Abstract: In an implementation, a method includes forming a request by a client for communication to a licensing server. The request is for storing encrypted content by the client. A persistent license is received at the client in response to the request. The persistent license includes a key that is encrypted. The key, when decrypted, provides access to the encrypted content. The key is configured to be decrypted by the licensing server. The client, however, is not configured to decrypt the key from the persistent license. The persistent license and the encrypted content are stored by the client.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for information sharing between a portable computing device and a television system includes receiving a spoken input from a user of the portable computing device, by the portable computing device, submitting a digital recording of the spoken query from the portable computing device to a remote server system, receiving from the remote server system a textual representation of the spoken query, and automatically transmitting the textual representation from the portable computing device to the television system. The television system is programmed to submit the textual representation as a search query and to present to the user media-related results that are determined to be responsive to the spoken query.

Abstract: An implementation is described herein, which facilitates a fast channel change by receiving and decoding a unicast acquisition media stream that corresponds to a soon-to-be-requested target multicast media stream. It does this before requesting the target multicast media stream of the new channel. Once the transmission of the unicast stream is caught up with the multicast stream, this implementation splices from the unicast acquisition stream to the target multicast media stream.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for information sharing between a portable computing device and a television system includes receiving a spoken input from a user of the portable computing device, by the portable computing device, submitting a digital recording of the spoken query from the portable computing device to a remote server system, receiving from the remote server system a textual representation of the spoken query, and automatically transmitting the textual representation from the portable computing device to the television system. The television system is programmed to submit the textual representation as a search query and to present to the user media-related results that are determined to be responsive to the spoken query.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for information sharing between a portable computing device and a television system includes receiving a spoken input from a user of the portable computing device, by the portable computing device, submitting a digital recording of the spoken query from the portable computing device to a remote server system, receiving from the remote server system a textual representation of the spoken query, and automatically transmitting the textual representation from the portable computing device to the television system. The television system is programmed to submit the textual representation as a search query and to present to the user media-related results that are determined to be responsive to the spoken query.

Abstract: Multiple keys are distributed to multiple clients. The keys provide access to media content. A group of clients are identified to receive substituted media content during a predetermined time period. Modified keys are generated that identify the substituted media content and the predetermined time period. The modified keys are distributed to the group of clients. The modified keys cause the group of clients to receive the substituted media content during the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A rights management system is described in which, subsequent to recording a media resource, client-side equipment receives and stores recording definition information (RDI). The RDI provides information that can be used to recover the keys used to decrypt the media resource. When a client device subsequently wishes to consume the media resource, it can forward the RDI to an operations center. At the operations center, a transcription module validates the client device's rights and converts the RDI into client targeted information (CTI) by recovering the keys used to decrypt the media resource. The client device receives the CTI from the transcription module and uses it to consume the media resource. The CTI has an expiration date, after which it can no longer be used.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating the presentation of digital video streams. An implementation, described herein, reduces the effective start-up delay in the presentation of the first frames of the video content that occurs when a system tunes into a video stream. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating the presentation of digital video streams. An implementation, described herein, reduces the effective start-up delay in the presentation of the first frames of the video content that occurs when a system tunes into a video stream by streaming at least an additional stream parallel with the main multicast stream. The alternative parallel stream having offset start points from the main multicast stream to more quickly provide a picture in response to a tuning command. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating the presentation of digital video streams. An implementation, described herein, reduces the effective start-up delay in the presentation of the first frames of the video content that occurs when a system tunes into a video stream. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: An implementation is described herein, which facilitates a fast channel change by receiving and decoding a unicast acquisition media stream that corresponds to a soon-to-be-requested target multicast media stream. It does this before requesting the target multicast media stream of the new channel. Once the transmission of the unicast stream is caught up with the multicast stream, this implementation splices from the unicast acquisition stream to the target multicast media stream.

Abstract: An implementation is described herein, which facilitates a fast channel change by receiving and decoding a unicast acquisition media stream that corresponds to a soon-to-be-requested target multicast media stream. It does this before requesting the target multicast media stream of the new channel. Once the transmission of the unicast stream is caught up with the multicast stream, this implementation splices from the unicast acquisition stream to the target multicast media stream.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a network communications technology. An implementation, described herein, performs a time-aware, best-effort, hole-filling communications retry function over a communications network. It does so in a manner that assumes successful reception of data unless the receiver indicates differently. The indication specifically identifies the missing data. With this indication, the sender resends only the specifically identified missing data. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.