Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables a viewer to view all the available content on a mosaic display, even when advertisements would otherwise prevent a viewer from doing so. Whenever a channel is displaying non-program content, the mosaic may instead display pre-recorded content for the current program on that channel prior to the ad-period.

Abstract: Embodiments facilitating mixed service use of bonded satellite transponders in communication systems are provided. An apparatus comprises a first multiplexer configured to receive first content from first channels of a first type of channel, a second multiplexer configured to receive second content from second channels of a second type of channel, and a transport stream processor (TSP). The TSP can be configured to output the received first content and the second content to modulators respectively associated with different channels for transmission of the first type of channel and the second type of channel, wherein the different channels are transmitted to a bonded satellite transponders, which transmits to a receiver. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a multiplexer aggregator coupled between the TSP and the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer. The first content can be high bit-rate information and the second content can be lower bit-rate information.

Abstract: Disclosed are a smart TV controlling method and a smart TV thereof, the method including: determining currently running UI; obtaining key controlling policy for the currently running UI according to pre-stored mapping between UI and key controlling policy, the key controlling policy indicating adjustment for UI controlling keys; generating controlling instruction according to received key information sent from remote controlling device and key controlling policy for the currently running UI; and sending the controlling instruction to the currently running UI for the UI to perform operation associated with the controlling instruction. The key information sent from the remote controlling device is adaptable to different UIs according to different key controlling policies of different UIs, allowing operations associated with key information be adapted to the requirements of different UIs, so that appropriate adjustments are made to the current running UI according to the user's needs.

Abstract: A method for generating a first video stream representative of a mosaic of videos, referred to as a video mosaic, from a set of at least two second video streams each consisting of a video associated with header data and encoded video data representative of images. During the course of the method: the encoded video data of the second video streams are stored during the generation of the first video stream, a header associated with said video mosaic is generated, said header being representative of an assembly of the encoded video data from the second video streams, and comprising: first header data which are legacy header data from each of the videos of the set of second video streams, second header data which are generated separately from the header data of the second video streams. Associated computer program, storage media and terminal.

Abstract: A user profile server stores a particular user profile corresponding to a user who belongs to a plurality of separate loyalty programs, and the particular user profile includes a plurality of different loyalty program user identifiers each identifying the user on a respective one of the separate loyalty programs. The user profile server communicates user a preference included on the particular user profile to a first controller via the computer network and communicates the user preference included on the particular user profile to a second controller via the computer network. The first controller is associated with a first hospitality location where the user is identified according to a first loyalty program user identifier included on the particular user profile, and the second is controller is associated with a second hospitality location where the user is identified according to a second loyalty program user identifier included on the particular user profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides for eliminating the requirement for cable modems and routers to be installed in CATV system subscriber homes, and/or establishments, by instead including the cable modems and routers in a CATV provider's main distribution line, for sharing amongst a plurality of subscriber homes and/or establishments.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a cloud location storing content titles, communicating at least one of the content titles to a user device to form communicated content titles. The user device is in communication with the cloud location through a network. The user device generates a selection signal for selecting a first content title from communicated content titles to form a selection. The user device negotiates settings by intercommunicating between the user device and the cloud location in response to form the selection. The user device communicates the selection to the cloud location. The cloud location has a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content in response to the optimal settings. The cloud location communicates the transcoded content to the user device.

Abstract: Providing a conditional access system (CAS) to a set-top box is described. An example method includes encapsulating a CAS application in a NCAS (Next CAS) container, and objects associated with the CAS application are executed in the NCAS container. Resources for the CAS application and other applications running on the set-top box are pre-allocated so that each application has a pre-fixed resource allocation upon startup of the set-top box. An execution of the CAS application is validated using a linked chain of trust.

Abstract: Systems and method of automatically detecting user responses from users to media content and correlating the user responses to the media content include a determination of an emotional response by a user—for example a smile—to a presentation of media content. The determined emotional response is correlated to the media content. Subsequent presentation of the same media content includes presentation of an indicator—for example a smiley —that indicates the determined emotional response.

