Abstract: Viewing of advertisements in broadcast television programming is electronically monitored using network communications to determine viewership of programming that is promoted in the ads. This correlation is enabled through a distributed information system that permits digital identification of ads in programming, as well as distributed tracking of ad and program viewership. Through automated gathering of viewership information and distributed data processing, advertising effectiveness can be very accurately tracked.

Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the authentication of media player devices for media streaming. Specifically, the various embodiments provide a media player device authentication technique that monitors the locations of media player devices to determine a pattern of device co-location with a primary device. The media player devices can then be selectively designated as confirmed devices based on their determined pattern of device co-location with a primary media player device. Those media player devices that are designated as confirmed devices can then be selectively enabled for media streaming. Conversely, media player devices that are not designated as confirmed devices based on a pattern of co-location can be prevented from receiving media streams even when they have the correct login information and password.

Abstract: A digital service evaluation system evaluates services and user sessions provided by a service, to provide an overall score of the service. The digital service evaluation system detects client sessions associated with one or more devices. The digital service evaluation system obtains a first plurality of scores associated with performance metrics of the client session, and calculates an overall score for the client session. The digital service evaluation system obtains a second plurality of scores and calculates a second overall score. The digital service evaluation system determines a weight for each performance metric based on the first and second plurality of scores and the overall scores. The digital service evaluation system uses the weights to determine which performance metric caused a change in the overall scores. The digital service evaluation system takes an action based on the determination that a performance metric caused a change in the overall scores.

Abstract: Advertisements in broadcast television programming are digitally replaced with different ads prior to viewing. Replacement can occur in time and/or place shifted content, and can be used to promote a particular advertisement that the viewer has not yet seen, thereby improving the reach of the ad without oversaturation. Data reporting by the playback devices is collected in a database of viewed ads. The information in the database can be used to refresh previously-viewed ads, to increase saturation of particular ads, to replace previously-broadcast but no longer relevant ads, or for other purposes as desired.

Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and processes are provided to facilitate the streaming of a playback of a recorded program in a video playback recording system. These systems, devices, and processes provide operating the cloud-based DVR in a recording mode for user selection of program content for recordation in a video playback file by the cloud-based DVR wherein the video playback file containing the program content is recorded by the user selection beginning with a start time associated with the DVR event file; and generating a manifest file that contains a program marker of a start time of the program content omitting any recorded commercial content at a beginning of the video playback file associated by beginning of the recording from the start time associated with the DVR event file.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for displaying a program source indicator. A program may be selected within an electronic program guide. Metadata associated with the program may be received, wherein the metadata comprises a source identifier. A source identifier may be an Internet-streaming service, a broadband TV service, a satellite TV service, and/or a digital video recorder database. Based on the source identifier, a source indicator may be retrieved. A program source indicator may be a superimposed image, icon, or other visual indicator. The source indicator may then be temporarily overlaid on the program content within the electronic programming guide.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and processes are provided to facilitate the streaming of a playback of a recorded program in a video playback recording system. These systems, devices, and processes provide operating the cloud-based DVR in a recording mode for user selection of program content for recordation in a video playback file by the cloud-based DVR wherein the video playback file containing the program content is recorded by the user selection beginning with a start time associated with the DVR event file; and generating a manifest file that contains a program marker of a start time of the program content omitting any recorded commercial content at a beginning of the video playback file associated by beginning of the recording from the start time associated with the DVR event file.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the authentication of media player devices for media streaming. Specifically, the various embodiments provide a media player device authentication technique that monitors the locations of media player devices to determine a pattern of device co-location with a primary device. The media player devices can then be selectively designated as confirmed devices based on their determined pattern of device co-location with a primary media player device. Those media player devices that are designated as confirmed devices can then be selectively enabled for media streaming. Conversely, media player devices that are not designated as confirmed devices based on a pattern of co-location can be prevented from receiving media streams even when they have the correct login information and password.

