Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method for routing a signal to a target device. The method may include a control device that may transmit a signal on a first network. The signal may reach devices other than the target device. The devices that receive the signal may recognize that the signal is intended for another device and may transmit the signal on a second network. The signal may be received by the target device via the second network.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for authenticating a user for access to restricted content. An exemplary method involves providing a plurality of selectable regions on a display, authenticating the user based at least in part on a user input that corresponds to a selectable region that includes a portion of authentication information, and providing the restricted content to the display after authenticating the user. Each selectable input region of the plurality of selectable regions includes a plurality of characters. In exemplary embodiments, the characters of one or more selectable input regions are randomized.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a smart remote-control device. In one embodiment, a smart remote-control device includes a keypad and a display. The smart-remote-control device is configured to obtain information about other media devices, and to display that information upon the display. The smart remote-control device is further configured to establish master-slave relationships between itself and other media devices, including set-top boxes, presentation devices, and other remote-control devices. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Content receivers may simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to record these multiple instances from at least a single transponder. in some instances, multiple transponders may have a common control word so that content carried on each such transponder may be simultaneously received, decoded and recorded, Further, a single demodulator may be associated with multiple tuners, so that the single demodulator processes all content received from transponders with common control words and/or other encryption mechanisms.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for transferring content authorization information between television receivers. Authorization information for content and features associated with a television receiver is securely stored on a portable storage device. The portable storage device may be moved and connected to a different television receiver in order to transfer the authorization information to the different television receiver. The other television receiver accesses information on the portable storage device and allows the user to access the content and features that are authorized on the home television receiver.

Abstract: A particular device may configure one or more of other devices to accept and execute remote control commands from the particular device's remote control unit. This may be performed via one or more various communication links between the devices on that enables the devices to communicate with each other. For example, the remote control of a set-top box can be used to control both the set-top box and a television without a user having to specially program the set-top box or other universal remote control. One example of a communication link between the devices that enables the devices to communicate with each other is a device-to-device messaging protocol such as that provided by the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard.

Abstract: Obscuring systems and methods are operable to obscure an intervening content segment that a user does not wish to view and/or listen to if that particular intervening content segment is again received at a later time. An exemplary embodiment includes at least a content segment obscuring system that samples the decoded stream of information corresponding to an initial portion of the intervening content segment, determines a vector signature of the sampled initial portion of the intervening content segment, wherein the vector signature corresponds to at least one location and an orientation of a vector in a multi-dimensional vector space, and compares the vector signature with a plurality of predefined reference vector signatures. In response to the vector signature substantially corresponding to at least one of the plurality of predefined reference vector signatures, the intervening content segment is obscured with replacement content.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for allocating recordings to multiple users of a receiver. A graphical user interface may be displayed at a receiver and may show a listing of programs that have been recorded from a service provider broadcast or other transmission. An enhanced graphical user interface may include a listing of multiple users, each with separate listing of recordings. The recordings may be stored in a storage device associated with the receiver. A particular recoding may be deleted from the storage device when the recording has been deleted from each user's list of recordings.

Abstract: Various arrangements for providing remote access to locally-recorded television programming is presented. In some embodiments, a DVR is presented that it is configured to receive input indicating a timer for recording a television channel during a time period. The DVR may record television programming on the television channel during the time period indicated by the timer. The television receiver may further receive input indicating the television programming is to be stored remotely. The DVR may transmit the television programming to a media distribution management system via a second network. The DVR may transmit an indication of a user account to the media distribution management system via the second network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for processing three-dimensional (3D or 3-D) or pseudo-3D programming. The programming includes closed caption (CC) information that includes caption data and a location identifier that specifies a location for the caption data within the 3D programming. The programming information is processed to render the caption data at the specified location and to present the programming on the display. By encoding location identification information into the three-dimensional programming, a high level of configurability can be provided and the 3D experience can be preserved while captions are displayed.

Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling at least one entertainment device include at least one remote in two-way communication with a base device. Memories of the remote and the base device are operable to store substantially the same data as the other such that if the remote or base device fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device is loaded into a memory of a replacement device. A memory of a second remote may also store the same data as the remote memory such that if either the first remote or the base device fails, data in the memory of the second remote is loaded into a memory of a replacement device.

Abstract: Various arrangements, including systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums for incentivizing content viewer feedback are detailed herein. In some embodiments, a first television program with at least one commercial break is output. At least one television commercial for presentation during a first commercial break may be output. For the at least one television commercial, a rating from a viewer may be received. An incentive value determined based on at least the rating of the at least one commercial may be calculated. A second duration may be selected from a group comprising a first duration and a second duration based on the calculated incentive value, wherein the second duration is shorter than the first duration. A second commercial break of the selected second duration may be output.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed transmit a composite channel to a receiver. The composite channel may be a static channel that contains different original channels of content in different locations on a displayed page, or may be a dynamic channel that is processed by the receiver to display a multiple different video streams on a single display device.

Abstract: A party that is not the source or originator of a QR code is enabled to provide a consumer a selection of related alternate content rather than content identified in the QR code. A method is implemented on a computer system to receive additional content information represented by a QR code extracted by a consumer's QR reader device from a media presentation containing the QR code. The QR code is generated by a source of the media presentation. A location of alternate content from a captive environment related to the additional content information is identified. The location of the alternate content may be identified based upon the decoded information from the QR code. The location of the alternate content is transmitted to the QR reader device.

Abstract: Various arrangements are provided for earning and using credit. Via one or more tuners, a first commercial may be received and stored, wherein the first commercial comprises video and audio. The commercial may be output for presentation for viewing by a user of the television receiver system, wherein the first commercial is associated with a first predefined amount of credit. It may then be confirmed that the first commercial has been viewed by the user. In response to confirming that the first commercial has been viewed by the user, an account of the user may be credited with the first predefined amount of credit. This credit may be used for viewing other content, such as pay-per-view (PPV) content, services, and/or products.

Abstract: A method for creating an announcement stream for a geographic region is provided. The method receives, at a designated computer system, characterizing metadata for a first audio/video stream; analyzes a second audio/video stream to obtain characterizing metadata for the second video stream; compares, with the computer system, the characterizing metadata for the first video stream to the characterizing metadata for the second video stream to generate offset data; and calculates timing information corresponding to segment boundaries for the second video stream using the offset data.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for communication between a plurality of client devices of a broadcast system. The communication may be, for example, a recommendation of a program that is communicated from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers via their client devices. The communication also may be a comment regarding a program, for example, recently viewed at the client device of the one subscriber. In general, the communication may be a message from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers. Further, the communication may be configured to perform a function on one or more other client devices. Such a function may include, but is not limited to, setting a timer to record a program, ordering or purchasing a program or service, cancelling an ordered/purchased program or service, setting or altering user preferences, controlling access to channels, etc.

Abstract: Various arrangements are presented that may involve receiving from a television service provider, timers that are used to record a managed channel array. Each of these timers define a television channel, a time period, and a date. The received timers may be set at a television receiver. User input may be received that specifies an undesired television channel that is not to be recorded according to the received plurality of timers, the undesired television channel being part of the managed channel array. An amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel may be calculated. Storage space may be allocated based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel.

Abstract: A method of providing access to a block of stored content includes transmitting a general EPG at a content receiver for display on a presentation device, the EPG including a plurality of channels having a plurality of programs available at a plurality of times, receiving input from a user to display a block guide, and transmitting the block guide wherein, the block guide is associated with the block of stored content for accessing the block of stored content, the block guide including a plurality of channels having a plurality of programs available for a selected airing time.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a method and a system for performance enhancing proxy (PEP). A PEP system may include a configuration of software components and hardware devices to increase the performance of a two-way satellite broadband service. The PEP system may include one or more embodiments to reduce the time necessary for users to transmit and receive data provided through a communication network.