Abstract: An exemplary media streaming system 1) maintains media profile data representative of a plurality of media profiles supported by technical specifications of access devices included in a population of access devices, 2) defines, based on a statistical distribution of the access devices across the plurality of media profiles, a subset of the plurality of media profiles as benchmark media profiles, 3) maintains, for only the subset of the plurality of media profiles defined as the benchmark media profiles, media content data representative of different versions of a media content program, the different versions of the media content program corresponding to the media profiles included in the subset, and 4) uses the media content data representative of the different versions of the media content program corresponding to the media profiles included in the subset to stream the media content program. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device may detect a commercial break for a channel. The channel may be provided for output to a user. The device may determine another channel to provide based on detecting the commercial break for the channel. The other channel may not be associated with a commercial break. The device may provide the other channel for output to the user. The device may monitor the channel to detect that the commercial break for the channel has ended. The device may provide the channel for output to the user based on detecting that that the commercial break for the channel has ended.

Abstract: A user device may determine whether the user device is located within a dead zone; periodically search, using a first process, for a cellular tower of a cellular network when the user device is not located within the dead zone; and periodically search, using a second process, for a cellular tower of the cellular network when the user device is located within the dead zone. The second process may consume less power of the user device than the first process.

Abstract: A network device may include a memory to store a database including voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter may send a notification to each of a plurality of communication devices, the notification including an indication of a number of new voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, an indication of a total number of voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, and an identifier of a most recent voicemail message in the voicemail mailbox, where each of the plurality of communication devices uses the notification signal to determine whether to request a list of voicemail messages. The receiver may receive, from one of the communication devices in response to the notification, a request for the list of voicemail messages associated with voicemail message information stored in the database. The transmitter may sends, to the one of the plurality of communications devices, the list of voicemail messages.

Abstract: A device may detect a commercial break for a channel. The channel may be provided for output to a user. The device may determine another channel to provide based on detecting the commercial break for the channel. The other channel may not be associated with a commercial break. The device may provide the other channel for output to the user. The device may monitor the channel to detect that the commercial break for the channel has ended. The device may provide the channel for output to the user based on detecting that that the commercial break for the channel has ended.

Abstract: A network device receives a request for a selected video from a first user at a client device, and determines similarities between a second user associated with the first user and other parents in a collaborative community, wherein the similarities are determined based on the second user's, and the other users', prior censoring of videos. The network device obtains all exclusions applied by the second user, and the other users, in the collaborative community to the selected video, wherein each of the exclusions comprises a portion of the selected video identified for censoring by one of the users in the collaborative community. The network device further selectively applies each of the determined exclusions to the selected video based on the determined similarities, and sends the selected video, with the selectively applied exclusions, to the requesting first user at the client device.

Abstract: An exemplary adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) media streaming system may be configured to stream a media program from an HTTP media streaming server subsystem to a client device during an adaptive HTTP media streaming session in which predefined segments of the media program are progressively downloaded from the HTTP media streaming server subsystem to the client device by way of a network connection. For each next predefined segment of the media program to be downloaded, the server subsystem may dynamically select, based on one or more of the exemplary factors disclosed herein, a version of the next predefined segment of the media program from a plurality of versions of the next predefined segment of the media program and download the selected version of the next predefined segment of the media program to the client device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A server is configured to receive a request for content from a user of a user device. The server is configured further to obtain a group of bookmarks for the content, the group of bookmarks being obtained based on at least one of viewing behavior of the user or viewing behavior of another user. The server is configured further to provide the content and the group of bookmarks to the user.

Abstract: A network device receives a request for a selected video from a first user at a client device, and determines similarities between a second user associated with the first user and other parents in a collaborative community, wherein the similarities are determined based on the second user's, and the other users', prior censoring of videos. The network device obtains all exclusions applied by the second user, and the other users, in the collaborative community to the selected video, wherein each of the exclusions comprises a portion of the selected video identified for censoring by one of the users in the collaborative community. The network device further selectively applies each of the determined exclusions to the selected video based on the determined similarities, and sends the selected video, with the selectively applied exclusions, to the requesting first user at the client device.