Abstract: A viewer's rights to view content is determined instantly, without exposing any data externally, by capturing both a facial image and speech of the viewer. The data, which can be captured each viewing session, is matched to a secure profile which may have other security information assigned to it, such as service login IDs and passwords, or credit card numbers. If both the facial image and voice match respective templates, the viewer is allowed access to, e.g., cloud-based content (such as email) or is allowed to make a purchases within applications via account level access. Banking transactions may similarly be permitted upon face/voice match without the need to input a code. Personalization of content based on profiles recognized automatically during a viewing session is also facilitated.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, a portion of a first media program being distributed on a channel, wherein the distribution of the first media program on the channel is scheduled to end at an end-time, and wherein a distribution of a second media program on the channel is scheduled to start at a start-time that corresponds with the scheduled end-time; (ii) predicting, by the computing system, that the distribution of the first media program on the channel will end later than the scheduled end-time; and (iii) responsive at least to the predicting, (a) retrieving, by the computing system, from a source other than the channel, a portion of the second media program, and (b) after the scheduled start-time, outputting, by the computing system, the retrieved portion of the second media program.

Abstract: Currently delivered content data of contents are received and are each able to be output to an output unit. An estimated value for evaluating a posting status of posted information, that is posted on a Web page in association with the content, is computed. Based on the estimated value, it is determined whether or not a switching condition for switching a main content among the contents, that is being output to the output unit, to a sub-content among the contents, that is not being output to the output unit, is satisfied. If it is determined that the switching condition is satisfied, information utilized to switch the content is output to the output unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disambiguation of an ambiguous entity in a search query based on the gaze of a user. These systems and methods may be implemented by a media guidance application (e.g., executed by user equipment associated with the user). In some aspects, the media guidance application may monitor the gaze of the user and attempt to disambiguate the ambiguous entity based on an area of the screen the user viewed while issuing the search query. If the media guidance application receives an indication that it did not disambiguate the ambiguous entity in the search query correctly, the media guidance application may increase the area of the screen that the user viewed in order to find an additional entity. This may allow the media guidance application to quickly and accurately find the correct answer to the user's search query.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a broadcast video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was broadcast within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.

Abstract: Determining that a client device is in a supplemental content restriction mode, creating a shell of a supplemental content item, delivering the shell of the supplemental content item to the client device, and reporting a presentation event of a supplemental content item being served to the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that recommends media content to a user based on the media content likely to be available to the user at a given location and providing media guidance data for receiving the media content from a content provider at the location.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a cloud location storing content corresponding to content titles, generating a playlist corresponding to content titles subscribed to by a user of a user device stored therein, and communicating the playlist to the user device. A user device is in communication with the cloud location through a network. The user device generates a selection signal for selecting a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The user device negotiates optimal settings by intercommunicating between the user device and the cloud location in response to forming the selection. The user device communicates the selection to the cloud location. The cloud location has a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content in response to the optimal settings. The cloud location communicates the transcoded content to the user device.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an interactive method of a mobile device and a television for displaying content on the mobile device according to that displayed on the television and/or controlling the television by the mobile device includes searching a television in a network initiated from a mobile device and establishing a connection of the mobile device to the television, obtaining media information of content currently displayed on the television, obtaining basic information and a related content resource of the media information from a cloud server, and displaying the basic information and the related content resource of the media information on an interface of the mobile device.

Abstract: In accordance with some implementations, a method for measuring viewership of media content is disclosed. The method is performed on a client system. The client system captures visual data of one or more users of the client system with the camera. The client system then analyzes the captured visual data to determine a facial image for each respective user of the one or more users. Based on the facial image, the client system then determines if a respective user is a participant in a media viewership study. In accordance with a determination that the user is a participant in the media viewership measurement study, the client system determines the media content being presented. The client system creates viewership data based on the user and the media content being displayed in the proximity of the user and transmits viewership data to a server system.