Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide novel solutions for providing real-time content in an on-demand environment. In a novel aspect of some embodiments, a real-time on demand server may be configured to integrate real-time content with on-demand content. This can allow a subscriber to enjoy the benefits of on-demand programming without having to forego access to real-time news, sports, weather information and/or the like.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide the ability for a subscriber to define personal broadcast channels. Such personal broadcast channels can allow a subscriber to define a play order for a plurality of sets of content (including without limitation video content, audio content, various alerts and/or other data, and the like). In some cases, the content might be on-demand content; in other cases, real-time content may be integrated as well. In an aspect, some embodiments thus provide a subscriber with heretofore unknown flexibility in determining what content, and in what order, the subscriber wishes to be provided (e.g., from a content provider's network). In some cases, this functionality might be provided by a networked personal video recorder. In other cases, a subscriber (or another) might be allowed to distribute (perhaps for a fee), a personal broadcast channel for use by others.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide networked storage of content, which can be used to allow the enhanced provision of real-time and/or on-demand content (such as video content, audio content, etc.) to a subscriber. Merely by way of example, in an aspect of some embodiments, a hierarchical storage structure may be used to cache content for provision to a plurality of subscribers. This can be used to balance competing concerns of efficiently using network and/or storage resources and providing expedient responses to subscribers' requests for content.

Abstract: A method of playing a rich content stream that includes a media stream and a descriptive stream. The method may include the steps of receiving the rich content stream at a media player, where the descriptive stream is generated from a rich content file executed separately from a source for the media stream, and where the media stream and the descriptive stream are received as separate streams at the media player. The method may also include synchronizing the media stream and the descriptive stream at the media player so that information in the descriptive stream is temporally synchronized with media content playing from the media stream. In addition the method may include activating the playing of the descriptive stream while the media stream is playing on the media player, where descriptive content from the descriptive stream is not played on the media player until being activated by a user.