Abstract: A media ordering hub receives a request for media content. Further, the media ordering hub provides a plurality of multichannel video programming distributors that offer the media content. In addition, the media ordering hub determines a selected multichannel video programming distributor from the plurality of multichannel video programming distributors. The media ordering hub also authenticates login credentials to access the selected multichannel video programming distributor so that the selected multichannel video programming distributor delivers the media content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating media audience are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a media signal to be transmitted via a media distribution system, the media signal including multiple pieces of media content that each contain video and audio signals. One of the multiple pieces of media content within the received media signal are identified. It is determined that the identified piece of media content exceeds a threshold length, and, in response to determining that the identified piece of media content exceeds a threshold length, the audio signal of the identified piece of media content is encoded with a sequence of discrete codes. Each discrete code has a period that includes a set of sequential frequency components imperceptible to humans. The threshold length is greater than the period of a discrete code multiplied by the number of discrete codes in the sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed are efficient and user-friendly systems or methods configured to capture and share video data in real time, at a later date, or a combination thereof in an authorized manner via social media. In certain aspects, these systems and methods include capturing video, for example, from a “Jumbotron” during a sporting event or other live venue event in an authorized manner (e.g., abiding by applicable copyright laws) and sharing this captured footage with other via social media.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting a broadcast signal, the apparatus includes a hardware processor configured to generate input packets carrying service data for a broadcast service; generate a link layer packet having a header and a payload by using the input packets; and generate a broadcast signal including the link layer packet; and a broadcast transmitter configured to transmit the broadcast signal, wherein the header includes a packet type field indicating a packet type of the input packets, and determining which header fields present after the packet type field, wherein when the packet type field indicates that the input packets are Internet Protocol (IP) packets, the hardware processor, to generate a link layer packet, further configured to: add 2 signaling bits immediately after the packet type field, the 2 signaling bits indicating whether the payload carries a segment of one input packet or concatenated input packets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to facilitating selection of video advertisements for presentation in association with a video. In embodiments, advertisement quality associated with various video advertisements is referenced. Generally, the advertisement quality indicates a probability a viewer will continue viewing a portion of a video following presentation of the video advertisement presented in association with the video. The advertisement quality associated with the video advertisements is used to select one or more video advertisements for presentation along with the video. An indication of the selected video advertisements can be provided for integration with the video to present to the viewer.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a playlist in a multimedia system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, the playlist is structured to be able to include as many items as desired. To facilitate the manageability of such playlist, the playlist is built with a plurality of items. Each of the items is associated with metadata that includes information related to, for example, artist, album, genre, composer, and track number. The metadata for each item may be parsed, updated or logically operated upon to facilitate the management of the playlist. In another embodiment, each of the items is either a single item or a group item. A single item contains metadata of a corresponding source. A group item contains metadata of accessing other constituent items, which again may be single items or group items. As a result, the playlist can accommodate as many items as desired in a limited memory space without compromising the manageability of the playlist.

Abstract: A method for providing a consumption device message from a consumption device that includes a processor to a service usage data server comprising: (a) providing by said processor of said consumption device said consumption device message from said consumption device to said service usage data server that includes: (i) a deviceInfo element that describes information of said consumption device; (ii) a deviceID field of said deviceInfo element that describes an identifier of said consumption device; (iii) a deviceModel field of said deviceInfo element that describes a model of said consumption device; (iv) a deviceManufacturer field of said deviceInfo element that describes a manufacturer of said consumption device; (v) a deviceOS field of said deviceInfo element that describes both an operating system and version of said operating system of said consumption device; (vi) a peripheralDevice field of said deviceInfo element that describes whether said consumption device is an external peripheral; (b) wherein said

Abstract: A method for providing a consumption device message from a consumption device that includes a processor to a service usage data server comprising: (a) providing by said processor of said consumption device said consumption device message from said consumption device to said service usage data server that includes: (i) a deviceInfo element that describes information of said consumption device; (ii) a deviceID field of said deviceInfo element that describes an identifier of said consumption device; (iii) a deviceModel field of said deviceInfo element that describes a model of said consumption device; (iv) a deviceManufacturer field of said deviceInfo element that describes a manufacturer of said consumption device; (v) a deviceOS field of said deviceInfo element that describes both an operating system and version of said operating system of said consumption device; (vi) a peripheralDevice field of said deviceInfo element that describes whether said consumption device is an external peripheral; (b) wherein said

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to display a scrollable program guide graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is configured to show a multiplicity of blocks of information corresponding to a multiplicity of content carriers. The processing subsystem is further configured to display a magnified area within the program guide graphical user interface. When a block corresponding to a particular content carrier within the multiplicity of content carriers is entered into the magnified area, the processing subsystem is configured to display enhanced information corresponding to one or more media content instances transmitted via the particular content carrier.

