Abstract: Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content are presented. In a particular embodiment, a method of providing supplemental content in a Video-On-Demand (VOD) system is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from a plurality of supplemental content titles provided by a selectable menu, where each of the plurality of supplemental content titles is associated with a particular VOD offering. The selectable menu provided is to be displayed upon detection of discontinued transmission of the particular VOD offering. The method also includes providing first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title. The first supplemental content is accessible by a subscriber when the particular VOD offering is not being presented and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible by the subscriber when the particular VOD offering is being presented.

Abstract: A system and method for providing content providers with network distribution nodes for distributing content to subscribers of a communications service provider may include maintaining multiple network nodes by the communications service provider, where the network nodes may be in communication with the Internet and be configured to enable subscribers of the communications service provider to access and download content without the content having to be communicated over the Internet. Multiple respective content service providers may be enabled to store content at the network nodes for subscribers local to each respective network node to download the content. Multiple customer databases configured to store information associated with subscribers of the communications service provider may be operated. Limited access to the information stored in the customer databases may be provided to prevent the respective content providers from accessing personal information of the subscribers.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Media Content Processor (MCP) having a controller to detect a communication device roaming into a personal area network, receive a communication identifier from the communication device, authenticate the communication device responsive to validating the communication identifier, and enable the communication device to manage operations of the MCP according to a profile of a subscriber of said communication device responsive to a successful authentication of said communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An image control apparatus is configured to input a plurality of image data associated with a plurality of image sources and to display a plurality of images on a same screen based on the plurality of image data. The image control apparatus includes an image quality determining unit configured to determine respective image qualities of the plurality of images based on a combination of image information associated with attributes of the plurality of image sources, and an image processing unit configured to process the plurality of image data to cause the plurality of images to have the respective image qualities determined by the image quality determining unit.

Abstract: A system and method for downloading a code image at a set-top gateway host that includes an embedded set-top box and an embedded cable modem. The embedded set-top box and the embedded cable modem interact so that each leverages the resources of the other, thereby minimizing the functionality that must be built into each.

Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor a person in a residence are provided. A particular method includes receiving data from a set-top box (STB) device at a monitoring service. The data includes location information from a location system in a residence that monitors a location of a person in the residence. The data includes usage information regarding usage of a plurality of devices in the residence. The data also includes a time stamp associated with the location information and the usage information. The method includes analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method also includes sending a notification when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: Media monitoring and measurement systems and methods are disclosed. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a media measurement system and method that utilizes audience data to enhance content identifications. Some embodiments analyze media player log data to enhance content identification. Other embodiments of the present invention analyze sample sequence data to enhance content identifications. Other embodiments analyze sequence data to enhance content identification and/or to establish channel identification. Yet other embodiments provide a system and method in which sample construction and selection parameters are adjusted based upon identification results. Yet other embodiments provide a method in which play-altering activity of an audience member is deduced from content offset values of identifications corresponding to captured samples.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring data packet traffic in a communication network for at least two of a plurality of subscriber devices associated with a subscriber; developing a holistic subscriber profile for the subscriber based on the monitored data packet traffic; selecting advertisement data for a current one of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the holistic subscriber profile and sending the selected advertising data to the current subscriber device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use in performing the method.

Abstract: This application discloses a system and method for the delivery of television programming comprising of: a video source connected to a subscriber network to transport a primary video signal; a message source connected to said subscriber network to transport a supplemental video signal; wherein the primary and supplemental video signals are combined to display the primary and supplemental video signals concurrently. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the subscriber receives discounts relative to the amount of supplemental video signal that is viewed by the subscriber.

Abstract: Provided herein are at least one embodiment of systems and methods of adaptive disk management for a recording device employing a memory storage device such as hard disk storage so that memory storage device usage is tracked in the recording device and the memory storage device is controlled based on time-based patterns of user behavior.

