Abstract: Methods and systems for providing data such as content are disclosed. A method can comprise selecting a closed caption buffer and storing a service trace in the selected closed caption buffer. The closed caption buffer comprising the stored service trace can then be activated to provide service information.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media server and parsing engine, 3rd party mobile aggregator, client servers, and a plurality of communication devices that are each associated with a user and a user profile. The media server can provide one or more of the plurality of communication devices with access to media content, with the access being provided at a time selected by the user. At least one of the one or more of the plurality of communication devices can transmit a critique of the media content. The media server can award points to the user based on performing the critique, and can transmit the critique and user information from the user profile to the client server. The media server can provide the at least one of the one or more of the plurality of communication devices with access to at least one of services or goods to be purchased with the points.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for personalized categorization of television content are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A subset of bookmarks is selected from a set of bookmarks saved in a browser application. The subset of bookmarks is analyzed according to a specification for constructing a categorization rule, to find information of a type corresponding to the bookmark. The categorization rule is constructed, to personalize a categorization of TV content according to a custom-categorization, by using the information as a component in the categorization rule according to the specification. The specification specifies the type, which is a type of information that can participate in the categorization rule. The rule is sent to a TV content provider system, wherein the sending causes the TV content to be organized and presented according to the custom-categorization.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display, a connector which outputs a video signal, a display driver which controls output of a video signal to the display and connector, a monitoring unit which monitors whether a partner switches an input from a video signal output from the connector to another video signal, the partner being connected to the connector, and an output switching unit which instructs the display driver to switch the output destination of the video signal from the connector to the display when the monitoring unit detects that the input of the partner is switched to the other video signal.

Abstract: A communication system and a family of methods for remote access to personal television service are disclosed. A remote personal TV service center provides centralized program guide information. A user may access the personal TV service center through a digital video recorder which is connected to the personal TV service center via telephone modem or a network server. A user may access the personal TV service center through a remote computer terminal or a personal digital assistant which is connected to a computer network. The user selects program events and programs the digital video recorder by using a graphical user interface installed in the front panel of the digital video recorder, or using a similar GUI incorporated into the Web pages presented to remote users by a Web server. The media stream stored in one digital video recorder may be transferred to another digital video recorder.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example transmitting, by a system comprising a processor, via a first emergency media channel a first video stream comprising first evacuation routing information for a first evacuation group responsive to receiving a notification of an emergency event, instructing, by the system, a first media processor device to select the first emergency media channel while disabling selection of other media channels according to the first evacuation routing information, where the content of the emergency media channel is presented at a display device by way of the first media processor device, and enabling, by the system, the first media processor device to select the other media channels responsive to receiving user input acknowledging the emergency media channel. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for supporting independent viewer tailoring of same media source content via a common 2D-3D display. A first independently controllable version of video content is caused to be delivered to a first region of a screen. A second independently controllable version of the video content is caused to be delivered to a second region of the screen. The first region and the second region overlap at least in part. For example, the first and second independently controllable versions may be simultaneously displayed such that the first independently controllable version is displayed for a first viewer but not for a second viewer and such that the second independently controllable version may be displayed for the second viewer but not for the first viewer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving or suggesting alternatives to content surfing are provided. When it is detected that a user wishes to surf, a pipeline tuning sequence is implemented where by storing one or more frames of a first content selection to the user equipment and acquiring a subsequent content selection while concurrently displaying the previously stored one or more frames. Content suggestions, program listing grids, media guidance application and tuning hints, advertisements, digital audio, and live video may also be presented to user while content surfing. In some embodiments, content surf landing channels may be anticipated based on user history, user profiles, or any other suitable information. In some embodiments, thumbnails of the user's recently tuned, or paused on, content are displayed to the user while content surfing. In multiple tuner systems, more than one thumbnail may be displayed in full motion video.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing media consumption are disclosed. The present invention can provide viewers increased access to content of interest across various platforms, such as online articles, online audio and video clips, and television and radio broadcasts. In an embodiment, an individual viewing content online, such as a news article, is given a link. The link provides the viewer access to a list of content related to the article being viewed. The related content is not limited to the platform related content across, and allows the user to view the content, automatically set the content to be recorded by a digital video recorder, or reserve the content for future viewing. Accordingly, by providing the user with convenient access to content across platforms, based on their interests, they are more given media content they are more likely to enjoy. Accordingly, viewership of this content will increase, through this connection of individuals with content that aligns with their interests.

