Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing electronic media to a customer. One method prompts a customer to license a lifetime right to electronic media. The lifetime right allows the customer to experience the electronic media as often as desired. If the customer agrees to license the lifetime right, then the license is electronically stored on behalf of the customer. The licensed electronic media is communicated to the customer via a communications network.

Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control among a plurality of multimedia devices. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server to perform admission control functions. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and other multimedia devices and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.

Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server itself to perform the admission control function. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.

Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server itself to perform the admission control function. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.

Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control among a plurality of multimedia devices. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server to perform admission control functions. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and other multimedia devices and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.

Abstract: Different communications devices, different communications networks, and/or different users are used to generate, enable, and/or manage an API tool set for providing services through a residential communications gateway. The actual physical location of the service and the manner in which it operates are transparent to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a storage medium for peer-to-peer video calling between first and second devices is provided. The method includes determining a predetermined data communication rate by querying a communication network operably associated with the first and second devices. The method further includes transmitting video calling data from the first device through the communication network to the second device at substantially the predetermined data communication rate.

Abstract: Different communications devices, different communications networks, and/or different users are used to generate, enable, and/or manage an API tool set for providing services through a residential communications gateway. The actual physical location of the service and the manner in which it operates are transparent to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a storage medium for peer-to-peer video calling between first and second devices is provided. The method includes determining a predetermined data communication rate by querying a communication network operably associated with the first and second devices. The method further includes transmitting video calling data from the first device through the communication network to the second device at substantially the predetermined data communication rate.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for navigating during playback of media content on a content viewing device are provided. A method includes associating a descriptor with a time element. The time element references an instantiation of the descriptor in a content file. The method also includes applying a reference tag that identifies the descriptor to a location on the navigational search structure associated with the content file. The location is determined by the time element. The method further includes displaying the reference tag on the navigational search structure at the content viewing device while viewing the content file in playback mode.

Abstract: Application services gateways that execute electronic application programs/services allows the application programs/services to be managed and administered out of a network rather than locally. The application services gateways are elements in a services delivery system that execute application programs/services that control or otherwise interact with systems and devices of a home or business such as a heating and cooling system or a security system. The application services gateways have a LAN connection to a communication gateway that in turn communicates over a WAN to a remote services gateway. The remote services gateway channels data from a remote service platform to provide application programs/services and management services over the WAN to the communications gateway where it is then channeled to the application services gateways.

Abstract: Methods, computer programs, and systems for integrating personalized listings of media content into an electronic program guide. A user profile is retrieved that sets forth information about a user's preferences. Media content information is received that is indicative of a media type, a title, and/or descriptive information, for each of a plurality of available media selections. A media content recommendation is generated for the user by applying the user profile to the media content information, the recommendation setting forth at least one recommended media selection. The at least one recommended media selection is presented for display within the electronic program guide.

Abstract: Application services gateways that execute electronic application programs/services allows the application programs/services to be managed and administered out of a network rather than locally. The application services gateways are elements in a services delivery system that execute application programs/services that control or otherwise interact with systems and devices of a home or business such as a heating and cooling system or a security system. The application services gateways have a LAN connection to a communication gateway that in turn communicates over a WAN to a remote services gateway. The remote services gateway channels data from a remote service platform to provide application programs/services and management services over the WAN to the communications gateway where it is then channeled to the application services gateways.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for securing content in memory. When the content is received, the content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory. Prior to expiration of the lock the content cannot be read from memory. At expiration, however, the content is then readable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. A first physical medium and a second physical medium are logically bonded. Those logically bonded physical mediums are then associated in a database.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing electronic media to a customer. One method prompts a customer to license a lifetime right to electronic media. The lifetime right allows the customer to experience the electronic media as often as desired. If the customer agrees to license the lifetime right, then the license is electronically stored on behalf of the customer. The licensed electronic media is communicated to the customer via a communications network.

Abstract: A method of displaying content to a consumer including storing a consumer format preference and obtaining a request from the consumer to display the content. It is determined if the content meets the consumer format preference and the content is formatted to meet the consumer format preference if the content does not meet the consumer format preference. The content is then displayed.

Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control among a plurality of multimedia devices. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server to perform admission control functions. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and other multimedia devices and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.

Abstract: These exemplary embodiments utilize Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) for admission control. The use of the SIP allows a SIP server itself to perform the admission control function. The use of RSVP linkages is reduced. The use of SIP for admission control allows an application to communicate, or “talk,” to a network and to request that resources within the network be reserved. Any communications device that uses sessions may utilize the SIP protocol for admission control. The SIP protocol may be used for unicast and multicast media sessions including video-on-demand and/or multicast video access control.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives requested data via first physical medium and a second physical medium. The second physical medium is dynamically shared amongst multiple destinations to provide additional bandwidth. The requested data is routed to a client device.