Abstract: A system for extracting and monitoring media tags within video content includes at least one server in communication with a plurality of content sources, the server receiving video content from the content sources, a recorder saving the video content, a detector receiving at least one frame of the video content, the detector detecting one or more unknown text within the frame and creating one or more images, each image associated with one of the one or more unknown text, the detector generating metadata associated with the one or more unknown text appearing in the frame, and an optical character recognition engine scanning the one or more images and converting the one or more images into one or more known text. The server further determines that the one or more known text is a media tag.

Abstract: Devices and methods for allocating bandwidth in a data communication network having available bandwidth, particularly when allocating bandwidth for data of more than one video content item.

Abstract: One variation of a method for serving a video advertisement to a computing device includes: segmenting a digital video into a first video segment and a second video segment; at a visual element loaded into a document, loading the first video segment; in response to a scroll event that shifts the visual element into view within a window rendered on a display of the computing device, playing back the first video segment within the visual element; during playback of the first video segment, loading the second video segment from a remote server; in response to completion of playback of the first video segment, playing back the second video segment within the visual element; and calculating a level of user engagement a total duration of the digital video played back in the visual element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rewinding a video to a point before the video was first viewed. Video transmitted by a media source is cached by a remote server. Upon a trick-play request for the video, the server generates a rewind, stream that includes the video that was transmitted by the media source before the user started to view the video. Upon receiving the rewind stream, the user's equipment may cache the rewind stream in a rewind buffer and rewind or play from the rewind buffer. The server may also generate and transmit a forward stream of the video that the media source has not yet transmitted. The user's equipment may cache the forward stream in a forward buffer. To perform trick-play operations with the video, the user's equipment may migrate the playback of the video to the rewind and forward buffers and rewind or fast-forward the video from the buffers.

Abstract: A system having an adaptive browse feature and an adaptive flip feature is provided. The adaptative browse and flip features may be selected to receive program viewing suggestions. The system may provide a suggestion by displaying an adaptive browse region or adaptative flip region including a program suggestion. The system identifies programs to suggest based on a user=s viewing activity. The system uses different algorithms that are user-selectable and user-adjustable identify program suggestions. The system may query a program guide database to build a list of programs having attributes similar to the attributes of the current program or the last viewed program. The system may use an adaptive learning algorithm such as a neural network. The neural network may be trained by the program guide by monitoring user-viewing activity. Each algorithm may be personalized for multiple users.

Abstract: A secure media capture device may comprise a secure memory, a first sensor, a second sensor, a processor, and a communication module. The first sensor may be configured to capture media. The second sensor may be configured to capture data indicating a time, a place, or a combination thereof at which the media is captured. The processor may be configured to obtain device metadata; associate the data, the media, and the device metadata to form a submission; encrypt the submission; and store the submission in the secure memory The communication module may be configured send to the submission to a public web server via a public network.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may operate, for example, obtaining a number of blogs including an initial set of annotated blogs and unannotated blogs. The initial set of annotated blogs are annotated as being either relevant to a selected media program or not relevant to the selected media program. A set of features is determined associating the selected media program with the unannotated blogs and a trained classifier is generated based on the set of features. The trained classifier is applied to the blogs to identify a subset of blogs relevant to the selected media program. An analysis is performed on the selected blogs to determine a trend related to the selected media program and a graphical user interface is presented that concurrently presents the selected blogs, the trend, and the selected media program. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application are provided. In particular, a method includes the steps of receiving user equipment identification information and receiving a user request from a user device indicating instructions for the user equipment. The user request is cross-referenced with an action request in a user equipment format selected from a plurality of formats to be compatible with the user equipment. The action request is transmitted for receipt by the user equipment for enabling execution of the indicated instructions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes: receiving, via a network digital video recorder, a request to record requested content; receiving, via a network digital video recorder at a first time, the requested content in a first format and the requested content in a second format; storing, via the network digital video recorder, the requested content in the first format; storing, via the network digital video recorder, the requested content in the second format; deleting, from network digital video recorder, the requested content in the second format after a predetermined time period; and transcoding, via an on demand transcoder, the requested content in the first format to the requested content in a third format after the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of identifying content and tracking viewership thereof comprising measuring a color content of a display device, defining a measured color content and determining an occupancy of a space associated with the display device, defining a determined occupancy. Where the determined occupancy indicated the occupancy by at least one person, the measured color content with is associated with the viewable content. Additionally, a viewership information database is updated responsive to the determined occupancy and the viewable content. In some embodiments, determining the color content may be performed by a luminaire in optical communication with the display device.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure include sending, to a hospitality set-top box, subscription information of a user; receiving from the hospitality set-top box, via a personalized graphical user interface, a request to view a media content item; determining whether access to the media content item is available free of charge as part of a service subscription; selecting, one of a first account or a second account to which a fee for access to the media content item is to be charged; responsive to the first account being selected, charging the fee to the first account; responsive to the second account being selected, charging the fee to the second account; and transmitting the media content item to the hospitality set-top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is performed using a smart TV, which receives from a television signal source device a television signal feed encoding primary television content and then presents that content. The smart TV receives data via the computer network, including first data representing a to-be-replaced portion of the primary television content and second data representing secondary television content. Using the second data, the smart TV automatically presents the secondary television content in place of the to-be-replaced television content.

