Abstract: A machine detects a set of first control operations and, in response, causes a display screen to present a graphical interface in which a central window suggests first content by presenting a first preview and a first identifier superimposed on the first preview. The machine then detects a second control operation that indicates dismissal of the first content. In response to the second control operation, the machine causes the display screen to present a transition to an interest-improved version of the graphical interface. The transition includes sliding the first preview, the first identifier, a second preview, and a second identifier together in a shared direction and at a shared speed within the central window. The second preview and the second identifier correspond to second content. In the interest-improved version of the graphical interface, the central window suggests the second content by presenting the second preview and the second identifier.

Abstract: Example implementations are directed to methods and systems for individualized multimedia navigation and control including receiving metadata for a piece of digital content, where the metadata comprises a primary image and text that is used to describes the digital content; analyzing the primary image to detect one or more objects; selecting one or more secondary images corresponding to each detected object; and generating a data structure for the digital content comprising the one or more secondary images, where the digital content is described by a preferred secondary image.

Abstract: A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector and a decision module. The recommendation detector is configured to receive, at a viewer's system, a recommendation for a content item from a contact of a viewer. The decision module may be configured to determine an action to be performed at the viewer's system, based on the recommendation and on one or more rules, accept the recommendation as an instruction to perform the action, and initiate the action at the viewer's system.

Abstract: Techniques for providing live content at different quality levels to a user device include advertising content availability at multiple quality levels for selection by the user device, receiving a quality level selection from the user device, wherein the quality level selection matches one of the advertised multiple quality levels, determining whether the received quality level selection differs from a currently used quality level, when it is determined that the received quality level selection is different from the currently used quality level, reconfiguring a transcoder to transcode the live content to only the received quality level, and updating a metafile to include a first quality level at a first bitrate lower than a bitrate for the received quality level selection and a second quality level at a second bitrate higher than the bitrate for the received quality level selection.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for providing a trend server outside a content provider network to communicate with the content provider network to build a trend record based on responses received from the content provider network for monitoring certain activity trend or tendency in the content provider network and provide an alert when the content provider network behaves abnormally.

Abstract: A system for collecting data from different sources is described. In one example embodiment, the system obtains content-related data from a plurality of source computer systems, automatically identifies, based on the content-related data, content items having respective popularity values greater than a predetermined threshold value as popular content items, and automatically generates a list of popular content items based on the popular content items.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first control command including a value for a first control parameter. The method further includes determining an association between the first control command and an identifier of the first control parameter. The method also includes identifying a graphical user interface (GUI) tool and information of the GUI tool based on the identifier of the first control parameter. The method includes launching a GUI that includes the GUI tool. The method further includes updating the first control parameter using the GUI tool based on the information of the GUI tool and the value for the first control parameter. The method also includes initiating content streaming using a first modulator in response to updating the first control parameter. The method includes identifying performance data for the first modulator associated with the content streaming. The method further includes sending the performance data to a server via the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying groupings of content recommendations using personas are provided. The system determines content for each of the plurality of personas. The determined content for each of the plurality of personas comprises content that shares a common genre or theme for each persona. The system populates each of the plurality of personas using the determined content for each of the plurality of personas. The system then causes display of at least some of the plurality of personas on a viewing device of a user. The at least some of the plurality of personas is selected for the user based on device data corresponding to the user, whereby the device data indicates user preferences and interactions with previous content.

Abstract: A pay television satellite broadcast includes validation data that can be used to validate authenticity of live global positioning system (GPS) data. The validation data may be included within entitlement messages and encrypted for security and selective reception by authorized receivers. A navigation system may compute checksums of received live GPS data and compare with the validation data for a match. A decision about whether or not to use the live GPS data may be taken based on whether or not the computed checksums match the validation data received via the pay television satellite broadcast signals.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide systems and methods for replacing recorded media content. In an example method, at least one media content source is searched for a media content item recorded to storage of a first media content device. Based on the media content item being found at a first media content source of the at least one media content source, a recording of the media content item to storage of a second media content device is scheduled based on the media content item being recordable from the first media content source at the second media content device. Based on the media content item not being recordable from the first media content source at the second media device, the availability of the media content item is indicated to the second media content device.