Abstract: Demographic information for users and content are collected based on users' content selections. Each user is associated with some demographic data. Users who select particular content, such as an advertisement or a web page, are probabilistically inferred to be in the demographic associated with the content. The demographic data of users who selected the content are aggregated into visitor demographic data for the content. The demographic associated with the content may be modified based on the visitor demographic data. A feedback loop is formed, whereby the demographic data of both users and the content are continuously refined.

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 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: 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: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining a time period remaining until a live production system changes states. An example method involves accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log; making a first determination that a log-entry A in the traffic log does not correspond to a live-production source; making a second determination that a log-entry B in the traffic log is the next log entry after the log-entry A to correspond to a live-production source; making a third determination that the log-entry B includes a start-time B; responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, proximate a current time that is on or after a start-time A corresponding to the log-entry A and that is before the start-time B, determining a time period as a difference between the current time and the start-time B; and providing the determined time-period to an output device for presentation proximate the current time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively caching (and de-caching) video content in network so as to reduce content transformation requirements and also cache storage requirements. In one embodiment, a content caching controller associated with a content server differentiates content requests based on content attributes such as the requested codec format (e.g., MPEG or Windows Media), resolution, bitrate, and/or encryption type or security environment. If the content requested by a user is not available with the requested attribute(s), the content server transfers to content to the user by first transforming it. The content server also speculatively caches the transformed content locally, so that a future request for the same content with the same attributes can be filled by transferring without the intermediate transformation step. The controller allows the network operator to optimize use of available storage and transcoding resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives a first indication of a start time of an advertisement break to be inserted into a stream of slices of media content. The advertisement insertion tool identifies a first slice of the slices that encompasses the start time of the advertisement break. The first slice comprises video frames. The advertisement insertion tool truncates the first slice to contain the video frames up to the start time of the advertisement break. An advertisement can be inserted after the truncated first slice and before a next second slice in the stream.

Abstract: In one form, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus for broadcasting an event. The method includes receiving data related to an event via an uplink. Another aspect of the method includes determining whether the data is broadcast on a recurring basis. The method also includes determining whether a transponder channel associated with multiplexed program channels has any unused data or bandwidth to broadcast a portion of the data along with the multiplexed program channels. Additionally, the method includes broadcasting the portion of the data in a data stream.

Abstract: Different data communication architectures receive a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, for consumers. The architectures employ channel bonding to deliver more bandwidth than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures receive distributed video programming in the form of MPEG2 TS packets, flagged by marker packets. Channel bonding synchronization information may be present in packets defined above the data-link layer or received in fields within data-link layer frames.

Abstract: Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives advertisement insertion input that identifies a start time in media content to insert an advertisement. In response to receiving the advertisement insertion input, the advertisement insertion tool inspects an original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the start time to locate a preceding key frame at or prior to the start time and a last frame before the start time. The advertisement insertion tool creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the original slice up to the start time. The first new slice comprises the preceding key frame, the last frame and any intervening delta frames between the preceding key frame and the last frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives a first indication of a start time of where an advertisement is to be inserted into media content and a second indication comprising at least one of an end time of the advertisement or a duration of the advertisement. The advertisement insertion tool inspects a first original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the start time to locate a first preceding key frame at or prior to the start time and a last frame before the start time. The advertisement insertion tool creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the first original slice up to the start time. The first new slice comprises the first preceding key frame, the last frame and any intervening delta frames between the first preceding key frame and the last frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user.