Abstract: An exemplary computer-implemented television service system detects, while a media content processing device is presenting a user interface view associated with a television service within a display screen in communication with the media content processing device, an input command provided by a user of the media content processing device and representative of a request for customer support. In response, the system identifies a context within which the input command is provided by the user, selects, based on the identified context, customer support content provided by the television service and associated with the user interface view being presented within the display screen, and directs the media content processing device to present the customer support content within the user interface view. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary media service personalization system maintains profiles for multiple media service access devices associated with an end-user account with a media service, generates a merged profile based on the profiles for the media service access devices, and directs a communal media service access device associated with the end-user account to personalize the media service based on the merged profile.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media program distribution service system 1) receiving data representative of a plurality of scene tags specifying one or more media program scenes tagged by a plurality of end users of a media program distribution service, 2) aggregating the plurality of scene tags, 3) determining, based on a favorite scenes determination heuristic and the aggregate scene tags, a set of one or more favorite scenes that are most popular among the plurality of end users of the media program distribution service, and 4) providing, based on the determined set of one or more favorite scenes, a favorite scene based feature of the media program distribution service. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system detects a first activity performed by a first user with respect to a media service while the first user is logged in to the media service with a particular user account and a second activity performed by a second user with respect to the media service while the second user is logged in to the media service with the particular user account, determines that the first activity is performed within a first device context and that the second activity is performed within a second device context, includes, based on the determination, the first activity in a local activity set associated with the first device context, the local activity set including one or more activities performed with respect to the media service exclusively in the first device context, and uses the local activity set to provide a personalized interaction experience with the media service within the first device context.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content location system 1) detecting a geographic location of a mobile device associated with a user, 2) determining, based on the detected geographic location of the mobile device, that a media content instance designated as being of interest to the user is available for vending at a media content store that is within a geographic vicinity of the mobile device, 3) directing the mobile device to present a graphical depiction of the geographic vicinity of the mobile device, and 4) directing the mobile device to present a graphical object representative of the media content instance within the graphical depiction of the geographic vicinity at a position that corresponds to a geographic location of the media content store. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes detecting, on a media content recording device, a media content recording conflict between a plurality of scheduled recordings of media content instances, and outputting, for display on a display device, data representative of a graphical user interface including a plurality of graphical objects representative of the plurality of scheduled recordings of the media content instances and at least one option configured to facilitate resolution of the media content recording conflict. Corresponding methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media service provider system 1) detecting a request for information about a media program, 2) providing, for display on a display screen in response to the request, an information view for the media program that includes the information about the media program, 3) providing, for display in the information view, a first user-selectable icon associated with one or more options for accessing the media program by way of a first media distribution channel, and 4) providing, for display in the information view, a second user-selectable icon positioned adjacent to the first user-selectable icon and associated with one or more options for accessing the media program by way of a second media distribution channel that is different from the first media distribution channel. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings that each include data representative of one or more content instances. Each content posting is associated with one or more first users. The method also includes storing one or more data records associating one or more geographic locations with accessing of the content instances. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide including a matrix of cells associated with a plurality of media content instances, and a selector object within the program guide. The selector object is configured to select one of the cells such that the cells in the matrix include a selected cell and at least one unselected cell. The subsystem is further configured to provide at least one image object within the at least one unselected cell. The image object represents the media content instance associated with the unselected cell. In certain embodiments, the image object includes a video content stream. The subsystem is further configured to provide a graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user, the graphical user interface including at least a portion of the program guide and the image object.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for managing media content sessions are disclosed herein. As described in more detail below, a media content access device may detect a media content session associated with the media content access device, communicate with one or more other media content access devices by way of a local area network to detect one or more other media content sessions associated with the one or more other media content access devices, and present a graphical user interface configured to facilitate user management of the media content session and the one or more other media content sessions. