Methods for hosting online video games are provided. The method includes generating a plurality of video frames and initiating a sending of each one of the plurality of video frames to a client. Each of the video frames that is sent is compressed. Then, stopping the compression and sending of video frames when one of the plurality of video frames is taking longer than a frame time to compress and send. A frame time is defined as one over a frame rate, and wherein stopping the compression of video frames includes ignoring the video frames by an encoder. The method includes continuing to compress and send audio data to the client when one or more of the plurality of video frames are not sent to the client. The client is configured to display a received video frame for more than one frame time when a video frame is not received.

A computer-implemented method for online game streaming includes receiving a request from a remote client to access a user account. The request is received at a hosting service that includes one or more servers and identifies digital content including video games available to the user. Selection of a video game is received by the hosting service from the remote client. In response, the hosting service initiates a data rate test of the remote client to identify a maximum available data rate available between the remote client and one or more servers of the hosting service. The data rate test is performed to identify an active data rate for streaming interactive content of the video game. The method also includes assigning the remote client to a server and setting the compression level to attain the active data rate having packet loss and latency that is within a predefined acceptable level.

An optical line terminal that includes an activation mechanism.

Methods for hosting low-latency streaming interactive audio/video (A/V) include executing one or more video games or applications on a server communicatively coupled to a data network. Packet streams are received from a plurality of users and routed to the one or more video games. The packet streams include user control input that are used to compute A/V data in response. The A/V data are received from the video games or applications. Portions of the A/V data are compressed in parallel using processing units resulting in low-latency streaming compressed A/V data. The low-latency streaming compressed A/V data are routed to each of the users over a corresponding data network communication channel. The executing of video games, receiving of packet streams and A/V data, compressing portions of the A/V data and routing the compressed A/V data are performed with a latency such that at least one user has the perception that the controlled video game is responding instantly.

Computer-implemented methods for hosting online video games are provided. One method includes generating a plurality of video frames. The method includes initiating a sending of each one of the plurality of video frames to a client. Each of the video frames that is sent is compressed. The method includes stopping the compression and sending of video frames when one of the plurality of video frames is taking longer than a frame time to compress and send. A frame time is defined as one over a frame rate, and wherein stopping the compression of video frames includes ignoring said video frames by an encoder. The method includes continuing to compress and send audio data to the client when one or more of said plurality of video frames are not sent to the client.

A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, set-top boxes are located in respective rooms at a hospitality establishment. The set-top boxes are joined in network communication with environmental amenities, such as lights and a thermostat that respectively control lighting and temperature. The set-top boxes utilize an unoccupied room profile and occupied room profile to set the environmental conditions, such as lighting and temperature, in the rooms. A guest preference profile may be activated within a room to provide guest-specific environmental conditions in the room associated with the guest.

A system and method are described for an online game service. One method includes receiving a request from a client device interacting with a game application. The request is received by a server of the online game service. Then, receiving a control signal from the client device in response to an input made when interacting with the game application. The control signal is transmitted over a communication channel between the client device and the server. Executing a game associated with the game application by the server to generate a video stream comprising a sequence of images. Compressing the sequence of images of the application in accordance with a compression process to generate a compressed sequence of images using a compression resource used by said server and at least one other server of said online game service. The compression resource includes compression hardware or hardware running software that handles the compression of sequences of images for each of the servers executing games for the online game service. A state of each compressing operation processed for each of the servers is stored to enable the compression resource to take input from at least two of the servers and switch context of taking said input from among the two or more servers as the compression resource cycles taking input from among said respective two or more servers. And, sending respective compressed sequences of images to the client device or other client devices using the online game service via outbound routing that processes output of said compression resource.

A method by which a streaming interactive video user session is handed off from one streaming interactive video server to another without noticeable disruption to the video stream or the user interactivity.

A method for determining the magnitude of leakage in a subscriber's premises CATV installation; a frequency multiplexer for coupling between an antenna and a receiver for the multiplexed frequencies; and, a method for a technician to certify a CATV subscriber's premises for the provision of CATV services are disclosed.

Methods for hosting and operating a service and systems are provided. One method includes executing one or more video games on one or more servers of a hosting service. The one or more video games are played or used by one or more users on one or more client devices remote to the hosting service via compressed streaming interactive video. The compressed streaming interactive video is sent to the one or more client devices where decompression of the compressed streaming interactive video is preformed to display video of each of said one or more video games and said one or more servers are configured to receive user control input to driver interactivity with said one or more video games. The method includes broadcasting the one or more video games as one or more streams of real-time compressed digital video to enable one or more viewing client devices to view play of said one or more video games over the Internet. Each of the one or more viewing client devices receives one or more of the streams of real-time compressed digital video. The method includes overlaying with the streams of real-time compressed digital video, audio from one or more of the viewing client devices, such that the audio is included in the broadcasting of the one or more video games. And, adjusting a compression rate for said broadcasting to each of said viewing client devices based on a respective connection performance each of said viewing client devices has with respect to said one or more servers of the hosting service.