Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining video content using wireless multicast for video content data in combination with wireless unicast for requests of the video content and transmissions of licenses to use the video content. A method can include: receiving an instruction to obtain particular content; sending a first wireless unicast signal requesting the particular content; receiving the obtained particular content in response to sending the first wireless unicast signal; obtaining a license for the particular content; and providing a notification that the particular content is available for display by a mobile device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for managing web services. The described exemplary system and method provides an infrastructure for managing various aspects of publishing and using web services, such as logging, security, monitoring, SLA management, service level metrics and notification.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing contact management services. Systems and methods may maintain one or more address books. Contacts may be added to the address book from one or more sources. Systems and method may receive a command to add a party to the address book. Contact-related information associated with the party may obtained and added to the address book. A user may be notified of an incoming call placed by a calling party and destined to a communication device associated with the user. Systems and methods may receive a command, responsive to the notification, to add the calling party to an address book associated with the user. An address book may be updated to reflect changes in the contact-related information.

Abstract: A device receives data usage information associated with application server devices and user equipment, and determines time-based prices for data usage based on the data usage information. The time-based prices include at least a first price for data usage during a peak time period, and a second price, less than the first price, for data usage during a non-peak time period. The device also provides the time-based prices for data usage to the application server devices, and the application server devices provide data to the user equipment at different time-based prices depending on a time when the data is provided to the user equipment.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining video content using wireless multicast for video content data in combination with wireless unicast for requests of the video content and transmissions of licenses to use the video content. A method can include: receiving an instruction to obtain particular content; sending a first wireless unicast signal requesting the particular content; receiving the obtained particular content in response to sending the first wireless unicast signal; obtaining a license for the particular content; and providing a notification that the particular content is available for display by a mobile device.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes (1) receiving a web service request for a particular web service, along with user identification credentials, from a web service subscriber, the request and the credentials being received into a service agent of a web service publisher, (2) determining whether the credentials are cached in the service agent, and further, whether the credentials are valid, (3) in response to a determination that the credentials are not cached in the service agent, initiating a security service to authorize the web service subscriber to access the particular web service, (4) in response to a determination that the credentials are cached in the service agent and are invalid, responding to the web service subscriber with an error message, and (5) in response to a determination that the credentials are cached in the service agent and are valid, passing the web service request to the particular web service for access.

Abstract: An approach is provided for content aggregation in support of virtual channels. Query information and authentication information of a user are received from a media application associated with a set-top box. A query request is generated for media content from a content provider using the query information, the authentication information, and an identifier of a service provider. Transmission of the query request is initiated to the content provider system. One or more search results are received in response to the query request. Transmission of the one or more search results is initiated to the media application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically switching between unicast and multicast delivery of media content are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a user device 1) accessing, over a wireless network, a unicast stream carrying data representative of a media content program, 2) detecting, during the accessing of the unicast stream, an instruction to switch to a multicast stream carrying data representative of the media content program, and 3) switching, in response to the instruction, from the accessing of the unicast stream to accessing the multicast stream by way of the wireless network. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a content provider subsystem providing media content over a closed media network and an open network. At least a subset of the media content provided over the closed media network is provided over the open network. The system further includes a user access subsystem communicatively connected to the closed media network and the open network. The user access subsystem is configured to access the media content over the closed media network and the open network and to process and provide at least a component of the accessed media content for presentation to a user. The user access subsystem includes a content processing device configured to decode the media content accessed over the closed media network and an expansion content processing device configured to decode the media content accessed over the open network.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, by a video client, a screen capture request, determining a type of screen capture, generating screen capture type information based on a result of determining the type of screen capture, analyzing at least one of screen capture data or screen capture type information, and providing a service to a user of the video client based on the analysis of the at least one of screen capture data or screen capture type information.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for managing an e-reader interface are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes an e-reader interface management system directing an e-reader device to display a plurality of graphical objects representative of a plurality of segments of an e-publication, detecting a user interaction with a graphical object within the plurality of graphical objects and representative of a segment within the plurality of segments, and directing the e-reader device to remove at least one other graphical object within the graphical objects from the display of the graphical objects, wherein the at least one other graphical object is representative of at least one other segment within the plurality of segments that is unrelated to the segment. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method including providing at least one of a television service or an Internet access service to a customer; generating predictive options pertaining to content delivered to the customer, wherein the predictive options correspond to possible future events that could occur with respect to the content; receiving a customer selection of one of the predictive options; determining whether the customer-selected predictive option matches an outcome with respect to the content; and assigning a score to the customer based on whether the selected predictive option successfully or unsuccessfully predicted the outcome.

