Abstract: A portable device includes solid-state memory, an Ethernet and/or wireless network connection, and an HDMI. The portable device receives content guide data from a first server and displays a content guide on a display. In response to a user's selection of a content item, the portable device requests the content item over the Internet from a second server. The portable device receives the content item, stores the content item in solid-state memory, generates display signals that represent the content item, and sends the display signals to a display. The second server may match the content item with relevant advertisements based on keywords associated with the content item and the advertisements. The second server may send selected advertisement URLs to the portable device. Using the URLs, the portable device may obtain the advertisements over the Internet and cause the display to display the advertisements in conjunction with the content item.

Abstract: A coupling device for use in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network may be configured to disable an upstream path through it when there is only noise incident on the upstream path, and enable the upstream path through it when a desired transmission from a cable modem downstream of the coupling device is incident on the upstream path. The coupling device may be a trunk amplifier, a distribution amplifier, a splitter, or the like. The coupling device may comprise a single upstream interface coupled to a plurality of downstream interfaces. The enabling and/or disabling may be in response to a signal strength indicated by the SSI being below a threshold and/or in response to one or more control messages indicating whether any downstream cable modem is, or will be, transmitting.

Abstract: A convergence terminal, including a set top box unit, a home gateway unit, a main control board and an interconnection backplane, where the main control board establishes a communication connection with each of a multimedia device and an Internet access device, the main control board connects, in a communication manner, to each of the set top box unit and the home gateway unit through the interconnection backplane. In the present invention, an objective of implementing that a television service and an Internet access service are separately provided through a service terminal is achieved, thereby reducing the number of service terminals used by a user for enjoying different services, and also reducing frequent wiring operations of the user on connection wires for inward connection and outward connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transceiving television (TV)-content-related information based on a social network. A TV content sharing method for providing TV-content-related information to a plurality of TV users based on a social network includes receiving from a TV user a request to check in a TV content sharing service; providing real-time user information regarding users who check in a content checked-in by the TV user, in real time; and providing related service information regarding accessible related services in the social network in relation to the checked-in content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a media content user interface. A media content provider includes storage for storing and serving video content to subscribers. The media content provider records and or otherwise stores video content from around the world. Subscribers are provided a user interface to the system that includes a side bar. The user interface provides context sensitive hints to assist the viewer. The system also tracks a viewer's viewing history in a manner that allows the viewer to review and directly access any part of that history. Finally, magnetic points are created for use during video scrubbing to intelligently select relocation points for the current playback position.

Abstract: Relating to the field of communications, a method and an apparatus for program information exchange and a communications system provided in embodiments of the present invention can enable a user to, by using a user equipment, make a comment on a program currently being watched without adding an external input device. The method for program information exchange in the embodiment includes: obtaining a program comment instruction; extracting information about a current program from a pre-established database according to the program comment instruction; sending, if the information includes a program comment address, the program comment address to a user equipment.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a multicast address. A first request message is sent to the EPG device to obtain program guide information. The program guide information is returned by the EPG device. A multicast address matching a current user terminal is obtained according to the program guide information. A multicast request message is sent according to the multicast address.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate consecutive live ad insertion for live media streams. A live media stream is received and played at a client device. A first ad indicator in the live media stream, indicating a first start point for a first ad period, is detected. Upon reaching the first start point, reception of the live media stream is paused and one or more first replacement ads are played instead of one or more first original ads. Before the first ad period ends, a small portion of the live media stream is fetched in order to detect the presence of a second ad indicator indicating the presence of a second, consecutive ad period in the live media stream. Upon detecting the second ad indicator, one or more second replacement ads are played during the second ad period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving channel browsing experience for users by presenting an automatically appearing and automatically scrolling program guide are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for use with remote control devices with limited numbers of input buttons, e.g., under five buttons, but can be used with remote controls with more buttons. The program guide can be used to allow access to a grid guide to users of hospital remotes or other remotes with limited input keys, e.g., an up down arrow and/or a power button. The method in some embodiments uses time spent on a channel in combination with user selection of an input key to determine an action to be taken, e.g., enter or display the program grid guide and/or select a channel and/or corresponding program being displayed in the grid guide.

