Abstract: A method receives, by a first user device, content from a second user device. The content was previously provided through a transmission from a distribution system to the second user device. The method receives, by the first user device from the second user device, transmission data indicative of the previous transmission of the content from the distribution system to the second user device. The method sends, by the first user device to a server, a request for program data associated with the content. Responsive to the request, the method receives, by the first user device, the program data that identifies a title of the content. The program data is identified using the transmission data that is specific to the previous transmission of the content.

Abstract: A method receives, by a first user device, content from a second user device. The content was previously provided through a transmission from a distribution system to the second user device. The method receives, by the first user device from the second user device, transmission data indicative of the previous transmission of the content from the distribution system to the second user device. The method sends, by the first user device to a server, a request for program data associated with the content. Responsive to the request, the method receives, by the first user device, the program data that identifies a title of the content. The program data is identified using the transmission data that is specific to the previous transmission of the content.

Abstract: A process receives content from a recording device. The content is provided through a transmission from a distribution system to the recording device and recorded by the recording device on a storage medium associated with the recording device. Further, the process receives, from the recording device, transmission data corresponding to the recorded content. The transmission data indicates one or more transmission identifiers that identify the transmission. In addition, the process sends the transmission data to a server. Finally, the process receives, from the server, program data that is descriptive of the content.

Abstract: A process receives content from a recording device. The content is provided through a transmission from a distribution system to the recording device and recorded by the recording device on a storage medium associated with the recording device. Further, the process receives, from the recording device, transmission data corresponding to the recorded content. The transmission data indicates one or more transmission identifiers that identify the transmission. In addition, the process sends the transmission data to a server. Finally, the process receives, from the server, program data that is descriptive of the content.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method (40) is provided for detecting data within the vertical blanking interval (VBI) lines of a video or television signal. The VBI data detection (18) samples (42) at least one point from the VBI lines of a video signal and compares (44) at least one data characteristic, such as luminance, from the sample to a threshold to determine if the sample contains VBI data. If the sample contains VBI data, the VBI line from which the sample was taken is routed (46) to the processing unit of a video processing device. If no samples from a VBI line are found to contain VBI data, the VBI line is not processed further. The VBI data detection apparatus improves processing efficiency and resource allocation by allowing only those VBI lines containing VBI data to be processed by the video processing device.