Abstract: A method including providing television content (TC) to a user; receiving a TC capture request; capturing TC frames based on the TC capture request; displaying to the user one or more TC frames included in the captured TC frames; receiving a user selection of one or more TC frames included in the displayed one or more TC frames; receiving a user selection of one or more destinations to send the selected one or more TC frames; and sending the selected one or more TC frames to the one or more destinations.

Abstract: An approach is provided for content aggregation in support of virtual channels. Query information and authentication information of a user are received from a media application associated with a set-top box. A query request is generated for media content from a content provider using the query information, the authentication information, and an identifier of a service provider. Transmission of the query request is initiated to the content provider system. One or more search results are received in response to the query request. Transmission of the one or more search results is initiated to the media application.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes establishing, by a mobile phone device, a wireless local area network communication channel between the mobile phone device and a set-top box device, providing, by the mobile phone device, a graphical user interface for display on a display screen of the mobile phone device, the graphical user interface configured to facilitate inputting of one or more control commands by a user of the mobile phone device, and controlling, by the mobile phone device, at least one operation of the set-top box device via the wireless local area network communication channel in accordance with the one or more control commands. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A method may include associating a plurality of graphical images with a plurality of contacts in a device having contact management functionality and displaying the plurality of graphical images to a user. The method may further include receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of graphical images; and initiating voice-based communication with the contact associated with the selected graphical image.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, contacts data for a network address book is maintained, data representative of at least a portion of a local address book maintained on an access device is received over a network, and the received local address book data is used to perform at least one connected address book operation. In one example in which the contacts data includes data representative of a network address book listing associated with a user, data representative of a persona associated with the user is maintained, a request to access the network address book listing is received, and at least a subset of the data representative of the network address book listing is identified and provided in response to the request and based at least in part on the persona.

Abstract: A device receives one or more of demand information, event information, past order information, or demographic information associated with a subscription video package, and determines a subscription video package advertisement based on one or more of the demand information, the event information, the past order information, or the demographic information. The device also provides, to one or more of a set-top box (STB) or a user device, the subscription video package advertisement for display, and receives, from one or more of the set-top box (STB) or the user device and in response to the subscription video package advertisement, a request for the subscription video package. The device further enables one or more of the set-top box (STB) or the user device to receive the subscription video package for display.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a content provider subsystem providing media content over a closed media network and an open network. At least a subset of the media content provided over the closed media network is provided over the open network. The system further includes a user access subsystem communicatively connected to the closed media network and the open network. The user access subsystem is configured to access the media content over the closed media network and the open network and to process and provide at least a component of the accessed media content for presentation to a user. The user access subsystem includes a content processing device configured to decode the media content accessed over the closed media network and an expansion content processing device configured to decode the media content accessed over the open network.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide personal channels from a network-capable user terminal. A first user terminal may receive a request from a second user terminal for access to a personal channel created by a user and stored on the first user terminal in association with media content. In response to the request, the first user terminal may access the media content associated with the requested personal channel and provide the media content to the first user terminal over the network. A data center accessible by both the first and second user terminals may facilitate the access to the personal channel by storing information associated with the personal channel, including terminal identifiers and metadata, and providing a searchable catalog interface to identify personal channels to view.