Abstract: Distributed media-aggregation systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises selecting a first media segment at a first media device, wherein the first media segment is provided by a first content provider and the first media device is associated with a subscriber, selecting a second media segment provided by a second content provider; obtaining the second media segment from a second media device, where the second media segment represents an alternative to first media segment and substituting the second media segment at the first media device to form a media stream.

Abstract: Example distributed media-protection systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises receiving a media stream at a first set top box (STB) via a content delivery system, splitting, at the first STB, the received media stream into at least two portions, allocating, using a processor at the first STB, a first of the at least two portions to the first STB and a second of the at least two portions to a second STB based on a pseudorandom seed, and storing the first of the at least two portions on the first STB and the second of the at least two portions on the second STB.

Abstract: A personal video on-demand system and method which permits a user to receive available content using a single tuner and perform one of a plurality of operations on the available content. These operations include recording two or more signals, where one or both may be simultaneously viewed, recording one or more signals and playing back one or more signals, playing back two or more signals, watching one or more signals while recording one or more other signals, viewing two or more signals live, or viewing at least one signal live, while viewing one or more signals in a playback mode.

Abstract: Distributed media-aggregation systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises selecting a first media segment at a first media device, wherein the first media segment is provided by a first content provider and the first media device is associated with a subscriber, selecting a second media segment provided by a second content provider; obtaining the second media segment from a second media device, and combining the first and second media segments at the first media device to form a media stream.

Abstract: Distributed media-protection systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises identifying at least two portions of a media stream, and storing the at least two portions on at least two media devices based upon a pseudorandom seed.