Abstract: A distribution device includes a distribution unit that distributes a content including a control program to a user terminal. The control program causes the user terminal to execute an acquisition procedure for acquiring an area of the content, the area being displayed by a browser program, as a viewable area, a determination procedure for determining whether or not a display area where a video is displayed, the display area being included in the content, is located in the viewable area, and a playback procedure for starting playback of the video if the display area is located in the viewable area and the situation of the user terminal is a predetermined situation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the retrieval of a social media tag associated with a content stream. A social media tag associated with a content stream received by a customer premise equipment (CPE) device may be detected and identified, and the social media tag may be presented to a user. The social media tag may be presented to a user along with the underlying multimedia content associated with the content stream, and/or may be delivered to a user device or account. A user interface including the identified social media tag may be presented to a user, and the user may be given the option to receive messages associated with the identified social media tag. Messages associated with the identified social media tag may be updated and presented to the user along with the underlying multimedia content.

Abstract: A broadcast signal reception method and a reception system are provided. The reception system includes a first processor, a second processor, and a storage medium. The first processor receives and processes a signaling table, the signaling table comprising first signaling information including access information of Non-Real-Time (NRT) service data and second signaling information including media object association information of the NRT service data. The second processor receives the NRT service data and processes a file including the received NRT service data based on the access information and the media object association information processed by the first processor. The storage medium stores the processed file of the NRT service data.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a media device, a first content stream via a satellite distribution system, the first content stream including first media content. While receiving the first content stream, the method includes receiving, at the media device, a second content stream via a terrestrial distribution system. The second content stream includes second media content corresponding to an audio portion of the first media content. The method also includes sending the first media content to a display device and detecting a disruption of the first content stream. The method further includes, after detecting the disruption, sending the second media content to an audio output device associated with or included within the display device.

Abstract: Profile-based content variation includes determining viewing trends for a television viewing device based on subscriber information and a channel selection history of the television viewing device, matching commerce channels to at least one logical channel based on the determined viewing trends, and broadcasting one of the logical channels that matches one of the selected commerce channels.

Abstract: A commercial television-interfacing dongle and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a processor, memory, a control interface, and a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The control interface and the USB interface connect to the commercial television. The commercial television interfacing dongle may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display and receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. Following receipt and processing of the virtual remote control functionality input instructions, the commercial television-interfacing dongle sends a command to the commercial television via a commercial television control protocol.

Abstract: A server apparatus includes a storage, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The storage stores association information that associates access information on the program processing apparatus corresponding to user identification information with the user identification information. The acquisition unit acquires the user identification information and program-specifying information that specifies a broadcast program. The controller specifies the access information on the association information from the user identification information. Then, the controller causes the program processing apparatus to perform processing regarding the broadcast program specified by the program-specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit by using the access information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomic positioning of overlays within streaming data are disclosed. In embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises: providing a hosted data stream containing a first display object to a plurality of participants through respective participant devices; providing a hosted second display object to the plurality of participants through the respective participant devices, wherein the second display object is contained within an overlay that is positioned atop the first display object at a first position; calculating consensus coordinates for the second display object based on suggested position data received from the respective participant devices; calculating customized coordinates for the second display object for each of the respective participant devices based on the consensus coordinates and participant data; and sending the customized coordinates to each of the respective participant devices.