Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a radio station for playback at a user device using previously obtained Digital Rights Management (DRM) locked content for the radio station. In one embodiment, a radio station application and DRM locked content to be used by the radio station application are downloaded to a user device, which is preferably a mobile user device. The DRM locked content includes a number of DRM locked songs that may be used for the radio station. Thereafter, the radio station application obtains a playlist for the radio station, where the playlist for the radio station includes at least a subset of the DRM locked content provided to the user device for the radio station. Playback of the playlist for the radio station is then provided at the user device, and playback is reported to a remote service for royalty tracking.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining key frames of video content items being viewed by first users and publishing the key frames of the video content items to second users are provided. In general, either prior to playback of a video content item by a first user or during playback of the video content item by the first user, key frame information providing, referencing, or identifying key frames of the video content item is obtained. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then published such that each key frame is presented to one or more second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forming crowds of users based on wireless contexts of corresponding mobile devices of the users. In general, wireless contexts of mobile devices of a number of users are obtained. For each mobile device, the wireless context of the mobile device includes a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) context of the mobile device, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) context of the mobile device, or both. The wireless contexts of the mobile devices of the users are then utilized to form crowds of users. More specifically, in one embodiment, users of mobile devices having sufficiently similar wireless contexts are determined to be in the same crowd of users.

Abstract: Distributed trick play resolution in a distributed video viewing group network includes determining trick play preferences for each of a plurality of peer nodes in the distributed video viewing group network with respect to a video item. Conflicting trick play preferences between the peer nodes is determined based on one or more of a group consisting of: user rankings, user voting, trick play ranking, and owner resolution. The determined conflicting trick play preferences are resolved.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing and presenting a consumption profile, a rating profile, or both a consumption profile and a rating profile for a media item are provided. In general, consumption of a media item by a number of first users is tracked. Thereafter, before and/or during playback of the media item by a second user, a consumption profile for the media item is constructed and presented to the second user. In addition to or as an alternative to tracking consumption of the media item by the first users, ratings for the media item may be obtained from all or a subset of the first users. Thereafter, before and/or during playback of the media item by the second user, a rating profile for the media item is constructed and presented to the second user.

Abstract: Systems and devices are disclosed for monitoring and controlling usage of media content by blocking usage of media segments. In one embodiment, usage data defining usage, or consumption, of the media content is obtained. A pattern in media segments in the media content based on the usage data is detected when the media segments satisfy at least one defined criterion and are consumed at least a predefined threshold amount. Usage of at least one of the media segments is blocked. In one embodiment, one or more additional media segments accessible to the one or more media devices that are similar to the at least one of the one or more media segments for which usage is blocked at the one or more media devices is identified. Usage of at least one of the one or more additional media segments at the one or more media devices is blocked.