Abstract: A network device may include a memory to store a database including voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter may send a notification to each of a plurality of communication devices, the notification including an indication of a number of new voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, an indication of a total number of voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, and an identifier of a most recent voicemail message in the voicemail mailbox, where each of the plurality of communication devices uses the notification signal to determine whether to request a list of voicemail messages. The receiver may receive, from one of the communication devices in response to the notification, a request for the list of voicemail messages associated with voicemail message information stored in the database. The transmitter may sends, to the one of the plurality of communications devices, the list of voicemail messages.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, from a user device, a search query associated with identifying media content items available from a service provider. A database of key words associated with a plurality of media content items is searched to identify a set of media content items having key words associated therewith that match the search query. It is determined, for each media content item in the set of media content items, whether the matching key word is a global key word representative of the media content item in its entirety, or a local key word representative of one or more portions of the media content item. The set of media content items based on the determining. The ranked set of media content items is transmitted to the user device for display to a user.

Abstract: Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to obtain program historical data and social network data associated with users that receive one or more programs via one or more channels; calculate a social similarity value; calculate a channel-interest similarity value; calculate a similarity index value based on the social similarity value and the channel-interest similarity value; calculate a program weight value for each program; calculate a stay-time, for each channel, that indicates a time period each of the users remained on each channel; calculate based on each program weight value, each stay-time, and each similarity index value, a channel weight for each channel; and select based on each channel weight, one or more channels to recommend to at least one of the users.

Abstract: A client device receives streaming first media from a content delivery network (CDN). The client device executes a media player to play the streaming first media, and receives a first input from a user of the client device that marks a first censoring start time and a first censoring stop time associated with a first portion of the first media that the user wishes to censor. The client device further receives a second input from the user that includes a reason that justifies censoring the first portion of the first media, and stores the first censoring start time and the first censoring stop time in association with data corresponding to the second input from the user in a cut profile for the first media. The client device sends the cut profile for the first media to a content management server in the CDN.

Abstract: An authorized blocker application is installed on a user device to monitor application usage and enforce usage restrictions. A network device receives, from the user device, information identifying a list of applications installed on the user device and receives from a customer terminal, configuration settings including usage restrictions for at least one application from the list of applications. The network device receives, from the user device, application usage data for the at least one application from the list of applications and compares the configuration settings received from the customer terminal and the application usage data received from the user device. When the application usage data includes times exceeding the configurations settings, the network device sends, to the user device, a blocking instruction to prevent use of the at least one application.

Abstract: A server device receives a request for voicemail information from a user device, retrieves the voicemail information, performs data calls to another server device to obtain information to construct a visual user interface that includes data regarding the voicemail information, constructs the visual user interface using the obtained information, and transmits the constructed visual user interface to the user device.

Abstract: A server is configured to receive a request for content from a user of a user device. The server is configured further to obtain a group of bookmarks for the content, the group of bookmarks being obtained based on at least one of viewing behavior of the user or viewing behavior of another user. The server is configured further to provide the content and the group of bookmarks to the user.

Abstract: A network device may include a memory to store a database including voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter may send a notification to each of a plurality of communication devices, the notification including an indication of a number of new voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, an indication of a total number of voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, and an identifier of a most recent voicemail message in the voicemail mailbox, where each of the plurality of communication devices uses the notification signal to determine whether to request a list of voicemail messages. The receiver may receive, from one of the communication devices in response to the notification, a request for the list of voicemail messages associated with voicemail message information stored in the database. The transmitter may sends, to the one of the plurality of communications devices, the list of voicemail messages.

Abstract: A user device may be configured to output, to a server device, a request for traffic congestion information, receive audio or visual information regarding an identified occurrence of traffic congestion; and present a visual representation of the occurrence of traffic congestion. The visual representation may include a selectable option to access at least a portion of the received audio or visual information regarding the occurrence of traffic congestion. The user device may further be configured to present, based on a selection of the selectable option, the at least a portion of the received audio or visual information regarding the occurrence of the traffic congestion.

Abstract: An approach for a way to exchange gift cards (as well as other incentives, such as coupons) in a fair, efficient and secure environment. A first gift card information associated with a first merchant is received. The gift card information and user request information are evaluated to determine an exchange value. A second gift card information associated with a second merchant is determined based upon the exchange value.

Abstract: A server device may receive parking information that identifies a first plurality of parking spots, within a parking structure, that are available for parking, and a second plurality of parking spots, within the parking structure, that are unavailable for parking; store the parking information in association with information identifying the parking structure; receive, from a user device, a request for parking information associated with the parking structure; populate, in response to the request, a visual representation of the parking structure with the parking information, where the visual representation of the parking structure identifies the first plurality of parking spots and the second plurality of parking spots; and transmit the visual representation of the parking structure to the user device to assist a user, of the user device, in locating one of the first plurality of parking spots.