Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern selectively accepting or rejecting content based on ratings identifier information included in the content. Example apparatus and methods facilitate identifying a content fragment (e.g., f-MP4 fragment) to be rejected based on an identifier located in the fragment rather than information located in some external source (e,g., Event Information Table (EIT)). One example method includes identifying a fragment based on a ratings identifier encoded as a universally unique identifier (UUID) in the fragment and then selectively accepting or rejecting the fragment based on the rating. Rather than rely only on a predicted start time, a predicted end time, a predicted source, and a pre determined coarse-grained rating, example apparatus and methods may be better prepared to account for unanticipated start times, ending times, schedule changes, and source changes, and may provide finer grained user control based on ratings carried in content.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern selectively accepting or rejecting content based on ratings identifier information included in the content. Example apparatus and methods facilitate identifying a content fragment (e.g., f-MP4 fragment) to be rejected based on an identifier located in the fragment rather than information located in some external source (e,g., Event Information Table (EIT)). One example method includes identifying a fragment based on a ratings identifier encoded as a universally unique identifier (UUID) in the fragment and then selectively accepting or rejecting the fragment based on the rating. Rather than rely only on a predicted start time, a predicted end time, a predicted source, and a pre determined coarse-grained rating, example apparatus and methods may be better prepared to account for unanticipated start times, ending times, schedule changes, and source changes, and may provide finer grained user control based on ratings carried in content.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method is described that may include applying at least one of a capitalization rule and a spacing rule to a word obtained from compressed electronic program guide (EPG) data. The compressed EPG data includes a plurality of word encoding values and a plurality of character encoding values. Each of the capitalization and spacing rules may be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one said word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to one or more character encoding values. The capitalization and spacing rules may also be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to at least one other word encoding value. An output is made of the obtained word to which there has been applied at least one of the capitalization rule and the spacing rule.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method is described that may include applying at least one of a capitalization rule and a spacing rule to a word obtained from compressed electronic program guide (EPG) data. The compressed EPG data includes a plurality of word encoding values and a plurality of character encoding values. Each of the capitalization and spacing rules may be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one said word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to one or more character encoding values. The capitalization and spacing rules may also be based on an arrangement, in the compressed EPG data, of one word encoding value that references the obtained word with respect to at least one other word encoding value. An output is made of the obtained word to which there has been applied at least one of the capitalization rule and the spacing rule.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology, described herein, for multiple channel display on a multimedia presentation system. One implementation, described herein, simultaneously presents video content, audio-based content, and/or electronic program guide (EPG) data of multiple television channels. With this implementation, a user may greatly increase his speed and efficiency when channel surfing. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Retry request overload protection is described. A server system determines a client status based on retry requests received from the client. The client status may be used to determine whether to accept and/or process new retry requests received from the client and/or whether to transmit previously requested retry packets to the client. The client status may be based on a number of retry requests received from the client, a number of retry packets requested by the client, and/or a number of bytes of data associated with the retry requests received from the client. The client status may be updated periodically, enabling a non-favorable client status to be modified to a favorable client status if retry requests recently received from the client are within favorable limits.

Abstract: Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate.

Abstract: Strategies are described for performing retry analysis in an environment which involves the transmission of media information from a source module to a target module. In the context of the source module, the retry analysis determines whether the source module should satisfy the retry requests issued by the target module. In the context of the target module, the retry analysis determines whether the target module should generate the retry requests in the first place. Novel request reporting formats are also described. The target module performs analysis to determine what reporting format it should use to convey the retry requests to the source module.

Abstract: a method is described which may be used to compress EPG data. EPG data may include a plurality of television programs. Each television program may have one or more values that respectively describe one or more television program characteristics. In one implementation, the EPG data is compressed by comparing the one or more values of each said television program with unique combinations of values to find a match. Each value in each unique combination describes a television program characteristic. Each of said unique combinations is in a table that includes a plurality of identifiers, and wherein each said identifier references one said unique combinations. For each said match, one or more values of the television program are replaced with an identifier in the table that references the matching unique combination of values.