Abstract: Hybrid unicast and multicast data delivery involves delivering data to client devices partially using a unicast communication and partially using a multicast communication. For example, higher-relevancy television metadata may be extracted from television metadata. A server transmits the higher-relevancy television metadata to a client via a unicast communication burst. The client can otherwise receive the television metadata from the server via a multicast communication stream.

Abstract: A distributed system is described that includes a notification module and multiple data-providing modules for delivering updated data to client devices. The notification module notifies the client devices of a version of the updated data. A client device then requests the identified version of the updated data. In response to the request, the distributed system selects one of the data-providing modules to provide the updated data. The selected data-providing module determines whether it has finished processing the requested version of the updated data. If so, the selected data-providing module provides the updated data; if not, the selected data-providing module rejects the request. If rejected, the client device generates another request, prompting the distributed system to select another data-providing module.

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 MediaDescription data structure that includes both descriptive metadata, such as EPG information, about a multimedia content item and instructions for acquiring the content item is assigned to each multimedia content item in a multimedia system. A MediaDescription data structure is transferable as a token for representing the content item. The acquisition information may also include information about presenting the content item in different view contexts, as well as information about relationships to other pieces of content, and information about how each different version of the content item is to be acquired and displayed. MediaDescription data structure tokens can be used to facilitate digital video recording (DVR) processes, Internet content rendering processes, multimedia search processes, search results aggregating processes, video-on-demand (VOD) processes, pay-per-view processes, and program guide rendering processes.

Abstract: A mixed-media service collection for multimedia platforms allows simultaneous access to various mixed-media services for rendering multimedia content, depending on current client conditions. In one implementation, in response to the client accessing a service collection, for example, by changing channels, only some of the mixed-media services in the service collection are simultaneously actuated based on client conditions. The client conditions may include the availability of subsystems to implement services and the client's authorization to receive services. If client conditions do not allow some services in the service collection to be actuated, then other services in the service collection are available to be actuated instead.

Abstract: Grouping of representations in a user interface is described. In an implementation, a method includes distinguishing a plurality of on-demand content items from a plurality of time-dependent content items that are described in data. A plurality of linearly-arranged groupings is formed, based on the distinguishing, for output in a user interface. At least one of the groupings includes representations of time-dependent content items that are available via a particular channel. Another one of the groupings includes representations of on-demand content items that are available via plurality of channels.

Abstract: Content re-lock control is described. In an embodiment, restricted content is unlocked such that the restricted content can be rendered for a rendering duration. A user-selectable input is received that time-shifts the rendering duration of the restricted content, and an effective rendering duration of the restricted content can be determined from the rendering duration and a time-shift duration that corresponds to the time-shift.

Abstract: Delayed HTTP response is described. In an embodiment, a server device receives a data connection request from a client device and opens a data connection to establish an HTTP communication link to the client device. A first message can be communicated to the client device via the HTTP communication link when the message becomes available. After the first message is returned, the HTTP communication link to the client device is maintained open for communication such that the server device can communicate additional messages to the client device when the additional messages become available at the server device. The messages need not exist or be created at the time of an initial client HTTP request.

Abstract: An operations center stores a plurality of programs, some of which are pre-recorded, and some of which are in the process of being recorded. Pause and resumption functionality allows the user to pause the presentation of such programs using different pause modes, and to later resume the presentation of the programs. In a selective pause mode, the user can selectively pause an individual program. This prompts the storage of a bookmark which indicates a pause position in the individual program. In a pause all mode, the user can pause a plurality of programs at the same time. This prompts the storage of a plurality of bookmarks that are associated with the plurality of programs. In a third pause mode, the user can automatically pause a program by the act of switching from that program to another program. This prompts the storage of a bookmark which indicates a position in the program from which the user has switched away.

Abstract: A system records a video program as well as metadata associated with the video program. The system then receives updated metadata associated with the video program. The previously recorded metadata is replaced with the updated metadata.

Abstract: In an implementation of control-based content pricing, a content server distributes media content to a client device in response to a request from the client device to receive the media content. A valuation application allocates a cost to the client device when the media content is distributed to the client device. The content server receives a view control input from the client device that indicates how the media content is to be rendered and the valuation application adjusts the cost according to the view control input and how the media content is to be rendered.

Abstract: A method initializes a client device that has an associated identifier. The identifier is communicated to a configuration server that contains configuration information associated with the client device. The configuration information is received from the configuration server and is applied to the client device. Video data is also received from the configuration server.