Abstract: Systems and techniques for collecting information as authorized by information providers and sharing the information with information recipients according to criteria specified by the information providers. Information is collected from one or more of a variety of sources and stored in a provider profile, with the provider profile also specifying criteria for sharing the information, including payment required for sharing the information with particular categories of recipients. An exchange system is maintained allowing recipients to request or to otherwise specify needs for particular categories of information and payments to be provided by the information, and needs or requests of recipients for information are matched with criteria specified by providers, with information being transferred or used to provide results for a recipient and payment being transferred from the recipient to a provider or providers when a match between information needs and criteria for sharing information is identified.

Abstract: A method includes displaying a second user interface while a subscriber is interacting with a first user interface during playback of at least a portion of a first content segment. The second user interface includes one or more selectable transition options associated with performing a transition with respect to a second content segment. The first user interface includes one or more selectable options associated with the first content segment. The method includes receiving input indicating a selection of a particular transition option of the one or more transition options via the second user interface.

Abstract: A method for transferring digital multimedia rights, the method including but not limited to receiving at a digital multimedia rights server, from a source end user device associated with a source end user, a request for a transfer of a source set of digital multimedia rights associated with the source end user; determining a destination end user associated with a destination end user device to which the digital multimedia rights will be transferred; requesting permission from the destination end user to transfer the digital multimedia rights to the destination end user device; and if the permission is received from the destination end user, canceling the source set of digital multimedia rights associated with the source end user and transferring the source set of digital multimedia rights associated with the source end user to the destination end user device. A system and computer program product are disclosed for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of displaying an interactive display at a set top box (STB) device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a media content stream. The media content stream includes a first content segment and a second content segment, where the second content segment is received at the STB device after the first content segment. The method also includes displaying a first interactive display, where the first interactive display includes at least one field to receive user input. The method also includes displaying a second interactive display after displaying the first interactive display but before displaying the second content segment. The method also includes performing a user-designated transition with respect to the second content segment based on a user input received via the second interactive display.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes receiving, from a device of a user, a request to transmit a multimedia file. The method also includes automatically generating a generated content descriptor based on an analysis of the multimedia file using at least one analysis parameter. The method includes determining whether the generated content descriptor satisfies filter criteria of a profile associated with the user. The method further includes rejecting the request to transmit the multimedia file when the generated content descriptor does not satisfy the filter criteria of the profile. The method includes transmitting the multimedia file along with the generated content descriptor when the generated content descriptor satisfies the filter criteria of the profile.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for dynamically constructing audio in a video program. The method includes extracting video metadata from a video program displayed on a playback device to a viewer, extracting component metadata from a plurality of audio components stored in a media object library, extracting viewer preferences from a viewer profile, receiving synchronization information about the video program, identifying a segment of the video program susceptible to inserting an audio component based on extracted video metadata, component metadata, and viewer preferences, transmitting the audio component to the playback device and a set of instructions detailing how to insert the audio component in real time in the segment of the video program, and constructing audio in the video program at the playback device using the audio component and the set of instructions.

Abstract: A message, which is to be routed to one of a plurality of authorized parties comprising a first authorized party and a second authorized party, is received by a routing system. A Web service is polled to detect for a presence of the first authorized party. After determining that the presence of the first authorized party remains undetected over an allocated time interval, the Web service is polled to detect for a presence of the second authorized party. In response to detecting the presence of the second authorized party, the message is routed to an active communication device associated with the second authorized party.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes receiving a request to transmit a first multimedia file. The first multimedia file is associated with a first file descriptor. The method includes automatically generating a first generated content descriptor by analyzing the first multimedia file using a first set of analysis parameters. The method also includes comparing the first generated content descriptor to the first file descriptor and determining a first score based on a deviation of the first generated content descriptor from the first file descriptor.

Abstract: A method and system of offering a video file to a video receiver includes offering a progressive download, but not a non-progressive full download, of the video file to the video receiver via a network connection when a connection speed satisfies a first threshold value. The method includes offering the non-progressive full download, but not the progressive download, of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is less than a second threshold value. The second threshold value is based on a bit rate at which the video file is encoded.

