Abstract: An approach is provided for creating user-defined folders for organizing content accessible through a set-top box and for creating multiple bookmarks per set-top box program for use during programming playback.

Abstract: An approach is provided for remotely controlling set-top boxes. A command is received from a computing device for controlling a plurality of set-top boxes. The set-top boxes are configured according to the received command.

Abstract: Video content is streamed to portable devices based on an entitlement determination that includes determining the location of the portable device. Channel listings available for the portable device may be filtered based on the determined entitlements. A device may determine an indication of a location of the portable device and determine entitlements defining which of the plurality of video content items are permitted to be viewed by the portable device, where the entitlements are determined based at least on the indication of the location of the portable device. The device may further transmit, to the portable device, a listing of the plurality of video content items, filtered based on those of the plurality of video content items that are permitted to be viewed by the portable device, as determined by the entitlements.

Abstract: A user device may receive information identifying one or more first audio programs available for programming content; select a first particular audio program, of the one or more first audio programs; play the first particular audio program; and receive updated information identifying one or more second audio programs available for the programming content when available audio programs change. The one or more second audio programs may be different from the one or more first audio programs. The user device may select, without user interaction, a second particular audio program, of the one or more second audio programs; and play the second particular audio program.

Abstract: A system and method for providing personal content recommendations comprising a receiver to receive and collect one or more user commands at one or more modules, a processor to generate, at the one or more modules, one or more personalized recommendations based on the one or more user commands, and a transmitter to transmit the one or more personalized recommendations to be displayed at a display device in response to receiving one or more user inputs to display the one or more personalized recommendations.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide an online directory service over a network. After receiving a request to view an online directory listing from a network-enabled user terminal, an online directory server may present to the user terminal a directory listing associated with an identifier of audiovisual content. In response to a selection by a user of the listing, the user terminal may provide the identifier associated with the selected directory listing to the directory server. Based on the identifier, the directory server may access the audiovisual content and provide it to the user terminal and may present it to the user in conjunction with the other information of the directory listing.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request, associated with a user profile, for an integrated video guide for a video service. The integrated video guide is time based, and the video service includes broadcast video content and video service selected video content. The video service selected video content is provided via unicast or multicast. The method includes identifying basic video channels that are provided to all subscribers of the video service, and identifying user selected channels that are provided based on the user profile. Broadcast channels that are included in the user selected channels are identified. Online channels that are included in the user selected channels are also identified. The method also includes presenting the basic video channels, the broadcast channels, and the online channels in a same manner in the integrated video guide.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a data loader and a data slicer. The data loader is configured to receive and process raw program guide data, and to store the processed program guide data in a data store, the processing including generating a unique program identifier for each program represented in the raw program guide data. The data slicer is configured to generate a program guide data configuration from the processed program guide data, the program guide data configuration including program guide data organized into a plurality of data structures based on categories of the program guide data. The plurality of data structures includes at least one channel data structure, at least one schedule data structure, at least one detailed program information data structure, and indices for use as references between different ones of the data structures.

Abstract: A server is configured to receive information regarding a plurality of issues associated with a plurality of client devices. The server is configured further to analyze the plurality of issues. The server is configured further to generate a plurality of parameters based on analyzing the plurality of issues; and send the plurality of parameters to the plurality of client devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide personal channels from a network-capable user terminal. A first user terminal may receive a request from a second user terminal for access to a personal channel created by a user and stored on the first user terminal in association with media content. In response to the request, the first user terminal may access the media content associated with the requested personal channel and provide the media content to the first user terminal over the network. A data center accessible by both the first and second user terminals may facilitate the access to the personal channel by storing information associated with the personal channel, including terminal identifiers and metadata, and providing a searchable catalog interface to identify personal channels to view.

