Abstract: Methods and systems for managing content are disclosed. An example method can comprise monitoring a number of users accessing content, and recording a first segment of the content if the number of users accessing the content reaches a threshold value. A second segment of the content can be recorded based on a request to record the second segment of the content, and at least a portion of the recording of the first segment of the content can be associated with the recording of the second segment of the content.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can identify a beginning portion and a remaining portion of a video to be encoded. A first constant quality variable bit rate encoding process can be applied to the beginning portion, based on a first set of encoding parameters, to produce an encoded beginning portion. A second constant quality variable bit rate encoding process can be applied to the remaining portion, based on a second set of encoding parameters, to produce an encoded remaining portion. The encoded beginning portion can be provided for video playback. The encoded remaining portion can be provided, when requested, for video playback subsequent to the encoded beginning portion.

Abstract: A media fingerprint archive system generates and archives media fingerprints from second media content portions such as commercials. A downstream media measurement system can extract/derive query fingerprints from an incoming signal, and query the media fingerprint archive system whether any of the query fingerprints matches any archived fingerprints. If so, the media measurement system can perform media measurements on a specific secondary media content portion from which the matched query fingerprint is derived. If not, the media measurement system can analyze media characteristics of a media content portion to determine whether the media content portion is a secondary media content portion and perform media measurement if needed to. The media measurement system may send fingerprints from an identified secondary media content portion to the media fingerprint archive system for storage.

Abstract: An access point that provides video streaming performs a bottleneck QoE maximization solution utilizing the latest media transport technology developed by MPEG known as MPEG Media Transport (MMT). The access point includes a transceiver configured to transmit one or more video sequences. The access point also includes one or more processors configured to perform bottleneck coordination by utilizing MMT to transmit, via the transceiver, the one or more video sequences.

Abstract: A TV phone is provided, which includes a TV module; an MRFU for demodulating an incoming call received through a forward channel, and modulating and transmitting a signal on a reverse channel; a TV control section for supplying a tuning signal to the TV module; an MSP for establishing a phone or TV mode; and a display unit for displaying synchronized signals on an image viewing screen. In a TV mode, the TV phone receives an incoming call, stops the TV module; switches off and on output of an audio signal of the selected TV broadcasting channel; displays a character message on the TV viewing screen; or superimposes a graphic image over the image on the TV viewing screen.

Abstract: Essence of a media program can be encoded such that it carries essence identification information and a set of time points. Auxiliary content such as companion content and other auxiliary data can be associated with the essence of the media program by way of the set of time points. The set of time points and/or fingerprints used to retrieve/recover the set of time points can be delivered to one or more of a media device, a companion device/application, etc., in any of a variety of different methods. Through the set of time points and/or fingerprints, and user preferences, the auxiliary content can be retrieved by the one or more of the media device, the companion device/application, etc., presented and/or interacted with a user. In some embodiments, the auxiliary content as described herein can be customized for a specific sender and/or a specific recipient.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for conducting transactions with a customer using text messages. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first text message from a mobile communication device associated with a customer. The first text message includes a request from the customer to receive one or more text messages from a vendor. The method also includes adding the customer to a set of consenting customers in a customer database in response to receiving the first text message. The set of consenting customer including customers that consent to receiving text messages from the vendor. The method also includes sending a second text message to the mobile communication device. The second text message is associated with a service offered by the vendor.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for detecting and classifying direct response advertisements includes an advertisement candidate segment generation unit for generating an advertisement candidate segment for an advertisement section detected from a broadcast stream, a matching unit for determining whether the advertisement candidate segment matches an advertisement segment stored in an advertisement database (DB), a direct response advertisement determination unit for determining whether the advertisement candidate segment is a direct response advertisement if it is determined by the matching unit that an advertisement segment matching the advertisement candidate segment is not present, and a direct response advertisement grouping unit for grouping the advertisement candidate segment with advertisement segments that are direct response advertisements stored in the advertisement DB.

Abstract: To be accessed on different media players, requested content must be delivered in a format that is supported by the requesting device. A dynamic content packager for encrypting and packaging requested content for different requesting devices at the time of consumption is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for quickly and easily displaying supplemental information about an event occurring in a media asset. In some embodiments, a media application may use a content-recognition module to determine the context of an event and distribute itemized tasks to multiple entities in order to generate the supplemental information about the event.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to manage timers that control recording of media content. An exemplary embodiment compares a retrieved stale timer criteria with a retrieved timer attribute; determines whether the timer is stale based on the comparison of the retrieved timer attribute and the stale timer criteria, wherein the timer is determined to be stale when the media content event identified by the timer will not be recorded because the media content event identified by the timer is not scheduled to be broadcast at a future date; and then automatically deletes the timer in response to determining that the timer is stale.

