Abstract: A server may select an advertisement based on a location of a set-top box and information relating to television programming to be provided to the set-top box or being provided to set-top box. The server may further provide the selected advertisement to the set-top box for simultaneously displaying with the television programming.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating a messaging service with an application may comprise integrating a front end of the application with the messaging service. Furthermore, systems and methods for integrating a messaging service with an application may comprise integrating a messaging service login and an application login, the messaging service login being associated with the messaging service and the application login being associated with the application. Moreover, systems and methods for integrating a messaging service with an application may comprise configuring the messaging service to initiate business logic based upon at least one of opening a session with the messaging service and closing a session with the messaging service.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, by a video client, a screen capture request, determining a type of screen capture, generating screen capture type information based on a result of determining the type of screen capture, analyzing at least one of screen capture data or screen capture type information, and providing a service to a user of the video client based on the analysis of the at least one of screen capture data or screen capture type information.

Abstract: A device receives, from a set-top box (STB) and/or a user device, usage information associated with video content, and determines a content portal for a particular video content based on the received usage information. The device also provides, to the STB and/or the user device, the content portal for display, and receives, from the STB and/or the user device, selection of an option associated with the content portal. The device further provides information associated with the selected option to the STB and/or the user device for display and/or storage.

Abstract: A system may automatically send a request for a list of programs over a network, obtain, in response to the request, a user profile that includes a list of programs that a viewer has accessed, send information identifying at least one of the programs over the network, and output the at least one of the programs to a preview window of a display.

Abstract: A system biometrically authenticates a user that intends to use an entertainment device. The system obtains, based on the biometric authentication, one or more quotas associated with an amount of time that the user may use the entertainment device, and controls the user's use of the entertainment device based on the one or more quotas.

Abstract: A method performed by one or more devices within a subscription television network includes receiving a customer profile for a viewer, the customer profile being based on historical data of the viewer provided over the television network. The method also includes applying, based on the customer profile, a price utility function for each on-demand program of a group of programs, the price utility function identifying dynamic pricing for each on-demand program; and offering, to the viewer over the television network, each of the programs of the group of programs at a price based on the price utility function.

Abstract: A method performed by one or more devices within a subscription television network that offers pay-per-view programming to viewers includes receiving criteria for triggering dynamic pricing discounts for a pay-per-view event and establishing, based on the received criteria, dynamic prices for the pay-per-view event. The method also includes offering, to the viewers over the subscription television network, the pay-per-view event at one of the established dynamic prices.

Abstract: A method performed by one or more computing devices includes determining a relevancy function of viewer tendencies based on set-top box data from a subscription television service and defining a cluster of set-top boxes based on the relevancy function. The method also includes building a tendency profile for the cluster, the tendency profile including predicted actions for viewers within the cluster. The method further includes assigning the set-top box to the cluster and directing a cluster-oriented presentation to a particular set-top box within the cluster.

Abstract: A system includes a set-top box and a server for a subscription television service. The set-top box includes a processor to receive a video-on-demand (VOD) programming suggestion from a user and send, to the server, the VOD programming suggestion. The server includes a processor to receive the VOD programming suggestion, compile the VOD programming suggestion with other VOD programming suggestions from other set-top boxes, and send a notification to the set-top box that the VOD programming suggestion has been added to the list of available VOD programming for the subscription television service.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a video client, interactive television content that permits a customer to select from two or more television shows competing for a timeslot, displaying, by the video client, the interactive television content on a display, receiving, by the video client, a selection of one of the two or more television shows to watch, and determining, by the video client, based on the interactive television content, whether the one of the two or more television shows selected is to be re-mapped to a channel number that is different than a channel number in which the interactive television content is displayed. The method further includes displaying, by the video client, the one of the two or more television shows on the display.

Abstract: A method includes requesting most-watched program information from a subscription television service and identifying the most-watched program for a current time slot. The method further includes receiving a channel identification for the most-watched program for the current time slot, automatically tuning to the most-watched program based on the channel identification, and displaying the most-watched program. The most-watched program may be tuned at the start of a set-top box initialization sequence to give perception of a fast start time.

Abstract: A server may select an advertisement based on a location of a set-top box and information relating to television programming to be provided to the set-top box or being provided to set-top box. The server may further provide the selected advertisement to the set-top box for simultaneously displaying with the television programming.

Abstract: A method includes displaying program content from a subscription television service on a display and receiving a signal to initiate a multi-panel browsing mode on the display. The method further includes sending, to a server, a top program request for the subscription television service and receiving top program information from the server based on the top program request, the top program information including a channel number for a top program at a time associated with the top program request. The method also includes displaying a multi-panel view on the display, the multi-panel view including a panel with the program content and a panel with the top program based on the top program information received from the server. Additional panels included in the multi-panel view may include interactive games or other content available from the subscription television service.

Abstract: A device receives, from a set-top box (STB) and/or a user device, usage information associated with video content, and determines a content portal for a particular video content based on the received usage information. The device also provides, to the STB and/or the user device, the content portal for display, and receives, from the STB and/or the user device, selection of an option associated with the content portal. The device further provides information associated with the selected option to the STB and/or the user device for display and/or storage.

Abstract: A device receives, from one or more of a set-top box (STB) or a user device, usage information associated with video content and high definition video content, and calculates a cost factor, based on the usage information, for a customer associated with one or more of the STB or the user device. The device also compares the cost factor to a threshold, and receives, from one or more of the STB or the user device, a request for free video content. The device further one of provides reduced quality free video content to one or more of the STB or the user device when the cost factor exceeds the threshold, or blocks transmission of free high definition video content to one or more of the STB or the user device when the cost factor exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A device receives one or more of demand information, event information, past order information, or demographic information associated with a subscription video package, and determines a subscription video package advertisement based on one or more of the demand information, the event information, the past order information, or the demographic information. The device also provides, to one or more of a set-top box (STB) or a user device, the subscription video package advertisement for display, and receives, from one or more of the set-top box (STB) or the user device and in response to the subscription video package advertisement, a request for the subscription video package. The device further enables one or more of the set-top box (STB) or the user device to receive the subscription video package for display.

Abstract: A device receives an advertisement, a code, an encryption key, and information associated with a product and/or service, and provides the advertisement to a set-top box (STB) for display on a television. The device receives, from the STB, a request for a promotion associated with the advertisement and an identification associated with the STB, and provides the code associated with the product and/or service to the STB for display on the television. The device receives, from a user device, a claim for the code and the identification associated with the STB, and validates the claim for the code and the identification associated with the STB based on an identification associated with the user device.

Abstract: A system for proactively troubleshooting set top box issues may include a media distribution network with a remote requesting device and a programming guide server. The programming guide server may be configured to identify a guide data retrieval profile of the requesting device, compare the guide data retrieval profile to an expected profile, and flag the requesting device for troubleshooting based on a lack of correspondence between the retrieval profile and the expected profile. Additionally methods for discovering related devices, predicting that the related devices also require troubleshooting, and limiting restorative measures to only those devices that have been confirmed to be affected by a service issue may also be implemented by the system.

Abstract: A system for up-selling content during periods of likely viewer disinterest may include a content delivery network configured to provide media content and at least one choice of alternative content, a content viewing device, and a content processing device for interfacing the viewing device with the content delivery network. The content processing device may be configured to detect likely viewer disinterest in media content, prompt the selection of alternative content, and selectively replace the media content with the alternative content upon viewer selection. Additionally, methods for estimating a degree of likely viewer disinterest and discounting the offering price of the alternative content options are implemented by the system.