Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: First, an authentication module may receive an identification (ID) linking request, create a secured ID linking request from the ID linking request, and send the secured ID linking request to a packet gateway module located in a packet core of a mobile network. Next, the packet gateway module may insert into the secured ID linking request, an encrypted version of a mobile identifier corresponding to a client device from which the secured ID linking request was received. Next, a mobile video session manager module may receive from the packet gateway module, the secured ID linking request and link a subscriber of a managed video service corresponding to a video identifier to the client device corresponding to the mobile identifier. A policy corresponding to the subscriber of the managed video service may then be applied to flows over the packet core to and from the client device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes starting a first viewing session; receiving one or more programming streams including one or more video programs; storing (e.g., at regular time intervals) program data including identification data describing the one or more video programs and a corresponding time interval; monitoring and/or storing a plurality of interactions with video controls of the particular viewer during the first viewing session; ending the first viewing session; aggregating at least a portion of the plurality of the interactions and the program data in a new session profile that represents the particular viewer's short-term viewing habits; accessing one or more existing signature profiles having signature categories that may represent the long-term viewing habits of a respective viewer; and matching the new session profile with one of the one or more existing signature profiles to deliver a particular viewer a targeted advertisement.

Abstract: A method of asset access control includes: storing, at an access control server: an asset record corresponding to a physical asset and containing an asset identifier corresponding to the asset; and an account record corresponding to a user of the physical asset and containing an account identifier; receiving, at the access control server from a client computing device, an authorization request containing the asset identifier and the account identifier; determining, based on a comparison between the asset record and the account record, whether to authorize the request; when the determination is affirmative, transmitting an instruction to a collector device mounted on the physical asset to permit subsequent access to the asset.

Abstract: First, an authentication module may receive an identification (ID) linking request, create a secured ID linking request from the ID linking request, and send the secured ID linking request to a packet gateway module located in a packet core of a mobile network. Next, the packet gateway module may insert into the secured ID linking request, an encrypted version of a mobile identifier corresponding to a client device from which the secured ID linking request was received. Next, a mobile video session manager module may receive from the packet gateway module, the secured ID linking request and link a subscriber of a managed video service corresponding to a video identifier to the client device corresponding to the mobile identifier. A policy corresponding to the subscriber of the managed video service may then be applied to flows over the packet core to and from the client device.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisements may be inserted into a programming stream in a communications network. For example, a programming stream may be transmitted from a first location to one or more receiving nodes. One or more queues may be aggregated at a node of the network. Each queue may be associated with one or more subscribers and/or may comprise a plurality of queue locations forming an ordered list of advertisements. Each advertisement may be matched (e.g., previously matched) to one or more of the subscribers. The aggregated specific individual queue locations may determine the ordered list of the advertisements within the queues. One or more intervals may be detected in the programming stream within which advertisements may be inserted. Advertisements may be inserted from the queues into the programming stream within the detected one or more intervals. The advertisements may be inserted in accordance with the ordered list.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisement identifiers are stored in a queue in memory in the set top box or elsewhere corresponding to individual subscribers of a television service delivery network. The advertisements are retrieved and displayed in the order dictated by the queue as advertisement avails are detected in the particular channel information stream being watched by that subscriber. Accordingly, the subscriber sees the advertisements regardless of what channel or television program is being watched and sees them in the order dictated by the queue. The invention also is applicable to other information streams including Internet advertising, audio/radio advertising and advertising in electronic program guides.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes monitoring a plurality of actions and inactions with video controls of a particular viewer during a first session, wherein the plurality of actions and inactions form a session profile that represents the particular viewer's short-term viewing habits; correlating one or more session profiles that have similar category values to create a signature profile having signature categories that represents the long-term viewing habits of a particular viewer; and matching a new session profile with an existing signature profile to determine a particular viewer for targeted advertising purposes.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisement identifiers are stored in a queue in memory in the set top box or elsewhere corresponding to individual subscribers of a television service delivery network. The advertisements are retrieved and displayed in the order dictated by the queue as advertisement avails are detected in the particular channel information stream being watched by that subscriber. Accordingly, the subscriber sees the advertisements regardless of what channel or television program is being watched and sees them in the order dictated by the queue. The invention also is applicable to other information streams including Internet advertising, audio/radio advertising and advertising in electronic program guides.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request for content from a source in a network; determining a geographic service region for the source; determining a status of a plurality of content delivery networks in the service region. The status is indicative of at least whether each of the plurality of content delivery networks is active or impaired. The method can also include selecting a particular one of the content delivery networks having a corresponding status as active to service the request for content.

Abstract: Profiling a television viewer by monitoring and processing, locally at a television viewing environment, the viewer's interactivity (e.g., via a remote control unit) with the television viewing environment. Generating one or more profiles for each viewer based on one or more of the multitude of interactions of each viewer and on, in general, the viewing habits and preferences of the viewer. Automatically and reliably, detecting or inferring at a particular time, which specific individual or individuals, are actually interacting with the TV in household comprising more than one individual. Such viewer identification and profile generation can be used to facilitate the delivery of targeted content, including targeted advertising.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisement identifiers are stored in a queue in memory in the set top box or elsewhere corresponding to individual subscribers of a television service delivery network. The advertisements are retrieved and displayed in the order dictated by the queue as advertisement avails are detected in the particular channel information stream being watched by that subscriber. Accordingly, the subscriber sees the advertisements regardless of what channel or television program is being watched and sees them in the order dictated by the queue. The invention also is applicable to other information streams including Internet advertising, audio/radio advertising and advertising in electronic program guides.