Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring blackout events are provided. A particular method includes receiving a server blackout event specifying a scheduled blackout of a first media service. The method also includes receiving a client blackout event from at least one set top box affected by the scheduled blackout. The method further includes generating a compliance report indicating whether the set top box complied with the scheduled blackout.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to provide a media processor with a description of available channels, receive from the media processor a request for EPG data and a selection of channels from the available channels where the selection of channels is based on a user's input at the media processor in response to a presentation of the description of the available channels at a display device operably connected to the media processor, and provide to the media processor the requested EPG data representing programming for the selection of channels without programming for remaining channels from the available channels that were not selected, where the media processor presents an EPG based on the provided EPG data, and where a portion of the EPG data is obtained by the controller from a first service provider network that is different from a second service provider network in which the server operates.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and associated apparatus for reducing the time required to scan an incoming satellite transmission power spectrum for available signals and to determine the characteristics of those signals. The frequency range of interest is scanned in narrow slices to determine approximate input power within each slice. Center frequencies and symbol rates of individual transponders are then estimated based upon these input power approximations.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to detect a first position of a viewing apparatus, wherein the viewing apparatus enables viewing of media programs, obtain a media program in a first viewing perspective that conforms to the first position, present the media program with the first viewing perspective for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus, and transmit to the viewing apparatus a first audio signal corresponding to the first viewing perspective. The storage medium can also have computer instructions to detect that the viewing apparatus has moved to a second position, obtain the media program in a second viewing perspective according to the second position, and present the media program with the second viewing perspective for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Abstract: An interactive gaming channel presented on a monitor, with a plurality of transponders being used to present the games available at a given time. Such a channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a game selection screen, comprising a genre selection area and a game selection area, related to the genre selection area, wherein a viewer of the monitor selects a game to be played from a plurality of games.

Abstract: A novel advanced set top terminal capable of digital decompression, menu generation, interactivity and other advanced functional capabilities for use in a television program delivery system (200) is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for upgrading existing set top terminals (220) to provide menu generation capability and advanced functional capabilities. The invention is particularly useful in television program delivery systems (200) with hundreds of channels of programming, providing (i) menu driven program selection through the addition of an upgrade module (300) or menu generation card and (ii) advanced functional capabilities using a set of hardware upgrades (e.g., 130) and/or an expansion card. Specifically, the invention is an upgradeable system that supports advanced set top functionality through the use of internal software, hardware upgrades, an upgrade module and/or expansion cards. The upgraded hardware generally includes a microprocessor, various input/output ports (e.g.

Abstract: An enhanced television broadcast system may enable the transmission and reception of a real-time event when a new program is about to begin. The real-time event may control access to enhancements from the program that is ending. In some embodiments, these real-time events may constitute triggers that are included within packets transmitted in an Internet Protocol multicast. As one example, the trigger may include a Uniform Resource Locator in the form of a tv: protocol that automatically causes the television display to go to full screen television.

Abstract: A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver, which receives and processes a service being transmitted in non-real time, and a broadcast receiver are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of verifying a blackout event is disclosed that includes receiving blackout event data from an event log database of a video distribution platform at a subscriber event transmission interface (SETI) communicating with an electronic data warehouse (EDW) system. The method also includes creating at least one EDW load-ready file that includes at least a portion of the blackout event data.

Abstract: A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) Receiver Targeting service is disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) Receiver Targeting service, the method comprises receiving broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying an NRT service based on the first signaling information, parsing a Receiver Targeting Descriptor from the second signaling information, determining validity of the NRT service or an NRT content based on a targeting_criterion_type_code included in the Receiver Targeting Descriptor, and downloading the NRT service or the NRT content when a receiver determines the NRT service or the NRT content to be valid.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a request for media content from a set top box of an Internet Protocol Television System, perform a search of one or more storage devices associated with other set top boxes for the media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the set top box where the other set top boxes are located remotely from the set top box, receive the media content, and adjust a format of the media content prior to delivery to the set top box based at least in part on the user profile. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server. The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream.

Abstract: Digital multimedia is broadcast by a wireless provider by first decoding incoming multimedia streams and then encoding each stream using one of at least two encoding parameter sets as appropriate for the particular user or groups of users to receive the stream.

Abstract: There is provided a method where a terminal amplifies an MBS signal that the terminal receives using a terminal in an MBS service, transmits the amplified signal to another terminal and controls it in order to overcome the fact it is not possible to provide high quality contents over a broad area due to interference signals between MBS zones, a terminal is used as a repeater at MBS transmission time only, and an output of a repeating signal of the terminal is controlled so that an excessive interference signal for another MBS area is not generated when the terminal operates as a repeater.

Abstract: A method of providing video-on-demand content includes receiving a request from a set-top box, and determining the video-on-demand content is not stored locally. The request includes a content identifier for the video-on-demand content. The method further includes identifying a peer likely to have the video-on-demand content, receiving at least a first portion of the video-on-demand content from the peer, and providing the video-on-demand content to the set-top box.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and apparatuses for delivering an advertiser's ad content to a user regardless of the channel or media format being accessed by the user. Ads may be delivered within the media stream, in an ancillary stream, or from other sources.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining viewership information are provided. A method of determining viewership information includes determining viewership information from multicast routing table data associated with one or more edge routers of a media content delivery service. Each edge router of the one or more edge routers is adapted to transmit media content streams to multiple devices via a first network. The method also includes sending data related to the viewership information to a requesting device via a second network.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol television system includes a user profile agent, a keyword detection agent, and an information search agent. The user profile agent is in communication with a multimedia device, and generates a user profile based on information received from the multimedia device. The keyword detection agent is in communication with the user profile agent, and searches text associated with a multimedia video stream transmitted to the multimedia device for keywords associated with the user profile. The information search agent is in communication with the keyword detection agent, and connects to an information source associated with the keywords detected by the keyword detection agent, and provides additional information associated with the keywords to the multimedia device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for transmitting and a process for receiving update data. According to the invention, the update data are dispatched by a communication center to terminals with the aid of a broadcasting network. Next, the terminals report their update to the center through a bidirectional network. The center renews the campaign or stops the current campaign as a function of the number of terminals updated. When only a minimum number of terminals to be updated remains, the campaign is stopped, the last terminals not updated will be so via the bidirectional link. The invention also relates to the center implementing a dispatch process and the receiver for receiving and processing the update data.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, and cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface. Each of the plurality of unassociated media programs can be viewable only with a viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus can be configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.