Abstract: A method may include obtaining customer information regarding the user and marketing rules regarding a plurality of store offerings. A number of store offerings from the plurality of store offerings may be identified based on the customer information and the marketing rules. One or more of the identified store offerings may be provided to the user. A user request to purchase a selected one of the provided store offerings may be received. The content or services associated with the selected store offering may be provisioned based on the user request.

Abstract: A method and system that provides a television service; receives a customer input to access a graphical user interface that includes a main menu pertaining to the television service; retrieves the graphical user interface; and displays the graphical user interface via the customer device, wherein the graphical user interface includes a main menu body and an interactive masthead having an interactive element that permits a customer to access content via the interactive element.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a user request to view a channel to which the user does not currently subscribe. Customer information regarding the user and marketing rules regarding a plurality of combination offers that include the channel may be obtained. A number of combination offers from the plurality of combination offers may be determined based on the customer information and the marketing rules. One or more of the determined combination offers may be provided to the user. A user request to purchase a selected one of the provided combination offers may be received. The channels included within the selected combination offer may be provisioned based on the user request.

Abstract: A method and system that provides customers a pay-per-view portal, accessible via a television service, a mobile service, or an Internet service. The pay-per-view portal permits customers to search for pay-per-view programs and provide search results that include related content to pay-per-view programs including related videos, articles, biographical summaries, stats on players or fighters, and images. The pay-per-view portal provides personalized pay-per-view program recommendations, pay-per-view calendars, and sub-portals directed to categories or sub-categories of pay-per-view programs. The pay-per-view portal also provides the ordering and purchasing of pay-per-view programs days, weeks, or months in advance of the airing of the pay-per-view programs.

Abstract: An approach is provided for selecting personalized content presented via a set-top box. Viewing data related to content experienced by a user is retrieved. Broadcast content is selected based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs that are designated to broadcast to a plurality of set-top boxes. A personalized programming channel is presented for the user using the selected broadcast content over a particular one of the set-top boxes associated with the user.

Abstract: A method may include providing a live, interactive program or information associated with the live, interactive program on a video display device; and providing a live interactive content icon on the video display device when a current time is before an end time of the live, interactive program, the live interactive content icon indicating that live interactive content is available for the live, interactive program.

Abstract: Exemplary user interface enhancements for media content access systems and methods are described herein. An exemplary method includes a media content access system launching a graphical user interface for display, the graphical user interface initially including a graphical representation of a channel guide comprising a grid matrix of channel icons representing a plurality of media content channels through which media content is accessible by the media content access system and a graphical representation of an advertisement displayed together with the channel guide in the graphical user interface, detecting a user navigation event within the channel guide displayed in the graphical user interface, and replacing, in response to the user navigation event, the graphical representation of the advertisement with a graphical representation of content specific to a media content channel within the plurality of media content channels. Corresponding user interfaces, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A network device receives details of a purchase offer for digital content, where the purchase offer includes a price for the digital content at a required customer purchasing participation threshold, and where the required customer purchasing participation threshold includes a number of customers that must agree to purchase the digital content at the price for the purchase offer to be fulfilled. The network device targets multiple customers based on customer profile data, and presents the purchase offer to the multiple customers, via multiple different devices associated with respective ones of the multiple customers, during the offer period. The network device charges participating customers the purchase offer price, if the purchasing participation threshold is reached by expiration of the offer period; and notifies the participating customers of expiration of the purchase offer, if the purchasing participation threshold is not reached by the expiration of the offer period.

Abstract: A method may include providing a live, interactive program or information associated with the live, interactive program on a video display device; and providing a live interactive content icon on the video display device when a current time is before an end time of the live, interactive program, the live interactive content icon indicating that live interactive content is available for the live, interactive program.

Abstract: A method and system that provides a television service; receives a customer input to access a graphical user interface that includes a main menu pertaining to the television service; retrieves the graphical user interface; and displays the graphical user interface via the customer device, wherein the graphical user interface includes a main menu body and an interactive masthead having an interactive element that permits a customer to access content via the interactive element.