Abstract: Various arrangements for geographical-based streaming media management are presented. Long-term and short-term streaming media records may be received. A master streaming media record database may be maintained that combines the long-term and short-term streaming media records. A geographical identifier can be received that indicates a streaming media access location and a record characteristic. The geographical identifier, the record characteristic, and the master streaming media record database may be analyzed. In response, record indications may be output from the master streaming media record database that indicate a streaming media permission scheme required to access the streaming media source.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate video streaming. The various embodiments facilitate the detection of program promotions in a video stream, where program promotions include commercial content that advertises future programs. In general, the embodiments facilitate the detection of program promotions in a video stream through the use of automated process monitors the video stream and determines that a content block is a program promotion when that content block meets a defined set of criteria. This set of criteria can include criteria such as time adjacency, timespan, audio, video and textual factors, and when the content was previously first detected. In such embodiments the ability to detect program promotions using the set of criteria facilitates the replacement of these program promotions with other, potentially more valuable, content.

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes facilitate adaptive user progressions through content. A process includes receiving a detected first user input motion and determining, based thereon, a first progression type. The process may include executing: a slow scrub progression when input motion occurs within a first area defined by a first velocity threshold VT1 upper limit and a first array sector range AS1; executing a fast scrub progression when input motion occurs within a second area defined by a second velocity threshold VT2 upper limit and a second array sector range AS2; executing a slow swipe scrub progression when input motion occurs within a third area defined by a third velocity threshold VT3 upper limit and a third array sector range AS3; and executing a fast swipe progression when input motion occurs within a fourth area defined by a fourth velocity threshold VT4 upper limit and a fourth array sector range AS4.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the streaming of video content. In general, the systems, devices and processes facilitate the synchronized streaming of video content to a plurality of video player devices. Specifically, the systems, devices and processes provide for the synchronized streaming of video content to a plurality of video player devices while also providing the ability selectively restrict timing adjustments. For example, the timing adjustments in one or more of the video player devices can be selectively prevented from occurring at certain times to comply with content-based or other such restrictions. As one example, the systems, devices and processes can be used to prevent timing adjustments from being made in one or more video player devices during the displaying of commercials and/or certain live content on the video player devices.

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for managing access to a program during a promotional period are described. A system may include a content system and a user device configured to access the program during the promotion. A content distributor may provide the program to the user device during the promotion. The content system may permit access to the program when the user device satisfies a first technical condition. The first technical condition may specify an end time for the promotion. A second technical condition may specify a start event for the promotion. The content system may permit access to the program during a promotional period defined by the start event and the end time. The end time may be predefined. The start event occurs when the user device communicates an acceptance of the promotion to the content system.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the streaming of video content. In general, the systems, devices and processes facilitate the synchronized streaming of video content to a plurality of video player devices. Specifically, the systems, devices and processes provide for the synchronized streaming of video content to a plurality of video player devices while also providing the ability selectively restrict timing adjustments. For example, the timing adjustments in one or more of the video player devices can be selectively prevented from occurring at certain times to comply with content-based or other such restrictions. As one example, the systems, devices and processes can be used to prevent timing adjustments from being made in one or more video player devices during the displaying of commercials and/or certain live content on the video player devices.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present disclosure provide for devices, systems and processes for facilitating adaptive user progressions through content. For at least one embodiment, a process for facilitating user adaptive progressions through content includes receiving a detected first user input motion and determining, based on the first user input motion, a first progression type.

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated process allow automatic replacement of advertisements or other content in previously-broadcast television programs. A content management system or the like operating on a digital network receives indicia from playback devices that have encountered identified advertisements that are stored in digital video recorders or that are otherwise contained within previously-broadcast television programs. The encounters are recorded in a database for subsequent analysis. If desired, the previously-broadcast advertisements may be replaced with more relevant or engaging advertisements prior to playback to the viewer, thereby allowing a fresher, more relevant and more engaging experience for the viewer.

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated process allow automatic replacement of advertisements or other content in previously-broadcast television programs. A content management system or the like operating on a digital network receives indicia from playback devices that have encountered identified advertisements that are stored in digital video recorders or that are otherwise contained within previously-broadcast television programs. The encounters are recorded in a database for subsequent analysis. If desired, the previously-broadcast advertisements may be replaced with more relevant or engaging advertisements prior to playback to the viewer, thereby allowing a fresher, more relevant and more engaging experience for the viewer.