Abstract: An electronic program guide is displayed where the program guide indicates the various media being consumed by a plurality of users. Such users can be linked together via a relationship from a social networking website. In addition, the grid can display broadcast channel listings. The grid optionally provides the feature of adding and removing corresponding user and channel listings.

Abstract: A current programming channel, and the content thereon, being displayed on a primary display device are tracked. Web content related to the content being displayed on the primary display device is searched and the resulting data is made available to a user on at least one secondary display device via a user interface. The results of the search are made available to a user such that when data resulting from the search is selected for display on the at least one secondary display device, the data is displayed on the at least one secondary display device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device. In the event of a change of the programming channel or the content thereon, a new search is initiated for data related to content being currently viewed.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of outputting periodically a schedule for a transmission of a plurality of multimedia contents to a client receiver over a unidirectional data communication channel; transmitting said schedule to said client receiver over said communication channel before said transmission of said plurality of multimedia contents, said schedule including a metadata indicating a plurality of broadcast times for respective ones of said plurality of multimedia contents for selectively activating said client receiver in accordance with said plurality of broadcast times; estimating first and second available bandwidths of said communication channel at respective ones of first and second points in time; selecting one multimedia content file of a given compression level for transmission in response to a change of available bandwidth of said communication channel between said first and second points in time so that said plurality of multimedia contents may be received at said client receiver in accordanc

Abstract: A method and system of providing a content guide that identifies a spatial relationship between the elements in the content guide is described. A controller receives electronic program guide data. The received electronic program guide data is parsed to identify a plurality of programs listed in the electronic program guide and data corresponding to at least one program description attribute for the identified programs. A relationship is determined between each identified program based on the at least one program description attribute. At least one cluster is generated and includes at least one of the plurality of identified programs based on the determined relationship. A user interface display processor generates a user interface display image representing a clustered content guide and including the at least one generated cluster enabling the user to view the relationship of the plurality of programs.

Abstract: A method and system of providing access to related content includes a primary display that is tuned to a desired program. Information that identifies the desired program is retrieved from an electronic program guide using a content processor. A plurality of locations on a communication network are automatically searched for additional episodes of the desired program using the retrieved information via an interne interface. Links for accessing the additional episodes of the tune program are provided via a user interface display processor on a secondary display.

Abstract: A method and system including a controller with an internet interface of providing enhanced content is provided. The controller receives an electronic program guide data and retrieves at least one characteristic identifying a program currently being displayed on a primary display device within the electronic program guide. At least one external content source is searched using the internet interface for information related to the program based on the at least one characteristic and the information related to the program obtained during the search is stored into a memory. The information stored in the memory and related to the first program is displayed by a user interface display processor on a second display.

Abstract: A current programming channel, and the content thereon, being displayed on a primary display device are tracked. Web content related to the content being displayed on the primary display device is searched and the resulting data is made available to a user on at least one secondary display device via a user interface. The results of the search are made available to a user such that when data resulting from the search is selected for display on the at least one secondary display device, the data is displayed on the at least one secondary display device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device. In the event of a change of the programming channel or the content thereon, a new search is initiated for data related to content being currently viewed.

Abstract: A centralized media device accesses media sources via a networked system to display a unified preview of media contents stored on different devices. The unified previews are provided in real-time, pushing previews to multiple user devices. The centralized media device can employ user profile information to tailor the unified previews to individuals. It can also employ external sources to obtain relevant content images and information to provide to a user. The centralized media device can operate independently of the type of media, media source and/or viewing devices.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a dynamic user interface on a second screen control device for controlling the content being displayed on primary viewing screen. The method and system utilizes view context which is based on the content being displayed, additional information, and the type of second screen control device. The view context is then used to generate the user interface on the second screen control device.

Abstract: A method for a system that provides an enhanced content guide includes a controller that receives electronic program guide data and parses the received electronic program guide data to identify a program listed in the electronic program guide and data corresponding to at least one program description attribute for the identified program. At least one external source of content information is searched using the Internet interface for information related to the identified program using the at least one program description attribute. A user interface generator generates an enhanced content guide user interface including the information related to the identified program for display on a display device in response to selection of the identified program in the electronic program guide.

