Abstract: System and method for facilitating advertisements within viewed content. The advertisements may be banner advertisements or other advertisement. The advertisements may be included in such a manner that if a user skips or otherwise fast forwards through the advertisements, the user if force to skip through at least a portion of the viewed content.

Abstract: A verbal request for an action to be performed in connection with a user's set-top box may be received by a Program Content Manager (PCM) from a voice-enabled input/output device such as a VoIP-enabled device or a mobile communication device. Alternatively, the user may request an action via email, text message, and the like. The PCM receiving the action request may execute, or schedule the request for later execution, depending on whether the request is for a real-time or future action. The user may also request to send an alert or a program recording request to others. Recipients may be able to request further alerts or confirm a program recording invitation if certain criteria are met.

Abstract: A system and method manages the provisioning of an client device connected to a service distribution network, such as an interactive television service-providing network. Provisioning is managed by a provisioning manager that knows the specific provisioning data to collect and where the data is located and is to be forwarded. The client or subscriber can initiate the provisioning transaction through the client device.

Abstract: Aspects discussed herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods to identify, in near real-time, points of interest of viewers of a content item concurrently being transmitted in a linear stream to the viewers. A point of interest may refer to a segment of the content item that caused a surge in user reactions. During a subsequent transmission of the content item, identified points of interests may be displayed to the viewer. The viewer may select the point of interest in the content item to begin playback of the point of interest in the content item. Further, a playlist of points of interest in one or more content items may be generated for playback of the points of interest to a viewer.

Abstract: A system may selectively deliver interactive portions of a piece of content, based for example on a recipient user's historical tendency to use interactive portions of prior content. Multiple levels of interactivity may be defined for a given piece of content, such as an advertisement, and different users may receive different levels of interactivity based on how much they use interactive features. Some users may receive no interactive features at all, while others may receive the interactive features, and despite the fact that all of the users' devices may be perfectly capable of processing the interactive features for the user. The omission from transmission may conserve bandwidth and transmission resources.

Abstract: Technique for securely transferring programming content from a first device in a first layer to a second device in a second layer. Upon request to transfer protected content to the second device, the first device authenticates the second device. After authentication, the first device transfers the protected content and a rights file associated therewith to the second device. The rights file specifies the rights of the second device to use the protected content, according to its security level. These rights may concern, the number of times that the second device may subsequently transfer the protected content to other devices, the time period within which the second device may play the protected content, etc. The higher the security level of the second device is, the more rights accorded thereto. The second device may further need to meet a minimum security level in order for it to receive the protected content.

Abstract: A security system that can be used in a home, office, or other building in order to generate alarms or take other actions depending on conditions within the building. The security system may rely on sensors within the building which sense various conditions and collect other data. The information learned from the sensors can be communicated to a location outside the building for processing, such as, but not limited to, processing associated with a need to instigate an alarm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring network devices are provided. Aspects of the disclosure relate to Quality of Service (QoS) configuration parameters and methods for using QoS configuration parameters to provide enhanced services to users in a network. A first computing device may receive an indication that a network device requires an updated communication parameter. The indication may be generated, for example, based on traffic on a port of the network device exceeding a threshold level. The first computing device may communicate with a second computing device to request and retrieve the updated communication parameter. The first computing device may provide the updated communication parameter to the network device. The transmission of the updated communication parameter may cause alteration of a first QoS associated with a first communication protocol of the network device. A second QoS associated with a second communication protocol of the network device may be left unchanged.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for configuring network devices are provided. Aspects of the disclosure relate to novel QoS configuration parameters and methods for using QoS configuration parameters to reduce impacts caused by security breach within a network. In one embodiment, a QoS configuration parameter is selected from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database based upon unique identifying information of a network device and a status signal. In one embodiment, each configuration parameter comprises at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device and a second parameter configurable to alter the ability of the network device to communicate with another device in the network. Further aspects of the disclosure relate to providing improved services to an end user. In one embodiment, services may be customized to an end user and allow increased flexibility for both the service provider and the end user.

