Abstract: A system receives, from a first user device associated with a giver, a request for a video-on-demand (VOD) gift, wherein the request identifies a recipient and a VOD selection. The system creates a billing event corresponding to the VOD gift, for an account associated with the giver, and generates a coupon code for the VOD gift. The coupon code is associated with the identified recipient and the VOD selection. The system sends, to a second user device associated with the recipient, an indication of the VOD gift that includes the coupon code. The system receives, from a third user device associated with the recipient, the coupon code and provides, to the third user device, information to enable access to VOD content corresponding to the coupon code.

Abstract: Exemplary customer premises equipment (“CPE”) diagnostic, recovery, and reporting systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a technical support server subsystem aggregating, over time, technical support data representing technical issues of CPE devices and operations performed to resolve the technical issues, identifying a subset of the technical support data, and providing the identified subset of the technical support data to a CPE device for local storage by the CPE device, locally stored technical support data configured to be used by the CPE device to self-recover from a future technical issue associated with the CPE device. In certain embodiments, the CPE device may be configured to function as a media server device and/or as an intermediary technical support device at a customer premises. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device may include a communication interface configured to receive a request from a client device, where the request identifies a first video on demand (VOD). The device may also include logic configured to identify capabilities associated with the client device, the capabilities including at least one of a decoding capability of the client device, a content protection scheme supported by the client device, or a transport protocol via which the client device can communicate, and forward the request for the VOD to a service provider associated with providing the first VOD. The logic may also be configured to receive a media stream from the service provider, the media stream corresponding to the first VOD, process the media stream in accordance with the identified capabilities, and forward the processed media stream to the client device.

Abstract: An interactive program system includes a device that receives program data and Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) data associated with an interactive application; identifies the EBIF data; converts the EBIF data to a data format compatible with a user device; generates an EBIF notification based on the EBIF data; transmits the EBIF notification to the user device; and transmits the converted EBIF data to a network device. The user device communicates with the network device based on the EBIF notification and displays the converted EBIF data. The user device transmits input data to the network device and the network device provides interaction data to the device.

Abstract: A system is configured to receive, from a user device, a request for video content and closed captioning content associated with the video content; obtain, based on the request, device information that identifies a first video format that is supported by the user device; obtain the video content and the closed captioning content, where the video content conforms to a second video format, and where the closed captioning content conforms to a text format; convert the video content from the second video format to the first video format and the closed captioning content from the text format to the first video format; and transmit the converted video content and the converted closed captioning to the user device, where the converted video content and the converted closed captioning content enable the user device to play the converted video content and the converted closed captioning content without modifying the user device.

Abstract: A device may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to receive user input via a user interface and provide an appearance of selecting a channel, via a content presentation device connected to the device, without actually selecting the channel when the user input requests a particular program channel. The one or more processors may also be configured to display interactive program guide data at the content presentation device when the user input requests an interactive program guide and when the device is disconnected from a network from which the device received the interactive program guide data.

Abstract: An approach is provided for simulating a connection to a head-end system to enable execution of content and features of a set-top box. A simulation platform stores a plurality of control data signals associated with a head-end system. In response to a determined loss of connectivity to the head-end system, the platform invokes a head-end simulation process using the control data signals, including timing information, dynamic data and channel map data.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a development subsystem configured to facilitate development of a software application and a simulation subsystem selectively and communicatively coupled to the development subsystem. The simulation subsystem is configured to emulate a plurality of processing device platforms, receive data representative of a selection of at least one of the plurality of processing device platforms, and simulate an execution of the software application by one or more processing devices associated with the at least one selected processing device platform.

Abstract: A device may include a communication interface configured to receive programming information and index data associated with the programming information from a service provider multicast over a plurality of channels. The device may also include logic configured to request address information from the service provider, receive the address information, wherein the address information includes a first multicast address, and join a first multicast group corresponding to the first multicast address, wherein the first multicast group is associated with the index data. The logic may also be configured to receive, via the communication interface, the index data, identify a second multicast address associated with at least some of the programming information, join a second multicast group corresponding to the second multicast address, and receive, via the communication interface, at least some of the programming information.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a development subsystem configured to facilitate development of a software application and a simulation subsystem selectively and communicatively coupled to the development subsystem. The simulation subsystem is configured to emulate a plurality of processing device platforms, receive data representative of a selection of at least one of the plurality of processing device platforms, and simulate an execution of the software application by one or more processing devices associated with the at least one selected processing device platform.