Abstract: Apparatus and methods for enabling time-based secondary content scheduling and dynamic placement for users of a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a managed network, and the secondary content comprises advertising which was scheduled at the time the primary content was stored/recorded. A management process is adapted to identify the originally scheduled advertisements and utilize a temporal reference (e.g., time stamp) or other data associated with the original recording provided to the management process when an advertisement call is made dynamically, thereby preserving such relationship when the recorded content is requested for playback with a certain period of time, without having to store the advertisements with each recording. In another embodiment, a Campaign Management System (CMS) is used to associate campaigns based on a time period “in the past” (e.g., via use of one or more historic records regarding the advertisement placement for each user individually).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards having a user interface that displays a number of cards or windows. A user can implement a command where the user interface will automatically change the position of the displayed cards to show regions of interest which are the parts of the cards that a user may have interested in. The user interest can be determined in accordance with user preference information. Optionally, cards which do not have regions of interest are removed from a display area and such cards are replaced with new cards that do have regions of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards conducting a search for content and results using a user interface. A number of graphical objects (715) and filters are displayed where a search query is generated in response to a user gesture (730) that selects a graphical object and filter. The filters shown can change depending on various factors that impact what filters are selected from a group of filters (720).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards having a user interface that displays a number of cards or windows. A user can implement a command where the user interface will automatically change the position of the displayed cards to show regions of interest which are the parts of the cards that a user may have interested in. The user interest can be determined in accordance with user preference information. Optionally, cards which do not have regions of interest are removed from a display area and such cards are replaced with new cards that do have regions of interest.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating secondary content scheduling and dynamic insertion for users of a managed content distribution network, such as a cable, satellite, of HFCu network. In one embodiment, the secondary content comprises advertising content which is directly related or tied to demographics, psychographics, and/or other metrics of applicability to one or more users of the content distribution network. Individual insertion opportunities are identified (either in advance or dynamically), and relevant or targeted secondary content is dynamically “switched in” for delivery to the one or more users via interaction between a local or client application (e.g., operative on the user's set top box or personal electronic device) and a switched digital video entity of the network, and subsequently switched out if no longer required, thereby conserving network bandwidth and/or other resources.

Abstract: A user interface that displays a number of cards or windows is described where a user can move the cards in a horizontal direction freely. When a card resides in a locked zone, as defined by a user, the card will be able to be manipulated in a vertical direction, while cards that reside in a regular zone will not be able to be moved vertically. In addition, only cards that are in the locked zone can be subjected to a user action such as cutting content from the card, pasting content to the card, enlarging the contents of the card, or shrinking the contents of the card.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to the idea of tracking user navigation, consumption, and/or behavior and applying analytics to help shape future offerings (customized offerings, up-sells, recommendations, etc.) to a user and to provide reporting data to service providers and studios. Methods and systems of providing viewing recommendations for a user are set forth. This involves collecting usage data related to a session of interaction by the user, processing the user data for the session, and providing feedback regarding the session. The sessions involve multiple stages tracking a user's interactions. These include stages such as an inquiry stage, a results stage, a details stage, a selection stage, and a confirmation stage. Usage data is then mined to indicate the content creator of a media asset regardless of the media asset type.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards conducting a search for content and results using a user interface. A number of graphical objects (715) and filters are displayed where a search query is generated in response to a user gesture (730) that selects a graphical object and filter. The filters shown can change depending on various factors that impact what filters are selected from a group of filters (720).

Abstract: User interfaces for hand-held electronic devices, such as mobile telephone devices, touch tablets, personal computers (PC), remote control devices, and/or other devices, assist users with, among other things, knowing which user input elements of a device to use when the device's physical orientation changes.

Abstract: A user interface that displays a number of cards or windows is described where a user can move the cards in a horizontal direction freely. When a card resides in a locked zone, as defined by a user, the card will be able to be manipulated in a vertical direction, while cards that reside in a regular zone will not be able to be moved vertically. In addition, only cards that are in the locked zone can be subjected to a user action such as cutting content from the card, pasting content to the card, enlarging the contents of the card, or shrinking the contents of the card.

Abstract: A user interface is used for selecting a time duration for a media collection shelf. The media shelf can be populated with graphical elements corresponding to selected media assets, where the cumulative time duration of selected media assets should not exceed the time duration of the media collection shelf. When placed within the media collection shelf, a graphical element corresponding to a media asset is scaled in proportion to the time duration of the media asset as compared to the time duration of the media collection shelf. Optionally, selected media assets within the media collection shelf are played back in a particular order specified by a user.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards managing communications from different sources is described where such a management operation can be controlled using a user interface. Sources are selected using the user interface such that communications concerning a specified subject are received from such sources. The user interface can also be used to specific the amount of context/communications that come from different sources concerning the specified subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards having a user interface being selected for display on an input device to control the playback of a media asset or media service. A determination is made of the media asset or media service to be played and a lookup operation is performed to select the corresponding user interface for the input device. The user interface will change depending on the media asset or media service being selected for playback.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards having a user interface that displays a number of cards or windows. A user can implement a command where the user interface will automatically change the position of the displayed cards to show regions of interest which are the parts of the cards that a user may have interested in. The user interest can be determined in accordance with user preference information. Optionally, cards which do not have regions of interest are removed from a display area and such cards are replaced with new cards that do have regions of interest.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for the dynamic allocation of advertising content includes tracking user interaction with media content and scheduling a presentation of advertising content based on the tracked user interaction. In one instance, tracking user interaction with media content includes at least one of determining a frequency with which a user switches between avail able programming channels and determining a user preference for an advertising content format or advertised products. In a case in which a frequency with which a user switches between available programming channels is tracked, advertising content is scheduled to be presented at a time during which a user is most likely to be viewing a particular channel and as such, to view the advertising content.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to the idea of tracking user navigation, consumption, and/or behavior and applying analytics to help shape future offerings (customized offerings, up-sells, recommendations, etc.) to a user and to provide reporting data to service providers and studios. Methods and systems of providing viewing recommendations for a user are set forth. This involves collecting usage data related to a session of interaction by the user, processing the user data for the session, and providing feedback regarding the session. The sessions involve multiple stages tracking a user's interactions. These include stages such as an inquiry stage, a results stage, a details stage, a selection stage, and a confirmation stage. Usage data is then mined to indicate the content creator of a media asset regardless of the media asset type.

Abstract: A unique identifier is used to identify products and services in media content in a method which includes receiving a request for information regarding a product or service identifiable in content being presented on a display, in response to the received request, determining a unique identifier for the product or service, determining if information for an alternate product or service should be returned in response to the request and if alternate product or service information should be returned in response to the request, determining a unique identifier for the alternate product or service. The process further includes searching for the unique identifier of the product or service in the original request or the alternate product or service in a database of unique identifiers to obtain product or service information for the product or service for which information is to be returned. The information retrieved can include sales information.

Abstract: A user who recommends media assets can have a second user link or lock onto such recommendations. The second user is then presented with the option to receive such assets, when purchased. Such recommendations can be presented on a per asset or on an asset class level. The pricing of such assets can be modified based on the number of assets that are purchased and in relationship to the number of links that the second user has to other users.