Abstract: A method for transferring digital multimedia rights, the method including but not limited to receiving at a digital multimedia rights server, from a source end user device associated with a source end user, a request for a transfer of a source set of digital multimedia rights associated with the source end user; determining a destination end user associated with a destination end user device to which the digital multimedia rights will be transferred; requesting permission from the destination end user to transfer the digital multimedia rights to the destination end user device; and if the permission is received from the destination end user, canceling the source set of digital multimedia rights associated with the source end user and transferring the source set of digital multimedia rights associated with the source end user to the destination end user device. A system and computer program product are disclosed for performing the method.

Abstract: A set-top box for an Internet protocol television (IPTV) network includes a radio interface module, a remote control interface module, and a display interface module. The radio interface module accesses an Internet radio service on the IPTV network and outputs a list of Internet radio stations received from the Internet radio service to a particular IPTV channel on the display interface module, receives a selection of an Internet radio station from the remote control interface module, retrieves an Internet radio stream associated with the selected Internet radio station from the Internet radio service in response to receiving the first selection, and outputs the Internet radio steam on the particular IPTV channel of the display interface module.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a set-top box device, media content from a media content server. The media content includes one or more metadata tags associated with one or more items depicted when the media content is displayed. The computer-implemented method includes sending the media content to a display device. The computer-implemented method also includes receiving a first user selection to visually identify the one or more items. The computer-implemented method also includes receiving a purchase request to purchase at least one of the one or more items depicted.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a communication module is disclosed. Generally, a fingerprint authentication device coupled with a communication module biometrically authenticates a user. The communication module sends an indication that the communication module is active for the user to receive a message based on the biometric authentication of the user. The communication module receives a message for the user that has been routed to the communication module based on the indication that the communication module is active for the user to receive a message.

Abstract: A method and system for programming, using a removable storage, a remote control apparatus providing universal remote control functionality is disclosed. A removable storage module may be introduced into the remote control apparatus. Programming codes for a remote-controlled device controllable by the remote control apparatus may be transferred from the removable storage module. Executable code for configuring the remote control apparatus may also be transferred. The programming codes may be assigned to control elements of the remote control apparatus. The remote control apparatus may be configured to use at least one of the programming codes to remotely control the remote-controlled device.

Abstract: A method and system for programming a universal remote control (URC) to operate with a remote-controlled device is disclosed. After initiating a serial programming mode on the URC, a user may be instructed to operate a plurality of control elements of an original remote control (ORC) of the remote-controlled device in a predetermined sequence. As a result of operating the ORC control elements, a plurality of programming codes for the remote-controlled device may be received by the URC. Alternatively, the ORC may be requested to transmit a plurality of programming codes for the remote-controlled device. The URC may be configured to use at least one of the programming codes to remotely control the remote-controlled device.

Abstract: A method and system for contacting emergency service providers may allow using a remote control (RC) at a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) client location. An MCDN user may use the RC, which may be configured to control customer premises equipment at the MCDN client, to signal an emergency event. In response, an MCDN server may be queried for emergency user information associated with the MCDN client and/or the MCDN user. Based on the emergency user information, third parties, such as emergency service providers, medical service providers, or private persons, may be contacted via the MCDN. A communications channel, including audio and/or video, between an emergency service provider and the MCDN client may be initiated based on the emergency user information.

Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor a person in a residence are provided. A particular method includes receiving data at a monitoring service from a set-top box (STB) device. The data includes a location in a residence of a person being monitored. The location may be obtained from a location system in the residence. The data also includes an associated time stamp for the location. The method includes analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method also includes providing a notification when one or more of the alert conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor a person in a residence are provided. A particular method includes receiving data from a set-top box (STB) device at a monitoring service. The data includes location information from a location system in a residence that monitors a location of a person in the residence. The data includes usage information regarding usage of a plurality of devices in the residence. The data also includes a time stamp associated with the location information and the usage information. The method includes analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method also includes sending a notification when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first video clip and a second video clip. The first video clip and the second video clip are variable-bit-rate (VBR)-encoded to form a VBR-encoded aggregated video content item. The VBR-encoding of the first video clip is based on an encoding complexity of the second video clip.

Abstract: A method and system of offering a video file to a video receiver includes offering a progressive download, but not a non-progressive full download, of the video file to the video receiver via a network connection when a connection speed satisfies a first threshold value. The method includes offering the non-progressive full download, but not the progressive download, of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is less than a second threshold value. The second threshold value is based on a bit rate at which the video file is encoded.