A method and apparatus for secure transfer and playback of multimedia content enables the secure transfer of multimedia content from a digital video recorder (DVR) to a personal computer (PC) and further to a handheld device. A DVR determines which devices on a Local Area Network (LAN) are authorized to share and/or retrieve content from the DVR. The DVR receives a connection request from a PC on the LAN, authorizes the connection request and establishes a secure connection between the DVR and the PC. Once the secure connection is established, the DVR receives a request for multimedia content from the PC, prepares the multimedia content for transfer and transfers the multimedia content to the PC.

A content access device and system may allow portable remote devices to be paired with a variety of different devices, allowing remote control through a network connection. Content access devices may expose application program interfaces, allowing incoming network traffic to control operation of the device much in the same way that a local infrared remote would. Routing content commands through an external application server may also yield other benefits, such as allowing more customized selection of information and advertising content to users based on their viewing history.

A content access device and system may allow portable remote devices to be paired with a variety of different devices, allowing remote control through a network connection. Content access devices may expose application program interfaces, allowing incoming network traffic to control operation of the device much in the same way that a local infrared remote would. Routing content commands through an external application server may also yield other benefits, such as allowing more customized selection of information and advertising content to users based on their viewing history.

Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members are disclosed. An example apparatus includes means for detecting whether an environment associated with a first device includes a second device with a display that is illuminated. The example apparatus also includes means for calculating an engagement of a user with respect to the first device based on a proximity between the user and the illuminated display.

An electronic device that obtains a set of remote-control commands is described. During operation, the electronic device may receive an image associated with a second electronic device, where a brand and a model of the second electronic device are initially unknown to the electronic device. Then, the electronic device may perform image analysis on the image to determine at least the brand of the second electronic device. Moreover, the electronic device may access, based at least in part on the determined brand, the set of remote-control commands that are associated with the second electronic device. Next, the electronic device may store the set of remote-control commands in memory. Subsequently, when the electronic device receives user-interface activity information associated with a portable electronic device that specifies selection of the second electronic device, the electronic device may provide the set of remote-control commands to the second electronic device.

A smart mirror can show live or recorded streaming video of an instructor performing a workout in a package that is attractive and unobtrusive enough to hang in a living room. The smart mirror includes a mirror surface with a fully reflecting section and a partially reflecting section. A display behind the partially reflecting section shows the video when the smart mirror is on and is almost invisible when the smart mirror is off. The smart mirror also has a speaker, a microphone, and a camera to enable a user to view the video content and interact with the instructor. The smart mirror may connect to the user's smart phone, a peripheral device (e.g., a Bluetooth speaker) to augment user experience, a biometric sensor to provide biometric data to assess user performance, and/or a network router to connect the smart mirror to a content provider, an instructor, and/or other users.

A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.

A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.

A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of apportioning, by a processing system including a processor, a viewable area of a display screen into a main area and an application area; downloading, by the processing system, media content; displaying, by the processing system, the media content within the main area of the display screen; extracting, by the processing system, metadata from the media content; and providing, by the processing system, the metadata to an application, wherein the application: downloads information associated with the metadata provided in the media content, applies a bitrate limit to the downloading of the information to prevent interference with the downloading of the media content, generates display content based on the information, and sends the display content for displaying within the application area of the display screen concurrently with the media content being displayed in the main area of the display screen. Other embodiments are disclosed.