Abstract: Media units are stored in a buffer, wherein an importance rating is assigned to each of the media units. At least some of the media units are selectively flushed from the buffer based on the importance rating.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a recorded media content instance comprising a media content program and a first advertisement and an index file corresponding to the recorded media content instance, playing back the recorded media content instance in accordance with timestamp data and storage location data included in the index file, dynamically replacing, during the playback of the recorded media content instance, a portion of the storage location data in the index file that corresponds to the first advertisement with storage location data corresponding to a second advertisement, and presenting the second advertisement in place of the first advertisement during the playback of the recorded media content instance in accordance with the modified index file. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A device detects that a first user device is calling a second user device while the second user device is calling the first user device, and sends a notification to the first user device or the second user device indicating that the first user device and the second user device are calling one another. The device receives a response to the notification indicating that the first user device and the second user device are to be connected for a call, designates the first user device or the second user device as a call originator, and connects the first user device and the second user device for the call.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes switching, by a media content access subsystem, from a program stream to an advertisement stream in response to a switching instruction received by the media content access subsystem, detecting, by the media content access subsystem, a predetermined number of markers included within the advertisement stream, the predetermined number of markers indicative of an error associated with the advertisement stream, and switching, by the media content access subsystem, from the advertisement stream to another media content stream in response to the detecting of the predetermined number of markers. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device is configured to receive, from a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device and to receive, from a second mobile device of a second user of the group, a second location of the second mobile device. The device is further configured to determine a geographic area of a venue associated with a coupon. The device is also configured to match the coupon to the group when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area, and transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The group is organized by the first user or the second user for a plurality of users to receive coupons for a particular type of service associated with the matched coupon.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and storage media provide for receiving an airing of a program and a national ad; recording the program and the national ad; identifying an age of the national ad; comparing the age of the national ad to a threshold time period; and obtaining a replacement national ad in response to a comparison indicating that the age of the national ad exceeds the threshold time period.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving, by a three-dimensional (“3D”) adapter subsystem separate from and communicatively coupled to a display device, a 3D video content stream comprising data representative of 3D video content, directing, by the 3D adapter subsystem, the display device to generate and display the 3D video content in accordance with the 3D video content stream, and calibrating, by the 3D adapter subsystem, the display of the 3D video content in accordance with one or more attributes of the display device. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A device is configured to receive, from a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device and to receive, from a second mobile device of a second user of the group, a second location of the second mobile device. The device is further configured to determine a geographic area of a venue associated with a coupon. The device is also configured to match the coupon to the group when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area, and transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The group is organized by the first user or the second user for a plurality of users to receive coupons for a particular type of service associated with the matched coupon.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a plurality of advertisements each having one of a plurality of different resolutions, detecting a message indicative of an upcoming advertisement break in a media content program being transmitted to a media content access device by way of a content channel, detecting a resolution of the media content program, directing a dynamic advertisement delivery subsystem communicatively coupled to the media content access device to dynamically transmit a subset of the advertisements by way of one or more advertisement channels, wherein each advertisement included in the subset has the same resolution as the resolution of the media content program, and distributing tuning information associated with each of the one or more advertisement channels to the media content access device prior to an occurrence of the advertisement break. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computing device selectively receives a media stream. A buffer included within the computing device selectively stores frames from the media stream, the buffer being configured to be a certain size. Program instructions within the computing device are for sending an alert message when the alert threshold is reached and for receiving, in response to the alert message, a flush instruction along with recovery information.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes switching, by a media content access subsystem, from a program stream to an advertisement stream in response to a switching instruction received by the media content access subsystem, detecting, by the media content access subsystem, a predetermined number of markers included within the advertisement stream, the predetermined number of markers indicative of an error associated with the advertisement stream, and switching, by the media content access subsystem, from the advertisement stream to another media content stream in response to the detecting of the predetermined number of markers. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes switching, by a media content access subsystem, from a program stream to an advertisement stream in response to a switching instruction received by the media content access subsystem, detecting, by the media content access subsystem, a predetermined number of markers included within the advertisement stream, the predetermined number of markers indicative of an error associated with the advertisement stream, and switching, by the media content access subsystem, from the advertisement stream to another media content stream in response to the detecting of the predetermined number of markers. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving, by a three-dimensional (“3D”) adapter subsystem separate from and communicatively coupled to a display device, a 3D video content stream comprising data representative of 3D video content, directing, by the 3D adapter subsystem, the display device to generate and display the 3D video content in accordance with the 3D video content stream, and calibrating, by the 3D adapter subsystem, the display of the 3D video content in accordance with one or more attributes of the display device. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes processing a first program stream representative of media content having a first resolution and a second program stream representative of the media content having a second resolution, generating a single advertisement stream representative of advertisement content having a third resolution, detecting a transmission lag between the first and second program streams, dynamically synchronizing the first and second program streams to substantially remove the detected transmission lag, transmitting the synchronized first program stream by way of a first content channel, the synchronized second program stream by way of a second content channel, and the advertisement stream by way of an advertisement channel, and directing a media content access device to switch from being tuned to the second content channel to being tuned to the advertisement channel during an advertising break in the media content. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a plurality of advertisements each having one of a plurality of different resolutions, detecting a message indicative of an upcoming advertisement break in a media content program being transmitted to a media content access device by way of a content channel, detecting a resolution of the media content program, directing a dynamic advertisement delivery subsystem communicatively coupled to the media content access device to dynamically transmit a subset of the advertisements by way of one or more advertisement channels, wherein each advertisement included in the subset has the same resolution as the resolution of the media content program, and distributing tuning information associated with each of the one or more advertisement channels to the media content access device prior to an occurrence of the advertisement break. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a recorded media content instance comprising a media content program and a first advertisement and an index file corresponding to the recorded media content instance, playing back the recorded media content instance in accordance with timestamp data and storage location data included in the index file, dynamically replacing, during the playback of the recorded media content instance, a portion of the storage location data in the index file that corresponds to the first advertisement with storage location data corresponding to a second advertisement, and presenting the second advertisement in place of the first advertisement during the playback of the recorded media content instance in accordance with the modified index file. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes switching, by a media content access subsystem, from a program stream to an advertisement stream in response to a switching instruction received by the media content access subsystem, detecting, by the media content access subsystem, a predetermined number of markers included within the advertisement stream, the predetermined number of markers indicative of an error associated with the advertisement stream, and switching, by the media content access subsystem, from the advertisement stream to another media content stream in response to the detecting of the predetermined number of markers. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods and computer readable mediums for efficient and unconstrained information distribution and IP multicasting are provided. An exemplary method may include receiving, from a set top box, information indicative of criteria associated with targeted advertisement; and determining, at a set top box, whether the criteria corresponds to a characteristic of a household at which the criteria is received. The method may also include joining, from a set top box, a multicast group associated with the criteria in the event the criteria is determined to correspond to the characteristic of the household at which the criteria is received. The method may also include receiving, via multicast, at a set top box, the targeted advertisement associated with the criteria; and displaying, at a video display device, the targeted advertisement. The exemplary method may allow efficient and unconstrained information distribution leading to improved application quality and performance.

Abstract: A first game server is configured to provide a game to a first category of user device. A second game server is configured to provide the game to a second category of user device. A game manager is configured to receive a request from a user device for the game application and to assign the request to one of the first game server and the second game server according to whether the user device is included in the first category of user device or the second category of user device.

Abstract: A computing device selectively receives a media stream. A buffer included within the computing device selectively stores frames from the media stream, the buffer being configured to be a certain size. Program instructions within the computing device are for sending an alert message when the alert threshold is reached and for receiving, in response to the alert message, a flush instruction along with recovery information.