Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for group messaging are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a group messaging system receiving a broadcast message from an originating user, imposing a limit on a number of text characters included in the broadcast message, identifying a group of intended recipients of the broadcast message, determining contact information for an intended recipient included in the group, determining at least one broadcast message sending method for the intended recipient, and sending the broadcast message to the intended recipient using the at least one broadcast message sending method.

Abstract: A method includes presenting a user interface providing access to content from multiple content providers and receiving, via the user interface, user input indicating selection criteria for recommending content. The selection criteria include an amount of time available to the user. The method includes providing, to a network device, an indication of the selection criteria and receiving, from the network device, information for providing recommended content options based on the selection criteria. The recommended content options are available from different content providers of the multiple content providers. The method includes presenting, to the user and via the interface, the recommended content options in association with the selection criteria.

Abstract: A user device includes a user interface providing access to content from multiple content providers, each of the multiple content providers having a separate subscription associated with the user. The user device receives user input indicating interest in an aspect of particular content available from a first content provider of the multiple content providers and provides, to a network device, an indication of the user interest. The user device receives, from the network device, links to additional content available from a different content provider and related to the aspect of the particular content. The user device presents, via the user interface, the links to the additional content in association with the aspect of the particular content.

Abstract: The method and system for SMS/MMS messaging to a connected device may be realized as a system comprising at least one server module. The at least one server module may be adapted to receive from a connected device an outbound messaging message through a packet-based network. The at least one server module may also be adapted to send the outbound messaging message to an external messaging network. The connected device may be communicatively coupled to the packet-based network. The outbound messaging message may be associated with a user account. The user account may be associated with a telephone number.

Abstract: A user device presents, to a user, media content provided from multiple providers and logs the presented media content from the multiple providers. The user device indicates, based on the multiple providers, proportions of the presented media content from the multiple providers during a particular reporting period and determines whether particular presented media content, of the presented media content from the particular reporting period, was available for presentation from another of the multiple providers. The user device generates a report, for the user, that indicates if the presented media content could have been consolidated among fewer of the multiple providers.

Abstract: A method may include receiving an order associated with processing a media file, generating a work order associated with fulfilling the order and identifying tasks associated with the work order. The method may also include accessing information identifying previously processed orders and determining whether at least one stored asset associated with one of the previously processed orders is usable when processing the first order. The method may further include retrieving, when a first one of the stored assets is usable, the first stored asset, and using the first stored asset when processing the work order.

Abstract: A system may create work units, each work unit including at least one of an input port or output port, each work unit configured to modify data that is received via the input port. In addition, the system may compose a workflow by connecting an output port of a first of the work units to an input port of a second of the work units, receive a work order, select the workflow in response to the work order, decompose the workflow into constituent work units, instantiate tasks that correspond to the constituent work units, and execute a work unit process for each of the tasks.

Abstract: A system generate a workflow identifier, create a workflow that includes a first work unit, assign the workflow identifier to the workflow, update the workflow by adding a second work unit to the workflow, receive a work order to process the workflow, decompose the workflow into constituent work units in response to the work order, instantiate tasks that correspond to the constituent work units, and execute a work unit process for each of the tasks.

Abstract: A method including receiving a work flow for the ingestion, transformation, and distribution of content, wherein the work flow includes one or more work unit tasks; selecting one of the one or more work unit tasks for execution when resources are available; retrieving work unit task information that includes a work unit definition that specifies which of the one or more other work unit tasks are capable of being at least one of an input to the one of the one or more work unit tasks or an output for the one of the one or more work unit tasks, and work unit task connector parameters that specify a type of input content and a type of output content; and executing the one of the one or more work unit tasks based on a translated work unit task information.

Abstract: A system may create a workflow that includes work units, assign values to parameters of the work units, create a specification that associates the work units and the parameter values, generate a work order associated with the stock keeping unit specification, convert the specification into the work units based on the work order, instantiate tasks that correspond to the work units, and execute the tasks by one or more processors.

