Abstract: The invention provides a streaming client with a streaming presentation of an event, with said presentation being obtained by dynamically switching between a plurality of media streams which represent different recordings of the event. For that purpose, source data is obtained from a plurality of stream sources. The source data is constituted by content data and/or metadata of concurrent portions of the plurality of media streams. By applying a quality assessment function to the source data, a quality score is assigned to each one of the concurrent portions. This allows selection data to be generated which enables the streaming client to access a selected one of the concurrent portions of a respective media stream. For example, a segment may be selected which provides a highest quality score. By doing so, it is therefore not required anymore for a consumer to manually switch between different media streams.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a media server, a request to create a media content summary. The request includes a user-specified criterion. The method also includes generating resized segments by automatically changing a size of each of one or more segments of media content until a total size of the resized segments satisfies the user-specified criterion and including the resized segments in the media content summary.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for recommending broadcasting contents by using a multimedia contents reproducing device, the method including the operations of generating a user list about one or more second users related to a first user; displaying the user list on a screen of the multimedia contents reproducing device; selecting at least a third user from among the one or more second users in the user list; and transmitting a recommendation message to the third user, wherein the recommendation message is related to recommending a first broadcasting content currently being watched by the first user, or a second broadcasting content selected from an Electronic Program Guide (EPG).

Abstract: A client video player device downloads video content from a video content delivery network as segments encoded at respective bitrates selected from distinct encoding bitrates. Bitrate adaptation logic within the client video player selects the appropriate bitrate segment in order to maximize user-perceived Quality-of-Experience. An optimization of this bitrate adaptation logic implementing model predictive control that maximizes the user-perceived Quality-of-Experience is presented.

Abstract: A sparse streaming system provides a first-class means for sparse metadata to be added to streaming media presentations and to be delivered using an integrated data channel that is cacheable using readily available HTTP-based Internet caching infrastructure for increased scalability. The sparse streaming system stores a reference to a sparse track within a continuous track. If a continuous fragment arrives at the client that refers to a sparse fragment that the client has not yet retrieved, then the client requests the sparse fragment. In addition, each sparse fragment may include a backwards reference to the sparse fragment created immediately prior. The references in the continuous fragments make the client aware of new sparse track fragments, and the backwards references in the sparse track fragments ensure that the client has not missed any intervening sparse track fragments.

Abstract: A recommender engine (107_1, 107_2, 107_3) recommends further content items for playout on a personalized content channel on the basis of a profile (109_1, 109_2, 109_3) associated with that personalized content channel. The profile (109_1, 109_2, 109_3) includes an indication of the user's “like” and “dislike” of content items played out on said personalized channel.

Abstract: A configuration apparatus includes a user interface allowing a user to initiate configuration of at least a target configurable device selected from a plurality of configurable devices. A command module is coupled to the user interface for dynamically generating a sequence of commands required to configure the target configurable device. The sequence of commands includes commands for entering a hidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device. A communication module is coupled to the command module for transmitting the sequence of commands to the target configurable device.

Abstract: A transmission range determination unit of a video distribution device receives information about a display position for a video gallery display screen from a terminal device and determines, according to the received information, a transmission range for video gallery data in which display images of video data items are arranged, to be a size greater than a possible display range of the terminal device. A video gallery display screen generation unit generates the video gallery display screen in which the display images of the video data items included in the transmission range determined by the transmission range determination unit are arranged according to an arrangement of the display images of the video data items which is defined by the video gallery data, wherein the video gallery display screen generation unit distributes the generated video gallery display screen to the terminal device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems to determine a conditional probability based on audience member probability distributions for media audience measurement are disclosed. Disclosed example methods for media audience measurement include determining a first audience probability distribution for a first member of a household and determining a second audience probability distribution for a second member of the household. Disclosed example methods also include calculating probabilities for audience combinations of the first member and the second member of the household based on the first audience probability distribution and the second audience probability distribution. Disclosed example methods further include determining a household audience characteristic probability based on the calculated probabilities of the audience combinations of the household. The household audience characteristic indicates likelihoods of different possible audience compositions of the household for a media event.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a media guidance application that may enhance viewer experience. The media guidance application may tune to a first program with a first tuner and generate for display the first program on a display area of a display device, determine other programs of interest being broadcast, and simultaneously with the generating for display of the first program, use the second tuner to tune to and generate for display the other programs of interest being broadcast. The second tuner cycles between the additional programs of interest to periodically update the segments of the additional programs of interest generated for display.

Abstract: A video content provider may maintain its own servers for organizing and distributing its video content as digital files. The video content provider names the digital files according to its own file naming scheme and stores the digital files at particular file locations according to its own file storage scheme. A video-broadcast system analyzes a broadcast schedule to determine attributes of scheduled video content. Using the attributes, the video-broadcast system derives identifying information that the video content provider uses in the file paths and the file names of its digital files. The video-broadcast system uses this identifying information to generate the file paths and the file names for the digital files stored on the video content provider's servers. By automatically generating the file path and the file name for video content from attributes provided by the broadcast schedule, the video-broadcast system can efficiently and consistently retrieve the correct digital files.

