Abstract: A software application program and method are disclosed for allowing blacked-out television content to be viewed when restrictions on the television content have been lifted. The present system may be part of a software platform for providing television content to subscribers via a broadband IP network service provider such as a telephone company. For situations where a content owner has made deferred rights to television content available, the present system employs a deferred rights management software application program for affecting the download and storage of restricted content to subscribers. The restricted content is downloaded to subscribers in an encrypted format, and remains locked and unusable by subscribers as long as the license restrictions last. When the license restrictions are lifted, the SMS 116 transmits decryption keys allowing decryption and viewing of the content.

Abstract: Predictive phonetic data search is described. In an embodiment, a search request to locate a term is received, where the term can be a word, a group of words, and/or any combination of characters and numbers. A numeric index is then searched to locate a number that matches a numerical equivalent of the term designated in the search request. The term is obtained from a term index that is mapped to the number in the numeric index that matches the numerical equivalent of the term, and the term is returned in response to the search request.

Abstract: A synchronized media experience is described. A media server identifies a group of two or more remote media entertainment systems through which user-controlled play of media content may be presented. The server generates and transmits one or more synchronization commands to the remote media entertainment systems to synchronize presentation of a particular media content through the two or more remote media entertainment systems. A control command entered by a user of one of the remote media entertainment systems may be communicated to each of the two or more remote media entertainment systems to enable synchronized, user controlled presentation of the particular media content.

Abstract: Phone-based remote media system interaction is described. A content distribution system provides a telephone-based voice menu system that enables a caller to select a media system control command. The content distribution system then causes the media system control command to be executed in association with a remote media system associated with, or specified by, the caller.

Abstract: Strategies are described for detecting events that match pre-established criteria based on a consumer profile, formulating picture-in-picture (PIP) alerts based on the matching events, and providing the PIP alerts to the consumer's output device. The output device can present plural PIP alerts, either by presenting multiple PIP alerts at the same time, or by sequencing through the multiple PIP alerts within a single PIP pane. The consumer can navigate among the PIP alerts to activate a desired PIP alert, prompting the presentation of supplemental information regarding the PIP alert, such as a video stream associated with the PIP alert or additional textual information associated with the PIP alert.

Abstract: A MediaDescription data structure that includes both descriptive metadata, such as EPG information, about a multimedia content item and instructions for acquiring the content item is assigned to each multimedia content item in a multimedia system. A MediaDescription data structure is transferable as a token for representing the content item. The acquisition information may also include information about presenting the content item in different view contexts, as well as information about relationships to other pieces of content, and information about how each different version of the content item is to be acquired and displayed. MediaDescription data structure tokens can be used to facilitate digital video recording (DVR) processes, Internet content rendering processes, multimedia search processes, search results aggregating processes, video-on-demand (VOD) processes, pay-per-view processes, and program guide rendering processes.

Abstract: Grouping of representations in a user interface is described. In an implementation, a method includes distinguishing a plurality of on-demand content items from a plurality of time-dependent content items that are described in data. A plurality of linearly-arranged groupings is formed, based on the distinguishing, for output in a user interface. At least one of the groupings includes representations of time-dependent content items that are available via a particular channel. Another one of the groupings includes representations of on-demand content items that are available via plurality of channels.

Abstract: Content re-lock control is described. In an embodiment, restricted content is unlocked such that the restricted content can be rendered for a rendering duration. A user-selectable input is received that time-shifts the rendering duration of the restricted content, and an effective rendering duration of the restricted content can be determined from the rendering duration and a time-shift duration that corresponds to the time-shift.

Abstract: Strategies are described for creating a resource item list, for transferring the resource item list from one user to another user or to another destination, and for retrieving resource items from an operations center based on resource descriptors specified in the resource item list. The resource item list can include a number of attributes which are used to identify matching resource items in a content store of the operations center. A schema defines the contents and organization of entries in the resource item list. The use of resource item lists helps users discover and consume resource items of interest extracted from a larger pool of resource items.

Abstract: An interactive client-server data search involves accepting search-related inputs from a user at a client and having the search performed on a data collection at a server. To reduce transmission latencies, the client prefetches search results prior to input from the user. When a user indicates that a search is to be requested, the client prefetches a sparse subset of data of a size that is sufficient to fill a search results display area of the client regardless of a first input character. In other words, a number of possible results for each character that might be first input is prefetched from the server. This number of possible results per character is set responsive to a number of displayable entries at the client. When a user actually inputs a character, the possible results for the input character is retrieved from the sparse subset of data and presented to the user.

Abstract: An operations center stores a plurality of programs, some of which are pre-recorded, and some of which are in the process of being recorded. Pause and resumption functionality allows the user to pause the presentation of such programs using different pause modes, and to later resume the presentation of the programs. In a selective pause mode, the user can selectively pause an individual program. This prompts the storage of a bookmark which indicates a pause position in the individual program. In a pause all mode, the user can pause a plurality of programs at the same time. This prompts the storage of a plurality of bookmarks that are associated with the plurality of programs. In a third pause mode, the user can automatically pause a program by the act of switching from that program to another program. This prompts the storage of a bookmark which indicates a position in the program from which the user has switched away.

Abstract: In an implementation of control-based content pricing, a content server distributes media content to a client device in response to a request from the client device to receive the media content. A valuation application allocates a cost to the client device when the media content is distributed to the client device. The content server receives a view control input from the client device that indicates how the media content is to be rendered and the valuation application adjusts the cost according to the view control input and how the media content is to be rendered.

Abstract: A request for content associated with a particular channel is received from a client device. A system identifies service information data associated with the channel. The system then determines how content associated with the channel will be provided to the client device. Instructions are sent to the client device that notify the client device how to access content associated with the channel.

Abstract: A system records a video program as well as metadata associated with the video program. The system then receives updated metadata associated with the video program. The previously recorded metadata is replaced with the updated metadata.

Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of pet waste including a housing defining a receiving opening and an internal storage area. A pair of control arms are slidably connected to opposite side walls of the housing and include a handle at first ends thereof for controlling the position of the control arms. An L-shaped door is pivotally connected at one end to a front wall of the housing adjacent the opening, and pivotally connected to the control arms so as to be movable between open and closed positions. To dispense of pet waste, the control arm handle is pulled forward to open the door, the receiving opening is placed behind the pet waste, and the handle is pushed to close the door and capture the pet waste within the housing.