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: 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: 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: 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: Techniques are disclosed for automatically calibrating content shown on an electronic display. According to certain embodiments, a picture of the display is taken while a calibration image is shown on the display. The picture is then analyzed to determine whether any adjustments need to be made. The analysis can, for example, include a comparison between the picture of the calibration image and a stored calibration image. If it is determined an adjustment needs to be made to correct how content is shown on the display, an adjustment is made accordingly.

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.

Abstract: While receiving content from a source via a first connection, a receiver determines the connection is interrupted, selects an alternative source, and continues to receive the content from the alternative source via a second connection. In some implementations, the alternative source may be a server. In implementations, the alternative source may be additional receivers configured in a peer-to-peer arrangement. In various implementations, after the receiver determines that the first connection is interrupted, the receiver may utilize the second connection until finished receiving the content, continue receiving the content utilizing the first connection once no longer interrupted, or determine that the second connection is interrupted and select an additional alternative source to continue receiving the content from via a third connection.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are described for outputting audible or visual indicators via a remote control for a controlled device. A remote control queries an associated controlled device for information. The controlled device generates a request for the remote control to activate an audio or visual indicator. The request is integrated with a response to the query that is transmitted to the remote control. The remote control outputs an audio or visual indicator responsive to the request.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to present audio content of a received media content stream in a plurality of user controllable spot focused sound regions. An exemplary embodiment receives an audio content stream comprising at least a first audio channel and a second audio channel; multiplies the first audio channel into a plurality of first audio channels, multiplies the second audio channel into a plurality of second audio channels; communicates a first one of the multiplied plurality of first audio channels and a first one of the multiplied plurality of second audio channels to a first audio sound region controller; and communicates a second one of the multiplied plurality of first audio channels and a second one of the multiplied plurality of second audio channels to a second audio sound region controller.

Abstract: A broadcast communication system is presented which includes a broadcast communication transmitter, a broadcast communication receiver, and an information processor. The broadcast communication receiver is configured to receive programming from the broadcast communication transmitter. The receiver is also configured to generate information relating to the operation of the broadcast communicate receiver. In addition, the receiver is configured to connect to the information processor and transfer the information thereto during a time period in accordance with user input accepted by the receiver. The information processor is configured to receive and process the information.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating shopping for items shown in media content events are described. Some embodiments provide a shopping facilitator as part of a media device, such as a set-top box. As the media device presents a media content event showing multiple items, the shopping facilitator is configured to receive an indication that a viewer is interested in purchasing one of the multiple items. The shopping facilitator then identifies the item of interest, and at a later time provides a shopping facility that can be can be used by the viewer or some other user to purchase the item. In some embodiments, the media content event is presented without any indication that items shown in the media content event are for sale. Furthermore, the shopping facilitator may perform its functions without interrupting or otherwise disrupting the viewing of the media content event.

Abstract: Program recording systems and methods are operable to adjust recording times of a program of interest in response to an occurrence of an interrupting program that alters the scheduled recording times of the program of interest. An exemplary embodiment receives an unscheduled program flag (UPF) corresponding to an occurrence of an unscheduled program; adjusts at least one of a scheduled recording start time associated with the program of interest to an updated record start time and a scheduled recording end time associated with the program of interest to an updated record end time in response to receiving the UPF; and records the program of interest based upon at least one of the updated record start time and the updated record end time.