Abstract: Provided are a message processing method, a device, a gateway, a Set-Top Box (STB) and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system. The gateway is connected with a network where the STB is located and connected with a network where a terminal is located, can communicate with the STB and the terminal, and is configured to forward a message between the STB and the terminal. The disclosure solves the problem of being unable to interact with an STB if the matched remote control is lost or damaged, and achieves interaction with the STB through a terminal, thus providing a different mode of interaction with the STB, and improving user experience.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic and television environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data or application data, which may include blackout information, is received. The blacked out content may be automatically recorded to the user equipment or a network server for later playback after the blackout has expired. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, retrieve more information about the blackout, or present summary information, such as a sports ticker, in place of the blacked out cell.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including an operation section which performs remote control of a television receiver, and a content information acquisition section which acquires content information related to content provided by the television receiver, and causes a storage section to store the content information.

Abstract: A time series data encoding apparatus includes a time series data encoding means 11 for compressing and encoding time series data thereby to generate encoded bit streams, a virtual buffer 12 for calculating a transition of the amount of data accumulated in a buffer in a virtual decoder defined according to an encoding system, a buffer usage analyzing means 13 for analyzing the transition of the amount of accumulated data thereby to reset parameters indicating a size of the buffer and the amount of accumulated data in the buffer at a predetermined time, and a multiplexing means 14 for multiplexing the encoded bit streams generated by the time series data encoding means 11 and the parameters reset by the buffer usage analyzing means 13.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manage network resources across a group of playback devices that share the same resources to control video quality across the group of playback devices are provided. A controller collects information about a plurality of playback devices wherein the playback devices share a network resource. The controller also collects information regarding the network resource. The controller allocates the network resource to deliver one or more requested video segments to one or more playback devices based on the information collected from the plurality of playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource. By providing a controller that is aware of the available network resources and the specifications of the playback devices, the network resource can be managed in a way that improves the quality of experience for end users across all the playback devices while maximizing the efficiency of the network resources.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods enabling the send or “push” side of a cable transmission to dynamically obtain additional and/or temporary capacity. Bits and/or bandwidth of transmitted content is restricted by the service provider allowing gaps in the capacity to be filled with value-added content such as advertising, additional supplemental data feeds, or other media content.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting supplemental information corresponding to on-demand media content are provided.

Abstract: A device for enabling content selection is configured to display a graphical user interface including a map and information associated with other users. The map may including identifiers of users at respective locations. The device may enable a user to navigate to a particular identifier. The device may be configured to display a window including an item of content associated with a particular identifier. The device may be configured to facilitate a video chat between one or more users.

Abstract: A system renders a graphical representation of a timeline of a first video in a graphical user interface. The system receives a notification during playback of the first video at a first location in the first video. The notification indicates a request to playback the first video at a second location in the first video. The system determines that a second video is renderable during the first video between the first location and the second location. The system determines a viewing status associated with the user. The viewing status indicates whether the second video has been previously rendered for a user account on a client machine, and determines whether the user may view the first video at a second location in the first video, based on the viewing status associated with the user.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide dynamic seek processing that minimizes re-buffering after a seek request is received. When a seek occurs to a seeking position, a media player downloads a segment N of the media program that includes the seeking position. To address possible re-buffering, the media player employs a seeking process that may analyze playback factors to determine when to start playback after the segment N that contains the seeking position has been downloaded. Factors include the position within the segment N, the current bandwidth, the next segment's size, and the current bitrate being requested. Depending on these factors, the media player may decide to delay playback even though the segment N has already been downloaded. This allows the next segment N+1 more time to download and then playback can begin with less chance of re-buffering. Particular embodiments also provide a process to calculate the number of seconds to delay playback.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for transmission of signal units to at least one receiver. The receiver is being arranged to receive a number of signal units within a frequency range and a comparator unit being arranged to make possible for at least a portion of the signal units to be forwarded or at least partially be blocked with respect to the receiver. A verification unit is arranged to verify that the forwarded signal units correspond to a corresponding signal unit in a memory. If the forwarded signal unit do not correspond to a corresponding signal unit in the memory the particular signal unit is being registered by means of a specific signal in a register unit.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus communicable with a plurality of content viewing devices via a network, including a viewing information receiving unit for receiving viewing information of a user in the past, present, and future from each of the content viewing devices, a user viewing content management unit for managing a user viewing content DB based on the viewing information received from each of the content viewing devices and a program guide, the user viewing content DB associating, in a form of program guide, past, present, and future contents represented in the program guide and identification information of users who have viewed the past content, those who are viewing the present content, and those who will view the future content, and a viewing information transmitting unit for transmitting the extracted viewing information of another user to the requesting content viewing device.

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: Television is the largest advertising category in the United States with over 65 billion spent by advertisers per year. A variety of different targeting algorithms are compared, ranging from the traditional age-gender targeting methods employed based on Nielsen ratings, to new approaches that attempt to target high probability buyers using Set Top Box data. The performance of these different algorithms on a real television campaign is shown, and the advantages and limitations of each method are discussed. In contrast to other theoretical work, all methods presented herein are compatible with targeting the existing 115 million Television households in the United States and are implementable on current television delivery systems.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that includes a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including detecting an indication that a first device that has established wireless communications with a second device by way a personal area network. The first device is authenticated based on the indication and according to a predetermined association between the first device and the second device. Information is provided to the second device to facilitate management of operations of the second device by the first device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of dynamically binding supplemental content to video content includes receiving the video content at a device and identifying at least one value related to one or more products or services, where the at least one value is associated with the video content. The method also includes obtaining the supplemental content based on the at least one value, where the supplemental content provides additional information about the one or more products or services. In addition, the method includes dynamically binding the supplemental content to the video content and positioning the supplemental content in association with the video content using a supplemental interactive display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein such that, a media guidance application presents, in an interactive program guide, a virtual content source for binge watching a program series. The media guidance application may determine a program series a user is currently watching. The media guidance application may determine the number of episodes the user watches in one session. The media guidance application may predict the next episodes of the program series the user may want to watch and present them using a virtual content source.

Abstract: A system for targeted advertising is disclosed having with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, having a computer program stored therein, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to map each of N channel numbers to the new and unique channel number at a set top box when a subscriber selects one of the N channel numbers, wherein each of the N channel numbers is the same in each of the K advertising groups, and wherein each of the N channel numbers is mapped to a different new channel number in each of the K advertising groups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal for a trick play are disclosed. The broadcast signal transmitting method includes encoding video data to create a video elementary stream (ES), creating a packetized elementary stream (PES) including the video elementary stream (ES), creating a transport stream (TS) including the created PES, wherein the TS includes PVR assist information for executing a trick play, the PVR assist information includes tier number information and maximum temporal identification information, and the tier number information indicates a tier number having a value obtained by adding 1 to a temporal identification information value of a picture different from a RAP picture and the maximum temporal identification information indicates a maximum temporal identification information value of the video elementary stream (ES) including the encoded video data, and transmitting the created TS.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for the creation and management of advertising inventory utilizing associated metadata. The system generally includes a media streaming system that is used with a video player in connection with the playback of at least one audio/video work. The media streaming system includes a media distribution system that supplies metadata associated with the audio/video work to the video player. The metadata has a hierarchical taxonomy that defines a plurality of attributes associated with one or more objects present in the audio/video work. The system also includes an ad inventory engine that determines available ad inventory based on the metadata and matches the available inventory with advertisement data based on the hierarchical taxonomy.