Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive streaming with augmented video stream transitions in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a network client includes memory containing a video decoder application, an image processing application, and a client application and a processor, wherein the video decoder application configures the processor to decode video data for display, wherein the image processor application configures the processor to render an image for display, wherein the client application configures the processor to receive a first stream of video data, play the first stream of video data, detect a change in streaming conditions, request a second stream of video data, render an image for display, receive the second stream of video data, and play the second stream of video data, and coordinates the display of the image between the first stream of video and the second video stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive streaming with augmented video stream transitions using a media server in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a media server includes multimedia content including a set of alternative streams of video data and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to stream multimedia content, stream a first stream of video data, where the first stream of video data is one of the set of alternative streams of video data contained in the multimedia content, receive a request for a second stream of video data, where the second stream of video data is one of the set of alternative streams of video data contained in the multimedia content, transmit an image in response to the request for the second stream of video data, and stream the second stream of video data.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for presenting advertisements associated with a particular media. The advertisement may have several versions, any one of which may be presented, based on several factors, including the length of time between transmission and receipt of any particular version. The transmission of the advertisements and related media content is optimize in order seamlessly transition between advertisements and media content.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for presenting advertisements associated with a particular media. The advertisement may have several versions, any one of which may be presented, based on several factors, including the length of time between transmission and receipt of any particular version. The transmission of the advertisements and related media content is optimize in order seamlessly transition between advertisements and media content.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for presenting advertisements associated with a particular media. The advertisement may have several versions, any one of which may be presented, based on several factors, including the length of time between transmission and receipt of any particular version. The transmission of the advertisements and related media content is optimize in order seamlessly transition between advertisements and media content.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and means for presenting menu options in a media guidance application are provided. In particular, a user selection of a primary menu option is received in the media guidance application. A plurality of sub-menu options that correspond to the primary option selected is determined. Subsequently, for each of the plurality of sub-menu options, it is determined whether the sub-menu option has guidance data and/or content associated with the primary menu option selected. This guidance data and/or content can be either data and/or media in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. For each of the plurality of sub-menu options that does not have guidance data and/or content associated with the primary menu option selected, the sub-menu option is prevented from being presented to a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing enhanced navigation of stored digital video content based upon an event index. Includes generation and storage of an event index, as well as navigation based on events in the event index. An example system is embodied in a digital video recorder that detects and stores black field and silent frame events for use in locating commercial groups. The commercial groups may be skipped or otherwise navigated based upon data pointers linking the stored events to corresponding locations in the video data file.

Abstract: Browsing content stored in a content source. A content source identifier corresponding to the content source, a content type, and a hierarchical structure are received. The hierarchical structure defines a hierarchy of content stored in the content source that is independent of the file structure of the content stored in the content source. A guided browse function is generated based on the content source identifier. The content stored in the content source is searched by using the guided browse function, wherein in response to receiving a request from a presentation module to browse content corresponding to a selected node in the hierarchical structure, the guided browse function searches the content stored in the content source by using a search query corresponding to the selected node, and returns results of the search to the presentation module. The results are presented to a user by using the presentation module.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources; processing the content information to provide a digital representation of a content item; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the content item; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable display object to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for caching data in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering affinity information related to a particular user's affinity for particular types of content; receiving a data object related to a particular item of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources via a data network; assigning, by use of a processor, a weight to the data object based on the affinity information; and flushing the data object from a content/content information cache based on the weight assigned to the data object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system.

Abstract: Generation of browsing hierarchies. A hierarchical tree structure is generated. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query. Content stored in the content source is browsed by sequentially executing queries corresponding to nodes of the hierarchical tree structure, in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources; processing the content information to provide a digital representation of a content item in an animated content grid; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the content item; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable display object to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing browser integration for a content system. Embodiments include: integrating a browser engine into a user platform of a content system, the browser engine to directly parse and render Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Javascript content from a web server; integrating a Javascript/Document Object Model (JS/DOM) plugin into the user platform of the content system, the JS/DOM plugin to provide functionality specific to a particular device of the user platform, the JS/DOM plugin providing an interface between the browser engine and the particular device of the user platform; and using a processor to execute the browser engine and the JS/DOM plugin in response to a request to render content.

Abstract: Hierarchical display of content. A hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to queries. A static visual representation of a node that is in a top level of the hierarchical tree structure is displayed such that it is selectable by a user. In response to selection of a static visual representation, a corresponding static query is executed to receive visual representations of stored content, and the received visual representations are displayed such that they are selectable. In response to user selection of a received visual representation, a corresponding dynamic query is executed to receive visual representations of stored content, and the visual representations received from the dynamic query are displayed such that they are selectable. The dynamic query corresponds to a child node of a node that corresponds to a previously executed query. The visual representations received from the dynamic query match the corresponding selected visual representation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources; processing the content information to provide a digital representation of a content item; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the content item; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable command option to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for enabling data delivery in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; processing the content information, using a data processor, to associate particular items of content information with content catalogs; storing the processed content information into a database with information identifying associated content catalogs; and providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable a user platform to search the processed content information in the database based on a content catalog identifier.