Abstract: A method and system that provides customers a pay-per-view portal, accessible via a television service, a mobile service, or an Internet service. The pay-per-view portal permits customers to search for pay-per-view programs and provide search results that include related content to pay-per-view programs including related videos, articles, biographical summaries, stats on players or fighters, and images. The pay-per-view portal provides personalized pay-per-view program recommendations, pay-per-view calendars, and sub-portals directed to categories or sub-categories of pay-per-view programs. The pay-per-view portal also provides the ordering and purchasing of pay-per-view programs days, weeks, or months in advance of the airing of the pay-per-view programs.

Abstract: A method and system that provides a television service via a customer device; receives a customer input to invoke an interactive mode pertaining to the television service; retrieves a graphical user interface that includes an interactive and program half-screen comprising an interactive half-screen and a program half-screen, wherein the interactive half-screen is substantially a same size as a program half-screen, and the interactive half-screen and the program half-screen occupy an entire size of the graphical user interface; and displays the graphical user interface via the customer device, wherein the interactive half-screen includes one or more interactive graphical elements and the program half-screen includes a program window to display a program.

Abstract: An approach is provided for selecting personalized content presented via a set-top box. Viewing data related to content experienced by a user is retrieved. Broadcast content is selected based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs that are designated to broadcast to a plurality of set-top boxes. A personalized programming channel is presented for the user using the selected broadcast content over a particular one of the set-top boxes associated with the user.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining customer information regarding the user and marketing rules regarding a plurality of store offerings. A number of store offerings from the plurality of store offerings may be identified based on the customer information and the marketing rules. One or more of the identified store offerings may be provided to the user. A user request to purchase a selected one of the provided store offerings may be received. The content or services associated with the selected store offering may be provisioned based on the user request.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a user request to view a channel to which the user does not currently subscribe. Customer information regarding the user and marketing rules regarding a plurality of combination offers that include the channel may be obtained. A number of combination offers from the plurality of combination offers may be determined based on the customer information and the marketing rules. One or more of the determined combination offers may be provided to the user. A user request to purchase a selected one of the provided combination offers may be received. The channels included within the selected combination offer may be provisioned based on the user request.

Abstract: Exemplary user interface enhancements for media content access systems and methods are described herein. An exemplary method includes a media content access system launching a graphical user interface for display, the graphical user interface initially including a graphical representation of a channel guide comprising a grid matrix of channel icons representing a plurality of media content channels through which media content is accessible by the media content access system and a graphical representation of an advertisement displayed together with the channel guide in the graphical user interface, detecting a user navigation event within the channel guide displayed in the graphical user interface, and replacing, in response to the user navigation event, the graphical representation of the advertisement with a graphical representation of content specific to a media content channel within the plurality of media content channels. Corresponding user interfaces, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method may include identifying, by a computer, test scores stored in a database and associated with a student; selecting, by a computer, a quiz from a group of quizzes based on the identified test scores; sending the quiz through a network to the student; receiving, through the network, a completed quiz from the student; scoring, by the computer, the completed quiz and recording the score in the database; and adding points to an account associated with the student, the number of points based on the score of the completed quiz.

Abstract: A method may include selecting, by a computer, one or more students for receiving a quiz question; identifying, by a computer, test scores stored in a database and associated with the one or more students; selecting, by the computer, a quiz question from a plurality of quiz questions based on the identified test scores; sending the selected quiz question through the network to the one or more students; receiving, through the network, an answer to the quiz question from the one or more students; and adding points, after receiving the answer from the one or more student, to an account associated with the one or more students.

Abstract: A method may include identifying, by a computer, academic class names stored in a database and associated with a student; selecting, by the computer, an assignment from a plurality of assignments based on the identified class names; sending the selected assignment through a network to the student; receiving, through the network, a completed assignment from the student; and adding points, after receiving the completed assignment from the student, to an account associated with the student.

Abstract: A method may include providing a live, interactive program or information associated with the live, interactive program on a video display device; and providing a live interactive content icon on the video display device when a current time is before an end time of the live, interactive program, the live interactive content icon indicating that live interactive content is available for the live, interactive program.