Abstract: An information push method, includes acquiring a photo of an environment in which a client is located; recognizing a target object from the photo and collecting statistics on a frequency value or a frequency of appearance; and pushing related information of the target object to the client according to the frequency value or the frequency. An information push system, a digital television receiving terminal, and a computer storage medium are further provided. Statistics are collected on quantized data of how often a target object appears in an environment in which a client is located by using a scientific and technical means and the statistical data is used as a reference for push.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for customizing the display of interactive television overlays. A condition related to the display of an overlay on top of video for a television channel may be defined for each of a plurality of television channels. A default set of information types for an interactive television overlay (e.g., a FLIP overlay, a BROWSE overlay, etc.) may be defined for the plurality of television channels. When the overlay is displayed on top of video for a given television channel of the plurality of television channels, the overlay may include information of the default set of information types. One or more television channels of the plurality of television channels may be identified as channels for which the default set of information types does not apply (e.g., channels for which the overlay is not displayed or for which a custom set of information types is defined).

Abstract: Control circuitry may identify an image corresponding to a media asset, where the image comprises a plurality of portions, and where each portion of the plurality of portions comprises a respective entity. The image identified by control circuitry may include several portions, where each portion includes a respective entity. Control circuitry may determine an identity of each respective entity in each respective portion of the plurality of portions. Control circuitry may then access a database to determine a level of prevalence of each identity in the media asset. Based on these identifications, control circuitry may determine which respective entity corresponds to a highest level of prevalence (e.g., with respect to the other entities), and may generate for display a respective portion comprising the respective entity that corresponds to the highest level of prevalence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify media content using temporal signal characteristics are disclosed. An example method includes generating a reference signature based on a reference signal corresponding to known media, generating sums based on peaks in a media signal corresponding to media, identifying signal peaks based on the generated sums, generating a second signature based on normalized curve features, wherein the normalized curve features respectively correspond to the identified signal peaks at a corresponding temporal locations of the corresponding signal peak, and determining whether the media signal corresponds to the reference signal based on a comparison of the reference signature and the second signature.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol television (IPTV) server includes: a subscriber file managing module configured to store a subscriber file of a recorded program, where the subscriber file of the recorded program includes advertisement information in the recorded program; a controlling module configured to obtain a playback request of the recorded program or an advertisement playback policy request of the recorded program, obtain the advertisement information in the recorded program from the subscriber file managing module according to the playback request or the advertisement playback policy request, obtain an advertisement playback policy from an advertisement managing module according to the advertisement information, and send the advertisement playback policy to the subscriber terminal; and the advertisement managing module configured to determine the advertisement playback policy of the recorded program according to the advertisement information sent by the controlling module and a preset policy, and send the advert

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for providing a hypertext markup language (HTML)-based program guide service, and a recording medium therefor. The method for providing a hypertext markup language (HTML)-based program guide service in a broadcast providing device, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of: outputting a start page according to a program guide service start request of a user, wherein a container included in a resource for the start page generates a first key handler for processing a key event of the user; and outputting one or more menu pages for menu navigation according to a request of the user, wherein the start page and each of the one or more menu pages have different resource addresses, and a life cycle of the one or more menu pages is managed by the first key handler.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for organizing media content are provided. One method includes receiving a request, via a user interface presented to a user, to compile a requested plurality of episodes of a selected media content. The availability of the requested plurality of episodes are determined from a plurality of media content sources. The requested plurality of episodes are then compiled (e.g., recorded via a digital video recorder or located within a streaming service). A user interface is then presented to the user, including a series-order arrangement of the requested plurality of episodes.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive a request for an adaptive streaming media presentation description (MPD), a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to generate the MPD, wherein the MPD indicates an event, and wherein the event is time-related auxiliary information, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the MPD. A method comprises receiving a request for an adaptive streaming media presentation description (MPD), generating the MPD, wherein the MPD indicates an event, and wherein the event is time-related auxiliary information, and transmitting the MPD. An apparatus comprises a processor configured to generate a request for an adaptive streaming media presentation description (MPD), a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the request, and a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive the MPD, wherein the MPD indicates an event, and wherein the event is time-related auxiliary information.