Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for detecting that a given segment in a media asset currently being consumed will be interrupted by an event and, responsively, modifying playback of the media asset such that either the start time or the end time of the given segment coincides with the start time of the interrupting event. Modifying playback of the media asset to cause the end time of the given segment to coincide with the start time of the interrupting event may entail fast-forwarding through or removing one or more segments from the playback of the media asset. Modifying playback of the media asset to cause the start time of the given segment to coincide with the start time of the interrupting event may entail inserting one or more segments of secondary content into the playback of the media asset.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box includes a housing that secures a signal input, a signal output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box receives a status signal via the transceiver from an amenity. The set-top box then generates an interactive portal that includes a status icon relating to the status signal and a management icon relating to commanding the amenity or initiating a service request.

Abstract: A processing device for generating a viewing data report is disclosed. The processing device may include a memory device and a processor. The memory device may store instructions. The processor may be operatively coupled to the memory device. The processor may execute the instructions to: determine first viewing data associated with a first ACR event; determine second viewing data associated with a second ACR event; determine that a data field of a plurality of data fields in the first viewing data is incomplete; derive new data for the data field using other data fields of the first viewing data; aggregate the first viewing data and the second viewing data into a single data model to obtain aggregated viewing data of viewing behavior of a first viewer and a second viewer; and create a viewing data report as a compilation of the aggregated viewing data.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.

Abstract: A process is provided for video processing and distribution of video data within a betting agency. The process includes receiving data streams of dynamic live betting odds and game statistics and receiving parallel TV live broadcasts of sports events as video data streams. The process further includes compressing the data streams and the video data streams yielding combined data streams, outputting each of the combined data streams via a protocol based network, receiving a combined data stream from the protocol based network pertaining to the betting on a supply of receiver servers, decompressing the combined data stream, and outputting the combined data stream displayed in any order on one or several monitors in real time. The combined data stream being continuous from allocated embedded systems, which operate as a client, wherein the clients individually provide the combined data stream from the supply of the receiver servers.

Abstract: A user device for storing or displaying content recommendations includes a search session manager receiving metadata associated with content. The metadata includes a received hierarchical identifier including a primary level and a secondary level unique to the primary level. A memory stores selected hierarchical identifiers. A search module compares the received hierarchical identifiers with the selected hierarchical identifiers. A screen display displays content from at least one of the primary level and secondary level based on comparing.

Abstract: A user may employ a user device (e.g., a television (TV) and a set-top box (STB)) to access a television system via a network. The television system may include one or more content servers (CSs) (e.g., a VOD server, an HTTP server, or other media server) for providing, among other things, a VOD service to the user and a broadcast transmission system for transmitting a multitude of linear television channels. Television system and/or user device is/are operable to enable the user to interact with an enhanced TV service (ETS) that allows the user to easily navigate among various different programmed linear channels (a.k.a., “streaming channels”) and VOD services. The ETS may be hosted in the television system, in user device, or in a combination of the two.

Abstract: A channel-based method and system for relaying contents are disclosed. The content relaying method generates a channel on the basis of a user terminal or a specific group adjacent to a display device and can relay, to the display device, a screen for executing the contents displayed on the user terminal when the user terminal accesses the generated channel.

Abstract: A channel-based method and system for relaying contents are disclosed. The content relaying method generates a channel on the basis of a user terminal or a specific group adjacent to a display device and can relay, to the display device, a screen for executing the contents displayed on the user terminal when the user terminal accesses the generated channel.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method for transmitting a broadcast signal. According to the present invention, the method for transmitting a broadcast signal presents a system capable of supporting a next-generation broadcast service in an environment supporting a next-generation hybrid broadcast using a terrestrial broadcast network and an Internet network. In addition, presented is an efficient signaling method capable of covering both a terrestrial broadcast network and an Internet network in an environment supporting a next-generation hybrid broadcast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of broadcasting a content by streaming in a peer-to-peer network (10) of client devices (11, 12, 13) which is connected to a content server (2), said content consisting of a sequence of segments stored on data storage means of the content server (2), each client device (11, 12, 13) comprising a buffer memory storing in a temporary manner at least one segment of said content, the method being characterized in that each client device (11, 12, 13) is associated with a level defining a minimal list of segments of the content that have to be stored by the buffer memory of the device (11, 12, 13), the method comprising steps of: (a) connection of a new client device (14) to the peer-to-peer network (10); (b) assignment of a level to the new client device (14) as a function of the number of client devices (11, 12, 13) associated with each level; (c) transmission to said new client device (14) from the server (2) of at least each segment of the content which is absent from th

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for displaying one or more video streams on a consumer device. The technique includes setting a first display characteristic associated with a first video stream to a first value based on a first priority associated with the first video stream. The technique further includes transmitting the first video stream to a consumer device for display. The technique further includes selecting a second video stream, setting a second display characteristic associated with the second video stream to a second value based on a second priority associated with the second video stream, and transmitting the second video stream to the consumer device for display.

Abstract: A method and system for user experience event processing and analysis are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: receiving a recorded video of a display of the host device and a reference video; comparing the recorded video with the reference video to identify differences, wherein the recorded video and the reference video are synchronized based on content rather than time; receiving data indicating activity of a storage device of the host device; correlating the differences with the data indicating activity of the storage device; and generating an analysis of the correlation. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for optimizing an assignment of a set of available video encoders to a plurality of video channels. Embodiments determine an optimal assignment of the set of available video encoders to the plurality of video channels, comprising, for each of the plurality of video channels, by determining a respective number of video encoders to assign to the video channel, and determining a respective set of video streams to provide for the video channel, using the assigned video encoders. The video streams are generated for the plurality of video channels, using the assigned video encoders.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.

Abstract: A video ingest, search and delivery solution is provided in which videos and their associated metadata are ingested based on ingest criteria. Moments in the metadata are identified by parsing comments in the metadata for comments that reference a time in the video. Moments are recorded with the referenced time and the text of the comment. Videos are rated and may be delivered to users based at least in part on the rating. Moments may be displayed together with the video by displaying the text of moments at the associated time in the video as the video is being delivered. The text of moment records may be searched based on search parameters received form a user to identify videos to deliver to the user.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.

Abstract: Some aspects of the disclosure relate to automated quality control of a media asset. The quality control can comprise testing automatically various facets of content reproduction. In one embodiment, three facets can be tested: (1) access to a rendering unit configured to reproduce content of the media asset; (2) rendering of at least a portion of visual content of the media asset; and (3) rendering at least a portion of the aural content of the media asset. In one aspect, testing the rendering of the visual content can be differential in that features of the rendering can be monitored at a plurality of instants during content reproduction and can be compared for two or more instants of the plurality of instants. In another aspect, based on the comparison, the media asset can be deemed to pass the quality control and thus be accepted for consumption.

Abstract: Methods and systems to insert advertisements and/or other supplemental or replacement content into a stream of video content are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems receive a request to replace a portion of video content currently playing at a client device with supplemental video content, such as an advertisement. In response to the request, the methods and systems determine one or more fingerprints of the video content plating at the client device, identify one or more frames of the video content at which to insert the supplemental video content based on the one or more fingerprints, and insert the supplemental video content at the identified one or more frames of the video content.

Abstract: A television with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the television, the television is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The television is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a processor, memory, tuner, panel, and audio driver in an interconnected architecture. The television generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.