Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When a selection is received for non-approved items offered by a vendor, authorization for the purchase of the item may be obtained from an administrative user. A message may be sent to an address of the administrative user to obtain the authorization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for sharing media files. One embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a file sharing application configured to initiate a communication session with a file server, where the file server that manages download requests for a collection of media files, where the collection of media files are subject to a trial period. The system further includes media file selection logic configured to prompt a user to select a subset of media files from the collection of media files that was downloaded from the file server after the trial period is detected to have expired. In accordance with this embodiment, the user selects a subset of media files that the user would like to keep for continued use and the remaining media files not selected by the user are then configured to be inaccessible by the user after the trial period has expired. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When a selection is received for non-approved items offered by a vendor, authorization for the purchase of the item may be obtained from an administrative user. A message may be sent to an address of the administrative user to obtain the authorization.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server, a first content item and a second content item from a content source. The first content item is distinct from the second content item. The method includes generating, at the server, a modified content item by combining a first portion of the first content item and a second portion of the second content item. The method includes initiating transmission of the modified content from the server to a first device. The method also includes, after a first portion of the modified content item is transmitted, initiating transmission of a second portion of the modified content item from the server to a second device distinct from the first device. The second portion is subsequent to the first portion in a playback order of the modified content item.

Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When a selection is received for non-approved items offered by a vendor, authorization for the purchase of the item may be obtained from an administrative user. A message may be sent to an address of the administrative user to obtain the authorization.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server, a first content item and a second content item from a content source. The first content item is distinct from the second content item. The method includes generating, at the server, a modified content item by combining a first portion of the first content item and a second portion of the second content item. The method includes initiating transmission of the modified content from the server to a first device. The method also includes, after a first portion of the modified content item is transmitted, initiating transmission of a second portion of the modified content item from the server to a second device distinct from the first device. The second portion is subsequent to the first portion in a playback order of the modified content item.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for managing the communications and information resources of a user. Identity information relating to the user is received. The user's preference for withholding an incoming communication is obtained. An entry is created in a message log for the withheld communication. The user is not notified of receipt of the withheld communication, yet receipt of the withheld communication is logged in the message log.

Abstract: A method of managing bandwidth usage at a customer premises includes receiving a content stream at a set-top box device coupled to a display device. The method also includes receiving a power-off command for the display device. Furthermore, the method includes displaying a prompt on the display device, wherein the prompt comprises an instruction to confirm that the display device is active via a confirmation input. The method further includes directing, responsive to the determining that the confirmation input has not been received, a source device to cease sending the content stream to the set-top box.

Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When a selection is received for non-approved items offered by a vendor, authorization for the purchase of the item may be obtained from an administrative user. A message may be sent to an address of the administrative user to obtain the authorization.

Abstract: A method includes sending, from a media device to a display device, media content associated with a channel provided by a content provider, the media content received from a network device associated with the content provider. The method includes analyzing, based on a profile, a data feed from a source external to the content provider to identify content of interest. The method includes sending an indicator from the media device to the display device in response to identifying the content of interest. The method also includes, in response to user input indicating selection of the indicator, sending selectable options associated with presentation of the content of interest to the display device.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for providing a connected context based experience to a user during a traveling event. A processing system including a processor detects a start of a traveling event for a user, establishes a context data sharing community for the traveling event, wherein the context data sharing community comprises at least one context data source device and a plurality of service agents, where each service agent is expected to provide a service to the user for a duration specified for the traveling event, determines at least one recommendation or at least one action from context data associated with the user received from the at least one context data source device, wherein the context data comprises a purpose of the user for the traveling event, and provides the at least one recommendation to at least one service agent of the plurality of service agents for presentation to the user.

Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. A menu may be sent to a client device. The menu may specify media content that is available for an on-demand streaming subscription service. When a request is received for the on-demand streaming subscription service, a default item may be automatically added to the electronic request. The default item may be specified by a rule associated with the client device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to establish a user profile, retrieve from a media communication system media content schedules according to the user profile, determine a consumption status for each of the retrieved media content schedules, generate an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising the retrieved media content schedules, each media content schedule depicting its corresponding consumption status, and present the EPG at a media presentation device upon request. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products generate searchable listings of interactive voice response menus. A central database maps each searchable listing to its corresponding server address. As there may be thousands or millions of searchable listings, the central database provides an efficient mechanism for quickly finding a desired menu.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a media server, a media stream that includes a group of segments of media content associated with a user-selected category. The group of segments includes a first segment corresponding to a portion of a first program and a second segment corresponding to a portion of a second program. The method includes, responsive to receipt of the media stream, sending a plurality of selectable icons to a display device responsive to receipt of the media stream. The method includes receiving user input corresponding to a particular selectable icon of the plurality of selectable icons and sending data, based on the user input, to the media server. The method also includes receiving from the media server, a modified stream based on the user input, where a particular segment corresponding to the particular selectable icon has been replaced by an entirety of a corresponding program in the modified stream.

Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When an online order is received, a profile may be checked. A customer may her profile with items that are automatically added to the online order. Food and beverages, for example, may be items that are frequently consumed and thus automatically added to any online order. Electronic commerce may thus be enhanced to restock items that are frequently purchased.

Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When an online order is received, a profile may be checked. A customer may her profile with items that are automatically added to the online order. Food and beverages, for example, may be items that are frequently consumed and thus automatically added to any online order. Electronic commerce may thus be enhanced to restock items that are frequently purchased.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server, a first content item and a second content item from a content source. The first content item is distinct from the second content item. The method includes generating, at the server, a modified content item by combining a first portion of the first content item and a second portion of the second content item. The method includes initiating transmission of the modified content from the server to a first device. The method also includes, after a first portion of the modified content item is transmitted, initiating transmission of a second portion of the modified content item from the server to a second device distinct from the first device. The second portion is subsequent to the first portion in a playback order of the modified content item.

Abstract: A system includes an interface to obtain content on behalf of a target consumer. The system includes a memory. The system further includes a processor that is configured to modify the content to generate modified content. The modified content is generated based on time limited content consumption information of the target consumer and the modified content is stored in the memory.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a media server, a media stream that includes a group of segments of media content associated with a user-selected category. The group of segments includes a first segment corresponding to a portion of a first program and a second segment corresponding to a portion of a second program. The method includes, responsive to receipt of the media stream, sending a plurality of selectable icons to a display device responsive to receipt of the media stream. The method includes receiving user input corresponding to a particular selectable icon of the plurality of selectable icons and sending data, based on the user input, to the media server. The method also includes receiving from the media server, a modified stream based on the user input, where a particular segment corresponding to the particular selectable icon has been replaced by an entirety of a corresponding program in the modified stream.