Abstract: A media server machine may be configured to provide media content within a datastream. This datastream may be provided to a media device that is configured to present the media content on a display. Also, this datastream may contemporaneously contain an “app-sync indicator” for the media content. The app-sync indicator is a data structure that signals the media device to launch an application on a companion device. By providing the app-sync indicator contemporaneously with the media content in the datastream, the launching of the application on the companion device may be synchronized with the media content. The app-sync indicator may specify the application to be launched. Also, the app-sync indicator may specify supplemental content to be presented by the launched application on the companion device.

Abstract: A method for providing video and audio perspectives of audio/video content is presented. In an example embodiment, a media content item is received that includes audio/video content having at least one video perspective and a plurality of audio perspectives for the at least one video perspective. The at least one video perspective is provided with a first one of the plurality of audio perspectives for presentation on a display device. During the providing of the at least one video perspective with the first one of the plurality of audio perspectives, a first command is received from a media application configured to allow a user to select among the plurality of audio perspectives. Responsive to the first command, the video perspective is provided along with a selected second one of the plurality of audio perspectives in substitution of the first one of the plurality of audio perspectives for presentation on the display device.

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: A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide a community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector, a contact evaluation module, 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 contact evaluation module is configured to access a rule assigned to the contact by the viewer. The rule indicates an action to be performed based on a content rating provided by the contact in the recommendation. The decision module is configured to determine the action to be at the viewer system, based on the content rating in the recommendation and the rule, and to initiate the action at the view 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: A smart playlist system is described. In one example embodiment, a collector module obtains content utilization data from a plurality of client devices associated with respective plurality of viewers. A hot list generator module generates a list of popular content items based on the obtained content utilization data. A customization module generates a customized playlist for a target viewer from the plurality of viewers, based on the list of popular content items and a profile of the target viewer. The communications module communicates the customized playlist to a client device of the target viewer.

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: Methods and systems of modifying a media presentation are presented. In one example, a first media item including first audio data is played. During that time, a user indication is received. In response to the indication, detection data for a first audio segment of the first audio data is generated. A second media item including second audio data is then played. A second audio segment in the second audio data corresponding to at least a portion of the first audio segment is detected based on the detection data. Whether a location in the second audio segment corresponds to a location in the detection data associated with the user indication is determined. In response to the location in the second audio segment corresponding to the location in the detection data, the playing of the second media item is altered during at least a portion of the second audio segment.

Abstract: Example embodiments facilitate user-initiated transitioning between versions of media content. In an example embodiment, a content access device receives a first version of a plurality of versions of a media content item via a communication network from a media content source, and causes presentation of the first version via a display device. During the receiving of the first version, the media content device receives a first request for a second version of the media content item. In response to the first request, the content access device transmits a second request to the media content source to begin receiving the second version. After the transmitting of the second request, the content access device receives the second version for display beginning at a point in the second version related to a point in the first version last received from the media content source.

Abstract: A method to create interactivity between a main device and a secondary device.

Abstract: A method for securing transmission of digital data in a communication network comprising a central station or a terminal and at least one device monitored by the central station via the communication network. The at least one device is configured to produce and to transmit a digital data stream to the central station or terminal. The at least one device further comprises a secure non-volatile memory for storing at least device specific information. The at least one device forms a data block based on at least the device specific information stored in the secure memory. The data block thus formed may compose additional data to be merged with the digital data stream produced by the at least one device. A modified digital data stream results from this merging operation and is transmitted by the at least one device to the central station or terminal.

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: A method and system for employing automated user input for an interactive application associated with a media program is presented. In an example embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a receiving device from a media content system via a network, a media program and an interactive application associated with the media program. Execution of the application is initiated during the receiving of the program. Based on the execution, a user interface configured to receive a user input to view added content via the application is presented. A script is executed to provide the user input to the application to provide the added content with the program. Based on the execution of the application and the user input, the added content is provided with the program. During the receiving of the program, the program and the added content are recorded for presentation to the user after the recording.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide systems and methods for overlay contrast control in augmented reality displays. In an example method, contrast enhancement data including data describing at least a portion of a background image for presentation under an informational overlay on a display device is accessed. The informational overlay includes at least one of a graphical element or a textual element to partially obscure a scene. Data identifying at least a portion of the information overlay under which the background image is to be presented is generated. The background image is presented on a display device atop the portion of the scene corresponding to the portion of the informational overlay, and the information overlay is presented on the display device atop the background image and the scene.

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: Advertisements included in a stored digital video program are identified and indexed. A user can time shift the advertisements to play out at a different time position in the program or not play the advertisement at all. A user may incur an advertisement debt for skipping or fast forwarding an advertisement. The advertisement debt can be offset by viewing ads, trading the debt with other users or by paying for the debt in another form.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide systems and methods for emphasis modification of an informational overlay in augmented reality displays. In an example method, an informational overlay is presented atop a scene on a display device. The informational overlay includes at least one of a graphical element or a textual element to partially obscure the scene. Scene change data indicating a change in the scene is accessed. Based on the scene change data, a visual emphasis on the display device of at least a portion of the informational overlay relative to the scene is modified.

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: A system for facilitating access to items of content presents recommendations to a user. Items of content may include movies and television shows. Recommendations may include access plans specifying a plurality of digital media services, where each specified digital media service provides availability to items of content included in a user defined set. Further, recommendations may be based on one or more use defined constraints. User defined constraints may include a user budget for accessing items of content during a specific time period.