Abstract: A customized user interface service includes a self-customization and an auto-customization of user interfaces. A user interface is customized based on usage data of the user. The usage data includes historical navigational data. The usage data is analyzed to identify a pattern of usage. The user interface is customized based on the identified pattern of usage. The customized user interface service also allows a user to select and execute customizations.

Abstract: A first media client may set a parental control feature of the first media client to a first setting. The first media client may determine an occurrence of an event associated with the parental control feature. The first media client may determine a second setting of a parental control feature of a second media client. The second media client may be different from the first media client. The first media client may determine that the second setting is a more restrictive setting relative to the first setting. The first media client may set the parental control feature of the first media client to the second setting based on the occurrence of the event and based on the second setting being the more restrictive setting.

Abstract: A device may generate an index for providing media files via a HTTP Live media stream. The index may include an ordered list of uniform resource identifiers for obtaining the media files. The device may determine a start position for content corresponding to the media files and may insert a start point identifier into the index. The start point identifier may identify one of the uniform resource identifiers included in the ordered list of uniform resource identifiers, for obtaining one of media files that corresponds to the start position for the content. The device may send the index to a client device. The device may receive a request the one of the media files and may provide the one of the media files to the client device via the HTTP Live media stream.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a conflict resolution system 1) detecting a request for a DVR system having a plurality of tuners to tune to a media content program at a time during which all of the tuners are tuned to other media content programs, 2) identifying one or more media content programs that are being presented by the DVR system at the time of the request and one or more media content programs that are only being recorded by the DVR system at the time of the request, 3) presenting a conflict resolution interface that includes one or more selectable entries representative of the identified one or more media content programs that are only being recorded by the DVR system, and 4) excluding the identified one or more media content programs that are being presented by the DVR system from being represented in the conflict resolution interface.

Abstract: A first server may: receive, from a user device, an indication of a selection of a particular content file; provide a first query to request a script list having a list of one or more scripts associated with the particular content file, each one of the one or more scripts including an instruction to direct the user device to modify playback of the particular content file; receive, a response to the first query including the script list; and provide one of the one or more scripts to the user device, the user device being capable of executing the instruction of the one of the one or more scripts to modify playback of the particular content file when the user device plays the particular content file.

Abstract: A media server may receive a request for a playlist from a client computing device, the playlist being associated with expiration information indicative of when the playlist becomes obsolete. The media server may provide the requested playlist to the client computing device. The media server may revise the playlist to generate a refreshed version of the playlist and the client computing device may request the refreshed version of the playlist according to the expiration information.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for automatically converting media content stream data from a buffer to a permanent recording are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content access subsystem receiving data representative of a media content stream, temporarily storing the data representative of the media content stream within a buffer for playback to a user, detecting an input command provided by the user to pause the playback of the media content stream, pausing the playback of the media content stream, accumulating data representative of a portion of the media content stream not yet played back within the buffer, detecting an alert condition indicating that the data representative of the portion of the media content stream not yet played back is about to be lost from the buffer, and converting the data representative of the portion of the media content stream not yet played back to a permanent recording.

Abstract: Exemplary three-dimensional (“3-D”) shape user interfaces for media content delivery systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content delivery computing system maintaining data representative of a 3-D shape model including a plurality of shape faces, dynamically selecting, in accordance with a shape content selection heuristic, display content for association with at least one of the plurality of shape faces, and utilizing the data representative of the 3-D shape model to render a graphical representation of a 3-D shape in a graphical user interface. In some examples, the method further includes the computing system feeding the dynamically selected display content, which may include one or more video feeds, into at least one of the plurality of shape faces in real time. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically adjusting a start or a stop of a recording based on an advertisement break are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a media content access subsystem detecting an instruction configured to trigger a start or a stop of a recording of a media content instance at a start time or a stop time based on a clock reference, detecting an advertisement break proximate in time to the start time or the stop time, and adjusting the start or the stop of the recording based on the advertisement break. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for automatically converting media content stream data from a buffer to a permanent recording are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content access subsystem receiving data representative of a media content stream, temporarily storing the data representative of the media content stream within a buffer for playback to a user, detecting an input command provided by the user to pause the playback of the media content stream, pausing the playback of the media content stream, accumulating data representative of a portion of the media content stream not yet played back within the buffer, detecting an alert condition indicating that the data representative of the portion of the media content stream not yet played back is about to be lost from the buffer, and converting the data representative of the portion of the media content stream not yet played back to a permanent recording.

Abstract: Exemplary three-dimensional (“3-D”) shape user interfaces for media content delivery systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content delivery computing system maintaining data representative of a 3-D shape model including a plurality of shape faces, dynamically selecting, in accordance with a shape content selection heuristic, display content for association with at least one of the plurality of shape faces, and utilizing the data representative of the 3-D shape model to render a graphical representation of a 3-D shape in a graphical user interface. In some examples, the method further includes the computing system feeding the dynamically selected display content, which may include one or more video feeds, into at least one of the plurality of shape faces in real time. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for and method of searching content is presented. The system and method allow a user to search within content stored locally or on a network by associated closed captioning content, to display the search results, and to play content associated with the search results.

Abstract: An approach is provided for navigating media content by specifying a time to start playback of the media content.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a communication facility configured to receive transmitted data representative of a plurality of media content instances in accordance with a transmission schedule. The system further includes a media recording facility communicatively coupled to the communication facility. The media recording facility is configured to recognize a failure to record one of the media content instances, and designate the media content instance for consideration for at least one future recording opportunity. In certain embodiments, the designation of the media content instance includes adding at least one identifier representative of the media content instance to a watch list, searching program guide data for the identifier; and identifying, from the program guide data, a scheduled future transmission of the media content instance.

Abstract: An approach is provided for creating user-defined folders for organizing content accessible through a set-top box and for creating multiple bookmarks per set-top box program for use during programming playback.