Abstract: A receiver includes a plurality of input paths for receiving and processing a plurality of input RF signals. The input paths isolate one or more portions of corresponding ones of the received input RF signals, and combine the isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received input RF signals onto one or more output signals. A bandwidth of the isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received input RF signals and a bandwidth of the output signals are variable. The isolated portions of the corresponding ones of the received plurality of input RF signals are extracted and utilized to generate the output signals. The portions of the corresponding ones of the received plurality of input RF signals may be mapped into one or more channel slots in the time domain. The channel slots may be assigned in the frequency domain to one or more frequency bins.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to delivery of advertising content for video on-demand are disclosed. One example embodiment comprises receiving a set of VOD metadata including a first configuration of ad avails to be included in a VOD content item. The first configuration specifies a first set of locations of ad avails and a size of each ad avail in the first configuration. The method further includes comparing the VOD metadata to a set of one or more policy rules specifying a second configuration of ad avails to be included in the VOD content item, the second configuration of ad avails specifying a second set of locations of ad avails and a size of each ad avail in the second configuration. The method further includes determining a number of advertisements to be included in the VOD content item based upon a result of the comparing and obtaining an ad decision.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for audience measurement. An example method includes identifying at least one of a media device, an operation command, or a person in response to a voice command. The voice command is spoken by a user to control the media device. The example method includes collecting audience measurement data related to at least one of the media device, the person, or the user. The example method includes associating the at least one of the media device, the operation command, or the person with the audience measurement data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically tagging a media asset are provided. Verbal input is received from a user while the user is accessing the media asset. A request to adjust playback of the media asset is received from the user. Responsive to receiving the verbal input and the request, a combination of the verbal input and the request is cross-referenced with an attribute database to identify an attribute associated with the combination. The identified attribute is associated with the media asset.

Abstract: A system for conducting a voice call includes a set-top box operable to control the selection of a television channel for display on a television. The set-top box is also operable to initiate a voice call in response to a selection of a user-interface displayed on the television. The system also includes a wireless set in communication with the set-top box, the wireless set operable to establish a portion of the voice path for the voice call. Signaling for the voice call is initiated by the set-top box.

Abstract: A system for initiating a voice call includes a set-top box operable to control a selection of a television channel for display on a television. The set-top box is further operable to initiate a voice call between a first telephone and a second telephone. The first telephone is associated with a first telephone network and the second telephone is associated with a second telephone network. The system includes a remote control in communication with the set-top box. The remote control is operable to receive a first input associated with the selection of the television channel from a user and a second input associated with the voice call. The voice call is initiated by the set-top box in response to the second input being received by the set-top box.

Abstract: A broadcast retransmitting method, a broadcast retransmitting apparatus, a broadcast output apparatus, and a broadcast retransmitting system using the same are provided. The broadcast retransmitting method includes receiving a broadcast signal, detecting an available frequency band, retransmitting the received broadcast signal, and transmitting information regarding the broadcast signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recording time offset for video recording devices and services including receiving a request to record a program, wherein the program is associated with show schedule information including a start time and a channel identifier, determining that the channel identifier is associated with at least one offset value, calculating an offset start time based at least in part on the start time and the offset value, and storing a scheduled record time for the program using the offset value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to acquire and use geocoding information included in broadcast content to enhance content presentation to the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (10) in a streaming client (1) for handling video streaming data. The method (10) comprises: receiving (11), decoding (12) and buffering (13) video streaming data comprising frames of image data; displaying (14) the frames of image data on a display (40) of the streaming client (1); receiving (15) an input requesting a pause in the reception of video streaming data; selecting (16), among decoded frames of image data, an optimal frame of image data; continuing (17) displaying frames of image data available in a buffer (45) of the streaming client 1 until the selected optimal frame of image data is encountered; and displaying (18) the selected optimal frame of image data as a still picture on the display (40) of the streaming client (1). The invention also encompasses a streaming client (1), computer program (51) and computer program products (50).

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing programs to a client device. The method includes providing a first video program stream over a first channel where the first video program stream conveys a first video program having a first quality level, and providing a plurality of second video program streams over a second channel where each of the second video program streams conveys a second video program having a second quality level below the first quality level. The first video program stream and second video program streams are adapted for use by the client device in locally switching from presenting the first video program at the first quality level to presenting a selected one of the second video programs at the second quality level.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable satellite television subscribers to simultaneously watch video associated with a primary television channel and listen to audio associated with a different secondary television channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide and manage on-demand sessions are described herein. A request is received from a client to start an on-demand session. It is determined if there are sufficient resources to start the on-demand session for the client. The request is inserted into a queue if there aren't sufficient resources to start the on-demand session for the client. The on-demand sessions is started when there are sufficient resources available and it is the client's turn in the queue.

Abstract: A processing unit for providing aircraft information to passengers of an aircraft, a system comprising the processing unit, an aircraft comprising the system, a method for providing aircraft information to passengers of an aircraft, as well as a computer program for performing the method. The processing unit comprises: a receiving component for receiving cockpit video data representing one or more cockpit video images of at least a section of the cockpit of the aircraft; and a processing component for processing the received cockpit video data such that the processed cockpit video data is retrievable on demand to provide the one or more cockpit video images to the passengers of the aircraft.

Abstract: Insertion of an advertisement within a television program or other media/content is contemplated. The advertisement insertion may be achieved when the media/content is originally transported with advertisement avails or other portions designated for advertisement insertion and those portions are difficult to discover, unknown, removed, obfuscated and/or generally inaccessible to a client facilitating play of the media/content.

Abstract: In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, programming content can be readily reserved and accessed for viewing using an interactive program guide, a network home graphic user interface (GUI), Quick View Guide, etc., in accordance with the invention. Such programming content may include in-progress programs, future programs and previously broadcast programs which are recorded at a headend in the cable system, and which may or may not have overlapping broadcast times. In addition, the user may reserve programs at a set-top terminal, and may also do so remotely from the terminal through a communications network such as, the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless telephone network, etc.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for streaming video from a server to a client are described. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: receiving at the server a request for video content from the client; in response to the request, determining the hardware/software configuration of the client; generating and/or selecting a temporary decoder based on the hardware/software configuration of the client; transmitting the temporary decoder to the client, the client installing the temporary decoder; encoding and streaming the requested video content from the server to the client, the video content being encoded based on the capabilities of the temporary decoder, the video content being decoded by the temporary decoder and rendered on the client; detecting that the client has ended the session with the server; and in response to detecting that the client has ended the session, temporarily disabling and/or removing the temporary decoder from the client.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a polling event. A central server computer system determines a polling event is to be conducted and associates one or more inputs from a beverage container with a corresponding selection. The central server computer system transmits a polling prompt message to the beverage containers to display a prompt for a user to select between a first selection and a second selection. An input is received at the beverage container indicative of the selection by the user. The input may be based on a gesture movement of the beverage container. The selection is communicated to the central server computer system which, based on receiving selections from the participating beverage containers, determines the poll results. The poll results are displayed on one or more public displays or communicated, via a network, to a wireless communication device associated with a user of the beverage container.

Abstract: System and method for providing a probabilistic order of tiles relative to a current section of a video that a user is viewing. A cache implementation uses this ordering to decide what tiles to evict from the cache, i.e. which tiles will probably not be accessed within a particular timeframe, but not when to evict (this is up to the cache implementation). A cache implementation can also use the prioritized list of the present embodiment to pre-fetch tiles.

Abstract: Sponsored-content may be placed based on images in video content. A first image in a frame of a video content item is identified. The first image is matched with a second stored image. A sponsored-content item to be presented is selected based on an association between the second stored image and the sponsored-content item.