A smart multimedia content receiver automatically resizes video images based on the content being displayed on the TV screen. Such a self-formatting content receiver includes on-board image processing capability that provides continuous video analysis to detect changes in program formatting and convert each frame as it is received in real time, as opposed to processing and re-releasing an entire program or movie, or relying on the viewer to re-format programs manually. In response to detecting a change, aspect ratio adjustments are made as needed. Because the self-formatting content receiver has access to the video data before it is displayed, such automatic on-the-fly adjustments ensure that the viewer's experience during program changes is seamless and without distortion. Subscribers can influence decisions made by the content receiver by pre-setting viewer preferences for aspect ratio adjustment.

A smart multimedia content receiver automatically resizes video images based on the content being displayed on the TV screen. Such a self-formatting content receiver includes on-board image processing capability that provides continuous video analysis to detect changes in program formatting and convert each frame as it is received in real time, as opposed to processing and re-releasing an entire program or movie, or relying on the viewer to re-format programs manually. In response to detecting a change, aspect ratio adjustments are made as needed. Because the self-formatting content receiver has access to the video data before it is displayed, such automatic on-the-fly adjustments ensure that the viewer's experience during program changes is seamless and without distortion. Subscribers can influence decisions made by the content receiver by pre-setting viewer preferences for aspect ratio adjustment.

A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include configuring a slice identity for each of a plurality of virtual radio access network (vRAN) slices, wherein each vRAN slice comprises functionality to perform, at least in part, one or more radio protocol operations on subscriber traffic; configuring an allotment of radio resources that can be utilized by each vRAN slice of the plurality of vRAN slices; receiving, by a slice manager, a subscriber profile identity (SPID) for a subscriber; and mapping the SPID for the subscriber to a particular vRAN slice of the plurality of vRAN slices. The method can further include communicating the mapping for the subscriber to the particular vRAN slice to which the SPID is mapped. The method can further include communicating the allotment of radio resources that can be utilized by the particular vRAN slice to the particular vRAN slice.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for uplink data transmission preparation and a baseband chip for packet preparation for uplink transmission are disclosed. In an example, a method for packet preparation for uplink transmission can include determining, by a user equipment, a quality of service identifier associated with a quality of service flow. The method can also include mapping, by the user equipment, the quality of service identifier to a group token level. The method can further include processing, by the user equipment, the quality of service flow in accordance with the group token level.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for uplink data transmission preparation and a baseband chip for packet preparation for uplink transmission are disclosed. In an example, a method for packet preparation for uplink transmission can include determining, by a user equipment, a quality of service identifier associated with a quality of service flow. The method can also include mapping, by the user equipment, the quality of service identifier to a group token level. The method can further include processing, by the user equipment, the quality of service flow in accordance with the group token level.

Various embodiments provide a resource allocation method and an apparatus. In those embodiments, a terminal device obtains a first parameter indicating a maximum service data volume to be provided by an access network device for a first service in a first time length; and determines, based on the maximum service data volume, a resource of a media access control protocol data unit MAC PDU, the resource being occupied by buffered data of the first service. In those embodiments, the terminal device determines, based on the maximum service data volume of the first service, the resource of the MAC PDU. Compared with a conventional method, the maximum service data volume of the first service is considered. This helps improve reasonableness of allocating the resource of the MAC PDU to the data of the first service.

Various embodiments provide a resource allocation method and an apparatus. In those embodiments, a terminal device obtains a first parameter indicating a maximum service data volume to be provided by an access network device for a first service in a first time length; and determines, based on the maximum service data volume, a resource of a media access control protocol data unit MAC PDU, the resource being occupied by buffered data of the first service. In those embodiments, the terminal device determines, based on the maximum service data volume of the first service, the resource of the MAC PDU. Compared with a conventional method, the maximum service data volume of the first service is considered. This helps improve reasonableness of allocating the resource of the MAC PDU to the data of the first service.

An ingress packet processor in a device corresponds to a group of ports and receives network packets from ports in its port group. A traffic manager in the device manages buffers storing packet data for transmission to egress packet processors. An ingress arbiter is associated with a port group and connects the port group to an ingress packet processor coupled to the ingress arbiter. The ingress arbiter determines a traffic rate at which the associated ingress packet processor transmits packets to the traffic manager. The ingress arbiter controls an associated traffic shaper to generate a number of tokens that are assigned to the port group. Upon receiving packet data from a port in the group, the ingress arbiter determines, using information from the traffic shaper, whether a token is available. Conditioned on determining that a token is available, the ingress arbiter forwards the packet data to the ingress packet processor.

An ingress packet processor in a device corresponds to a group of ports and receives network packets from ports in its port group. A traffic manager in the device manages buffers storing packet data for transmission to egress packet processors. An ingress arbiter is associated with a port group and connects the port group to an ingress packet processor coupled to the ingress arbiter. The ingress arbiter determines a traffic rate at which the associated ingress packet processor transmits packets to the traffic manager. The ingress arbiter controls an associated traffic shaper to generate a number of tokens that are assigned to the port group. Upon receiving packet data from a port in the group, the ingress arbiter determines, using information from the traffic shaper, whether a token is available. Conditioned on determining that a token is available, the ingress arbiter forwards the packet data to the ingress packet processor.

Methods and systems are provided that facilitate sharing or a hand-off of program content or a user session (e.g., running within a computer application) of a user device such that a user can easily select and then switch devices on which program content is being viewed or on which a user session is being run without having to sift through a myriad of other devices such as remote discoverable devices on the same network that are not in close proximity to the user device. A user device determines which of a plurality of discovered devices from which a short range wireless signal including a defined key was received and provides a list of discovered devices with which a session may be shared over the computer network with the user device based on this determination.