Abstract: A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation.

Abstract: A display apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes a signal receiver configured to receive a broadcasting signal that includes content of a channel and information about content overlapped channels, a signal processor configured to extract the content and the information about the content overlapped channels from the received broadcasting signal, a display configured to display an image of an extracted content, and a controller configured to perform a control operation based on the extracted information about the content overlapped channels.

Abstract: A system for adaptively streaming video content over an IP network, comprising devices and non-transitory computer-readable storage media having executable computer modules, comprising a sender device interacting with the network, the device configured to send a video stream to the network and to receive a recovery packet stream from the network; at least one receiving device configured to receive the at least one video stream from the network and to transmit a respective recovery packet stream back to the sender device through the network; a bandwidth probe configured to be periodically sent with the video stream to the at least one receiving device to determine respective instantaneous network bandwidths; at least one profile configured to be chosen by the sender device to generate the video stream, based upon respective instantaneous network bandwidths, wherein the video stream is adaptively changed, based upon instantaneous network bandwidths and the respective recovery packet stream.

Abstract: A reverse 911 can be sent to a TV communicating with the Internet. The TV is automatically turned on if it is off, and a viewer can acknowledge the reverse 911 using a TV remote control.

Abstract: Closed caption data for video programs, such as television programs, may be used to implement a video search. In one implementation, a device may perform a search to obtain video programs that are relevant to the search. The search may be performed using an index generated from closed caption data of video programs. The device may additionally present the video programs that are relevant to the search as a matrix of reduced-in-size images sampled from the video programs that are relevant to the search query. The images may be sampled from the video programs near a position in the video programs corresponding to the positions at which the search query is relevant to the video program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking the transmission power level of a home network transmission signal based on the signal level of a received broadcast signal is described. The method includes transmitting a signal at a first transmitted level used for communicating in a home network, detecting a signal level for the transmitted signal in a circuit used for receiving a broadcast signal, determining if a gain setting value for the signal level changes, and adjusting the transmitted signal level for the transmitted signal based on the determination. The apparatus includes a network circuit that transmits a signal at a first transmitted signal level, a detector that detects the transmitted signal in a circuit for receiving a broadcast signal, and a controller that determines if a signal level setting value for the signal level changes and adjusts the transmitted signal level based on the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that prevents a user from terminating a service by broadening criteria used for user recommendations in response to determining that a user is getting bored of the media content already consumed through the service. For example, the media guidance application may determine that the rate at which a user consumes media assets (e.g., through a service) is declining (e.g., indicating the user is losing interest). In response, the media guidance application recommends new media assets with characteristics (e.g., genre, subject matter, media asset series affiliation) that differs from the media assets previously consumed by the user.

Abstract: A method of operating a digital video service set top box system is provided. The set top box system accommodates playback of locally stored recorded secondary digital video content. The method begins by initiating playback of a primary digital video program. Insertion points associated with the primary digital video program are detected; these insertion points indicate frame-accurate transition points in the primary digital video program. During playback of the primary digital video program, the recorded secondary digital video program is inserted at any appropriate insertion point in a frame-accurate manner. The termination of the secondary digital video program is likewise marked and triggers a return to the primary digital video program, at the original insertion point or any other desired insertion point which may exist in the primary digital video program.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled or scrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.

Abstract: An on-screen display (OSD) processing system can include video data fetch modules to receive video data from a video source, edge detection modules to detect an edge of a region within a scene represented by the video data, edge processing modules to process results from the edge detection modules, and an OSD confidence level adjustment module to adjust an OSD confidence level corresponding to the region within the scene.

Abstract: A device may receive user metadata associated with media content identified in an interactive program guide (IPG). The user metadata may be based on input provided by a user via the IPG, and the media content may be associated with a media content identifier. The device may determine a manner in which the user metadata is to be processed. The device may process the user metadata in the manner in which the user metadata is to be processed. The user metadata may be processed to permit the user to view the user metadata, via the IPG, at a later time, or the user metadata may be processed to permit another user, associated with another device, to view the user metadata.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a media service personalization system directs a media service access device to operate in accordance with a shared mode of operation when user interaction with the media service access device is by way of a shared user input device and directs the media service access device to operate in accordance with a personal mode of operation when user interaction with the media service access device is by way of a personal device specific to a user. In certain examples, the media service personalization system may switch between directing the media service access device to operate in accordance with the shared mode of operation and directing the media service access device to operate in accordance with the personal mode of operation based on a status of a remote control session between the personal device and the shared media service access device.

