Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable medium providing licensing rights for media content that follows a subscriber so that the subscriber may experience the media content on various content distribution platforms. In particular embodiments, the systems, methods, and computer-readable medium transfer licensing rights for a user for particular media content that is associated with a first device on a first distribution platform so that the rights are associated with a second device on a second distribution platform. As a result, in various embodiments, the user is able to experience the particular media content with the use of the second device on the second distribution platform.

Abstract: A Video On Demand (VOD) system having a VOD catalog that lists VOD movies available for a user to purchase, a database for storing a plurality of reference images associated with the VOD movies in the VOD catalog, and an image processing and lookup system (IPLS) for searching the plurality of reference images in the database utilizing automated image recognition. A user takes a photograph of a movie poster or DVD box cover and sends the image to the IPLS. The IPLS determines whether the user image matches a stored reference image. If so, the IPLS sends an indication to the user that the movie associated with the matching image is available in the VOD catalog. When the received image does not match any image in the database, the IPLS sends an indication to the user that there are no movies in the VOD catalog matching the user image.

Abstract: A cable backend and a method are described herein for enabling a user with a location-aware mobile device to have at least partial control of a closest cable device (e.g., set top box, cable application) associated with a closest television. The closest cable device does not need to be associated with the user's home television but instead can be any cable device that is associated with a television located for instance at a stranger's house, an airport, a bar, or wherever.

Abstract: A system and method enabling a user to view on a computing device, a catalog of Video On Demand (VOD) content available on a remote (guest) VOD system, to purchase an available piece of VOD content on the user's account in his Home VOD System, and to play the purchased piece of VOD content through a Guest Set Top Box (STB). A pairing process associates the computing device with the Guest STB, and a VOD Back Office stores this pairing. The VOD Back Office then builds a custom catalog of VOD content available to the user through the Guest STB and sends the catalog to the computing device. When the VOD Back Office receives a request from the computing device to view selected VOD content, the VOD Back Office sends an instruction to a Guest Headend Hub to set up a session with the Guest STB. The Hub force tunes the Guest STB and streams the selected VOD content to the Guest STB for display on a Guest television.

Abstract: A method of controlling delivery of video programs from video distribution equipment to video receiver devices includes receiving messages at the video distribution equipment from a mobile terminal operated by a user. The messages contain user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices. The user defined identifiers are stored associated with the equipment identifiers in a subscriber account. Delivery of video programs from the video distribution equipment to the video receiver devices is controlled in response to commands received from the mobile terminal which request delivery of identified video programs to identified ones of the user defined identifiers. Related video distribution equipment and mobile terminals are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an environmentally enhanced experience to a user reading an electronic book (eBook) on an eBook reader in proximity to a television. An application program in the eBook reader causes the eBook reader to send an indication to a Video On Demand (VOD) television delivery system identifying a page of the eBook displayed on the eBook reader. The VOD television delivery system accesses an eVODBook package that defines start, stop; and loop locations in video content associated with the eBook. Video content associated with text or an illustration on the eBook page currently displayed on the eBook reader is streamed to a Set Top Box (STB) and the television in accordance with the eVODBook package.

Abstract: A system, an authentication engine and a method are described herein for authenticating an end user and associating their set-top box with a third party web based application to stream a third party video to the set-top box. In one example, the end user may utilize a client device (e.g., computer, laptop computer, smart phone) to access via the internet the third party video provider which lists a number of videos that the end user could watch on their television. The end user would select one of the videos to watch and then their cable provider would stream the video to the end-user's set-top box to be displayed on their television. To enable this service, the authentication system authenticates the end user and associates their set-top box with the third party video provider's web based application.

Abstract: Methods, video terminals, and systems are disclosed for generating a montage of video segments for display by a video terminal. At least one video viewing preference associated with the video terminal is identified. Metadata associated with video segments in at least one video file is searched to identify video segments that correspond to the identified at least one video viewing preference. A montage of the identified video segments is generated for display by the video terminal.

Abstract: A user can become involved in an Event presented to the user by a media stream. Suitable motion and location cameras and other sensors capture characteristics information on objects, environments, and people in the Event, and that information enables a virtual representation of the user to become a player in the media stream of the Event. Views are generated that include images or representations of one or more real objects in a real space and representations of viewers and that enable the viewers to interact with other images or representations of the objects. To put it another way, a viewer can interact with a TV broadcast of a sporting event, such as a baseball game, an automobile race, etc.

Abstract: A video control device is disclosed. The video control device includes a communication interface for receiving user inputs and for communicating data to users, a memory for storing information communicated with the users and a plurality of video programs and a processor for processing the inputs received by the communication interface and for streaming video to the users via the communication interface. The communication interface receives a code from a user and from at least one of a plurality of invitees that received the code from the user. The processor streams a video program corresponding to the code simultaneously to the user and to invitees submitting the code and disables navigation functions of user controls for the invitees submitting the code.

