Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for rewarding entertainment consumers, and more specifically to a system and method for rewarding people for watching or otherwise engaging in various forms of media and entertainment (e.g. broadcast TV, on-demand TV, games, live entertainment, movies, and radio) to promote loyalty to or improve recognition of all entertainment, while collecting useful data about the media consumption habits as well as the rewards consumption patterns associated with those consumers.

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: An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to identify, utilizing ACR, viewer interaction and/or viewer information. The ACR-enabled connected TV device may present, utilizing the ACR, a variant of an advertisement in a next ad pod during presentation of content, based on the identified viewer interaction and/or the identified viewer information. The viewer information may comprise customized preferences profile, default preferences setting, viewing habits, time of day and/or location. The viewer information may also comprise objects and/or events captured by an associated camera. When an identified stored episode of a show is presented via DVR playback, the ACR-enabled connected TV device may present, in a next ad pod, a new version of an advertisement, where the new version of the advertisement may be associated with a new episode of the show and presentation of the new version may result in a C3 rating credit.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for communication between a plurality of client devices of a broadcast system. The communication may be, for example, a recommendation of a program that is communicated from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers via their client devices. The communication also may be a comment regarding a program, for example, recently viewed at the client device of the one subscriber. In general, the communication may be a message from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers. Further, the communication may be configured to perform a function on one or more other client devices. Such a function may include, but is not limited to, setting a timer to record a program, ordering or purchasing a program or service, cancelling an ordered/purchased program or service, setting or altering user preferences, controlling access to channels, etc.

Abstract: The present technology may identify item category affinities by identifying a plurality of classifications of an item. An accuracy of the plurality of classifications relative to one another for the item may be identified. A category affinity of the item may be determined based on the accuracy of the plurality of classifications relative to one another.

Abstract: A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment such as a set-top box. The program guide provides an operator showcase in the form of one or more operator showcase television listings screens, each of which contains a set of television listings information. The sets of television listings information are generated by querying a database of television listings data in a database in the set-top box. Each database query is based on content criteria previously selected by the cable system operator or other service provider. The service provider is also able to define the format with which the television listings information is displayed in the television listings screens. A title and logos may also be selected by the service provider for each screen. The operator showcase television listings screens may therefore by customized and branded by the service provider.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing video content includes one or more video input modules each adapted to receive a video signal from a video source, and a video combiner for receiving the video signals from the one or more video inputs and generating a video packet data stream. The apparatus also includes at least one video output module adapted to transmit the video packet data stream, and a processor coupled to the video combiner and the at least one video output. The processor cooperates with one or both of the video combiner and the at least one video output to transcode at least a portion of the video packet data stream.

Abstract: A network addressable appliance with digital multimedia recording capabilities has limited access including playback of stored multimedia content upon faulty connection with a service provider network. Upon a connectivity event, the network addressable appliance compares a retrieved hardware address for a connected residential gateway to a stored hardware address for an assigned residential gateway. If the two hardware addresses correspond, the network addressable appliance provides playback to stored multimedia content. The system helps prevent violations of digital rights management rules by restricting access to stored multimedia content while the network addressable appliance is connected to an unauthorized residential gateway. The system provides a user with limited access (i.e. playback) to multimedia content during service provider network outages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list.

Abstract: A system and a method for attaining a selectable image sequence are provided. The system includes a viewer display component configured to transmit a request from a user's interface component for the selectable image sequence. The request obtains a handle which corresponds to the selectable image sequence, a display description in which the handle is embedded and a reply response containing the handle that corresponds to the selectable image. The viewer display component is also configured to receive the reply response and to render the selectable image sequence on a display screen of the user's interface component.

Abstract: A media services device including a display device configured to present user-selectable options corresponding to video-on-demand services, and a video-on-demand application server component configured to provide the video-on-demand services responsive to user selection of the options.

Abstract: Techniques described herein identify items within a content stream and output information pertaining to these items. For instance, the techniques may monitor an audio and/or video stream to identify products, geographical locations, particular people, or any other item of interest. In response to identifying an item of interest, the techniques obtain an instruction that determines what type of information to output with the content stream.

Abstract: A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's scheduled program recordings. The programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible.

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate user commentary are described. In some embodiments, a method receives program content from a content source and identifies data describing the program content. The program content is communicated to a first device for presentation to a user. The data describing the program content is communicated to a second device for presentation to the user substantially simultaneously with the presentation of the program content on the first display device. A user commentary is received from the second device. The user commentary is generated by the user and associated with the program content.

Abstract: A content server includes a stored search keyword information receiver for receiving stored search keyword information transmitted from a video display apparatus or a information terminal device, a content extractor for extracting a content to be recommended, from a content group stored in the content server on the basis of the received stored search keyword information, and a recommended content information transmitter for transmitting information on the extracted content to be recommended to the video display apparatus. The video display apparatus includes a recommended content information receiver for receiving the information on the content to be recommended, and a display unit capable of displaying the information on the content to be recommended. The information terminal device includes a keyword information storage unit capable of storing the stored search keyword information required to extract the content to be recommended.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. A first plurality of packets including audiovisual information may be generated. A second plurality of packets including error correction coding information for the audiovisual information may be generated. Control information for associating the error correction coding information with the audiovisual information may be generated, and a third plurality of packets including the control information may also be generated. The plurality of packets, including the first, second, and third pluralities of packets, may be transmitted to a mobile device in a wireless manner. The control information may inform the mobile device of the association of the first error correction coding information with the audiovisual information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an auto zapping function corresponding to user' taste. A block receives a particular channel and disassembles the received channel into intervals (chapters) of predetermined length. The block calculates scores of chapters, based on a result of comparison of EPG information of a program from an EPG acquiring part, symbol information from a symbol information managing part, viewing history from a viewing history managing part, and news information from WWW news site and the like in an RSS acquiring part, etc. with meta information obtained from the chapters, viewer responsiveness obtained from the chapters, etc., and provides a result of calculation and starting time and ending time of the chapters to a chapter selecting part. The chapter selecting part selects chapters to be most highly recommended to a user, based on scores, which are provided from the block, for chapters of a program being broadcasted in each channel. The selected chapters are sequentially reproduced.

Abstract: An approach is provided for navigating media content by specifying a time to start playback of the media content.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a system to prevent manipulation of transmitted video data including an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD) receiving audio/video data and a display device. The IRD may include a device to transmit an HDMI compliant audio/video stream toward the display device. The system may further include a device to add an over-encryption layer to the HDMI/HDCP stream before reaching the display device and a device to remove the added encryption layer so as to recover the HDMI/HDCP stream, before processing the HDMI/HDCP stream by the display device.

Abstract: Techniques for delivery and presentation/display of audio-visual signals over electronic communications network channels are disclosed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a video server for an IPTV system is disclosed. The system includes a video extractor/transporter (shortly referred to as video extractor) for extracting encoded audio-visual signals from at least one video source, and distributing the signals over the electronic communications network channels. The system also includes control logic which can receive control messages from receivers and invoke the video extractor to extract audio-visual signals therefrom.