract:
A broadband gateway, which enables communication with a plurality of devices, handles at least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding network access service provider. The broadband gateway determines network channel conditions for a requested service and identifies a user profile for a requesting device. The broadband gateway negotiates a service profile for the requested service with the at least one network access service provider based on the determined network conditions and the identified user profile. Content may be acquired and received for the requested service from the at least one network access service provider utilizing the negotiated service profile. The broadband gateway aggregates and assembles the received content. The resulting assembled content is communicated to the requesting device for the requested service. The broadband gateway may relay content among peer devices. Content conversion may be performed during the relay communication to match user profiles of subsequent peer devices.
Abstract:
A system and method for routing an output signal comprising at least one channel carrying a selected program to the user selecting the selected program. Based on information relating to the user, a server inserts or substitutes, or both, remotely from the user's premises, programming other than the selected program into the channel carrying the selected program. The system transmits the other programming to the user, in addition to or in place of the selected program, for the duration of the other programming.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for defining an optimized media path. In one exemplary method, a proxy session controller registers, for a plurality of realms, a plurality of Border Gateway Functions (BGFs) residing on a plurality of network nodes, with the registration including registering a preferred BGF colocated with a data network gateway on a single network node for a selected set of the realms. A request message is received from a user terminal, and if a realm associated with the request message is included in the selected set of realms, the controller assigns the preferred BGF to the user terminal to provide an optimized media path that includes the user terminal, the preferred BGF, and the data network gateway.
Abstract:
A method of detecting proximity between a media proxy and a client uses a proximity probe to query a plurality of media proxies, forcing the media proxies to respond to a proximity server. The proximity server uses an algorithm to determine which media proxy is closest to the client based on the responses. In an alternate embodiment, the same sorts of proximity probes may be used to determine if two media endpoints have a direct connection such that they may bypass a media proxy.
Abstract:
A gateway device, provided in a customer premises, receives a call from a user device, and detects dialed information associated with the call. The gateway device identifies the call as an emergency call based on the dialed information, and terminates all other calls communicated by the gateway device except for the emergency call. The gateway device notifies an outdoor broadband unit, associated with the customer premises, about the emergency call.
Abstract:
A method for establishing a pairing between a hazard detector and an online account may include instantiating an application on a mobile computing device and receiving a first code from a central server. The application may receive a second code from printed material associated with the hazard detector. The hazard detector may broadcast a Wi-Fi access point, and the application may join the Wi-Fi access point. The application can be authenticated by the hazard detector using the second code, and the application can receive an identity of a home Wi-Fi network from a user. The application can then transmit the identity of the home Wi-Fi network to the hazard detector. The hazard detector can use the home Wi-Fi network to access the Internet and transmit the first code to the central server, where the central server can use the first code in completing the pairing process.
Abstract:
Aspects of a method and system for managing power consumption utilizing inter-gateway communication are provided. In this regard, a first broadband gateway residing in a first location may determine past, present, and/or expected power consumption of the first location. The gateway may receive, from one or more other broadband gateways residing in one or more other locations, information that enables determining past, present, and/or expected power consumption of the other location(s). The gateway may control power consumption of the first location by controlling a state of operation of devices residing in the first location. The gateway may determine aggregate power consumption of the first location and the other location(s). The gateway may control power consumption of the first location by enabling operation of one or more devices during periods of lower aggregate power consumption and disabling operation the devices during periods of higher aggregate power consumption.
Abstract:
A method for operating a telephony server in a home network is provided, comprising: receiving a first registration action from a first telephony control point in the home network, the first registration action including an identification of a first user within a first telephony control point; supplying a first authentication identifier to the first telephony control point, wherein the first authentication identifier is bound to both the first telephony control point and the first user; receiving an invoked action granting a telephony action from the first telephony control point, wherein the invoked action includes an authentication identifier; determining if the authentication identifier received in the invoked action matches the authentication identifier bound to the user which the telephony action involves; and executing the telephony action if the authentication information received in the invoked action matches the authentication identifier bound to the user which the telephony action involves.