Abstract: Systems and methods for generating bill pay requests via an internet-enabled video displaying device are described. The transaction generating system presents users with the option to generate a bill pay request to vendors of products and/or services while the user is passively consuming video content. As video content relating to a given product or service is displayed, a notification invites the user to generate a bill pay request. The user can then use the internet-enabled video displaying device to generate and send a request to transfer funds to the vendor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a video stream are disclosed. A first tier value may be assigned to each of a plurality of SHRAP pictures in a first video stream. A reference tier value may be assigned to pictures in the first video stream that may be used as reference pictures. A plurality of discard tier values may be assigned to pictures in the first video stream that may be discarded during trick mode operations and do not depend on other pictures assigned one of the plurality of discard tier values. A trick mode operation may then be performed, wherein the presentation of pictures in the first video stream is dependent upon assignment of tier values.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to control of transmission and consumption of content in a device, such as an end-point rendering device. The content can include linear-programming content assets and/or time-shifted content assets. Consumption can be mediated by a control device that can coordinate the functional interaction between the device and a content distribution network node or an access network node that can supply the content and related information.

Abstract: A P2P based method for playing media is provided. The method includes logging in a network; selecting a live broadcasting service or a video-on-demand service, and receiving a judgment result on whether to buffer a data flow corresponding to the live broadcasting service or the video-on-demand service; obtaining the corresponding data flow according to a selection result, and buffering the data flow when the judgment result is yes; and providing the buffered corresponding data flow for a video-on-demand node or a live broadcasting node as a data source of the live broadcasting service or the video-on-demand service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing playback devices with trick play functionality are described. The system includes a playback device, e.g., without recording capability, and a gateway device with multiple tuner-demodulators and/or a cable modem and recording capability. During normal playback, in some embodiments, both the playback device and gateway receive content in parallel with the gateway recording content at the request of the playback device and supplying the content over the local network when a user of the playback device requests a trick play operation. A single gateway, with multiple tuner demodulator pairs and/or a cable modem, supports trick play functions. In some embodiments if the number of playback devices exceeds the number of tuner-demodulator pairs in the gateway, the playback device can stream content to the gateway for recording and to be returned via the local network in the event of a request for a trick play operation.

Abstract: An apparatus downloads files of encoded video including interspersed key frames over a communication network. The apparatus plays back video from the downloaded files and creates a trick play index based on the downloaded files. The trick play index indicates network locations of the key frames in the encoded video files. When the apparatus receives a trick play request, such as rewind or fast forward, the client device downloads the key frames from the indicated network locations, and plays back video from the downloaded key frames.

Abstract: A remote control system includes: an electric home terminal device 11 having a control program; a server PC 12, for transmitting control data to the electric home terminal device 11 and for registering three-dimensional model data concerning the electric home terminal device 11; and client PCs 14, 15 and 16, for receiving the three-dimensional model data from the server PC 12, wherein the client PCs 14, 15 and 16 perform an additional operation upon the receipt of specific three-dimensional model data from the server PC 12, and transmit, to the server PC 12, update data for a three-dimensional model obtained by the additional operation, and wherein the server PC 12 transmits, to the electric home terminal device 11, the control data based on the update data for a three-dimensional model received from the client PCs 14, 15 and 16.