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) detecting a first activity performed by a first user with respect to a media service while the first user is logged in to the media service with a particular user account and a second activity performed by a second user with respect to the media service while the second user is logged in to the media service with the particular user account, 2) determining that the first activity is performed within a first device context and that the second activity is performed within a second device context, 3) including, based on the determination, the first activity in a local activity set associated with the first device context, 4) excluding, based on the determination, the second activity from the local activity set, and 5) using the local activity set to provide a personalized interaction experience with the media service within the first device context.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes identifying a plurality of highlight media segments associated with a plurality of events that occur during one or more sporting events, identifying one or more players involved in the plurality of events, determining that the identified one or more players are of interest to a user, sending, in response to the determining, one or more highlight messages that indicate an availability of the highlight media segments to a user device associated with the user while the user device is presenting media content within a display screen associated with the user device, and causing, in accordance with the one or more highlight messages, the user device to present, within the display screen while the media content is being presented within the display screen, a user interface that includes listings of the highlight media segments.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving data representative of a content instance over a network from an access device associated with a first user, encrypting the content instance in response to a command initiated by the user by way of one or more graphical user interfaces, providing a key configured to facilitate decryption of the encrypted content instance, creating at least one access rule corresponding to the encrypted content instance, transmitting data representative of the encrypted content instance to a requesting access device associated with a requesting user, receiving, from the requesting access device, data representative of a request to access the key over the network, and performing a predefined action related to the key in response to the request and in accordance with the at least one access rule.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a theme-based media program discovery system 1) concurrently maintaining data representative of a first active media program curation heuristic that specifies a first set of curation parameters associated with a media program theme and a second active media program curation heuristic that specifies a second set of curation parameters associated with the media program theme, 2) curating, based on the first active media program curation heuristic, a first set of one or more media programs related to the media program theme, and 3) curating, based on the second active media program curation heuristic, a second set of one or more media programs related to the media program theme. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a network DVR system identifying a total number of requests provided by a plurality of users to record a media program during a presentation of the media program, determining, based on the total number of requests and on a predicted playback rate associated with the media program, a maximum number of temporally overlapping playback sessions of the media program that will potentially be initiated by the plurality of users subsequent to the presentation of the media program, and storing, in response to the requests and based on the determining, a plurality of unique copies of the media program. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented vending kiosk user interface system 1) receiving a camera image captured by a mobile device, the camera image including a visual representation of a vending kiosk located within a vicinity of the mobile device, 2) detecting the visual representation of the vending kiosk within the camera image, 3) generating, based on the detecting of the visual representation of the vending kiosk within the camera image, an augmented reality image that includes a combination of camera image content included in the camera image and virtual content associated with a vending service, and 4) directing the mobile device to display the augmented reality image. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computing device presenting a program guide interface by way of a touch screen, detecting a pinch gesture provided in relation to the program guide interface, and presenting, in response to the pinch gesture, a plurality of graphical objects representative of a plurality of media programming channel groups. Each graphical object in the plurality of graphical objects is configured to function as a user-selectable jump point to specific programming guide information associated with a respective media programming channel group in the plurality of media programming channel groups.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for providing access to content during the presentation of a media content instance are disclosed herein. As described in more detail below, a content presentation system may detect a predefined motion of a mobile device during a presentation of a media content instance by a media content access device, identify the media content instance, and provide access to the identified media content instance by way of the mobile device in response to the predefined motion. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining recording instructions received from a user to automatically record a first resolution version of a media content instance scheduled to be transmitted during a first time period by way of a first content channel, determining that a second resolution version of the media content instance is scheduled to be transmitted during a second time period by way of a second content channel, presenting an option to the user to record the second resolution version of the media content instance instead of the first resolution version of the media content instance, and automatically modifying, in response to a selection of the option by the user, the recording instructions to record the second resolution version of the media content instance instead of the first resolution version of the media content instance. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media service system presenting a first user interface view within which a presentation of a media program is provided for experiencing by a user, determining that the media program is included in a first set of curated media programs associated with a first theme, identifying a second theme that is different than the first theme, detecting a theme shift event that occurs in association with the presentation of the media program, and switching, in response to the theme shift event, from presenting the first user interface view to presenting a second user interface view for experiencing by the user, the second user interface view related to a second set of curated media programs associated with the second theme and unassociated with the first theme. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.