Abstract: A system for media placement comprises a receiving unit to receive media, a scanner to detect an object in the media for placing a placeholder, a checker to provide the placeholder to a user for feedback and receive the feedback. The system also includes an instruction receiving unit to receive instructions for adding special effects to the placeholder, a template generator to generate a template indicating the placeholder in the media, and a machine learner to store the feedback for the placeholder and selection of the special effects for the placeholder. Further, the scanner detects another object in the media or another media and determines a position of another placeholder, based on the stored feedback. The scanner also suggests special effects for addition to the other placeholder, based on the stored selection of the special effects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing back a scene using Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). A control point sends a request for a scene to be played back to a media server that stores Audio/Video (AV) content and receives the scene to be played back from the media server in response to the request. The control point receives information about supportable protocol and file format from a media renderer that will play back content, and determines a content resource, a protocol and a file format to be used for playback based on the information. The control point composes a scene to be played back based on the received scenes. The media renderer plays back the composed scene.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that facilitate playback of content via multiple display devices. Playback may be synchronized among multiple display devices and/or auxiliary content rendered by a companion device may be synchronized to playback of content by a primary device. A server device receives a request from a first client device to commence a playback of a content feature upon an identified second client device. The server device sends an instruction to the second client device to commence the playback of the content feature upon a display of the second client device in response to the request. Status updates regarding the playback may be provided to the first client device by the server device.

Abstract: A method implemented on a broadcast headend system for providing video data for a privately defined channel selection mosaic includes defining at least one base layer channel from among a group of video channels, where the group of video channels includes candidate channels for selection as private mosaic preview channels, defining at least one other channel from among the group as an enhanced layer channel, defining at least one data block in at least one depending frame of the at least one enhanced layer channel as depending on at least one similar data block in at least one base frame of the base layer channel, encoding broadcast data from the group of video channels as an encoded group of video channels, where the at least one depending block is encoded as a function of the at least one similar data block, and transmitting the encoded group of video channels to at least one private mosaic user for assembly of the privately defined channel selection mosaic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for, while a user is consuming a first media asset, generating for the user a recommendation of a second media asset based on a viewing history of the user. In some aspects, the systems and methods determine that a user is consuming only video of a first media asset, determine a first category for the first media asset, and retrieve a viewing history corresponding to the user. The viewing history comprises media assets consumed simultaneously with a media asset corresponding to the first category. The systems and methods select a second category corresponding to a highest number of media assets in the viewing history, select a second media asset based on the second category. Alternatively, the user can select the second media asset manually. The systems and methods generate for output the audio of the second media asset for simultaneous consumption with the video of the first media asset.

Abstract: A method and system for authoring templates for personalized video message campaigns in general, and personalized TV commercial campaigns in particular. The invention allows for campaign templates to be authored and edited in such a way that commercials can be automatically generated later on in the process, when the target audience and context are known, while at the same time adhering to the existing (post) production workflows and tools. The invention maintains assembly information for messages in a format that allows easy assembly of variations of commercials at any point in the creation, editing, post-production and delivery process.

Abstract: Delivery of internet protocol television (IPTV) content, in one aspect, may comprise monitoring social media streams. Trends may be identified from the social media streams, the trends describing interests in IPTV content by location, time and subscriber types. Information may be received associated with a schedule for delivering the IPTV content. The trends may be compared with the received information to predict an expected demand of the IPTV content at the time at different locations and by different subscriber types. Resources may be reallocated to meet the expected demand in delivering the IPTV content to the different subscriber types at the different locations and the time.

Abstract: A method and a related electronic device for selecting, from a plurality of candidate video frame sets, a candidate video frame set to be inserted in a video frame slot of a given video content. It comprises obtaining the plurality of candidate video frame sets according to ranking values of a sorting parameter associated with each of the candidate video frame sets, thereby obtaining a list of candidate video frame sets and for each candidate video frame set of the list, determining a processing cost for inserting the candidate video frame set and applying the processing cost for obtaining an updated candidate video frame set ranking value according to the sorting parameter. The list is then sorted according to the updated ranking values of the sorting parameter and a selection of a candidate video frame set of the sorted list according to the updated ranking value.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method includes receiving a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common packet identification (PID) values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a section length field indicating a section length, and wherein the ETT instance further contains a CRC 32 field; demodulating the digital television signal; and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for preventing a viewer from switching from a channel when an advertisement is being displayed on the channel. The apparatus and method comprises an advertisement controller in a video playback device that (1) prevents a viewer of a direct (non-recorded) broadcast from switching channels when an advertisement is displayed, and (2) prevents a viewer of a recorded program from fast forwarding the recorded program in order to skip past advertisements that were recorded with the program. A viewer may either watch the advertisements or pay a fee in order to be able to change channels or fast forward when the advertisements are being displayed.