Abstract: In the following, a content delivery system delivers a modified version of a media asset to a current content consuming user. Control information identifying a desired attribute of the modified version of the asset is received from the current content consuming user. The media asset is modified based on the control information and audience reaction data associated with the media asset and generated by analyzing at least a previous content consuming user's reactions to the media asset whilst the media asset was supplied to a media output device of the previous content consuming user.

Abstract: Determining a video audience is disclosed, including: identifying a set of videos based at least in part on a received criterion; querying a video database to retrieve engagements associated with each of at least a subset of the set of videos; identifying a set of audience members associated with the engagements associated with each of the at least subset of the set of videos; and querying a user database to gather events associated with each of at least a subset of the set of audience members.

Abstract: Techniques for inserting advertising content and other personalized information into media assets are described. The techniques involve inserting personalized ads and other content into media assets as a server at the content delivery network (CDN) point-of-presence (POP) is performing the individualized encoding of the file on-the-fly. The ads and other content can be personalized based on the user's purchasing habits, user's location (geographic, GPS, IP location, etc.), the content in the media file and the like. In addition, the ads can be inserted into specific parts of the video (i.e. key frames, key slices, etc.) because the CDN node is actually transcoding the content and thus can insert the ads into the content in its own native format. For example, ads can appear as part of the video itself, different language subtitles can be integrated into the video based on the location of the user, and the like.

Abstract: An IPTV can receive a user name and present a screen enabling a user by means of a remote control to select health information categories, inputting numeric parameters into the selected categories which can be uploaded to an Internet server for analysis and viewed by the user for subsequent monitoring/charting.

Abstract: Mechanisms for presenting recommended media content items are provided. In some implementations, a method comprises: receiving a request for supplemental content relating to a program being presented by a media device; causing a content interface to be presented on a mobile device; identifying the program that is being presented on a media device; determining keywords associated with the program; obtaining and storing supplemental content items corresponding to the program based on the keywords; causing the content interface to present a first supplemental content item; receiving state information associated with the mobile device that indicates a subsequent visit to the content interface; and causing the content interface to present a second supplemental content item based on the state information.

Abstract: A method of providing advertising from a central database server connected to a global computer network to distributed sites via interactive television. A representative icon is presented to a subscriber on a television screen indicating an advertisement. When a the icon is selected, an advertisement information detail is retrieved from storage in a local memory, or from the central database server and presented to the subscriber on the television screen.

Abstract: To be accessed on different media players, requested content must be delivered in a format that is supported by the requesting device. A dynamic content packager for encrypting and packaging requested content for different requesting devices at the time of consumption is disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server comprising a memory to store executable instructions and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising presenting a graphical user interface enabling selectable advertisements or a selectable channel distribution service for delivery to a set top box, presenting filters for targeted delivery of advertisements to subscriber equipment based on information descriptive of the subscriber, selecting advertisements from an advertising server based on detected selections of advertisements or a detected channel distribution service preference, transmitting a globally unique identifier of the set top box to a billing server, initiating storage of the selectable advertisements at a remote advertisement delivery server, and presenting the selectable advertisements to the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presentation of content to provide personalized video feeds to a user. A plurality of service feeds comprising a plurality of feed items are acquired by an aggregation system. The aggregation system identifies a first server to provide a first advertisement and a second server to provide a second advertisement, based on a first feed item and a second feed item of the plurality of feed items. The first advertisement and the second advertisement are presented to the user with the first feed item and the second feed item.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.

Abstract: A decoding method and apparatus are provided for decoding an audiovisual stream that is divided into a plurality of segments. The decoding method and apparatus obtain metadata that specify a segment out of the plurality of segments. The metadata is described in a structured description. The segment that is specified by the metadata is obtained, and a start time for rendering the segment from the metadata is derived. The segment is decoded based on the metadata to generate decoded segment data before the start time.