Abstract: A system is provided for the provision of DVR playlists. DVR playlists allow for consumers to manage the availability, arrangement, and type of content to be provided from a DVR such that content items are intelligently added, arranged, played back, and deleted via the DVR playlist. Aspects of the system allow playlists to be created by the system, by the consumer, and in co-operation between the system and the consumer. Content items may also be provisioned, such that a DVR playlist limits playback, while still providing variety and consumer choice. Aspects of the system allow for various seed attributes to affect which content items are automatically chosen to comprise the DVR playlist. Content items may be shared amongst user accounts under a subscriber account so that space on a DVR is more efficiently provisioned.

Abstract: The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). One particular aspect of the technology concerns complementing primary content viewed on one screen (e.g., a television screen) with auxiliary content displayed on a second screen (e.g., a cell phone screen). Different auxiliary content can be paired with the primary content, depending on the profile of the user (e.g., age, location, etc.). Some embodiments make use of location information provided by the primary screen device. Other embodiments make use of content identification data provided by the primary screen device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to generate relevance rankings for use by a program selector of a media presentation system are disclosed. An example method comprises tabulating a plurality of occurrence counts for respective ones of a plurality of terms of a program guide, each of the occurrence counts indicating a corresponding number of times each of the terms appears in the program guide, computing a plurality of relevance ranking scores for respective ones of a plurality of programs listed in the program guide based on the plurality of occurrence counts, selecting a list of programs from the program guide based on the relevance ranking scores, and outputting the list of programs.

Abstract: A content hosting system allows content providers to create channels of video content and make them available to users in a marketplace. Users can search or browse for channels of interest, and selectively subscribe to channels. Users can also pay for the right to view premium videos in each channel. The system ranks channels according to the value provided. Generally, users will seek out and subscribe to the highest ranked channels that provide the greatest value. The ranking function allows different providers to compete for the subscriptions of users. Providers can observe their channel's reception in the market by analyzing rankings and usage statistics to adjust channels to maximize channel performance. The system operator can also create bundled channels containing videos from multiple providers, and the resulting subscription revenue can be distributed to the various providers of the videos in the channel.

Abstract: Media system control technology, in which an advertisement on a selected content channel being experienced by a user using a media system is detected, advertisement preferences of the user are accessed from electronic storage, and secondary content is selected based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user. The secondary content is substituted for the advertisement on the selected content channel, and the media system is controlled to output the secondary content instead of the advertisement.

Abstract: User-generated advertisements are distributed to client devices in a video content distribution network. For example, a client device may receive a user-generated advertisement, which is associated with one or more categories. The user-generated advertisement is associated with a channel based on a category of the advertisement. One or more channels of user-generated advertising, corresponding to the one or more categories, may be provided to a client device. Optionally, user-generated advertisements may be associated with a geographical identifier and distributed to client devices in a geographical region corresponding with the geographical identifier.

Abstract: A system may include a video link and a hybrid link that connects a transmitting device to the receiving device, and at least one intermediate hop between the transmitting device and the receiving device. The intermediate hop may be configured to relay video content from the video source to the video sink through the hybrid link using one or more data relay modes. The hybrid link may be configured to perform hybrid link control signaling (HLCS) to manage a physical layer of the hybrid link. The video link between the video source and the video sink may be configured to transmit a video stream the from video source to the video sink over one or more video lanes. A video link training may be implemented for the video link and the hybrid link.