Abstract: A server version of an interactive application executed by a processing device of a first mobile device communicatively connected to a main video rendering device collects first data generated by a first client version of the interactive application executed by the processing device. The server version of the interactive application generates first displayable content relating to the first client version of the interactive application based on the first data, wherein the first displayable content is rendered on a display of the first mobile device. The server version of the interactive application generates second displayable content based in part on the first data and additional data relating to the server version of the interactive application, wherein the first displayable content is different from the second displayable content. The server version of the interactive application, transmits the second displayable content to the main video rendering device to be rendered on a main video display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing provisioning of keys prior to a key rotation are provided. A license server generates a license that is associated with a renewal time. The renewal time is a time that is prior to a key rotation time, and triggers a receiver device to send a renewal request prior to the key rotation time. The renewal time may be a randomized time prior to the key rotation time that differs for different receiver devices. The license is transmitted to the receiver device. The license server then receives a renewal request from the receiver device that is triggered at the renewal time. The license server generates a next license that comprises a next key, whereby the next key is a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted signal after the key rotation time. The next license is transmitted to the receiver device prior to the key rotation time.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for generating media content. For example, a server computer can detect a trigger from a device located at a site. The trigger is associated with an event at the site. The server computer can obtain media segments of media captured by a plurality of media capture devices located at the site. At least one of the media segments corresponds to the detected trigger. The server computer can determine one or more quality metrics of a media segment based on a first motion of an object captured in the media segment and/or a second motion of a media capture device used to capture the media segment. A subset of media segments can be selected from the obtained media segments based on quality metrics determined for the obtained media segments. A collection of media segments including the subset of media segments can then be generated.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide systems and methods for crowdsourced skipping of media content portions. In an example method, a plurality of content tags are received from a plurality of media content devices over a communication network. Each of the plurality of content tags may designate a location within a media content item. The content tags are processed to generate aggregated content tags for the media content item. The aggregated content tags may designate one or more portions of the media content item for modified playback. The aggregated content tags for the media content item are transmitted over the communication network to a first media content device separate from the plurality of media content devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating and sharing media clips are described. Consistent with some embodiments, while a selection of digital media content (e.g., a movie, television program, audio track, and so on) is being presented at a media player, a user creates one or more sets of waypoints (e.g., time markers) that define the boundaries (e.g., beginning and end) of one or more media clips. These waypoints are communicated from one media player device to another, enabling the receiving media player device to retrieve and play back the media clips from a source other than the media player device where the waypoints were generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods to position and play content. The system renders a first content segment to an output device at an accelerated speed for the first content segment. Next, the system receives a request to play the first content segment from the beginning of the first content segment at a normal speed for the first content segment. Next, the system automatically positions to the beginning of the first content segment based on position information that is associated with the first content segment. Finally, the system renders the first content segment to the output device from the beginning of the first content segment at a normal speed for the first content segment.

Abstract: A method and system to navigate viewable content in the context of television entertainment is provided. In one example embodiment, the system comprises a presentation module to present main content on a display screen, a communications module to receive a first request associated with a first directional key on a remote control device, a navigation mode detector to determine a navigation mode associated with the first request; a margin menu module to activate a margin menu associated with the determined navigation mode. The margin menu may be presented along one of the margins of a display screen, while permitting viewing of the main content.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for generating media content. For example, a server computer can detect a trigger from a device located at a site. The trigger is associated with an event at the site. The server computer can obtain media segments of media captured by a plurality of media capture devices located at the site. At least one of the media segments corresponds to the detected trigger. The server computer can determine one or more quality metrics of a media segment based on a first motion of an object captured in the media segment and/or a second motion of a media capture device used to capture the media segment. A subset of media segments can be selected from the obtained media segments based on quality metrics determined for the obtained media segments. A collection of media segments including the subset of media segments can then be generated.

Abstract: A device for enabling content selection is configured to display a program guide that presents a plurality of icon groupings. Each icon grouping corresponds to one of a plurality of sub-categories within a category of media content. An icon in an icon grouping representing a media content item within a sub-category of the plurality of sub-categories. The device is further configured to receive a first input indicative of a selection of the icon grouping and based on the received first input, update the programming guide to present the icon grouping for selection. The updating of the program guide includes changing a manner in which the icons of the icon grouping are organized within the icon grouping. The device is further configured to perform an operation associated with the icon from the icon grouping based on a second input indicative of a selection of the icon.

Abstract: A computer system and method for synchronizing actions associated with media between a media/network device and peripherals. In an example implementation, a system includes a one or more processors configured to receive, by a communication module from a media/network device based on peripheral addressing information, a peripheral payload including a first set of actions and timing information related to media. The one or more processors perform the first set of actions based on the peripheral payload, generate response data for the first set of actions, and transmit the response data to the media/network device via a wireless network.