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: 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.

Abstract: A method and system that computes viewing statistics for a digital video content stream received at a set-top box. The digital video content stream includes a first segment of video content, a second segment of video content, a third segment of video content, a first timing mark that indicates a transition from the first segment to the second segment, and a second timing mark that indicates a transition from the second segment to the third segment. The method initiates a transmission of the digital video content stream at the set-top box, monitors the transmission of the digital video content stream relative to the first timing mark and the second timing mark, and computes view data for the second segment based on the monitoring of the transmission. The method stores the view data at the set-top box.

Abstract: Monitoring subscriber viewing interactions, such as television viewing interactions, and generating viewing characteristics therefrom. Generating at least one type of subscriber profile from at least some subset of subscriber characteristics including viewing, purchasing, transactions, statistical, deterministic, and demographic. The subscriber characteristics may be generated, gathered from at least one source, or a combination thereof. Forming groups of subscribers by correlating at least one type of subscriber profile. The subscriber groups may correlate to elements of a content delivery system (such as head-ends, nodes, branches, or set top boxes (STBs) within a cable TV system). Correlating ad profiles to subscriber/subscriber group profiles and selecting targeted advertisements for the subscribers/subscriber groups based on the correlation. Inserting the targeted ads in place of default ads in program streams somewhere within the content delivery system (head-end, node, or STB).

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: 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: 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: A system and method for scheduling advertisements in a television service network environment. An ad scheduler prepares an ad insertion schedule based on channel change statistical information and avail time information. The scheduler evaluates the statistical information, time durations between adjacent avails in a presentation stream, and the relatedness of market segments assigned to a plurality of advertisements. It schedules the ads into presentation stream groups based on this evaluation. The statistical ad scheduling allows the system to eliminate “forced” switching between multiple presentation streams, whereby system wears and malfunctions can be decreased.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a uniform resource locator (URL) at a content router; selecting at least a portion of a content delivery network to access content associated with the URL; and formatting the URL that was received based on the portion of the content delivery network that was selected. In more particular embodiments, the method can include parsing a source URL to extract a delivery service to format the URL that was received. Additionally, the method can include evaluating associated variables for the delivery service; applying a replacement pattern that utilizes the variables; and using the replacement pattern to construct a target URL format for a subsequent communication to the portion of the content delivery network.

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 switched digital video (SDV) system and method that provides a seamless transition when tuning a set-top box from a first SDV service to a second SDV service. The method detects a set up service trigger in a content stream before a tune request time to transition the content stream from the first SDV service to the second SDV service, and sends a request to set up the second SDV service at a time before the tune request time, where a time difference between the time and the tune request time is greater than a service set up time for the second SDV service. The method detects a tune request in the content stream for the second SDV service, sends a service select request to tune to the second SDV service, and receives the second SDV service at the tune request time.