Abstract: Content, such as audio or video content, is streamed to portable devices based on an entitlement determination that includes determining the location of the portable device and whether the content is subject to blackout restrictions. In one implementation, requests may be received for content that is to be streamed to a portable device and a location of the portable device may be determined. Entitlements may be determined, where the entitlements define whether the content is permitted to be viewed by the portable device, where the entitlements are determined based at least on the indication of the location of the portable device and based on blackout restrictions applicable to the content. The content may be selectively streamed to the portable device based on the applicable blackout restrictions.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a first user device associated with a first user and a second user device associated with a second user. The first user device is configured to detect a request input by the first user to share media content being processed by the user device with the second user, generate an invite message including data configured to be utilized by the second user device to access the media content, and send the invite message to the second user device by way of a messaging service. The second user device is configured to receive the invite message from the first user device by way of the messaging service, determine that the invite message is associated with a media sharing service, and perform one or more operations to facilitate access to the media content by the second user. Corresponding methods, systems, and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A user device may receive information identifying one or more first audio programs available for programming content; select a first particular audio program, of the one or more first audio programs; play the first particular audio program; and receive updated information identifying one or more second audio programs available for the programming content when available audio programs change. The one or more second audio programs may be different from the one or more first audio programs. The user device may select, without user interaction, a second particular audio program, of the one or more second audio programs; and play the second particular audio program.

Abstract: A device includes a communication interface and one or more processors. The communication interface may receive a playlist that lists segments of a content stream in an order the segments are to be recombined, receive advertisement information that describes an advertisement, receive a breakpoint, and send a revised playlist to a remote server. The one or more processors may generate the revised playlist based on the playlist, the advertisement information, and the breakpoint. The revised playlist may include references to the segments and the advertisements.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for providing enhanced content by way of a virtual channel are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a service provider subsystem providing a virtual channel, associating the virtual channel with a content provider, receiving enhanced content to be provided by way of the virtual channel from the content provider, associating one or more selectable triggers with the virtual channel, and providing a user with access to the enhanced content in response to a selection by the user of one of the one or more selectable triggers. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device sends an authentication request from the device to a session management server, and receives a token from the session management server if the device authenticates successfully. The device obtains a streaming media playlist file from a content delivery server, and sends the token to a key server for token validation. The device receives a decryption key from the key server if the token validates successfully, and requests a first streaming media segment file from the content delivery server based on the playlist file. The device receives the first streaming media segment file from the content delivery server; and decrypts the first streaming media segment file using the decryption key.

Abstract: An interactive program system includes a device that receives program data and Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) data associated with an interactive application; identifies the EBIF data; converts the EBIF data to a data format compatible with a user device; generates an EBIF notification based on the EBIF data; transmits the EBIF notification to the user device; and transmits the converted EBIF data to a network device. The user device communicates with the network device based on the EBIF notification and displays the converted EBIF data. The user device transmits input data to the network device and the network device provides interaction data to the device.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a video stream, wherein the video stream is divided into video segments, and wherein the video stream is being sent to a customer device and receiving a request to insert a message into the video stream. The method may further include determining a particular video segment after which to insert the message into the video stream; inserting the message into video stream after the particular video segment; and sending the video stream to the customer device, wherein the video stream includes the inserted message.

Abstract: A methods and systems are provided for presenting one or more topic specific portals. A portal may present various content relating to a common topic. The content may be episodes of a television show, movies, products, games, songs, images, and general information about the topic. The topic may be the television show, a movie studio, an actor, a company, or a particular genre or theme. A service provider may deliver the portal in an interactive programming guide sent to the set top boxes of its subscribers. The portal may be interactive such that subscribers may order or watch the content presented on the portal. A content provider may create or edit the portals and send the portals to the service provider. The delivery of the portal to the service provider by the content provider may be through an application programming interface.

Abstract: Method, device, and storage medium to identify that a resource conflict exists pertaining to tuners of a device that tune to programs; notify a user that the resource conflict exists; receive a request to release a tuner; release the tuner in response to the request; determine whether a program offer is to be made; and provide the program offer in response to determining that the program offer is to be made.