Abstract: Provided herein are exemplary systems and methods for a “Social Cam” which is a multiple remote picture synchronization tool. Exemplary embodiments may include receiving a name of an event, a list of users, and a template, receiving from a plurality of remote computing devices digital data, each of the remote computing device associated with a user on the list of users, compositing the digital data onto the template, notifying the plurality of remote computing devices about the composited digital data and providing the plurality of remote computing devices with access to the composited digital data.

Abstract: A system controller, preferably implemented as a cloud service, enables the synchronization of display devices located at geographically remote locations relative to one another. A display and control devices are provided at each of a plurality of sites, with one or both of the devices being capable displaying the transmitted show. The control device enables the system controller to determine local relative delays in the show and to control the temporal reproduction of said transmitted show by said display device so as to achieve a substantially synchronized reproduction of the show at each of the sites.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an online forum for video distribution are provided. A video file having a first format is received from a first client. The received video file is converted from the first format to a second format and is stored on a server, where the converted video file is accessible to a second client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering media over a network are provided. Multiple media assets are stored on a server, as well as a representation for at least one media asset. The representation of a media asset is delivered to a client. A client user request based on selection of a representation is received, and the represented media asset is delivered from the server in response to the client user request.

Abstract: Improved techniques for managing image data associating with asset records in an electronic media programs catalog list between a media server (e.g., a video-on-demand server) and a terminal device or a client system (e.g., a set-top box) is disclosed. The catalog list is created by a module and displayed on a terminal device. Each of the asset records represents a media program that the user can browse. Each of these media programs may associate with a graphical image data, which is also displayed, when the user browses at that particular record. The image data are stored on the media server with a portion duplicated in an image windowing cache on the terminal device. The image windowing cache is intelligently filled by a predictive pre-fetch operation in the background while the user browses a particular record. The predictive operation ensures additional n images are pre-fetched in user scroll direction.

Abstract: Improved approaches for delivering media programs to viewers (e.g., subscribers) are disclosed. The media programs are typically broadcast in accordance with a schedule. The media program can be delivered to viewers through multicast or unicast. According to one aspect, the media programs are buffered (e.g., cached) in a data packet format such that producing unicasts for particular viewers requires less computation and resources such that more concurrent unicasts are able to be effectively supported.

Abstract: Improved techniques to record one or more scheduled programs for later viewing are disclosed. Without compromising the quality of a broadcast program being currently delivered in a required bandwidth of a network, a buffer mechanism is provided to accommodate using of the remaining available bandwidth of the network to deliver the requested one or more scheduled programs. In one embodiment, the buffer mechanism is controlled or configured to convert transmission rates of the scheduled programs to be recorded in accordance with the remaining available bandwidth. Thus the required bandwidth needed to ensure the quality of the scheduled program being currently delivered for viewing is not affected. The buffered contents are transmitted to the client machines via a broadband local loop using uni-cast, multi-cast or a combination of both. An optional backup copy of the locally recorded scheduled programs is stored in a centrally located storage server farm.

Abstract: Improved approaches for configuration, management and operation of a media delivery system are disclosed. The media delivery system centrally manages and stores media content and also controls the delivery of media content to subscribers. According to one embodiment, a method for providing a program guide to subscribers of the media delivery system is disclosed. The media delivery system delivers programs to the subscribers in accordance with the program guide. The program guide can be customized for subscribers. The customization can be implemented in a variety of ways. One example of customization is to provide the program guide with a time bar.

Abstract: A media system that centrally manages and stores media contents and also controls the delivery of media content to subscribers is disclosed. According to one aspect, an administrator can control program scheduling, rates, service packages and system configuration for a media delivery system. Additionally, the administrator may also control billing, transaction monitoring, and customer relations. According to another aspect, the media delivery system provides subscribers with centrally managed storage for paused or recorded media. Still another aspect is that the media delivery system can restrict various administrators to different modules of the media delivery system.

Abstract: Improved approaches for delivering media programs to viewers (e.g., subscribers) are disclosed. The media programs are typically broadcast in accordance with a schedule. The media program can be delivered to viewers through multicast or unicast. According to one aspect, the media programs are buffered (e.g., cached) in a data packet format such that producing unicasts for particular viewers requires less computation and resources such that more concurrent unicasts are able to be effectively supported.