Abstract: A computer readable medium is disclosed containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for presenting advertising data, the method including but not limited to receiving a video data stream at an end user device, receiving a video data stream at an end user device; recognizing a pattern in the video data stream indicating a particular arrangement of objects in the video data stream as scene start data; placing scene start marker data in the video data stream at the scene start data; receiving end user trick play command data during presentation of the video data stream at the end user device; and moving to the scene start marker data in the video data in response to the end user trick play command data. A system is disclosed for executing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media distribution system having a controller to identify a plurality of media presentation devices of a user of the MDS, identify one or more distribution preferences supplied by the user for distributing media content to the plurality of media presentation devices, receive media content from one of a plurality of media sources of the user, determine a media content type from the received media content, and distribute the received media content to one or more of the plurality of media presentation devices according to the one or more distribution preferences and the media content type. The one or more distribution preferences comprise in part media content distribution arrangements assigned by the user between the plurality of media sources of the user and the plurality of media presentation devices of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program including but not limited to computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer are useful in performing a method for presenting advertising data, the method including but not limited to sensing current trick-play command data at an end user device; updating trick-play trend data for the end user device based on the current trick-play command data; and adjusting a number of advertising data items in an advertising data buffer presented at the end user device based on the trick-play trend data. A system is disclosed useful for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, set top box (STB) having a controller to record one or more soft key preferences associated with a user of the STB for each of a plurality of media presentation states of a media communication system, receive a request for presentation of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with one of the media presentation states, select one or more soft keys according to the one or more soft key preferences assigned to the requested media presentation state, and present the selected one or more soft keys in the GUI. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A set top box includes a processor. The processor is configured to identify first and second instances of a show, and retrieve feature information for the first and second instances. The processor is further configured to sort the first and second instances into a list based on the feature information according to a user defined criteria and display the list.

Abstract: A method of applying user profiles at a set-top box device includes receiving data associated with each of a plurality of user profiles at the set-top box device, the plurality of user profiles including a default profile and a supplemental profile. The method also includes automatically applying the supplemental profile to at least one set-top box action after a start time associated with the supplemental profile occurs. Further, the method includes automatically applying the default profile to the at least one set-top box action after an end time associated with the supplemental profile occurs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including but not limited to initiating a trick play command having a trick play duration at the end user device during replay of video data an end user device main display; presenting an advertising data item having an advertising duration during execution of the trick play command; and presenting a remaining portion of the advertising data on a picture in picture (PIP) display on the main display after expiration of the trick play duration. A system is provided for executing the method. A data structure is provided in a computer readable medium for containing data used by the system and method.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a registration system having a controller to register a purchase of media content housed in a physical medium with one or more media sources to authorize a consumer of the purchased media content to electronically access from the one or more media sources at least a portion of media content that is similar to or a replica of the purchased media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of receiving over-the-air television content is disclosed and includes receiving input indicating a requested channel at a set-top box device. The set-top box device is coupled to a television via a first connection adapted to send television content to the television and via a second connection adapted to send data to, and receive data from, the television. The method also includes sending a control command from the set-top box device to the television via the second connection. The control command indicates that the television is to tune an over-the-air tuner at the television to the requested channel.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to categorize media content of a subscriber according to one or more image features, and present at least a portion of the categorized media content in a personal television channel procured by the subscriber from a service provider of a media communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of recording television content is disclosed and includes receiving one or more television program search criteria from a set-top box device at a recurrent searching system. The method also includes storing the one or more search criteria at the recurrent searching system. Further, the method includes performing a first search of electronic program guide (EPG) data accessible to the recurrent searching system based on the television program search criteria and performing at least one additional search of EPG data accessible to the recurrent searching system based on the television program search criteria after the first search.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium is disclosed and includes processor-readable instructions executable by a processor to perform a method. The method includes sending a request for television content from a first device that is not equipped with a television tuner to a second device that is equipped with at least one television tuner via a wireless local area network (WLAN). The method also includes receiving the television content at the first device directly from the second device via the WLAN. The television content is received at the second device via the at least one television tuner. Further, the method includes outputting the television content at the first device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor communicatively coupled to a remote controller by way of a wireless interface. The media processor can have a controller to wirelessly transmit to the remote controller provisioning information stored in the media processor for restoring at least a portion of the provisioning information stored in the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a monitoring system having a controller to receive a consumption notice indicating whether marketing content supplied by a media communication system to a media processor has been properly consumed by the media processor according to a presentation time indicator associated with the marketing content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing element in a communication system having a controller to detect an incoming call directed to a called party, retrieve presence information associated with a plurality of communication devices of the called party, retrieve presence information of a calling party initiating the incoming call, and determine from the presence information of the called party, the presence information of the calling party, and a call processing profile of the called party how to respond to the incoming call. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting advertising data at an end user device, the method comprising monitoring a plurality of advertising data items in a first video data stream at the end user device; correlating advertising characterization data for the advertising data item with end user profile data for an end user at the end user device; and selecting based on the correlating at least one of the plurality of advertising data items for presentation during display of a second video data stream at the end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method.

Abstract: A user interface for a receiver of a streaming music service simultaneously displays a current-song display, a past-song display and a future-song display. The current-song display indicates a current song being broadcast to a plurality of subscribers in a channel of the streaming music service. The past-song display indicates at least one past song which was broadcast in the channel of the streaming music service prior to broadcast of the current song. Each song in the past-song display is selectable by a user of the receiver to initiate playback of a recording thereof by the receiver. The future-song display indicates at least one future song which is scheduled to be broadcast in the channel of the streaming music service after broadcast of the current song.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to establish communications with a voicemail system, receive a caller identification (ID) associated with a voicemail message stored in the voicemail system, detect a match between the caller ID and one among one or more communication identifiers recorded in an entry of an address book, retrieve an image excerpt associated with the entry of the address book, present the image excerpt at a media device to identify a calling party that recorded the voicemail message. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first communication device having a controller adapted to determine whether a second communication device is operating within or remote to a local area network of the first communication device, determine an encoding rate according to said determination, and transmit to the second communication device streamed media content according to said encoding rate. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to detect an event associated with recorded media content derived from one among a plurality of media content sources, select a communication device of a subscriber of the media content processor, retrieve a portion of the recorded media content, generate a notice describing the event, and transmit the notice with the portion of the recorded media content to the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.