Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, each home theater component receives an appropriate media content stream for the home theater component from the virtualized home theater service via the WAN and provides playback of the media content stream according to the absolute playback timestamps for the media content stream.

Abstract: A skip function for a broadcast or multicast media station is disclosed. In one embodiment, two content streams are simultaneously transmitted for a single radio station. A receiving device simultaneously receives the two content streams transmitted for the radio station. The receiving device provides playback of a first content stream of the two content streams. During playback of the first content stream, the receiving device buffers one or more most recently received content items from the second content stream. When a user of the receiving device initiates a skip, the receiving device performs a skip function by switching playback from the first content stream to the second content stream beginning at the start of the one or more most recently received content items from the second content stream that have been buffered at the receiving device.

Abstract: A system for and method of per access-point streaming media customization and privacy protected feedback in a wireless network. The system is operative to: encrypt real time streamed media content from a streaming media source; multicast the streamed encrypted media content for availability to a user device for playback, the user device sending out unicast responses at the time of joining or dropping the multicast; aggregate the unicast responses in the form of a connect multicast state or a disconnect multicast state of the user device based on the joining or dropping of the multicast; and provide information back to the streaming media source based on the aggregated unicast responses.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing data streams of the same program on a shared medium. A user device receives a first data stream of a program and effects display of the program based on the first data stream to a display device. The user device halts display of the program and provides an advertisement to a viewer. A second data stream of the program being provided over the same medium to a second viewer that was initiated after the first data stream is provided to the user device. The user device buffers the second data stream, and after the advertisement is finished, provides the program to the viewer based on the second data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for bandwidth sharing in a distributed wireless client application using inverse multiplexing termination. The system includes: a group of collocated client playback devices having wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) connectivity, and a centralized inverse multiplexing (IMUX) server which optimizes shared bandwidth of both the WAN via inverse multiplexing and the LAN using either broadcast or multicast of all virtual multiplexing paths to all other client playback devices of the group of collocated client playback devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-demand narration of a customized story. A user indicates a desire via a user device to listen to a narrated customized story. A story service receives personalization information relating to the user associated with the user device, and obtains localization information relating to information associated with a location of the user device. A customized story is generated based on the personalization information and the localization information, and is narrated to the user device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide for optimizing operation of a radio program, wherein the radio program is operated by a host using a host process. Aspects include collecting and storing contextual information from participants of the radio program, the participants including listeners and callers of the radio program; analyzing the contextual information; and enabling at least one feature on the host process based at least in part on the contextual information.

Abstract: A method and system for arranging advertising breaks based on channel surfing characteristics of viewers. The surfing characteristics of a plurality of viewers is determined, the surfing characteristics bearing on a likelihood of a respective viewer channel surfing. Advertisements are assigned to time slots among a plurality of channels based on the surfing characteristics of the plurality of viewers to form an advertising schedule. Programming is delivered with the plurality of advertisements according to the advertising schedule. The reduction of simultaneous channel surfing increases availability and efficient use of a shared medium by a plurality of different users.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining key frames of video content items being viewed by first users and publishing the key frames of the video content items to second users are provided. In general, either prior to playback of a video content item by a first user or during playback of the video content item by the first user, key frame information providing, referencing, or identifying key frames of the video content item is obtained. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then published such that each key frame is presented to one or more second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item.

Abstract: A system and method for bandwidth sharing in a distributed wireless client application using inverse multiplexing termination. The system includes: a group of collocated client playback devices having wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) connectivity, and a centralized inverse multiplexing (IMUX) server which optimizes shared bandwidth of both the WAN via inverse multiplexing and the LAN using either broadcast or multicast of all virtual multiplexing paths to all other client playback devices of the group of collocated client playback devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for synchronizing playback of media content on multiple playback devices utilizing Digital Rights Management (DRM) encoding. In general, multiple playback devices or users of those playback devices are associated to form a virtual group. A virtual group (VG) control function operates to synchronize advertisement (ad) slots within media content provided to the playback devices in the virtual group utilizing DRM encoding.

Abstract: A friends-based low-threat response service for subscribers in one or more mobile communications networks is provided. In general, in a low-threat situation, a subscriber initiates a request to the low-threat response service via the subscriber's mobile device. The low-threat response service identifies a friend of the subscriber or a friend-of-a-friend of the subscriber that is geographically proximate to the subscriber as a responder. The low-threat response service then establishes communication between the subscriber and the responder or notifies the subscriber that the responder is coming to provide assistance. The low-threat response service may also effect presentation of information at a mobile device of the responder directing the responder to the subscriber, information at the mobile device of the subscriber directing the subscriber to the responder, or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing communications between a mobile device and a machine. A mobile device wirelessly discovers a first machine that is adapted to wirelessly communicate attribute information about the first machine upon receipt of an authorization indication. The mobile device sends a machine identifier (ID) obtained from the first machine to a server. The mobile device receives an authorization indication from the server that authorizes communication with the first machine. The mobile device sends the authorization indication to the first machine, and in response to sending the authorization indication, receives attribute information from the first machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining digital content. A credential is extracted from a first data stream that corresponds to a media item. The credential is provided to a content provider. If the credential is authenticated, the content provider sends a second data stream that corresponds to the media item.

Abstract: A media broker includes a communication interface communicatively coupling the media broker to one or more media storage devices and one or more renderers and a controller associated with the communication interface adapted to transmit a request for location information to one or more renderers, receive location information from each of the one or more renderers and determine, based upon the received location information, one or more viewing areas each comprising at least one of the one or more renderers. And then applying the media restrictions assigned to the renderers in those viewing areas, while still allowing media storage devices detected in any viewing area to record media of any rating.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying program representation. Program rating information derived from a plurality of identified users regarding a plurality of programs is obtained. A social rank of the plurality of programs is determined based on the rating information. A plurality of program representations are displayed to a viewer, wherein the program representations represent corresponding ones of the plurality of programs and wherein a differentiating visual characteristic of each of the plurality of program representations is based on the social ranking.

Abstract: A skip function for a broadcast or multicast media station is disclosed. In one embodiment, two content streams are simultaneously transmitted for a single radio station. A receiving device simultaneously receives the two content streams transmitted for the radio station. The receiving device provides playback of a first content stream of the two content streams. During playback of the first content stream, the receiving device buffers one or more most recently received content items from the second content stream. When a user of the receiving device initiates a skip, the receiving device performs a skip function by switching playback from the first content stream to the second content stream beginning at the start of the one or more most recently received content items from the second content stream that have been buffered at the receiving device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, each home theater component receives an appropriate media content stream for the home theater component from the virtualized home theater service via the WAN and provides playback of the media content stream according to the absolute playback timestamps for the media content stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically scheduling a talk radio program include registering potential participants of a talk radio program service and receiving participant preferences for each of the potential participants, wherein the participant preferences include at least one topic of interest and a time availability; scheduling a talk radio program for production when a combination the participant preferences reach predetermined thresholds; and sending the potential participants a notification of the scheduling of the talk radio program.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for delivering a fragmented advertisement to a group of users identified as a group of participants for the fragmented advertisement. As used herein, a fragmented advertisement is an advertisement that includes two or more advertisement fragments each to be delivered to a different participant in a group of participants identified for the fragmented advertisement, where the two or more advertisement fragments encourage interaction between participants to achieve a predefined goal of the fragmented advertisement in order to obtain a corresponding advertisement benefit. For example, the predefined goal of a fragmented advertisement may be correctly answering a question (e.g., a trivia question), solving a puzzle, or the like. The advertisement benefit is preferably a coupon for a business, product, or service being advertised by the fragmented advertisement.