Abstract: Systems and methods for effectively and efficiently receiving, analyzing, and using subscriber content choice information are described. One embodiment of the present invention includes a subscriber-action database, such as a clickstream database, a media-content database, and a merge processor electronically connected to the two databases for merging data in the subscriber-action database with data in the media-content database to create a subscriber content-choice database. The media-content database may include programming and/or advertising data. The media-content database may also include category and context information to provide the capability to comprehensively analyze data in the subscriber content-choice database.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to enable a multiple users browsing content offerings on multiple devices to have their selections played by a content playback device using its own authentication credentials. The users can then continue to browse the content offerings on their multiple second displays without interrupting the content that is playing on the main content playback device. The method is an architecture design and implementation that allows users to navigate, browse, and search content offerings on a second display such as a smart phone, PC, laptop, tablet, internet appliance, or any other device with a capability to couple to a network. Concurrently, while a user is using the content playback device, another user can perform browsing activities on a second display and send a media selection to a primary content playback device of the user's choice for queueing and/or playback.

Abstract: A program guide in which a video layer includes a plurality of video objects including title objects, each title object having associated with it a channel and at least one time slot, the video layer being formed in response to a received video stream and a graphics layer comprising a plurality of graphics objects including title overlay objects, each of the title overlay objects selectively imparting at least a visual de-emphasis to a respective title object in the video layer, the visual de-emphasis being imparted to title objects not being associated with a desired time slot.

Abstract: A processing device can execute instructions to query a database to determine a top-ranked avail for a target audience, to generate a target avail, determine the target avail is not within a sell CPM price for the target audience, and determine that demand for the target avail as addressable television (ATV) impressions is beyond a predetermined threshold sufficient to discount the CPM price of the target avail for the target audience. The ATV impressions can be derived from directly addressable replacement ads. The processing device can further determine that the target avail is within the sell CPM price for the target audience with a determined discount and discount the sell CPM price for the target avail by the determined discount that decreases a margin for an ad campaign when filling the target avail with a broadcast ad. Also, ATV sell CPM price can be adjusted according to programmable TV campaign performance.

Abstract: A television message system is provided that allows users at user television devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. Users can send massages through the television message system to users at personal computers who are connected to the user's television distribution facility through a communications network. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method of sharing broadcasting channel information of a mobile device in a Social Networking Service (SNS) includes, if a user comment is posted for a broadcasting program, acquiring broadcasting program information from a Television (TV), uploading the broadcasting program information to a handover broker, acquiring access information that is configured to access the broadcasting program information from the handover broker, and uploading the access information and the user comment to an SNS server.

Abstract: A method for controlling multiple devices using a virtual device that may be displayed on a screen. The method may include providing the information for the virtual device from a set-top box to the screen. The method may also include using a control device to scroll around the virtual device and make a selection fro the options provided by the virtual device. Additionally, the buttons on the control device may not correspond to the functionality associated with the virtual buttons on the virtual device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of transmitting broadcast signals. The method includes, receiving an uncompressed broadcast content from an external receiving unit, wherein an watermark is embedded in a frame of the uncompressed broadcast content; extracting the embedded watermark from the uncompressed broadcast content; parsing the extracted watermark; generating an URL by using information in the parsed watermark; and launching an application by using the generated URL, wherein the application provides the interactive services related to the uncompressed broadcast content.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to arbitrary applications via an interactive television service using a pool of remote virtual desktops.

Abstract: A system having an adaptive browse feature and an adaptive flip feature is provided. The adaptive 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 adaptive 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 to 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 set top box includes an interface to a video system configured to deliver data to an individual subscriber or subset of subscribers that are part of a larger group of subscribers, wherein the data is not delivered to the other subscribers of the larger group, the interface adapted to receive communications from one or more modulators of a modulator group of the video system. The set top further includes a decoder configured to extract a modulator group identifier periodically inserted into communications directed to the set top box from the one or more modulators, the modulator group identifier unique to a physical transmission path from a headend of the video system to the one or more modulators. The set top includes a video request interface to the video system, the video request interface configured to output a request for video data including the modulator group identifier.

Abstract: A digital medium environment is described to determine textual content that is responsible for causing a viewing spike within a video. Video analytics data associated with a video is queried. The video analytics data identifies a number of previous user viewing s at various locations within the video. A viewing spike within the video is detected using the video analytics data. The viewing spike corresponds to an increase in the number of previous user viewings of the video that begins at a particular location within the video. Then, text of one or more video sources or video referral sources read by users prior to viewing the video from the particular location within the video is analyzed to identify textual content that is at least partially responsible for causing the viewing spike.

Abstract: Return loss due to excessive signal reflection into a cable television (CATV) network from an inoperative or abnormally operative terminal adapter is minimized, to communicate enhanced passive downstream signals to passive subscriber devices such as “life-line” telephone sets. A predetermined termination impedance is substituted for an active branch circuit of the terminal adapter whenever reduced input voltage, over-current or under-current conditions exist in the terminal adapter.

Abstract: Systems and methods can operate to manage the shared network bandwidth usage for media content streams. Through the bandwidth management of an individual media content stream while taking other media content streams into account a media stream server can achieve a stable bit rate across all streams to improve the quality of experience (QoE) of media content streams displayed at client devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, a method for transmitting broadcast signals, and a method for receiving broadcast signals are disclosed. A method for receiving a broadcast signal comprising receiving a broadcast signal, parsing a second packet at the received broadcast signal, parsing the first packet using the fixed header and/or the extended header and displaying broadcast contents by processing the parsed first packet is disclosed.

Abstract: Fast channel change systems and methods are operable to change channels to a newly selected media content event in response to a user request. An exemplary embodiment communicates a previously stored low resolution version segment of the newly selected media content event to a presentation system while the media device is performing a tuning operation to change channels to receive a currently broadcasting high resolution version of the newly selected media content event. Once the tuning process has been completed at the media device, a handshake process is performed wherein the media device transitions presentation from the low resolution version to the high resolution version of the newly selected media content event.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a device that can reproduce a reproduction target file recorded on a portable information recording medium and a network file acquired in response to a request of a content application are provided. In the system including video reproduction devices, the vehicle-mounted video reproduction device transmits an NF entry transmission request, stores a received NF entry as an NF table, acquires in advance an NF on the basis of a stored NF entry and stores it, and if it is determined that an NF entry corresponding to a reproduction target file exists in the NF table when an optical disc is reproduced in a player unit, executes a proxy response for reading an NF identified by the NF entry corresponding to the reproduction target file from an NF storage unit and for supplying it to the player unit.

Abstract: Tracking and analysis of the location of user and device access to telecommunications services may be used to validate that a given user or device is part of an authorized subscriber household and is therefore properly accessing those services in accordance with the terms of service. A service provider may determine, based on previously collected data and user information collected while a user accesses a service, whether the user's pattern of access establishes a required pattern of access determined by the service provider, such as access on a minimum periodic basis from the home of an authorized subscriber.

Abstract: A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and/or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying an operating state of an AV device are described. An example method includes extracting, at a first AV device, data communicated via a data bus coupling a processor of the first AV device to a HDMI interface, the HDMI interface coupled to a second AV device different than the first AV device; analyzing a temporal sequence of the extracted data to determine if additional information is needed from the second AV device to identify a current operating state of the second AV device; when the temporal sequence is missing an expected message related to the current operating state of the second AV device, causing an AV network controller of the first AV device to request information from the second AV device; and analyzing a response from the second AV device including the requested information to identify the current operating state of the second AV device.