Abstract: An exemplary system includes an element server in a video hub office configured to provide a media signal to a content processing device located at a customer premises and at least one computing device remote from the video hub office and the customer premises. The computing device comprises a first data store that includes a plurality of presentation elements, a second data store that includes information concerning associations of the presentation elements with a chunk that is a logical grouping of the presentation elements, and an element management subsystem that provides the presentation elements associated with the chunk to the element server in the video hub office, the element server configured to cache the presentation elements for use by the element server in fulfilling a request from the content processing device, wherein the computing device provides a user interface that presents information about the presentation elements associated with the chunk.

Abstract: A server distributes, to a mobile device, a catalog of available digital content and receives, from the mobile device, a request to download multiple digital content files based on the catalog. The server sends, to the mobile device, the multiple digital content files, where the each of the multiple digital content files includes access restrictions to prevent unauthorized rendering. The server receives, from the mobile device, a request to render one of the multiple digital content files on the mobile device and determines whether rendering of the one of the multiple digital content files on the mobile device is authorized. The server sends, to the mobile device, information to enable rendering of the one of the multiple digital content files if the mobile device is authorized and applies charges, to a user account associated with the mobile device, based on the sending the information to enable the rendering.

Abstract: A user device receives, from a user, a query regarding services to be performed by an app and conducts a search of metadata associated with a group of apps. The user device selects, based on the search of the metadata, potential apps, from the group of apps, that are responsive to the user query. The user device generates, based on the user query, commands to be executed by each of the potential apps. The user device generates, based on the commands, results from each of the potential apps, and formats, for presentation on a display, the results from each of the potential apps.

Abstract: A device receives communication information from a user device associated with a user, calculates an extrovert score for the user based on the communication information, and calculates a popularity score for the user based on the communication information. The device also calculates an interesting communicator score for the user based on the communication information, determines a personality score for the user based on the extrovert score, the popularity score, and the interesting communicator score, and stores the personality score.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving a plurality of data chunks each representative of a distinct portion of a media content program, generating a personalized version of the media content program based on at least a subset of the data chunks and in accordance with one or more of a plurality of personalization factors associated with a user, and providing the personalized version of the media content program for presentation to the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving a command input by a user to record media content, recording media content data representative of the media content in response to the command, automatically selecting at least one storage device from a local storage device and a network storage device for storage of the recorded media content data in accordance with at least one of a plurality of storage balancing factors, and storing the recorded media content data in the at least one selected storage device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide including a matrix of cells associated with a plurality of media content instances, and a condensed program guide including a condensed matrix of a subset of the cells and at least one interstitial symbol representing at least one of the cells excluded from the condensed matrix. In certain embodiments, the media content processing subsystem is configured to provide a graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user, the graphical user interface including at least a portion of the condensed program guide. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interface includes a visual indicator of the interstitial symbol indicating a matrix position of a cell excluded from the condensed matrix. In certain embodiments, the interstitial symbol is spatially insubstantial in the condensed matrix.

Abstract: A first set of data includes a plurality of presentation elements. A second set of data includes metadata concerning the presentation elements, the metadata including at least a hash value related to each of the presentation elements and a location of each of the presentation elements. An element management subsystem is configured to provide the presentation elements to a remote element server. The element server is configured to serialize and transmit the elements in a binary stream in response to a request, the elements being formatted according to a parameter of the request.

Abstract: A method is performed by one or more devices within a closed distribution network to provide context-sensitive transactional advertisements. The method includes sending, to a video client, a trigger for initiating a context-specific transactional advertisement associated with a linear program segment and sending the linear program segment for presentation by the video client. The method also includes receiving, based on the trigger, a request from the video client for instructions for the context-specific transactional advertisement; determining, based on the request, contextual information for the linear program segment; and sending, to the video client and based on the contextual information, the instructions for the context-specific transactional advertisement.

Abstract: A video client receives an advertisement for presentation on a display and presents to a user, on the display, the advertisement and a rating interface for the advertisement. The video client receives, via the rating interface, a user input to rate the advertisement and sends, to a server, rating information based on the user input to rate the advertisement. The video client also receives, from the server, incentive information based on the rating information and presents to the user, on the display, the incentive information.

Abstract: A method is performed by one or more devices within a closed distribution network to provide transactional advertisements. The method includes sending, over the closed distribution network, an advertisement for presentation by a video client, where the advertisement includes a transactional link; and receiving, over the closed distribution network, a notification from the video client that a user has selected the transactional link. The method also includes automatically establishing, based on the notification, a communication session between the video client and a server associated with the advertisement, where the communication session enables a transactional exchange between the user of the video client and the server associated with the advertisement.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining a user profile associated with a user of a media content access subsystem, presenting, by the media content access subsystem, a media content instance and an interactive game associated with the media content instance to the user, and tailoring the interactive game to the user in accordance with the user profile. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving end-user-provided media content with a first media content distribution platform subsystem, distributing the end-user-provided media content with the first media content distribution platform subsystem, receiving end-user-provided ratings of the distributed end-user-provided media content with the first media content distribution platform subsystem, selecting, by a platform linking subsystem, at least a subset of the end-user-provided media content based at least in part on the end-user-provided ratings, and distributing the selected at least a subset of the end-user-provided media content with a second media content distribution platform subsystem. In certain embodiments, the second media content distribution platform subsystem may comprise a subscriber television content distribution platform subsystem. In certain embodiments, the first media content distribution platform subsystem may comprise a World Wide Web media content distribution platform subsystem.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes providing, by a media content access subsystem, a media content program for presentation to a user, receiving user input with the media content access subsystem, capturing, by the media content access subsystem, a snapshot image of the media content program based on the user input, associating, by the media content access subsystem, metadata with the snapshot image, and transmitting, by the media content access subsystem, data representative of the snapshot image and the metadata to a media content chaptering subsystem for use by the media content chaptering subsystem in chaptering the media content program. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary computing system may receive input identifying a first data source. The computing system may also provide a widget template and receive a request to associate the first data source with the widget template. The computing system may create a map that associates the first data source with the widget template. The computing system may provide a widget that displays, based on the map and the widget template, data from the data source. Corresponding methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: An approach is provided for the creation of a media playlist for managing and scheduling content from a variety of media sources including broadcast and online sources. The playlist creation process facilitates efficient resolution of media scheduling conflicts by automatically identifying conflicts and generating alternate playlists to overcome them. The approach also enables a user to share the media playlist seamlessly with other devices and users.

Abstract: A device, connected to a video display device, may receive a media stream that includes a video signal associated with a video program and program meta-data associated with the video program. The device may parse the media stream to extract the program meta-data, identify a keyword based on the program meta-data, obtain information from a search performed using the keyword, create a snippet of information from the obtained information, and present the snippet and the video program to the video display device, where the snippet and the video program are concurrently presented on the video display device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for the real-time creation of a menu of chapters for navigating a video program. The chaptering process creates at a dynamic chapter navigation menu that enables a user to precisely navigate within a video program by recursively creating chaptering points of finer temporal granularity for selecting a desired point within the video program.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide including a matrix of cells associated with a plurality of media content instances, and a condensed program guide including a condensed matrix of a subset of the cells and at least one interstitial symbol representing at least one of the cells excluded from the condensed matrix. In certain embodiments, the media content processing subsystem is configured to provide a graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user, the graphical user interface including at least a portion of the condensed program guide. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interface includes a visual indicator of the interstitial symbol indicating a matrix position of a cell excluded from the condensed matrix. In certain embodiments, the interstitial symbol is spatially insubstantial in the condensed matrix.