Abstract: Systems and methods for providing users with a real time or near-real time indications of media channels or programs that are currently receiving the most usage or consumption within a defined population of users are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method receives media usage data for currently airing media while the media is being aired and creates an ordered list of media channels or programs for presentation, based at least in part on the media usage data. The method then presents the ordered list of media channels or programs while the media is being aired. In an embodiment, a system further provides the ability to easily select and tune one of the indicated channels or programs in an interactive interface. In an embodiment, the selected media channels or programs are sold on demand or as part of a service upgrade if they are not included in a user's current subscription.

Abstract: A flexible video-on-demand viewing period is varied depending on whether the customer has completed viewing the entire program, allowing the viewing period to be extended if the customer has not completed viewing the entire program. The approach better assures the customer that they will have the opportunity to complete viewing the entire program, compared to a fixed rental period, while assuring program copyright owners that the utility of the rental is limited, fundamentally as intended, preserving the future value of the asset. The approach also enables viewers to retain bookmarks as needed for content that is not naturally tied to a rental period, such as subscription video-on-demand, without unnecessarily enlarging their list of active rentals.

Abstract: A social networking system enables cable television viewers to watch television programs as a virtual group, each watching within his/her own home, while simultaneously communicating with one another, for example, via voice and/or video chat. The system enables a viewer to find friends, or other like-minded viewers not acquainted with the viewer, for virtual communal viewing parties. The system can enable participants in a viewing party to synchronize viewing sessions enabling each participant to share in a common viewing experience. The system can also enable a system operator to recognize communal viewing groups and enable more effective advertisement targeting.

Abstract: A social networking system enables cable television viewers to watch television programs as a virtual group, each watching within his/her own home, while simultaneously communicating with one another, for example, via voice and/or video chat. The system enables a viewer to find friends, or other like-minded viewers not acquainted with the viewer, for virtual communal viewing parties. The system can enable participants in a viewing party to synchronize viewing sessions enabling each participant to share in a common viewing experience. The system can also enable a system operator to recognize communal viewing groups and enable more effective advertisement targeting.

Abstract: A flexible video-on-demand viewing period is varied depending on whether the customer has completed viewing the entire program, allowing the viewing period to be extended if the customer has not completed viewing the entire program. The approach better assures the customer that they will have the opportunity to complete viewing the entire program, compared to a fixed rental period, while assuring program copyright owners that the utility of the rental is limited, fundamentally as intended, preserving the future value of the asset. The approach also enables viewers to retain bookmarks as needed for content that is not naturally tied to a rental period, such as subscription video-on-demand, without unnecessarily enlarging their list of active rentals.

Abstract: A flexible video-on-demand viewing period is varied depending on whether the customer has completed viewing the entire program, allowing the viewing period to be extended if the customer has not completed viewing the entire program. The approach better assures the customer that they will have the opportunity to complete viewing the entire program, compared to a fixed rental period, while assuring program copyright owners that the utility of the rental is limited, fundamentally as intended, preserving the future value of the asset. The approach also enables viewers to retain bookmarks as needed for content that is not naturally tied to a rental period, such as subscription video-on-demand, without unnecessarily enlarging their list of active rentals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing users with a real time or near-real time indications of media channels or programs that are currently receiving the most usage or consumption within a defined population of users are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method receives media usage data for currently airing media while the media is being aired and creates an ordered list of media channels or programs for presentation, based at least in part on the media usage data. The method then presents the ordered list of media channels or programs while the media is being aired. In an embodiment, a system further provides the ability to easily select and tune one of the indicated channels or programs in an interactive interface. In an embodiment, the selected media channels or programs are sold on demand or as part of a service upgrade if they are not included in a user's current subscription.

Abstract: A social networking system enables cable television viewers to watch television programs as a virtual group, each watching within his/her own home, while simultaneously communicating with one another, for example, via voice and/or video chat. The system enables a viewer to find friends, or other like-minded viewers not acquainted with the viewer, for virtual communal viewing parties. The system can enable participants in a viewing party to synchronize viewing sessions enabling each participant to share in a common viewing experience. The system can also enable a system operator to recognize communal viewing groups and enable more effective advertisement targeting.

Abstract: Proximity of a user/device to a designated location or other user/device can be determined and used to trigger automatic reconfiguration of a telephone ring list associated with the user/device. Accordingly, there is no need for manual reconfiguration to accommodate changes in the user's location or schedule. Specific phone numbers may be added or removed from a user's ring list based on proximity information, and the ring list may be reconfigured as the user arrives at or departs from a designated location. The user's desired phones will automatically ring for incoming calls based on the ring list and/or an identification of the incoming call.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide and manage on-demand sessions are described herein. A request is received from a client to start an on-demand session. It is determined if there are sufficient resources to start the on-demand session for the client. The request is inserted into a queue if there aren't sufficient resources to start the on-demand session for the client. The on-demand sessions is started when there are sufficient resources available and it is the client's turn in the queue.

Abstract: An automatic overshoot control system and method can enable a user to more easily terminate a trick mode (e.g., fast forward or rewind) at an intended point in program material. For example, after a trick mode, a user can initiate display of audio or video at a particular intended point in the program material while minimizing a need to manually adjust. The system determines an offset and tracks a preview position within the program material displayed as a trick mode preview incorporating the offset. The system also tracks an actual position within the program material based on the preview position and offset. The actual position corresponds to a predicted location that the user desires upon terminating the preview trick mode. When the preview trick mode is terminated, normal playback of the program material is resumed at the actual location corresponding to the user's intended location in the program material.

Abstract: In a video network context, video sessions can be aggregated and delivered to users, and smart replay can be provided responsive to user commands. Various and different commands are received from users at different times. Video sessions (e.g., program streams) are identified and/or created based on the commands. Video sessions are multicasted to the users. Joining multiple users to a video session reduces a need to create multiple identical or similar individual sessions, thereby increasing session capacity. Delivering a video session to users likely to be seeking a particular moment of interest in a video, based on an increased tolerance of received user commands, increases the user experience by delivering the moment of interest directly, without requiring multiple commands from users attempting to navigate towards the moment of interest.

Abstract: Tracking and analysis of the location of user and device access to telecommunications services may be used to validate that a given user or device is part of an authorized subscriber household and is therefore properly accessing those services in accordance with the terms of service. A service provider may determine, based on previously collected data and user information collected while a user accesses a service, whether the user's pattern of access establishes a required pattern of access determined by the service provider, such as access on a minimum periodic basis from the home of an authorized subscriber.

Abstract: A method for boresighting of a designation system, including a tracker responsive to a detector with reference to an indicator, including the step of directing a beam of light at a target, using a light source, so that the beam of light is reflected from a spot on the target while a temperature of the spot remains substantially constant. The method further includes focusing at least part of the reflected light as an image on the detector and determining a misalignment of the indicator and the image.

Abstract: A method for boresighting of a designation system, including a tracker responsive to a detector with reference to an indicator, including the step of directing a beam of light at a target, using a light source, so that the beam of light is reflected from a spot on the target while a temperature of the spot remains substantially constant. The method further includes focusing at least part of the reflected light as an image on the detector and determining a misalignment of the indicator and the image.