Abstract: A method and system for playing video on a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a singular user interface for searching, retrieving, and playing video available over a network from a server.

Abstract: A content providing service may employ a variety of streaming devices such as servers, and may associate or assign the servers to different content duration time ranges. Each server may then be responsible for servicing requests for content whose duration lies within the server's assigned content duration time range. In response to overload or underload status of a server, the server's time range may be adjusted. The time range of other servers in the system may also be adjusted to compensate.

Abstract: A content delivery networked is monitored to verify operation of control channels for the delivery of content to a customer. Monitoring includes joining a connection with at least one control channel in the network, decoding content of a signal in the control channel, determining whether the decoded content complies with a pre-determined rule corresponding to content transmitted in the control channel, and producing a report indicating whether the decoded content is compliant with the rule. In addition, a graphical user interface (GUI) displays the status and results of testing the control channel. The GUI is configured to perform generating a display representing testing status of a plurality of DSG tunnels in a first frame and test results of the DSG tunnels in a second frame and providing details of a DSG tunnel test when selected by a user.

Abstract: A method and system for planning and running video-on-demand (VOD) advertising includes a planner for planning advertising campaigns and an ad selector for running selected advertisements from selected ones of the campaigns. The campaigns are associated with household demographic classifications, video content category categories, household geographic locations, and/or video viewing times. In response to a viewer requesting a video, the selector selects the campaigns corresponding to the demographic classification associated with the viewer, the content category of the requested video, the geographic location associated with the viewer, and/or the viewing time at which the requested video is viewed. The demographic classification is determined by using an identifier of the viewer's set-top-box. The selector may select the campaigns corresponding to the content categories of the requested video. The content categories are determined by using an identifier associated with the requested video.

Abstract: A method for detecting errors on an audio/video (A/V) data stream in a data service network includes providing multicast components operably coupled to each other via respective links for transmitting the A/V data stream to a user and for defining at least one multicast tree. The method further includes generating a state information signal indicative of a number of errors on the A/V data stream for at least one of the links and at least one of the plurality of multicast components. The method further includes determining the cumulative number of errors on the A/V data stream that are indicative of the number of errors for the at least one of the links and the at least one of the plurality of multicast components in the multicast tree in response to the state information signal.

Abstract: A resource management system may use information regarding the bandwidth status of a downstream communication path to determine what portion of queued content should be sent in the current available bandwidth timeslot. In some embodiments, multiple versions of the same requested content may be available, and the system may select a lower-quality version to send if needed to meet a time deadline included in the original content request.

Abstract: A communications system and method is configured to provide multimedia services utilizing a signaling protocol such as a session initiated protocol (SIP), via a local access network. The method includes providing a local proxy having an internet protocol (IP) address, wherein the local proxy is integrated with the local access network. The method further includes providing a client device having a signaling protocol client, wherein the client device is coupled to a remote access network that is, external to the local access network. Additionally, the method includes initiating a session by the client device accessing the IP address of the local proxy.

Abstract: A method for provisioning subscribers, products, and services in a broadband network includes establishing a directory system for storing information about a plurality of subscribers. The directory system includes a subscriber namespace and a device namespace. A subscriber is added by instantiating a subscriber object for the subscriber in the subscriber namespace. Each available service has its own state in the directory system to provide a multi-state provisioning system that permits granular management services.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for determining a physical address for a device connected to a network via a network access point. Associations between one or more physical addresses and network access points may be stored in a profile associated with the device. If the device is connected to a particular network access point, the profile and associations may be used to determine a current physical address for the device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for determining a physical address for a device connected to a network via an access point. Associations between one or more physical addresses and access points may be stored in a profile associated with the device. If the device is connected to a particular access point, the profile and associations may be used to determine a current physical address for the device.

Abstract: Method and system of managing subscriber access to services. The method and system including features for use in determining sub scriber entitlements to the services and managing presentation of the services for subscriber selection and access as a function of the subscriber entitlements.