Abstract: A system may receive an input specification, compose a workflow by connecting an output port of a first one of a plurality of work units to an input port of a second one of the work units, receive a work order associated with the workflow, decompose the workflow into constituent work units upon receipt of the work order, instantiate tasks that correspond to the work units, generate a bill of materials that lists input and output files associated with the tasks based on the tasks and the input specification, and update fields of the bill of materials, the fields indicating states of the input and output files.

Abstract: A method may include receiving an order associated with processing a media file and generating a workflow associated with fulfilling the order. The method may also include identifying tasks associated with the workflow and generating an estimate associated with executing the tasks. The method may further include allocating resources associated with executing the tasks and scheduling execution of the order.

Abstract: An interactive assistant for managing telephone communications and services is disclosed. In one of many possible method embodiments, a chat interface is provided to a device associated with an intended recipient of an incoming voice call. A chat message from the intended recipient is received through the chat interface. The chat message is presented to a calling party associated with the incoming call prior to a disposition of the call being determined. In other embodiments, an interface provides controls for individually managing calls on a conference call, without affecting other calls on the conference call.

Abstract: A device may receive over a network a digitized speech signal from a remote control that accepts speech. In addition, the device may convert the digitized speech signal into text, use the text to obtain command information applicable to a set-top box, and send the command information to the set-top box to control presentation of multimedia content on a television in accordance with the command information.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session over a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) channel, a digital audio signal from a remote control configured to receive audible information; terminating, responsive to receiving the digital audio signal, the SIP session; converting the digital audio signal into text based on a number of speech grammars corresponding to program guide information; obtaining, using the program guide information, a matching set of program guide entries related to the text to determine command information corresponding to the audible information; sending, via hypertext transfer protocol or file transfer protocol, the command information to a set-top box; and generating, at the set-top box responsive to receiving the command information, a display indicative of the matching set.

Abstract: A method includes presenting a user interface providing access to content from multiple content providers and receiving, via the user interface, user input indicating selection criteria for recommending content. The selection criteria include an amount of time available to the user. The method includes providing, to a network device, an indication of the selection criteria and receiving, from the network device, information for providing recommended content options based on the selection criteria. The recommended content options are available from different content providers of the multiple content providers. The method includes presenting, to the user and via the interface, the recommended content options in association with the selection criteria.

Abstract: A user device presents, to a user, media content provided from multiple providers and logs the presented media content from the multiple providers. The user device indicates, based on the multiple providers, proportions of the presented media content from the multiple providers during a particular reporting period and determines whether particular presented media content, of the presented media content from the particular reporting period, was available for presentation from another of the multiple providers. The user device generates a report, for the user, that indicates if the presented media content could have been consolidated among fewer of the multiple providers.

Abstract: A user device includes a user interface providing access to content from multiple content providers, each of the multiple content providers having a separate subscription associated with the user. The user device receives user input indicating interest in an aspect of particular content available from a first content provider of the multiple content providers and provides, to a network device, an indication of the user interest. The user device receives, from the network device, links to additional content available from a different content provider and related to the aspect of the particular content. The user device presents, via the user interface, the links to the additional content in association with the aspect of the particular content.

Abstract: An interactive assistant for managing telephone communications and services is disclosed. In one of many possible method embodiments, a chat interface is provided to a device associated with an intended recipient of an incoming voice call. A chat message from the intended recipient is received through the chat interface. The chat message is presented to a calling party associated with the incoming call prior to a disposition of the call being determined. In other embodiments, an interface provides controls for individually managing calls on a conference call, without affecting other calls on the conference call.

Abstract: An interactive assistant for managing telephone communications and services is disclosed. In one of many possible method embodiments, a chat interface is provided to a device associated with an intended recipient of an incoming voice call. A chat message from the intended recipient is received through the chat interface. The chat message is presented to a calling party associated with the incoming call prior to a disposition of the call being determined. In other embodiments, an interface provides controls for individually managing calls on a conference call, without affecting other calls on the conference call.