Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium for determining, based on media content selection activity of a user for a media content inventory, the user's sensitivity to a cost and to a relevance of the media content; assigning a cost value to respective media content items based on user-specific content cost information from media content providers; assigning a relevance value to the respective media content items based on user-specific content relevancy information associated with the respective media content items; ranking the media content items based on: the user's sensitivity to the cost of the media content relative to the cost values for the respective media content items, and the user's sensitivity to the relevance of the media content relative to the relevance values for the respective media content items; and presenting, via a personalized media content recommendation interface, an ordering of the media content items based on the ranking.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium for determining, based on media content selection activity of a user for a media content inventory, the user's sensitivity to a cost and to a relevance of the media content; assigning a cost value to respective media content items based on user-specific content cost information from media content providers; assigning a relevance value to the respective media content items based on user-specific content relevancy information associated with the respective media content items; ranking the media content items based on: the user's sensitivity to the cost of the media content relative to the cost values for the respective media content items, and the user's sensitivity to the relevance of the media content relative to the relevance values for the respective media content items; and presenting, via a personalized media content recommendation interface, an ordering of the media content items based on the ranking.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a personalized content recommendation system determines a content-offering value (COV) for each title of content identified in a content catalog, wherein the COVs indicate terms of offerings to a user for consuming each title of content; calculate, for each title of content, a content-relevance value (CRV), wherein the CRV indicates respective relevancies of each title of content to the user; calculate, for each title of content, a cost-content sensitivity index (CCSI) value indicative of the user's relative cost and content sensitivities, wherein the CCSI value is calculated for a time-of-day parameter or a content-genre parameter for consuming each title of content; calculate, for each title of content, a cost-content tradeoff score (CCTS) based on the COV, CRV, and CCSI value; and identify k number of titles of content having the highest CCTS.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a personalized content recommendation system determines a content-offering value (COV) for each title of content identified in a content catalog, wherein the COVs indicate terms of offerings to a user for consuming each title of content; calculate, for each title of content, a content-relevance value (CRV), wherein the CRV indicates respective relevancies of each title of content to the user; calculate, for each title of content, a cost-content sensitivity index (CCSI) value indicative of the user's relative cost and content sensitivities, wherein the CCSI value is calculated for a time-of-day parameter or a content-genre parameter for consuming each title of content; calculate, for each title of content, a cost-content tradeoff score (CCTS) based on the COV, CRV, and CCSI value; and identify k number of titles of content having the highest CCTS.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content search system providing a media content search creation tool in a graphical user interface, detecting a user-submission of one or more user-selectable graphical objects representing one or more media programs to the media content search creation tool in the graphical user interface, and generating a set of media content search parameters based on the one or more media programs represented by the one or more user-selectable graphical objects submitted to the media content search creation tool. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for providing personal content recommendations comprising a receiver to receive and collect one or more user commands at one or more modules, a processor to generate, at the one or more modules, one or more personalized recommendations based on the one or more user commands, and a transmitter to transmit the one or more personalized recommendations to be displayed at a display device in response to receiving one or more user inputs to display the one or more personalized recommendations.

Abstract: A set-top box or media server device may operate to switch the source of incoming television content to, for example, improve power efficiency of the device. In one implementation, the device may receiving a television channel as part of a modulated television signal and extract, by a tuner associated with the device, the television channel from the modulated television signal. The device may determine to switch reception of the television channel from the modulated television signal to a packet-based video stream corresponding to the television channel. The device may provide the television channel, as received via the packet-based video stream, to the display device in place of the television channel received via the modulated television signal.

Abstract: A device may be configured to store content. The device may store a copy count that indicates a quantity of copies of the content that are checked out from the device. The device may receive a request to provide a first copy of the content to a requesting device. The device may select a client device to which to send a check-in message based on the copy count failing to satisfy a threshold count. The client device may store a second copy of the content that is checked out from the device. The device may send the check-in message to the client device. The device may receive a check-in response from the client device that checks in the second copy of the content. The device may provide the first copy of the content to the requesting device based on an updated copy count satisfying the threshold count.

Abstract: A device may be configured to store content. The device may store a copy count that indicates a quantity of copies of the content that are checked out from the device. The device may receive a request to provide a first copy of the content to a requesting device. The device may select a client device to which to send a check-in message based on the copy count failing to satisfy a threshold count. The client device may store a second copy of the content that is checked out from the device. The device may send the check-in message to the client device. The device may receive a check-in response from the client device that checks in the second copy of the content. The device may provide the first copy of the content to the requesting device based on an updated copy count satisfying the threshold count.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content search system providing a media content search creation tool in a graphical user interface, detecting a user-submission of one or more user-selectable graphical objects representing one or more media programs to the media content search creation tool in the graphical user interface, and generating a set of media content search parameters based on the one or more media programs represented by the one or more user-selectable graphical objects submitted to the media content search creation tool. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: A set-top box or media server device may operate to switch the source of incoming television content to, for example, improve power efficiency of the device. In one implementation, the device may receiving a television channel as part of a modulated television signal and extract, by a tuner associated with the device, the television channel from the modulated television signal. The device may determine to switch reception of the television channel from the modulated television signal to a packet-based video stream corresponding to the television channel. The device may provide the television channel, as received via the packet-based video stream, to the display device in place of the television channel received via the modulated television signal.

Abstract: A system and method for selling preference-based virtual objects comprising receiving one or more user commands from an input device, transmitting, to at least one server, the one or more user commands to identify one or more preference-based virtual objects based on the one or more user commands, receiving the one or more preference-based virtual objects in response to the identification of the one or more preference-based virtual objects, and outputting, to a display device, the one or more preference-based virtual objects in response to receiving one or more user inputs to display the one or more preference-based virtual objects to the display device.

Abstract: A system and method for selling preference-based virtual objects comprising receiving one or more user commands from an input device, transmitting, to at least one server, the one or more user commands to identify one or more preference-based virtual objects based on the one or more user commands, receiving the one or more preference-based virtual objects in response to the identification of the one or more preference-based virtual objects, and outputting, to a display device, the one or more preference-based virtual objects in response to receiving one or more user inputs to display the one or more preference-based virtual objects to the display device.

Abstract: Data is transmitted from content processing devices to a server, the data relating to a number of times that each of one or more media programs have been accessed within a given time period. The data is aggregated to obtain an aggregate number of times that each of the one or more media programs has been accessed within the given time period. An indication of popularity for each of the one or more media programs may be determined from the data.

Abstract: A system and method for providing personal content recommendations comprising a receiver to receive and collect one or more user commands at one or more modules, a processor to generate, at the one or more modules, one or more personalized recommendations based on the one or more user commands, and a transmitter to transmit the one or more personalized recommendations to be displayed at a display device in response to receiving one or more user inputs to display the one or more personalized recommendations.