Abstract: A content on demand system includes logic to compose information about multiple audio and/or video streams into an audio and/or video stream format, and logic to communicate the information about multiple audio and/or video streams to a plurality of set top boxes.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes identifying a plurality of highlight media segments associated with a plurality of events that occur during one or more sporting events, identifying one or more players involved in the plurality of events, determining that the identified one or more players are of interest to a user, sending, in response to the determining, one or more highlight messages that indicate an availability of the highlight media segments to a user device associated with the user while the user device is presenting media content within a display screen associated with the user device, and causing, in accordance with the one or more highlight messages, the user device to present, within the display screen while the media content is being presented within the display screen, a user interface that includes listings of the highlight media segments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are discussed for providing guidance for Internet-delivered media. In some embodiments, information on available media on the Internet is gathered. The information is associated with existing media guidance data. The associations enable a media guidance application to identify relevant online media and to display listings in a user-friendly way. A user interface for an online media guidance application is also provided. The user interface allows a user to narrow down the large amount of Internet-delivered media in a systematic way according to criteria that interests a user.

Abstract: A system and method for placing an advertisement in a digital environment based upon a user's choice, subject to certain predetermined parameters, is disclosed. Through the method, a user is assigned a rating based upon, for example, his performance in a game. A list of advertisements which correspond to that rating is displayed to the user, who may then select a desired advertisement from the list. The selected advertisement is then displayed in the digital environment. Reports may be generated based upon the advertisements selected and the number of selections and/or impressions (e.g., uses or viewings) by the user, which may be sent to advertisers.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods are provided that facilitate surveying media sources in a media entertainment system. An index component can provide an index of a set of available media sources in the media entertainment system. In addition, a selection component can displays the set of available media sources and receive selection requests for a subset of the available media sources. Further, a preview component can display a sample of media generated by the selected subset of media sources prior to active engagement thereof. Moreover, one or more aspects can be implemented in a vehicle entertainment system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for multi-purpose metering are disclosed. An example method includes determining whether a portable device is within a vicinity of a household monitoring system based on detecting an identifier via a first radio frequency (RF) signal, when the identifier from the first RF signal is associated with the portable device, determining whether a second acoustic signal includes the identifier associated with the portable device, deactivating a media detection circuit of the portable device when the identifier is detected via both the first RF signal and the second acoustic signal, and activating the media detection circuit of the portable device when the identifier is detected from the first RF signal and the second acoustic signal is absent.

Abstract: Information about current television programming and web access by a user can be used to select and deliver ads or content to a television of the user or a computer of the user (e.g., the ads or content can be displayed through a web browser). Additional information (e.g., geographical location or demographics of the user) can also be used in the selection of ads or content to be delivered to the television or computer.

Abstract: A system and method for placing an advertisement in a digital environment based upon a user's choice, subject to certain predetermined parameters, is disclosed. Through the method, a user is assigned a rating based upon, for example, his performance in a game. A list of advertisements which correspond to that rating is displayed to the user, who may then select a desired advertisement from the list. The selected advertisement is then displayed in the digital environment. Reports may be generated based upon the advertisements selected and the number of selections and/or impressions (e.g., uses or viewings) by the user, which may be sent to advertisers.

Abstract: A program-based electronic program guide (EPG) system is provided, the EPG system including a search unit which searches for and finds programs broadcast within a predetermined time period around a predetermined time, a collection unit which collects program information of programs found by the search unit, a classification unit which classifies the program information collected by the collection unit based on program codes, and a display unit which displays program guide information, including the program information classified by the classification unit.

Abstract: A system and method may include monitoring content being displayed at a display device to generate monitoring data that includes a program identifier, communicating the monitoring data to a server, the server determining which programs to include in an on-demand lineup based on the monitoring data and generating an on-demand lineup message to identify on-demand programs included in the on-demand lineup, and receiving the on-demand lineup message from the server.

Abstract: Alternate digital content is inserted into mobile devices with a method and apparatus that comprises an alternate content scheduler, an alternate content reporter, and a micro-splicer. The alternate content scheduler further comprises a mobile network interface for interaction with a mobile data and broadcast network, a micro-splicer interface for interfacing with a micro-splicer, a rulebook that is shared with the network which provides the rules for alternate content scheduling, a preference provisioning module comprising an alternate content scheduler library for storing user or network preferences, a scheduler for providing tight synchronization between original program content and alternate content, and a metric recording interface to an alternate content reporter. The micro-splicer works in tandem with the alternate content scheduler to render synchronized display of alternate multimedia content on the mobile device.

Abstract: A subscriber to a video service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In an embodiment, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are recommended by reviewers. Such reviewers may be individuals or panels or institutions to which some credibility may be attached—a trusted source. After selecting a reviewer, the subscriber is made aware of the programs recommended by the selected reviewer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a request to display, on an first communications device, media content, where the request comprises a first logical address for accessing the media content at a first storage location, transmitting to a second communications device, a second logical address for accessing a copy of the media content at a second storage location, where the second logical address differs from the first logical address, and where the second storage location differs from the first storage location. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of recording television content is disclosed and includes receiving one or more television program search criteria from a set-top box device at a recurrent searching system. The method also includes storing the one or more search criteria at the recurrent searching system. Further, the method includes performing a first search of electronic program guide (EPG) data accessible to the recurrent searching system based on the television program search criteria and performing at least one additional search of EPG data accessible to the recurrent searching system based on the television program search criteria after the first search.

Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to messaging techniques with user generated content related to video object timecode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for multi-purpose metering are disclosed. An example method includes transmitting a first discovery inquiry message in response to a wakeup timer expiration signal, disabling a media detection circuit of the portable device when a base unit responds to the discovery inquiry message, and enabling the media detection circuit of the portable device when the base unit response to the discovery inquiry message is absent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method for providing a program guide for past programming comprising receiving a user command to retrieve program data, retrieving the program data from a data source, and outputting, to a display device, the program data in response to receiving the user command. The program data may comprise information relating to previously-aired programming.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a purchase associated with video programming is provided. The method includes detecting a product signal related to video programming, and activating an indicator within a user interface in a remote control in response to the product signal. The method also includes placing a product corresponding to the product signal within a selected item list in response to an activation of an input selector within the user interface of the remote control.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes detecting, on a media content recording device, a media content recording conflict between a plurality of scheduled recordings of media content instances, and outputting, for display on a display device, data representative of a graphical user interface including a plurality of graphical objects representative of the plurality of scheduled recordings of the media content instances and at least one option configured to facilitate resolution of the media content recording conflict. Corresponding methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: During the display of video content to a viewing audience, a system receives feedback information from the viewing audience concerning the displayed video content. At a later time and based on the feedback, the system substitutes portions of a downloaded data stream with different content.