Abstract: Digital video data and digital multiple-audio data are extracted from a source, using a hardware processor in a content source device within a premises. The extracted digital video data is processed for display on a main display device in the premises; and the extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into a primary soundtrack in a primary language, to be listened to within the premises in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data. The primary soundtrack corresponds to the displayed extracted digital video data, in the primary language. The extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into at least one secondary audio asset, different than the primary soundtrack; and the at least one secondary audio asset is transmitted to a personal media device within the premises, for apprehension by a user of the personal media device in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for generating one or more segments associated with content. The segments may include fragments that may correspond to portions of the content. The segments and/or the fragments may be included in a playlist, and may be based at least in part on a user selection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling media access based on crowd-sourced access control data and user attributes are provided. Crowd-sourced data is received from several sources in order to determine what media assets consumers are accessing, and catalog attributes of the media assets and attributes of the accessing consumers. A user-attribute-based access control function, such as a parental control feature of an interactive media guide, uses this data to control access to media assets provided by the system. When a user attempts to access a media asset, the access control function determines whether the media asset has an attribute similar to assets accessed by other users having one or more user-attributes similar to those of the accessing user. If the media asset is not sufficiently similar to assets accessed by other sufficiently-similar users, access to the media asset will be blocked unless an appropriate access code is entered.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention behavioral patterns are utilized in order to calculate a predicted level of interest of viewers in a specific video item at any given moment throughout the length of the video item. More specifically, according to certain embodiments, this calculation allows to identify instances of peaks of high and low interest throughout the length of the video item. This allows predicting the occurrence of critical moments throughout the video item when it is likely that viewers would abandon the video item on one hand, and moments when viewers are most likely absorbed in the currently presented video, on the other hand. This information allows to capture viewers when their interest in the viewed content is low or decreasing, and to synchronize the presentation of alternative content to these instances.

Abstract: A method for providing the second screen information is disclosed. The second screen information is used to be displayed on a portable device which includes a plurality of application software. While a link between the display equipment and a server is established, an environment data is generated by one of the display equipment and the portable device according to a using information where a user is viewing the display equipment. According to the environment data, the portable device may receive network information, which is sent out by the server, to execute one of the application software of the mobile device.

Abstract: A TTS preparation processing section attaches a time stamp to each of packets in an MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream) to convert the MPEG-2 TS into an MPEG-2 TTS (Time-stamped Transport Stream). A grouping section collects a predetermined number of packets in the MPEG-2 TTS to form a group. A null packet removal section removes null packets from the group. A transmitting section shifts the MPEG-2 TTS packets in the group, from which the null packet has been removed, frontward to convert the MPEG-2 TTS packets into an RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) packet and transmits the RTP packet to a communication line.

Abstract: A method, device and system for broadcast service grouping are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal, at least one virtual channel table delivered by a network side, where the virtual channel table includes a first checksum and a data object that are generated by the network side, and the data object includes channel information; using a preset broadcast service group identifier and the data object of the virtual channel table to acquire a second checksum of the preset broadcast service group identifier and the data object of the virtual channel table; and acquiring a virtual channel table that passes check from the at least one virtual channel table delivered by the network side, when the first checksum matches the second checksum.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital content to televisions or other devices having media playback capabilities over a network infrastructure using virtual set top boxes (VSTBs).

Abstract: A personalized audio and/or video (AV) stream is created for a user. A first stream of AV data is selected by reference to predetermined user preferences. One or more further data streams having a predetermined relation to the first stream are selected. Portions of the first stream are identified and captured by reference to identifying predetermined indicia in a group of streams consisting of the first stream and the one or more further data streams, where the capturing comprises capturing one or more time stamps from the group of streams. The personalized AV stream, comprising a captured portion of the first stream and data selected by reference to the predetermined indicia from at least one of the further data streams is generated, where the data selected is based on each captured timestamp.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that alerts a user regarding the availability of media content. For example, the media guidance application may determine, based on the current progress of the user in media content, whether or not the user will complete the media content while the media content is available. If not, the media guidance application may alert the user.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating media productions imported from a plurality of content provider systems are described. The system and method may communicate with a plurality of content provider systems to import a set of media productions from each content provider system and may normalize each media production into a normalized media document format. The media productions may be matched to each other based on the normalized media documents. The system and method may also create and store a plurality of canonical objects based on the matches determined for the media productions. For example, if a given media production matches one or more other media productions then all of the matching media productions may be linked together by a canonical object, e.g., so that the canonical object functions as an abstract representation of all of the matching media productions.

Abstract: One or more devices, in a video content delivery network, provide real time video content to one or more devices located at a customer premise. The one or more devices also provide non-real time video content to at least one of the customer premise devices during idle time periods associated with the network and using lower effort Internet protocol (IP) transport. The non-real time video content may be broadcast, at a time after the idle time periods, by at least one of the customer premise devices.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to generate relevance rankings for use by a program selector of a media presentation system are disclosed.