Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a satellite media receiver having a controller adapted to detect a service outage associated with a media program derived from satellite signals supplied to a satellite port of the satellite media receiver, and transmit a request for a portion of the media program for delivery to a broadband port of the satellite media receiver to mitigate the service outage. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a set-top box device, data that indicates selected media content from a list of available media content. The method includes locating one or more content sources for the selected media content. The method includes selecting a particular content source from the one or more content sources. The method includes locating an access rules source for the selected media content. The method includes instructing the particular content source to send the selected media content to the set-top box device. The method also includes instructing the access rules source to send an access rule associated with the selected media content to the set-top box device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of providing media content access is disclosed that includes providing a list of available media content to a display device and receiving a selection related to the list of available media content. The method further includes sending data related to the selection to a content source and to an access rule source and receiving media content from the content source based on the selection and an access rule related to the media content from the access rule source. The method also includes applying the access rule to the selected media content, where the access rule defines a restriction to limit access to the media content.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for executing a method is disclosed for monitoring video data, the method including but not limited to monitoring end user activity data for media usage for a plurality of end user client devices associated with a designated group of end users in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system; receiving from a first one of the end user client devices, avatar data indicating at least one search criterion within the end user activity data; searching the end user activity data based on the at least one search criterion; and sending to the first one of the end user client devices, search result data from the search based on the at least one search criterion.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first set-top-box (STB) of a group of STBs, the first STB having a controller to select via a graphical user interface (GUI) a media program and a second STB of the group of STBs for receiving an invitation to participate in a media session, wherein the media session comprises presentation of the media program, transmit the invitation to the second STB of the group of STBs, wherein information associated with the invitation is visually displayed at a third STB of the group of STBs participating in the media session, and present the media program at the first STB during the media session, wherein the media program is presented at the third STB during the media session. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content.

Abstract: A method includes accessing an electronic program guide (EPG). The method includes identifying recommended media content items using the EPG and selecting one or more addresses of recipients. The method further includes sending information identifying recommended media content items to the selected addresses.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box comprising a controller to send an invite for participation in a media conference to at least one media device, the media conference comprising a presentation of a media program supplied by an interactive television (iTV) network, receive an acceptance of the invite from at least one accepting media device of the at least one media device, connect the at least one accepting media device to a communications bridge operably coupled to the STB, wherein the communications bridge enables the STB and the at least one accepting media device to engage in one of voice, video, and synthesized speech to text communications, and present the media program with at least a portion of the communications between the STB and the at least one accepting media device during the media conference. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device, such as a set-top box, including a controller to detect a plurality of users engaging in a voice conference to discuss a presentation of a media program, convert speech dialog detected in the voice conference to textual dialog, detect from the textual dialog a behavioral profile of at least one of the plurality of users, and identify at least one of advertisement content and marketable media content based on the behavioral profile of the at least one user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Users are provided limited access to multimedia programs. An administrator may require users to log in to begin a multimedia distribution session. Further, administrators may permit certain users to access selected multimedia programs only for a limited number of views. In addition, an administrator may designate that users have a limited amount of time or a limited period to exercise the limited number of views of the multimedia programs. For example, an administrator may designate that a user can access a multimedia program for a single view, that the user may take three hours to exercise the single view, and that the single view must take place within next three days.

Abstract: Users are provided limited access to multimedia programs. An administrator may require users to log in to begin a multimedia distribution session (e.g., a television program viewing session). The administrator may designate that certain users may access multimedia content only for an allotted amount of time during an approved viewing period. The administrator may also designate that a maximum amount of rollover time is carried to a future tracking period if an allotted amount of viewing time is not fully used for any tracking period.

Abstract: A disclosed access control application and an associated method for managing access to multimedia content include enabling an administrator, e.g., a parent, to create a user account for a user, e.g., a child, and a password and a profile for the user account. The method further includes assigning an access level to the user and generating an initial set of content access indicator (CAIs) based on the access level. The initial CAI influences or determines the user's ability to access content associated with the access level. The method further includes modifying at least one of the CAIs in response to a request from the administrator. When a user subsequently send a navigation signal or command while the user account is active, the navigation signal is processed based at least in part on the CAIs to prevent the user from accessing content that the applicable CAI indicates as being restricted.

Abstract: A method for remotely accessing selected content can include receiving a list of content separate from a video stream. The list of content can include content previously recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule. The method can further include sending a request for content selected from the list of content, receiving the content through a network, and displaying the content.

Abstract: An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer's request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program.

Abstract: A set top box includes a processor configured to provide an electronic programming guide to available television programming, and list content available from the Internet within the electronic programming guide.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to receive media content from a subscriber of a media communication system, receive marketing content from a marketing information source, and present the media content and the marketing content in a personal TV channel. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system, transmit to the media source a communication identifier, and receive from the media source media content in the personal TV channel adapted according to the communication identifier. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor can have a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system according to one or more graphical user interface (GUI) templates that define a plurality of segments of a presentation area of the personal TV channel and one or more modules that arrange media content of the subscriber in the plurality of segments of a select one of the plurality of GUI templates. Other embodiments are disclosed.