Abstract: A method and system of providing access to related content includes a primary display that is tuned to a desired program. Information that identifies the desired program is retrieved from an electronic program guide using a content processor. A plurality of locations on a communication network are automatically searched for additional episodes of the desired program using the retrieved information via an interne interface. Links for accessing the additional episodes of the tune program are provided via a user interface display processor on a secondary display.

Abstract: A method and system of providing a content guide that identifies a spatial relationship between the elements in the content guide is described. A controller receives electronic program guide data. The received electronic program guide data is parsed to identify a plurality of programs listed in the electronic program guide and data corresponding to at least one program description attribute for the identified programs. A relationship is determined between each identified program based on the at least one program description attribute. At least one cluster is generated and includes at least one of the plurality of identified programs based on the determined relationship. A user interface display processor generates a user interface display image representing a clustered content guide and including the at least one generated cluster enabling the user to view the relationship of the plurality of programs.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying and providing content to a user is described. The method is performed by a controller with an internet interface. A controller receives electronic program guide data, the electronic program guide data being selectively displayed on a primary display device. An attribute processor parses the received electronic program guide data to identify at least one program description attribute for a currently tuned program. A content processor searches the received electronic program guide and detects at least one further program having the identified at least one program description attribute. The content processor identifies the at least one further program as recommended content in step and a user interface generator generates, a user interface display including the recommended content user interface including a user selectable data item representing the recommended content for display on a secondary display device different from the primary display device.

Abstract: A method and system including a controller with an internet interface of providing enhanced content is provided. The controller receives an electronic program guide data and retrieves at least one characteristic identifying a program currently being displayed on a primary display device within the electronic program guide. At least one external content source is searched using the internet interface for information related to the program based on the at least one characteristic and the information related to the program obtained during the search is stored into a memory. The information stored in the memory and related to the first program is displayed by a user interface display processor on a second display.

Abstract: In response to a request for media, a determination is made whether a user should receive the requested media. When the user has the proper content privilege, a content manager will authorize the delivery of such content. Otherwise, alternative content is delivered to the user based on the content privileges.

Abstract: An electronic program guide is displayed where the program guide indicates the various media being consumed by a plurality of users. Such users can be linked together via a relationship from a social networking website. In addition, the grid can display broadcast channel listings. The grid optionally provides the feature of adding and removing corresponding user and channel listings.

Abstract: A source-independent content rating system and method are provided. The system includes an electronic program guide extractor for extracting program guide information relating to at least one of, programs and channels, from multiple content subscription services. A filter generates identifying information that identifies at least one of a content and a category of the content based on the received program guide information. A subscription manager receives user specified ratings and the identifying information, and manages user interface information displayed to a user. The user interface information includes at least one of the content and the category identified by the identifying information and further includes a user specified rating there for. The subscription manager migrates any user specified ratings provided with respect to a particular one of the multiple content subscription services to all other relevant ones of the multiple content subscription services.

Abstract: A delivery arrangement for linear TV programs uses SVC in which encoded enhancement layer video data is pre-downloaded to a STB and encoded base layer video data is live broadcasted to the STB at viewing time Pre-downloading of the enhancement layer data is done during off-peak viewing periods taking advantage of an abundance of network bandwidth while reducing bandwidth demand during peak viewing periods by broadcasting only the base layer data The enhancement layer data is downloaded in a modified MP4 file and stored in the STB for later synchronization and combination with the base layer, which is sent to the STB in a real time protocol (RTP) stream The combined base and enhancement layer data is SVC decoded for presentation to the enduser The pre-downloaded enhancement video file may be provided with digital rights management (DRM) protection, thereby providing conditional access to the enhanced video

Abstract: Advanced multiplexing methods and apparatus that are especially useful in multiplexing variable bit rate input video streams onto a fixed bandwidth output stream with minimum effect on video quality are described. A multiplexer provides feedback to a stagger transmitter to help it maintain its output bit rate. In addition, the stagger transmitter parses Network Abstraction Layers (NALs) from the given streams and makes decisions on which NALs to forward to the MUX.

Abstract: A multiplexer applies dynamic bit rate reduction at the multiplexer level in accordance with the types of video input streams as determined from information contained in units of the video input streams. The multiplexer parses the Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) headers of said units to determine their relative importance and passes them on to its output accordingly. The multiplexer can also take advantage of the relation between streams if they are related, as in the case of Scalable Video Coding (SVC).