Abstract: A method and apparatus of receiving over-the-air television content is disclosed and includes receiving input at a media processor. The media processor is coupled to a presentation device and includes processing logic and memory storing instructions executable by the processing logic to perform operations including sending a control command to the presentation device via a second interface having a data connection where the control command instructs the presentation device to tune an over-the-air tuner at the presentation device to a requested channel and receiving the over-the-air television content from the over-the-air tuner in the presentation device via the data connection. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to read media content from an optical storage medium inserted into an optical drive of the communication device, obtain one or more preferences of a set top box for presentation of the media content, adjust the media content from a current format into a target format based at least in part on the one or more preferences, and transmit the media content in the target format to the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of sharing media content is disclosed. A request is received at a network-connected media recorder to send a recording including media content to one or more users. At least one subscriber in the one or more users is identified, where the at least one subscriber is authorized to display the media content. At least one media device associated with the at least one subscriber is determined. The recording is sent to the at least one media device associated with the authorized subscriber.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing element in a communication system having a controller to detect an incoming call directed to a called party, retrieve presence information associated with a plurality of communication devices of the called party, retrieve presence information of a calling party initiating the incoming call, and determine from the presence information of the called party, the presence information of the calling party, and a call processing profile of the called party how to respond to the incoming call. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit are disclosed. An example method to determine user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit disclosed herein comprises detecting motion of the gesture-based control unit, the motion caused by a user, determining a detected gesture from a sequence of one or more detected motions of the gesture-based control unit, and identifying the user from the detected gesture to determine an authorization for use by the gesture-based control unit.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting registration information over a network to a registration server for registration of first media content housed in a physical medium where the first registration information is associated with a purchase of the first media content from a point of sale device of a retailer and responsive to the registration, obtaining authorization for electronic access to second media content provided by a media source, where the second media content is associated with the first media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to eliminate a scheduled recording of a targeted media program, where the scheduled recording is a redundant recording of the targeted media program that is determined based upon monitoring of recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes in communication with each other over a network, where another set top box of the group of set top boxes is designated as a host set top box to record the targeted media program, and where the controller is provided access to the targeted media program by the host set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an incoming call at a first device. The method includes determining whether second caller identification information is available at the first device based on first caller identification information received with the incoming call. The method further includes retrieving the second caller identification information in response to determining that the second caller identification information is available at the first device. The method further includes presenting a graphical display at a display device. The graphical display includes a plurality of caller information fields. The plurality of caller information fields are populated based on the first caller identification information and based on the second caller identification information. The graphical display also includes a user selectable edit option to edit the second caller identification information during the incoming call.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a selection from a media device corresponding to a first media content, generating a play list at a server where the play list includes second media content that is associated with the first media content by at least one of genre, artist and being published in temporal proximity, and providing play list content comprising at least a portion of the first and second media content to the media device, where at least one of the generation of the play list and the providing of the play list content is based on metadata pointers associated with the first and second media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate selection of episodes of serial programs from a media service are provided. A particular computer-implemented method includes retrieving a media service favorites list of programs associated with at least one user at a computing device. The media service favorites list includes at least one first serial program selected by at least one user and at least one second serial program selected by a recommendation engine. The method also includes sending from the computing device a display of the media service favorites list to a display device associated with the computing device. The display includes an entry for each of the programs in the media service favorites list and a first selectable indicator associated with each of the serial programs determined to have a new, unviewed episode.

Abstract: A method and system to process program content material are described herein. A received data stream includes program content data associated with a particular program and includes index data corresponding to the program content data of the particular program. The index data includes one of a plurality of program format codes. A database determines a program format type of the particular program. The database includes the plurality of program format codes and includes a corresponding plurality of program format types, wherein each program format type is associated with a specific division of program content material. Chapter points of the particular program are determined based on the associated specific division of program content material of the program format type corresponding to the one of the plurality of program format codes of the index data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit are disclosed. An example method to determine user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit disclosed herein comprises detecting motion of the gesture-based control unit, the motion caused by a user, determining a detected gesture from a sequence of one or more detected motions of the gesture-based control unit, and identifying the user from the detected gesture to determine an authorization for use by the gesture-based control unit.

Abstract: A method of sharing media content is disclosed. A request is received at a network-connected media recorder to send a recording including media content to one or more users. At least one subscriber in the one or more users is identified, where the at least one subscriber is authorized to display the media content. At least one media device associated with the at least one subscriber is determined. The recording is sent to the at least one media device associated with the authorized subscriber.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to obtain display parameters associated with a display device, adjust a format of media content at the set top box based at least in part on the display parameters where the adjustment is of one or more portions of a display of the media content, and transmit the media content from the set top box to the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to read media content from an optical storage medium inserted into an optical drive of the communication device, obtain one or more preferences of a set top box for presentation of the media content, adjust the media content from a current format into a target format based at least in part on the one or more preferences, and transmit the media content in the target format to the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method at a set-top box. The method includes receiving a signal including media content. The method also includes determining a signal quality metric of the first signal. The method also includes scheduling recording of the media content via a second signal after determining that the signal quality metric of the first signal is below a specified threshold.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to eliminate a scheduled recording of a targeted media program, where the scheduled recording is a redundant recording of the targeted media program that is determined based upon monitoring of recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes in communication with each other over a network, where another set top box of the group of set top boxes is designated as a host set top box to record the targeted media program, and where the controller is provided access to the targeted media program by the host set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.