Abstract: Data is divided into parts and each part provided to a different processor. Each processor processes the provided data part to produce a partial CRC result. The partial CRC results from each of the different processors are XORed to produce a CRC of the data.

Abstract: A video on demand server includes a video pump an ad management system interface to disable fast forwarding during commercials and allow fast forwarding during play of content. A playlist generator configures the disabling and allowing of fast forwarding and compiles the playlist from (a) separately provided breakpoints for the commercials during presentation of the content, and (b) an ad map including trick mode instructions that define commands for enabling and disabling trickmode during presentation of the commercials.

Abstract: A system includes a receiver to receive content and an advertisement. The system further includes a cache, coupled to the receiver, to store the content and the advertisement. An interface in the receiver receives an updated advertisement and updating instructions, the updating instructions to enable the receiver to replace the stored advertisement with the updated advertisement. The receiver detects a starting point of the advertisement and creates a marker and inserts it into the content to indicate said starting point, and stores the advertisement from the content to a memory storage location separate from the content, and creates and stores a pointer to the memory location. The interface detects a user-initiated pause in the viewing of content, retrieves the updated advertisement from storage, and provides a user interface that enables the user to view the retrieved advertisement for as long as the viewing of the content remains paused.

Abstract: A data delivery mechanism, such as a recordable disk or packets on a wire, delivering an info segment which specifies interruption points at which a first content item such as a television program is to be interrupted and a second content item such as an advertisement is to be inserted. The info segment may prevent certain types of second content items from being utilized, may permit them to be avoided, may control their duration, and other aspects of their utilization. The info segment may specify with which first content item it is associated. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed, such as an electronic programming guide.

Abstract: Content which users may wish to receive may be distributed with interrupting content such that the use of the content on the user's receiver may be interrupted and replaced with the interrupting content. The content which the user wishes to receive may be software, audio, video, graphics or other material and the interrupting content in one embodiment of the prevent invention may be advertisements. In this way, the user's receiver may be utilized to determine when it is appropriate to interrupt the interruptible content with the interrupting content. This may provide a convenient mechanism for reduced price or free distribution of a wide variety of media currently provided only in physical form or only for free without any compensation to the content provider.

Abstract: A client processor-based system may receive software from a web site server as well as information about when commercial advertisements will be distributed over video distribution systems. This information may be used by the client processor-based system to automatically record commercial broadcast from a video distribution system. The recorded commercial broadcast may then be automatically replayed in the course of using content or services received in return for playing the commercial advertisement.