Abstract: Embodiments of purchasable token bandwidth portioning techniques are described herein. Tokens are designated to portion bandwidth, allocated by a content provider to stream contents, to a plurality of client devices as a group. When one of the client devices attempts to consume content that would cause the group to exceed the allocated amount of bandwidth, an additional token is purchased.

Abstract: Embodiments of token locking to schedule content consumption are described herein. Tokens are designated to portion bandwidth allocated to a group of client devices by a content provider to stream content. One of the tokens is locked to respective client device when the client device accesses a service to schedule consumption of content over a network.

Abstract: Embodiments of changeable token bandwidth protioning techniques are described herein. Techniques are described in which different types of tokens are designated to streams of content that are allocated to a viewing system by a content provider and that have different respective bandwidths. The viewing system includes a plurality of client devices that are configured to consume the streams of content. The consumption of the streams of content by the client devices is managed through use of the tokens such that the bandwidth allocated by the content provider to the viewing system is not exceeded. When a second client device in the viewing system attempts content consumption that would cause the viewing system to exceed the amount bandwidth allocated to the viewing system, the type of token assigned to a first client device is changed to another type that uses less bandwidth.

Abstract: List processing functionality (LPF) is described for creating a play list that defines an order in which video media programs are to be presented. Different techniques are described for creating the play list, including various manual techniques and various automatic (or semi-automatic) techniques.

Abstract: Embodiments of a manager/remote content architecture are described herein. The architecture, for instance, may provide management of content received from a content provider, such as to determine which client devices are authorized to output the content. Techniques are also described which allow one of the remote client devices to act as a “limited manager” to allocate content usage by the architecture when the manager client device is not available.

Abstract: Streaming content navigation techniques are described. In an implementation, techniques are described to provide a non-modal message when navigation is attempted to a stream of content that is not permitted for consumption by a client device. In another implementation, techniques are described to provide an alternate content stream when sequential navigation between streams of content is attempted.

Abstract: Embodiments of virtual tuner management are described. A viewing system, for instance, may include a plurality of client devices that are configured to render content, such as television programs. The viewing system may pool the resources available from the client devices such that each client device is not limited to functionality that is provided locally by the client device. To manage content consumption in the viewing system, virtual tuners may be employed, each of which represent an ability of the viewing system to consume a single stream of content (e.g., a television program) provided by a content provider.

Abstract: Embodiments of token bandwidth portioning techniques are described herein. Tokens may be designated to streams of content allocated to a viewing system by a contact provider. The viewing system, for instance, may include a plurality of client devices that are configured to consume the streams of content. The consumption of the streams of content by the client devices is managed through use of the tokens such that the bandwidth allocated by the content provider to the viewing system is not exceeded.

Abstract: Embodiments of streaming content management are described herein. For example, techniques may be employed to manage streams received by client devices such that the client devices may receive content and share functionality.

Abstract: DVR content skip navigation is described. In an embodiment, a video system renders video for display at a playback speed for viewing. An input can be received to initiate a fast review of the video for a designated duration during which the video is viewable. After the designated duration of fast review, the video automatically returns to the playback speed for viewing.

Abstract: Multi-room user interface is described. In an embodiment, a viewing system includes television-based client devices that each receive a different data stream and render a viewing selection from the data stream. A multi-room user interface displayed at a first television-based client device can display a representation of a viewing selection being shown at any one or more of the other television-based client devices.

Abstract: Television-based client device messaging is described. In an embodiment of television-based client device messaging, a system includes a television-based client device that is identified by an associated phone number to receive a message communicated from a messaging device via the associated phone number. A message parsing application parses the message received via the associated phone number, and generates a control command from the message that can be recognized by the television-based client device. Television-based client device messaging allows a user to conveniently access, control, send messages to, and receive messages from the television-based client device, regardless of whether the user is in the local environment or in a remote environment.

Abstract: Network branded recorded programs is described. In an embodiment programs recorded from television are associated with their respective television networks, and a recorded program directory is generated. The recorded program directory includes a list of television networks, and a list of programs recorded from television that are respectively associated with each of the television networks. In another embodiment, a television-based client device is described. The device includes a data store to store programs recorded from television networks, and also includes a program guide application to categorize each program according to an associated television network. The device can also generate a recorded program directory that includes a list of the television networks and a list of programs associated with each of the respective television networks. The program guide application can also generate the list of television networks and the list of programs as interactive on-screen network menus.

Abstract: Predictive phonetic data search is described. In an embodiment, a search request to locate a term is received, where the term can be a word, a group of words, and/or any combination of characters and numbers. A numeric index is then searched to locate a number that matches a numerical equivalent of the term designated in the search request. The term is obtained from a term index that is mapped to the number in the numeric index that matches the numerical equivalent of the term, and the term is returned in response to the search request.

Abstract: A unified recording format allows both recorded programs and paused buffered broadcasts to be stored in memory as a common virtual stream. As content is received on a channel, it is placed into the virtual stream with newer content at the start of the stream and progressively aging content migrating farther downstream. A front section of the stream effectively operates as a pause buffer, as the currently tuned broadcast program is recorded in this section and is responsive to pause/resume commands. Recorded programs are also stored as part of the same virtual stream. Pointers are used to identify the boundaries of the pause buffer, as well as the beginning and end of each recorded program in the virtual stream.

Abstract: Content re-lock control is described. In an embodiment, restricted content is unlocked such that the restricted content can be rendered for a rendering duration. A user-selectable input is received that time-shifts the rendering duration of the restricted content, and an effective rendering duration of the restricted content can be determined from the rendering duration and a time-shift duration that corresponds to the time-shift.

Abstract: Video insertion is described for unavailable content. In an implementation, a method includes determining whether a portion of each of a plurality of content items is available for output by a client and generating an EPG for output by the client. The EPG includes a plurality of cells, each of which describes a respective one of the content items. The EPG is configured based on the determining such that when the portion of the respective content item is available, the EPG includes the portion when output, and otherwise the EPG includes a video insertion when output that does not include the portion.