Abstract: A quota management system for Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) in which the storage space available on connected storage devices is shared between multiple content providers or multiple software programs.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating content identification files, such as manifest files, for ensuring content and advertising continuity when changes occur during playback. A user device can request content at a particular bitrate, and a first manifest file comprising references to the content and selected associated content such as advertisements can be created in response to the request. While one of the advertisements is being displayed, the user device can request a change, such as for a different bitrate. A computing device, such as a manifest server can access the first manifest file to determine the content and the associated content, such the advertisements, that were intended for the user. The manifest server can then create a second manifest file in response to the request, where second manifest file can be created with the associated content, for example, the advertisements in the first manifest file.

Abstract: A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatic insertion of interactive television (TV) triggers into a broadcast data stream. The automatic insertion of the Interactive TV trigger can be based on recognition of one or more elements within the broadcast data stream. In particular, a recognized element can trigger the insertion of the interactive TV trigger into the broadcast data stream. Furthermore, the interactive TV trigger can be pre-inserted into the stored broadcast content having the recognized element prior to being broadcast.

Abstract: iTV content is created and deployed using a server component adapted to allow content developers to create applications according to an authoring specification that describes a framework for same; a transport component including an operator-deployed application management system configured to optimize and deliver the applications to one or more clients; and a client component adapted to render the applications through a television so as to permit user interaction therewith. The authoring specification provides for the presentation of content through one or more templates defined therein, allowing application definition and behavior to remain common across multiple client device types, middleware platforms, and/or iTV operating environments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for status determination are disclosed. Operational status of a node can be considered based on operational rates of a plurality of nodes in a system. An example method can comprise determining a first operational rate of a first node and determining a second operational rate of a second node. A difference between the first operational rate and the second operational rate can be analyzed. For example, the difference can be compared to a threshold to determine an operational status of the first node. If the difference is above the threshold, the operational status can be given a first value, but if the difference is below the threshold, the operational status can be given a second value. The operational status can be sent to a load balancer.

Abstract: An iTV user interface includes a navigable menu area through which a user can select from among a variety of services and a content display area in which formatted data associated with a selected menu service are displayed to the user. The formatted data is displayed in a rotating or ticker fashion having both a passive mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence independent of any selection operations by a television viewer, and active mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence that depends on selection operations by the television viewer. Advertisements and/or promotions may be interspersed among the content items. The navigable menu area and the content display area may be displayed to the viewer at the same time as television programming is displayed on the television.

Abstract: A collection of well-formed, but possibly semantically invalid, binary encoded multimedia data components or packages as well as the binary encoded announcement, signaling, and interchange protocols used in their transmission are converted into one or more well-formed extensible markup language (XML) files. Such XML files may then be validated according to one or more pre-defined XML schemas, or similar schema languages, in order to verify that the data and protocol structures and substructures adhere to prior defined semantic constraints.

Abstract: Methods and systems for interference management are described. Methods and systems can be used for minimizing interference among communication and/or electronic devices. Interference data can be gathered/received from interference sources such as weather and natural patterns, various electronic devices, and one or more network protocols. The interference data can be used to generate interference patterns of each interference source in an interference map. The interference map can be used to determine how a particular interference pattern can affect a system. The interference map can also be used to evaluate a new source of interference (e.g., cordless phones, weather conditions) to determine how a system can be affected. The interference data can also be associated with an interference signature (e.g., an interference pattern, a fingerprint) for an interference source in a database. The database can be used based on the interference signature to identify known and/or unknown interference sources.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for displaying a thumbnail preview of video content. In an aspect, one or more mosaic images made up of thumbnails corresponding to frames of the video content at multiple time points can be loaded into the system or created by the methods described. In an aspect, the selected thumbnail, as well as any other thumbnails, can be selected in response to receiving a command (e.g., trick play request) from the viewer. The command can dictate the direction from the selected thumbnail that the next thumbnails will be selected. The command can also dictate the frequency with which thumbnails will be selected from the mosaic image. In an aspect, frames comprised of thumbnails can be encoded to create the video content.

Abstract: A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.

Abstract: Preferred placement of programming content is provided by a system and method to organize or sequence the display of a set of programmable content elements of an iTV application to a viewer, using business rules that describe the preferred placement conditions or criteria. Such criteria include brand, content owner, application location, current channel, current channel family, current channel category, time of day, content category, current program, current program genre, current iTV application, current content type, and/or subscriber and set-top box profile and behavior data. In one implementation, the present invention allows for managing the ‘shelf space’ within and for iTV applications.

Abstract: A set top box client in an enhanced television system stores a table associating time references with events. The table is accessed to synchronize the delivery of events to an enhanced television application that is associated with an underlying video program. The enhanced television system delivers broadcast video, video-on-demand and video from a storage component such as a personal video recorder or a digital video disk player. The enhanced television system further provides an application that provides enhancements to an associated video program by overlaying a user interface, by providing overlaid graphical and/or text information or by providing additional audio information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing and/or presenting data are disclosed. In an aspect, one method can comprise receiving a request for information and detecting a type of data representing the information requested. The data can be processed via a type-dependent agent and the processed data can be provided via an agnostic data engine.

Abstract: A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communication management are disclosed. Services and/or clients in a system can specify or determine timeout parameters in communication requests. A timeout parameter can be a time allocated to process a request and/or fulfill a task associated with a request. Tasks can be delegated to other devices or services, and the tasks can be sent with additional timeout parameters based on the first timeout parameter. A notification can be sent when a time to process a request or fulfill a task is predicted to exceed one or more of the timeout parameters.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for electronic commerce using streaming media. (1) E-commerce opportunities are combined with incentives (e.g., random, pseudo-random, skill-based, or responsive to aggregate buying) for participation by recipients, enhancing the likelihood of responses from recipients and the value of distribution of the promotional information. (2) Techniques are applied to a server associated with e-commerce opportunities, to avoid unduly burdening that server. An applet may conduct the interactive process with the recipient and present results to the server, implement the incentives, conduct e-commerce transactions with the recipient, and select one or more recipients for an incentive reward. (3) The promotional material is associated with elements of the streaming media being presented, such as an actor or object.

Abstract: A system and method for processing content access rights and/or entitlement rights are disclosed. A method, in one aspect, provides for receiving a selection of a content option, requesting access information associated with the selected content option, receiving access information comprising location information relating to a compatible format, requesting access rights from a first service associated with the location information, wherein the first service requests an access decision relating to the selected content option from a second service based upon the access rights, and receiving the access rights.

Abstract: A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface.

Abstract: Controlling the admission of interactive television iTV applications to an iTV application distribution system is accomplished through the use of iTV application profiles that enumerate sets of allowed functions and behaviors for the iTV applications within the distribution system. In general, the profiles comprise filters that enable various functions within the distribution system, and may be applied to the iTV applications according to any of a number of bases. The distribution system includes an interface or console adapted to permit a system operator to create the application profiles and establish rules for attaching the profiles to the iTV applications, and an application profile engine configured to automatically validate the iTV applications against the profiles according to those rules.