Abstract: Analysis of mental states is provided to enable data analysis pertaining to video recommendation based on affect. Analysis and recommendation can be for socially shared livestream video. Video response may be evaluated based on viewing and sampling various videos. Data is captured for viewers of a video where the data includes facial information and/or physiological data. Facial and physiological information may be gathered for a group of viewers. In some embodiments, demographics information is collected and used as a criterion for visualization of affect responses to videos. In some embodiments, data captured from an individual viewer or group of viewers is used to rank videos.

Abstract: The disclosure relates systems and methods for analyzing viewing habits on an audiovisual content receiving device such as a set-top box, including both program recording and viewing habits for live programs, and to determine viewer preferences for audiovisual events such as television programs for any given timeslot.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a system locate an IPTV fault, where the method includes: performing synchronized evaluation on a monitored IPTV video stream according to a synchronization message, obtaining multiple corresponding local upstream evaluation results; receiving an evaluation result report message sent by a downstream monitoring point, where the evaluation result report message includes a downstream evaluation result, an evaluation result identifier, and synchronization packet information; finding, according to the synchronization packet information and the evaluation result identifier in the evaluation result report message sent by the downstream monitoring point, an upstream evaluation result corresponding to the downstream evaluation result; comparing the downstream evaluation result with the upstream evaluation result, and performing fault locating according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosure of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for processing a video stream. The method includes: acquiring a request message from a terminal, where the request message carries address information of multiple sub video screens, according to the address information, acquiring multiple substreams corresponding to the multiple sub video screens in a one-to-one manner, merging the multiple substreams into a single stream, and generating an indication message used to indicate a picture parameter of the single stream, and sending the single stream and the indication message to the terminal, so that the terminal decodes the single stream and displays decoded multiple sub video screens according to the indication message.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live news program; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry corresponds to an initial show-segment VC of a show, wherein the show is scheduled to follow the live news program; (iv) identifying, among log entries scheduled between the first log-entry and the second log-entry, a set of optional-promotion log entries, each such optional-promotional log entry having a duration; (v) determining a cumulative duration of the optional-promotion log entries in the identified set; and (vi) providing the determined cumulative-duration to an output device for presentation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes system and methods related to entitlement validation and quality control of content in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recording system. In some embodiments, whether a record event exists may be determined. The record event may indicate an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed. A determination may be made as to whether a user account is authorized to access the content asset. An asset record associated with the content asset may be modified to prevent future recording of the content asset. A record to delete the content asset may be generated in association with the user account in response to determining the user account is not authorized to access the content asset. The record event may be removed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing efficient searching of video content. In one aspect, a method includes providing a search control associated with video content items, the search control for receiving search queries for identifying video content items associated with one or more channels in a video sharing environment. A search query is received from a user logged into one of the video sharing environment or a content distribution system. One or more matching video content items are located from the repository based on the search query. A selection of one or more of the video content items is received. A channel associated with the selected video content items is determined. Providing the search control further includes providing a pre-populated suggestion list for selecting a filter criteria for locating a video content item based on the stored historical channel selections associated with the user.

Abstract: A display control apparatus connected to a display apparatus, which is remotely controllable through wireless communication, generates a first video/audio signal for displaying a first image on the display apparatus, and outputs the first video/audio signal to the display apparatus. Either of a first signal pattern indicative of a command to cause the first image based on the first video/audio signal to be displayed on the display apparatus or a second signal pattern indicative of a command to cause a second image based on a second video/audio signal, which is obtained from a device different from the display control apparatus, to be displayed on the display apparatus is selected, and a wireless signal of the selected signal pattern is outputted to the display apparatus through the wireless communication. Information determined based on the signal pattern of the outputted wireless signal is informed from an apparatus different from the display apparatus.