Abstract: A method of offering a video file to a video receiver that comprises determining a connection speed of a network connection to the video receiver. A progressive download, but not a non-progressive full download, of the video file is offered to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is greater than a first threshold value. The non-progressive full download, but not the progressive download, of the video file is offered to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is less than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A variable-bit-rate (VBR)-encoding of a plurality of clips from a plurality of video content items is performed to produce a VBR-encoded aggregated video content item. The VBR-encoding of each of the clips is based on an encoding complexity of at least one other one of the clips. This can be performed by combining the clips into aggregated video content and two-pass VBR-encoding the aggregated video content. A video quality test may be performed using the VBR-encoded aggregated video content item.

Abstract: A presence device operable in a first mode and a second mode is associated with a communication device. In the first mode, a user using the presence device is biometrically authenticated and a presence confirmation input is received from the communication device. In the second mode, a user-entered log-in input is received from the communication device. A central presence database is updated to indicate that the communication device is active for the user. A received message which is to be routed to the user is sent to the active device indicated by the central presence database.