Abstract: An exemplary method includes a remote control device management system pairing a remote control device with a first media content processing device; detecting, after the pairing of the remote control device with the first media content processing device, that a second media content processing device receives an infrared (“IR”) signal transmitted from the remote control device together with a non-infra-red (“non-IR”) based wireless communication signal; determining that the remote control device is not paired with the second media content processing device by determining that the IR signal received by the second media content processing device includes an IR token that identifies the remote control device as being paired with the first media content processing device; and re-pairing, in response to the determination, the remote control device with the second media content processing device in place of the first media content processing device. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a remote control device management system pairing a remote control device with a first media content processing device; detecting, after the pairing of the remote control device with the first media content processing device, that a second media content processing device receives an infrared (“IR”) signal transmitted from the remote control device together with a non-infra-red (“non-IR”) based wireless communication signal; determining that the remote control device is not paired with the second media content processing device by determining that the IR signal received by the second media content processing device includes an IR token that identifies the remote control device as being paired with the first media content processing device; and re-pairing, in response to the determination, the remote control device with the second media content processing device in place of the first media content processing device. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for time shifting advertising to provide enhanced advertisement targeting are presented. An exemplary method of time shifting advertising of a video service comprises generating a private profile based upon a private play history of a receiver and receiving one or more predetermined advertisements, each of the one or more advertisements including meta data. The profile can be generated by a profiler within a receiver unit. The predetermined advertisements are selected and stored based upon the meta data and the private profile. A program is received and a targeted advertisement is selected from the subset of the predetermined advertisements based upon the meta data and the private profile and played with the program. Management of the advertisements (e.g. selecting and storing predetermined advertisements and selecting targeted advertisements) can be facilitated by an advertisement controller within the receiver.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing media program information to a user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a command to provide a menu guide from a plurality of menu guides defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart, wherein the menu guide is associated with a first daypart, and providing a menu guide comprising a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information. The apparatus comprises a receiver having a tuner for receiving the media program and the media program information, a processor, communicatively coupled to the tuner for providing a menu guide having a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information, wherein the menu guide is selectable from a plurality of menu guides together defining a program information space segmented by a daypart.

Abstract: An system and method for interactively choosing a selection from a database, including a media database containing movies, videos and graphical offerings, is disclosed. The invention uses a physical metaphor to represent the database and icons to represent selections. A preferred embodiment for a video-on-demand environment uses a globe or torus to represent a video database, which is displayed on a user's television at the user's location. Superimposed on the globe is a grid of pictorial icons representing the video selections stored in the video database. The video selections are arranged by category and alphabetically on the globe. The user may employ a remote control to issue search commands.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing media program information to a user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a command to provide a menu guide from a plurality of menu guides defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart, wherein the menu guide is associated with a first daypart, and providing a menu guide comprising a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information. The apparatus comprises a receiver having a tuner for receiving the media program and the media program information, a processor, communicatively coupled to the tuner for providing a menu guide having a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information, wherein the menu guide is selectable from a plurality of menu guides together defining a program information space segmented by a daypart.