Abstract: A plurality of servers whose video output is coupled to video compression apparatus that transmits streaming interactive video to a plurality of users, with a feedback loop whereby the streaming interactive video is recursively combined within the video output of the plurality of servers.

Abstract: According to a vehicular communication system (10) of the present invention, a specified time slot in compliance with one broadcast time slot corresponded to one attribute pertinent to or possessed by a vehicle (1) among a plurality of attributes corresponded to a plurality of broadcast time slots of programs, respectively, according to the broadcast program list. Even though the IGN switch (101) of the vehicle (1) is set at the OFF state, the vehicular communication system (10) is operated or kept at the operating state so as to receive the program broadcasted in the specified time slot.

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 method of indicating quality of service includes determining values of a plurality of video quality parameters at a set-top box device. The method also includes selecting a color from a plurality of colors based on at least one of the values. The method also includes activating a video quality indicator, wherein the video quality indicator includes the selected color.

Abstract: Guide information is provided relating to playing/viewing of content retrieved through various modalities such as television broadcasting and a computer network. A unified program list is created that comprehensively handles program content. For a self-recorded program, program metadata retrieved during a recording operation is additionally registered. For a network program, a network program list is periodically retrieved from a service site, modified and recorded. To play the content, a guide screen is created and supplied based on a unified program list. When a self-recorded program is selected, the program is read and played from an HDD. When a network program is selected, the program is played in a streaming manner via the Internet.

Abstract: An embodiment of a cable television system includes a media content source configured to transmit media content to a plurality of home communication terminals (HCTs) over a plurality of physical channels over a shared communication medium. Each physical channel carries the media content on a plurality of logical channels. The system further includes a media allocation server configured to receive requests from the plurality of HCTs, each of the requests from a respective HCT designating desired media content to be simultaneously received at the respective HCT and allocating at least a portion of the desired media content among a plurality of physical channels on respective logical channels.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a content metadata obtaining unit configured to obtain content metadata; a determination unit configured to determine the category of the content metadata; an editing unit configured to edit the content metadata so that, when text data of the content metadata is to be reproduced on the basis of the category of the content metadata determined by the determination unit, information on a predetermined link destination is displayed in response to a predetermined operation being performed on the reproduced text data; a reproduction unit configured to reproduce the text data of the content metadata in synchronization with the reproduction of the content; and a display unit configured to display the information on the link destination on the basis of the content metadata edited by the editing unit when the predetermined operation is performed on the text data of the content metadata reproduced by the reproduction unit.

Abstract: Media monitoring and measurement systems and methods are disclosed. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a media measurement system and method that utilizes audience data to enhance content identifications. Some embodiments analyze media player log data to enhance content identification. Other embodiments of the present invention analyze sample sequence data to enhance content identifications. Other embodiments analyze sequence data to enhance content identification and/or to establish channel identification. Yet other embodiments provide a system and method in which sample construction and selection parameters are adjusted based upon identification results. Yet other embodiments provide a method in which play-altering activity of an audience member is deduced from content offset values of identifications corresponding to captured samples.

Abstract: On-demand asset distribution is described. In embodiment(s), a client device can maintain an on-demand asset received from a content distributor, such as with a recording media. The client device can allocate upstream bandwidth for distribution of segments of video data for the on-demand asset to other requesting client devices. When the client device that maintains the on-demand asset receives a request from another client device for the on-demand asset, the segments of the video data for the on-demand asset can be communicated to the requesting client device utilizing the allocated upstream bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for resource sharing are provided. The method includes storing an electronic programming guide (EPG) application and an EPG, determining when local memory of a local video device lacks capacity to download additional time of the EPG, and communicating with another device to transmit a resource request to the other device to download the additional time of the EPG to storage in the other device. The method also includes processing for display monitoring data that indicates remaining storage space in the storage of the other device, querying the other device to determine what programming is being viewed, and processing controls included in the EPG application that enable access to the storage of the other device to interact with the EPG stored on the other device through the local video device to schedule a programming event at the local video device.