Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables a viewer to view all the available content on a mosaic display, even when advertisements would otherwise prevent a viewer from doing so. Whenever a channel is displaying non-program content, the mosaic may instead display pre-recorded content for the current program on that channel prior to the ad-period.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the transfer and/or sharing of content between multiple devices. An interface may be used by a subscriber to cause content being viewed on a first device to be displayed at one or more other devices. Using an interface at a control device or source device, a user can select a content source, one or more target devices, and various options for outputting content from the content source at the target device(s). Selected content may be shared with or transferred to a target device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the generation of an interface showing content being consumed by a group of devices. A central device may gather secondary streams of content consumed by each device within the group of devices, and the secondary streams may be used to generate an interface comprising thumbnails showing content consumed by the device associated with the respective thumbnail. Secondary streams of content may be generated at the central device or may be retrieved by the central device from a client device serviced by the central device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media described herein may facilitate the automatic identification of a need for additional authentication based on a received private message or PID, the urgency of a received private message, thus determining whether an immediate alert is output to a user, and/or a determination whether a protected message is to be archived for later retrieval via authentication. A device may be configured (e.g., by user input) to control selective decoding and display of messages (e.g., private messages), registration and configuration of blacklists, and/or defining criteria for determining urgency of a received message. Device configurations may be dynamically changed or updated according to user preferences and user treatment of received messages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.

Abstract: A device, system, and method implemented in a computer system for delivering targeted advertisements to a customer device on a network. A request is received from the customer device to download a media content file. Targeted advertisement opportunities are detected in the media content file. Profile data is received for the customer device, and targeted advertisements are received that relate to the profile data for the customer device. The media content file and the targeted advertisements are sent in response to the request from the customer device to download the media content file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the transfer and/or sharing of content between multiple devices. An interface may be used by a subscriber to cause content being viewed on a first device to be displayed at one or more other devices. Using an interface at a control device or source device, a user can select a content source, one or more target devices, and various options for outputting content from the content source at the target device(s). Selected content may be shared with or transferred to a target device.

Abstract: The disclosed examples encompass a media sending device, a media receiving device or a method of sending and reproducing media. For example, a media sending device may store media content and a meta-data file which includes media customization information to facilitate reproduction of the media content and an identifier that identifies a type of the information in the meta-data file. The media sending device then transmits an indication to the receiving device indicating that reproduction of the media content would be facilitated by use of the information in the meta-data file. The media sending device then transfers the media content and the meta-data file to the receiving device, in response to receiving a request for the media content from the receiving device. Then, the media receiving device reproduces the media content based at least in part on information extracted from the meta-data file, in a manner indicated by the identifier.

Abstract: A caption formatting method and computing system that receives an input video stream that includes a sequence of input transport stream packets. The method locates user data in the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the user data includes input caption data compliant with an input caption data format. The method extracts EIA-608 captions and EIA-708 captions from the input caption data, and formats the EIA-608 captions as caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format. The method creates a sequence of output transport stream packets based on the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the sequence of output transport stream packets include the caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format and the input caption data. The method sends an output video stream from the computing device, where the output video stream includes the sequence of output transport stream packets.

Abstract: Creating a filtered adaptive streaming playlist in a content delivery network. The playlist is for delivery of a plurality of chunks of stored video content to a streaming client device. The filtering is based on a determination of whether information associated with each chunk is in compliance with a personalized rule set associated with the streaming client device.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing a user's viewing experience include providing new opportunities for viewing information or manipulating data during the viewing experience. The user may take an action that has an intended purpose of changing a mode of play of content displayed at the client device. An event prompted by the user action, such as a pause or rewind of the displayed content, may be an event that triggers at least one extended option associated with the displayed content.

Abstract: A caption formatting method and computing system that receives an input video stream that includes a sequence of input transport stream packets. The method locates user data in the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the user data includes input caption data compliant with an input caption data format. The method extracts EIA-608 captions and EIA-708 captions from the input caption data, and formats the EIA-608 captions as caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format. The method creates a sequence of output transport stream packets based on the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the sequence of output transport stream packets include the caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format and the input caption data. The method sends an output video stream from the computing device, where the output video stream includes the sequence of output transport stream packets.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the downloading conditions of software objects from a carousel server to a population of remotely-located, in-service, software-configurable consumer devices communicating via a network is disclosed. The apparatus includes an electronic controller programmed to automatically generate an announcement over the network to a target population of consumer devices. The announcement concerns the availability of a software object loaded for download on the carousel server. The controller receives replies from the target population of consumer devices and analyzes the replies to determine a quantity of the consumer devices in the target population that require the download and to determine an optimal allocation of bandwidth for the download based on information provided by the replies. A download system and method are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing targeted advertisements in a switched digital video system. The method monitors a content stream associated with a channel selected by a subscriber, where the content stream includes an advertisement segment having a start time and an end time, and an advertisement replacement opportunity inserted in the content stream. The method detects the advertisement replacement opportunity at a detection time that is prior to the start time of the advertisement segment, and sends a request to select an advertisement replacement for the advertisement segment, thereby broadcasting a service associated with the advertisement replacement prior to the start time for the advertisement segment. The method receives tune data to identify an advertisement replacement stream associated with the advertisement replacement, and tunes to the advertisement replacement at the start time for the advertisement segment.

Abstract: A caption formatting method and computing system that receives an input video stream that includes a sequence of input transport stream packets. The method locates user data in the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the user data includes input caption data compliant with an input caption data format. The method extracts EIA-608 captions and EIA-708 captions from the input caption data, and formats the EIA-608 captions as caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format. The method creates a sequence of output transport stream packets based on the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the sequence of output transport stream packets include the caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format and the input caption data. The method sends an output video stream from the computing device, where the output video stream includes the sequence of output transport stream packets.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium are described that issue ending reminders to users. As a user goes through his day, he will be reminded of the beginning of the events he has entered into his calendar. The described systems, methods and programs stored on computer readable medium also allow reminders to be issued at or near the end of certain events. This can typically be used by parents to remind them to pick up their children after their children finish an event such as athletic practice.

Abstract: A user's remote wireless device is used to send messages to targeted destinations within the user's home environment via an in-home network. The remote wireless device presents a user-friendly menu that enables the user to select the format of the messages (e.g., audio, text and/or graphics). The messages may be set to be sent at a particular time (reminder messages) or sent immediately (intercom messages). An application program running on the remote wireless device emulates on a display of the remote wireless device a plurality of control buttons used to select the destination, format and time, and to control the selection of program channels displayed on a television.

Abstract: A software-code configurable digital appliance, such as a television settop box, is provided for operating in a network, such as a subscription television system. A storage component of the appliance stores different versions of at least one of firmware and application program code. A processing component is provided for selecting an appropriate version of the firmware and/or application program code, depending on predetermined criteria relating to the network to which the appliance is connected. The selected version is loaded into an operating component of the appliance to enable the appliance to operate in the network. The different versions of firmware and/or application program code are adapted to enable the appliance to be deployed in any of a plurality of incompatible networks.