Abstract: Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one embodiment, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens including the set of selected channels are rendered at a headend. Custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Commands indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received, and the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. Custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel being viewed, used to carry regular program guide, or a channel independent of the channel used to carry regular programming and program guide.

Abstract: A terminal for decoding and presenting encoded realtime and non-realtime interactive program guide (IPG) content including a realtime video portion and a non-realtime guide graphics portion. The terminal includes a demodulator operative to receive and demodulate a modulated signal to provide a transport stream, and a transport demultiplexer coupled to the demodulator and operative to receive and process the transport stream to provide a sequence of transport packets re-timestamped to synchronize encoded realtime content and encoded non-realtime content included therein. At least one video decoder is coupled to the transport demultiplexer and operative to receive and decode the encoded realtime and non-realtime contents to recover the realtime and non-realtime contents for the user interface.

Abstract: Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces. The program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes encoding a first set of slices for each of a plurality of graphics pages; and encoding a second set of slices for each of a plurality of video streams. The user interfaces are multi-functional and may be used for electronic commerce and other applications. A method of generating the user interface includes encoding a set of slices for each of a plurality of objects, each object being characterized by an identity, at least one attribute, and at least one operation. In one embodiment of this method, the plurality of objects include an electronic commerce object, where the electronic commerce object is attributed with a first hyper text markup language (HTML) page.

Abstract: A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.

Abstract: Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand (SOD) services for a interactive information distribution system, where a consumer may subscribe to packages of on-demand programs for a single price and view the programs in the subscribed package at any time for no additional cost. The apparatus and method are embodied in a combination of software, which provides a so called navigator, and hardware, including a subscriber terminal that provides certain functionality for the navigator and service provider equipment that supports the functionality of the terminal. As such, graphical user interface functionality is distributed between the service provider equipment and subscriber equipment (subscriber terminal). Such distribution provides an enjoyable, real time interactive process for accessing SOD services that allows the subscriber to rapidly identify and access a subscription service.

Abstract: Techniques to efficiently deliver interactive program guide (IPG) to a number of terminals. Each IPG page can be decomposed into a guide portion that is specific to each IPG page and a background portion that is common for all IPG pages. The background portion can be further decomposed into a time-varying video portion and other static portions. One method includes receiving a viewer selection for imagery, where the imagery includes at least one intracoded slice and at least one predictively coded slice, and each of the intracoded and predictively codes slices are associated with respective bitstreams. Packets from the at least one bitstream corresponding to the at least one intracoded slice of the selected imagery are extracted, and packets from the at least one bitstream corresponding to the at least one predictively coded slice of the selected imagery are also extracted. The payload portions of the extracted packets are then arranged to form the selected imagery.

Abstract: A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.

Abstract: Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

Abstract: A media system, receives a received sequence of media content, for presentation at the media system and generates a comparison fingerprint of the received sequence of media content. The comparison fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the received sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for identification of additional content to a server system. The request is based at least in part on the comparison fingerprint. The media system receives a response to the request, including information enabling additional content to be selected for display at the media system based at least in part on the identification of the received sequence of media content, and presents a displayed sequence of media content that includes at least a portion of the received sequence of media content and at least a portion of the additional content.

Abstract: Encoding program guides and user interfaces, which may include multiple encoded videos and multiple encoded graphics, is disclosed. The encoded videos may be combined together as an encoded composite video that is decoded to produce a display screen having each of the videos presented in a different region. Further, each one of the encoded videos may be combined with each one of the encoded graphics to form a second encoded composite video that is decoded to produce a display screen having graphic data presented in one region and a video presented in another region of the display screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand (SOD) services for a interactive information distribution system, where a consumer may subscribe to packages of on-demand programs for a single price and view the programs in the subscribed package at any time for no additional cost. The apparatus and method are embodied in a combination of software, which provides a so called navigator, and hardware, including a subscriber terminal that provides certain functionality for the navigator and service provider equipment that supports the functionality of the terminal. As such, graphical user interface functionality is distributed between the service provider equipment and subscriber equipment (subscriber terminal). Such distribution provides an enjoyable, real time interactive process for accessing SOD services that allows the subscriber to rapidly identify and access a subscription service.

Abstract: A media system, receives a received sequence of media content, for presentation at the media system and generates a comparison fingerprint of the received sequence of media content. The comparison fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the received sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for identification of additional content to a server system. The request is based at least in part on the comparison fingerprint. The media system receives a response to the request, including information enabling additional content to be selected for display at the media system based at least in part on the identification of the received sequence of media content, and presents a displayed sequence of media content that includes at least a portion of the received sequence of media content and at least a portion of the additional content.

Abstract: Techniques to deliver targeted advertisements and multimedia contents to viewers. Various types of advertisements are encoded and transmitted. The advertisements may be targeted for different coverage areas (e.g., national and local levels) and may further include various categories (e.g., kids, sports, business, and so on). At the terminal, one or more advertisements may be selected for display based on various selection schemes. The particular advertisement to be selected for display at a terminal may be based on the terminal's assigned profile or user interaction at the terminal. The profile may be assigned based on the last program viewed at the terminal, a particular filter icon selected at the terminal, the observed television viewing habits of the viewer at the terminal, and so on. The techniques may also be advantageously used for delivery of other multimedia contents and for other applications.

Abstract: Methods and systems to insert advertisements and/or other supplemental or replacement content into a stream of video content are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems receive a request to replace a portion of video content currently playing at a client device with supplemental video content, such as an advertisement. In response to the request, the methods and systems determine one or more fingerprints of the video content plating at the client device, identify one or more frames of the video content at which to insert the supplemental video content based on the one or more fingerprints, and insert the supplemental video content at the identified one or more frames of the video content.

Abstract: Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

Abstract: A terminal for decoding and presenting encoded realtime and non-realtime interactive program guide (IPG) content including a realtime video portion and a non-realtime guide graphics portion. The terminal includes a demodulator operative to receive and demodulate a modulated signal to provide a transport stream, and a transport demultiplexer coupled to the demodulator and operative to receive and process the transport stream to provide a sequence of transport packets re-timestamped to synchronize encoded realtime content and encoded non-realtime content included therein. At least one video decoder is coupled to the transport demultiplexer and operative to receive and decode the encoded realtime and non-realtime contents to recover the realtime and non-realtime contents for the user interface.

Abstract: A file system that integrates trick play and standard play video information (movies or other video assets) into a single file. The single file for the video information contains a standard play track, a fast forward track, and a reverse play track that is striped onto a storage medium.

Abstract: A program guide in which a video layer includes a plurality of video objects including title objects, each title object having associated with it a channel and at least one time slot, the video layer being formed in response to a received video stream; and a graphics layer comprising a plurality of graphics objects including title overlay objects, each of the title overlay objects selectively imparting at least a visual de-emphasis to a respective title object in the video layer, the visual de-emphasis being imparted to title objects not being associated with a desired time slot.

Abstract: Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one embodiment, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens including the set of selected channels are rendered at a headend. Custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Commands indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received, and the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. Custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel being viewed, used to carry regular program guide, or a channel independent of the channel used to carry regular programming and program guide.