Abstract: Advertising content is provided to a user. A set top box that is located in a first environment receives a first signal from a user device located in the first environment, wherein the first signal is encoded with commerce-related information. The set top box conveys the commerce-related information via a digital communication network to a server system located in a second environment. The server system utilizes the commerce-related information to select advertising information pertaining to the commerce-related information, and then communicates the advertising information to a device from which the user of the user device located in the first environment can access the advertising information.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) includes a location sensing mechanism, a memory for storing identity of a plurality of location co-ordinates visited by a user of the user equipment, a processor for determining preferences corresponding to the user based on the stored locations and a transceiver for communicating the preferences.

Abstract: Methods of delivering a time shifted video program include obtaining an individualized advertisement preference for a viewer of the time shifted video program, selecting an advertisement from among a plurality of available advertisements based on the individualized advertisement preference, inserting the selected advertisement into the time shifted video program, and delivering the time shifted video program including the selected advertisement to the viewer. Related systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transaction server facilitates a purchase transaction for goods or services between users at two mobile phones. The Purchaser initiates a request for a purchase transaction to a server, and is provided with a unique code (“purchasing nonce”) that is uniquely associated with the request. The user of the first mobile phone provides the purchasing nonce to the Seller, who enters that value into the selling mobile phone. The selling mobile phone initiates a request to join the transaction as identified by the purchasing nonce. After confirmation of the Purchaser that the Seller can join the transaction, the Seller can itemize the goods for sale, which are electronically presented to the Purchaser for approval. After all items are selected, the Purchaser approves the transaction, and the transaction server can then transfers funds. An electronic receipt is provided to the Purchaser's mobile phone for confirmation.

Abstract: A plurality of cameras may be strategically placed around a venue for generating broadcast video streams which are processed by a broadcaster so as to produce a panning effect. A first video from one camera is streamed to one or more viewers. To create a panning effect, video from an adjacent, second, camera stream is used to interpolate video frames. The panning effect can be accomplished by interpolating frames for a certain number of time periods from a frame of the first camera and video frame of the second camera. The video from the first camera, the interpolated frames, and the video from the second camera is then selected and streamed to a viewer as a video stream, providing the panning effect. Multiple interpolation streams can be generated to handle panning from any camera to another camera. Panning requests may originate from the viewer or from the broadcaster.

Abstract: A system and method of video-on-demand (VOD) content search and distribution via an Internet Protocol (IP) network. A user sends a scan of a bar-coded identifier placed on a packaging or advertising material for a movie or other audio-visual program. Using the received barcode scan, the cable operator's VOD system checks the availability of the requested title under the VOD service. If the title is available, the system allows the user to instantaneously purchase and/or bookmark the title via a mobile device. If the title is currently unavailable “on demand”, the VOD system may send a notification to the user when the title becomes available. The bar code scan-based methodology enables the user to request desired titles even when the user is unaware of the titles available in a cable operator's VOD catalog. The IP network-based communication affords users substantially universal and instantaneous access to the desired VOD content with increased mobility and flexibility.

Abstract: A barker management system provides customized barker channels to a viewer, where the barker management system may be integrated into a VOD service. In one embodiment, the headend is informed when the viewer requests the VOD service and is further informed of a set top box (“STB”) identifier. The headend ascertains a rating of a barker channel, and may create a playlist of trailers having a compatible rating and streams the trailers on the barker channel to the SIB. The STB is informed which channel to use, and generates a display with the barker channel presented in one window of the display, while the VOD menu selections are presented in another window of the display. The selection of trailers in the barker channel can be based on ratings, content, or other criteria. The headend can statically or dynamically generate various customized barker channels for viewers.

Abstract: A system and method for providing interactive television advertising. When a viewer with interactive capability is identified, the system invites the viewer to create an advertisement. When the viewer accepts, the system displays advertisement parameters on the viewer's television or other connected computing device such as a smartphone. The viewer uses a remote control mechanism to select parameters and send them to an interactive advertising unit in a television delivery system. The interactive advertising unit creates the interactive advertisement in accordance with the selected advertisement parameters. The system then shows the interactive advertisement to the viewer during the next commercial break.

Abstract: An integrated television delivery and social networking system for improving service to a user. A television delivery system delivers television programs and advertisements to the user, and a social network website enables the user to post social updates for the user's friends and to receive social updates from the friends. An interworking unit interworks between the television delivery system and the social network website. The interworking unit obtains information from the television delivery system or the social network website and automatically provides the information from one to the other. The system may automatically post to the website, an indication of what television program the user is watching; may display to the user how many of his friends liked the television program or advertisement the user is watching; and may use user interests in the user's social network profile to select targeted television advertisements to present to the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a capability is disclosed for conveying a link to further information over a cable system to a consumer device, wherein the video link can be associated with an external video source. The information can be conveyed to the consume device in one embodiment by embedding the video link information within a stream of MPEG formatted video information using an EBIF application. The video link information can be a URL from which the external information, typically video information, can be received. Upon detecting the link, the consumer device opens up a display window on a television image, which is presented to the viewer in an overlaid manner in addition to the MPEG video information on a television display. Typically, after the external video is presented, the window is closed.