Abstract: The present invention generally relates to conflict management resolution. Typically systems for resolving conflicts between television programs with coinciding broadcast schedules use preferences, a confusing and limited display, or a combination thereof. The present invention, on thee other hand, provides for determining time spans or time slices, that indicate the duration of the conflict, and uses these to determine the available recording options. These can then be displayed in a user friendly interface, that is easy to understand and simple to use. In addition, other example embodiments ensure that the various programs and/or available options are capable of being cycled through, regardless of preference settings.

Abstract: Streaming content navigation techniques are described. In an implementation, techniques are described to provide a non-modal message when navigation is attempted to a stream of content that is not permitted for consumption by a client device. In another implementation, techniques are described to provide an alternate content stream when sequential navigation between streams of content is attempted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dimmable user interface. A user interface is simultaneously displayed with video content or other data in the same window of a display device. The user interface has a level of transparency that is user adjustable. The user can thus make the user interface either more or less visible with respect to the video content. At the same time, the video content is correspondingly made less or more visible. Each item included in the user interface may also have a level of transparency that can be adjusted independently of the level of transparency of the user interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of virtual tuner management are described. A viewing system, for instance, may include a plurality of client devices that are configured to render content, such as television programs. The viewing system may pool the resources available from the client devices such that each client device is not limited to functionality that is provided locally by the client device. To manage content consumption in the viewing system, virtual tuners may be employed, each of which represent an ability of the viewing system to consume a single stream of content (e.g., a television program) provided by a content provider.

Abstract: Memory is allocated to record a program being broadcast proportional to its remainder in a client device having a processor in communication with a receiver. The processor executes an application to allocate space in the memory to record the remainder of the broadcast of the program being received by the receiver that has a predetermined time length. The executing application obtains the predetermined time length from the broadcast received by the receiver and derives the remainder of the broadcast of the program from the present time and the predetermined time length obtained from the broadcast. The space can be logically erased prior to its allocation. A video recorder records the broadcast of the program being received by the receiver in the space in the memory. A video playback device plays back the recorded broadcast of the program from the space in the memory.

Abstract: Embodiments of streaming content management are described herein. For example, techniques may be employed to manage streams received by client devices such that the client devices may receive content and share functionality.

Abstract: A system identifies a television program selected to be recorded. The identified television program has a scheduled start time and is associated with a program series. A program guide is searched to locate television programs associated with the same series as the identified television program. The program guide is searched for television programs that have a start time within a predetermined period of time of the scheduled start time of the television program selected to be recorded.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to conflict management resolution. Typically systems for resolving conflicts between television programs with coinciding broadcast schedules use preferences, a confusing and limited display, or a combination thereof. The present invention, on other hand, provides for determining time spans or time slices, that indicate the duration of the conflict, and uses these to determine the available recording options. These can then be displayed in a user friendly interface, that is easy to understand and simple to use. In addition, other example embodiments ensure that the various programs and/or available options are capable of being cycled through, regardless of preference settings.

Abstract: A system identifies a television program selected to be recorded. The identified television program has a scheduled start time and is associated with a program series. A program guide is searched to locate television programs associated with the same series as the identified television program. The program guide is searched for television programs that have a start time within a predetermined period of time of the scheduled start time of the television program selected to be recorded.

Abstract: Scheduling functionality is described for resolving conflicts in the schedules of respective client devices, where the schedules are used to govern the recordation of media programs by the respective client devices. The client devices use virtual tuner functionality to receive media programs over respective communication channels, each channel having a prescribed amount of available bandwidth in which to receive media information. The scheduling functionality includes a conflict identification module for identifying conflicts in the schedules, a solution enumeration module for enumerating solutions to the conflicts, and a conflict resolution module for resolving the conflicts based on the output of the solution enumeration module. In one case, the schedules can be partitioned into a plurality of time segments, and solutions can be enumerated for each time segment in turn.

Abstract: A client device for a television-based entertainment system receives a viewer request to record episodes of a program and generates an episode record chart that designates a start time to record the episodes on one or more broadcast dates. The client device establishes a time window that can include a first time period before the designated start time to record the episodes and a second time period after the designated start time to record the episodes. The client device determines whether additional episodes of the program are scheduled for broadcast within the time window, which may include on any broadcast channel one or more days of the week, and if so, generates an episode exclude chart that designates one or more episode broadcast times on one or more days of the week to identify the additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded.

Abstract: Scheduling functionality is employed at a head-end site to update schedules used by a plurality of respective client devices to define the recording of media presentation events. The scheduling functionality operates by: compiling a master list of unique entries culled from the plurality of schedules; determining whether any entries in the master list require updating; and updating, based on the determining, at least one of the plurality of schedules. The scheduling functionality helps reduce the amount of redundant processing operations involved in updating the plurality of schedules, and therefore provides an efficient technique for updating the schedules.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indexing programs are described. In accordance with one embodiment, program data associated with a program recorded on a first entertainment system is processed sufficient to create one or more signatures. The signatures define points of reference that can be utilized to synchronize timecodes associated with other recorded versions of the program from which the signatures were created. One or more indices are created and associated with the program from which the signatures were created. An index file can be created and can contain the created indices as well as the created signatures. A client system that receives the index file can use the signatures to synchronize the timecode on its recorded version of the program with a timecode of the program from which the signatures were created. Once the timecodes are synchronized, the client system can locate the same indices on its recorded version of the program.

Abstract: Various technologies are described by which the usable portion or threshold value of a sigmoid curve is found. Such techniques can be useful, for example, when determining the concentration or presence of a substance in a test sample. Various techniques can avoid variability in results.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a search request related to media programming and generating a search. The result has a list of one or more collections of episodes responsive to the search request, and a schedule grid displaying a plurality of episodes on a plurality of different channels for a time period, including at least one program responsive to the search request.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving an identification of a media program from a broadcast channel on an electronic program guide for inclusion in a personalized channel, adding the identified program to a personalized channel at a first time, and adding one or more additional programs to the personalized channel at times other than the first time.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining a time relative to a playing media program to insert a user notification, automatically generating a suggestion regarding a media program other than the playing media program to be presented to an audience member of the playing media program, providing, in a format for presentation on a user-related media player, the generated suggestion at the location in the playing media program, and causing the generation of a control that, when selected, performs an action related to the non-playing media program.

Abstract: A method and system for providing listings of multimedia events and for allowing a user to create virtual channels from the listings is described. The user can specify a headend or zip code and enter a search query to find multimedia events that are of interest to the user. In response, the system provides a list of multimedia events as the results of the user's search query. If the user so desires, the user can create a virtual channel based on the search results, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes generating code for displaying a two-dimensional media programming schedule grid, receiving a command to compress the grid at a first location along a first dimension, and generating code for displaying the grid with visible graphical fold marks defining a fold area near the first location along the first dimension.

Abstract: A client computer receives a set of search results ordered based on scheduled time of broadcast associated with respective listings of content. The listings of content include data representing time-bounded events. The client computer displays or otherwise presents a set of objects along an axis of a display bar, the objects corresponding to subsets of the search results. For example, the axis is associated with a unit of time or a unit of relevance.