Abstract: Methods and systems for information querying are described. At least one recent image of a video signal may be accessed. Recent text associated with the at least one recent image may be accessed. A presentation image may be provided from the at least one recent image for presentation on a display. An original portion of the recent text may be identified within the presentation image. A selection of a user portion of the recent text may be received. An information source may be queried with the selection of the user portion of the recent text. The information source may be capable of using the selection to provide a result.

Abstract: A detachable seat mounted audio-visual entertainment system. The system has locally storable, selectable, and updatable content. The passenger in-flight entertainment device terminal has passenger selectable controls, a video display, an audio output, storage media such as a magnetic or “hard disk”, and a payment interface device such as a card swipe, all located in a seat which has been wired with power, local network, and audio wiring. A local, transport vehicle mounted local host computer provides supports the local network, and may be used to collect revenue slips resulting from passenger input to the payment interface device. Revenue slips may be posted to a remote server during a trip segment via satellite or direct radio frequency communication to receiving facilities providing connection to the internet, or alternately collected and posted batchwise.

Abstract: A simulation engine and method of operating a simulation system includes a plurality of user devices and an interface receiving user device data and a recommendation request from at least one the plurality of user devices. The system also includes a memory storing the user device data therein. The system also includes a recommendation engine that generates a content recommendation based on the user device data and an algorithm. The interface communicates the content recommendation to the user device. The recommendation engine receives a recommendation rating from at least one of the plurality of user devices and changes the algorithm in response to the recommendation rating. The user device receives a different recommendation of the changed algorithm within the simulation engine.

Abstract: A method for controlling network media information publication, an apparatus and a server are provided. More than one piece of network media information may be pre-downloaded. When a video is played, a stagnation event of the video is detected. When a stagnation event occurs, a frame picture related to the stagnation event is read. A degree of similarity between the frame picture and each piece of network media information is calculated. A piece of network media information having a highest degree of similarity with the frame picture is selected; and the network media information is displayed on a current playing interface. In this way, a click-through rate and a transformation rate of network media information, and the amount of attention given to network media information when a network bandwidth condition is not good can be increased.

Abstract: A system and method related thereto that includes a processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to provide media content for selection, provide a license for selection, wherein the license is associated with the media content, receive a selection of the media content or the license, use a sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the media content, and control the media content based on the number of persons that is determined to be capable of perceiving the media content, wherein controlling the media content includes any or all of the following: ceasing to play the media content, pausing the media content, playing the media content, or continuing to play the media content.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for improving interactions with and between computers in content searching, generating, hosting and/or providing systems supported by or configured with personal computing devices, servers and/or platforms. The systems interact to identify and retrieve data within or across platforms, which can be used to improve the quality of data used in processing interactions between or among processors in such systems. The disclosed systems and methods automatically generate a thumbnail image from a frame of a video file, where the thumbnail image displays content of a selected frame determined to be high-quality and highly-relevant to the content of the video file. Frames of a video file are analyzed, and the frame that is the most contextually relevant to the video and of the highest visual quality is selected, where a thumbnail image is generated and displayed on a site or application over a network.

Abstract: A method performed by a set-top box operating on a network includes generating an indicia containing a media access control address of the set-top box and a first uniform resource locator which is displayed for scanning by a companion device. The set-top-box receives entitlements for activation if the entitlements were previously granted. If the entitlements were not previously granted, the set-top box receives a second uniform resource locator with which it generates an updated indicia which is displayed for scanning by the companion device. The set-top-box then receives entitlements for activation of the set-top box if initiation of the subscription occurs. The set-top box removes the updated indicia from display and uses the entitlements to active the set-top box to receive multimedia content on the network.

Abstract: A method of acquiring an Internet protocol (IP) address to control a standby mode of a set-top box, and the set-top box and a power management server performing the method are disclosed. The method may include determining whether a state of the set-top box changes from a broadcasting state in which a broadcasting service is provided to a passive standby state in which a network connection between the set-top box and a headend providing the broadcasting service is blocked, receiving state information associated with an IP address allocated to the set-top box for the network connection in response to the state of the set-top box changing to the passive standby state, and transmitting, to the set-top box, a state change command to maintain the network connection for the IP address allocated to the set-top box based on the received state information.

Abstract: Network devices provide, to a content source device, an uplink user interface to describe and upload video content. The network devices receive, via the uplink user interface, descriptive information for the video content and generate, based on the descriptive information received via the uplink user interface, a unique content identifier for the video content. The network devices incorporate, based on the descriptive information, a listing of the video content into a catalog of content available to users of a content distribution network. The network devices receive, from the content source device, the video content and receive, from a user device, a request to view the video content that includes the unique content identifier. The network devices provide, to the user device, a link to enable the user device to access the video content via the content distribution network.