Abstract: A message propagation scheme for a distributed virtual world is provided. In general, each of a number of peer servers hosts a cell of the virtual world, where the cell is also referred to herein as a virtual space. A peer server issues an advertisement/subscription (ad/sub) message, or message flow path setup message, identifying message types produced by the virtual objects in the virtual space hosted by the peer server and message types consumed by the virtual objects in the virtual space hosted by the peer server. Based on the ad/sub message, for each message type produced, message flow paths from the peer server to other peer servers hosting virtual objects that are consumers of the message type are identified. Likewise, for each message type consumed, message paths from other peer servers hosting virtual objects that are producers of the message type to the peer server are identified.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable medium for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating data in scrambled form to or over a medium. The method includes receiving analog or digital data to be transmitted to or over a medium. The method further includes modulating samples representing at least signal using the analog or digital data to produce data modulated signal samples. The method further includes scrambling the data modulated signal samples using a predetermined scrambling algorithm. The method further includes transmitting the scrambled data modulated signal samples to or over the medium. The method further includes descrambling samples received from the medium using the inverse of the predetermined scrambling algorithm to obtain the unscrambled modulated signal samples, which can then be demodulated to retrieve original data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forming crowds of users based on wireless contexts of corresponding mobile devices of the users. In general, wireless contexts of mobile devices of a number of users are obtained. For each mobile device, the wireless context of the mobile device includes a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) context of the mobile device, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) context of the mobile device, or both. The wireless contexts of the mobile devices of the users are then utilized to form crowds of users. More specifically, in one embodiment, users of mobile devices having sufficiently similar wireless contexts are determined to be in the same crowd of users.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling an administrator to monitor and control usage of media content in a locale. In one embodiment, the locale includes one or more media devices that have access to media content from one or more local and/or remote content sources. Usage data defining usage of the media content by a user is obtained. A pattern including two or more media segments consumed by the user is detected based on the usage data and one or more predefined pattern detection rules. The administrator is then enabled to review the pattern and choose whether to block usage. Usage of at least one of the media segments included in the pattern is then blocked at the one or more media devices at the locale in response to the administrator choosing to block usage of the at least one of the media segments included in the pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, location-based application service obtains a current location of a mobile device and determines whether the current location of the mobile device is associated with one of a plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with an establishment. An application identifier associated with the plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with the establishment is provided based on the determination, where the application identifier at least one of identifies an application for the mobile device to activate and references a remote source for the mobile device to obtain the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining and presenting information to a user playing a media item identifying playback positions of a number of other users also playing the media item. In one embodiment, a first user begins playback of a media item. Information identifying playback positions of a number of second users also playing the media item is obtained from a playback information broker and presented to the first user. The first user may then provide user input identifying a desired action to take with respect to one or more of the second users. In response, the desired action is effected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining and presenting information to a user playing a media item identifying playback positions of a number of other users also playing the media item. In one embodiment, playback information is maintained for each of a plurality of users, the playback information identifying a media item being played by the user and information identifying a playback position of the user in playback of the media item. The playback information is filtered automatically in response to one or more user provided criteria thereby resulting in playback information for each of a subset of users from the plurality of users. Playback information is provided to a user device, the playback information for one or more second users of the subset of users playing a select media item such that the playback information for the one or more second users is presented to the first user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. A plurality of filler images representing one or more participants is associated with a photo ad template having one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement based on the photo ad template is generated by an electronic device such that the associated plurality of filler images are inserted into the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. A status update that includes the photo advertisement for presentation with the status update is initiated responsive to generating the photo advertisement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, each home theater component receives an appropriate media content stream for the home theater component from the virtualized home theater service via the WAN and provides playback of the media content stream according to the absolute playback timestamps for the media content stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, a mobile device obtains a list of applications associated with a current or anticipated location of the mobile device from a centralized or distributed application service. One or more desired applications to be activated are either manually or automatically selected from the list of applications associated with the current location or the anticipated location of the mobile device. The mobile device then activates the one or more desired applications. Optionally, for each desired application that has been activated, the desired application may be deactivated once one or more deactivation criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. More specifically, first, one or more photo ad templates are obtained for the user, where each photo ad template includes one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement is then generated based on one of the photo ad templates such that a filler image of a different one of one or more participants identified for the photo advertisement is inserted into each of the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. The photo advertisement is then used as a status update for the user. In another embodiment, the photo advertisement is stored and subsequently used to serve ad requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo check-in process is performed for a user located within a geographic check-in zone which results in a photo advertisement that is utilized as a photo check-in for the user. In another embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. In another embodiment, photo advertisements are created by users and stored for subsequent use in serving ad requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a computer server obtains and stores user-created photo advertisements. Each of the user-created photo advertisements is generated based on a corresponding photo ad template having one or more photo wells such that filler images of one or more participants are inserted into the one or more photo wells. For each user-created photo advertisement, the one or more participants include at least a user by which the photo advertisement was created. In addition, the computer server effects use of the stored user-created photo advertisements as sponsored advertisements.

Abstract: A virtual environment firewall receives a message having a request from a virtual environment entity intended for a virtual environment controller. The virtual environment firewall determines whether the request complies with one or more governance rules of the virtual environment controller. If the request does not comply with the one or more governance rules, the virtual environment firewall processes the message to prevent the request from being processed by the virtual environment controller.