Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for seamless media content switching during fixed-duration breaks. A user can request that a first media content item played by a client device during a fixed-length break be skipped. A server can determine an amount of time remaining in the break, determine an updated playlist of one or more media content items that together at least partially but not completely consume the entire amount of remaining time, and provide the updated playlist to the client device. The client device can determine a delay duration amount of time that it will continue playing the first media content item before skipping to a media content item from the updated playlist. This delay duration is determined such that the entire break can be filled with media content without any dead air or clipped media content.

Abstract: The “swarming” behavior of multimedia content distribution network subscribers—numerous, near-simultaneous requests for the same content by different users—is predicted, based on analysis of past viewing habits. Users are grouped based on correlations in the multimedia content requested and the time at which it is requested. When a set of users of a group requests particular multimedia content, that content is autonomously distributed, via a shared distribution channel, to the terminal equipment of all users in the group, where it is buffered. As other users in the group request the same multimedia content, an initial portion is distributed to each requesting user via an individual channel. As the rendered content catches up to the buffered content, the terminal equipment switches from the content delivered via the individual distribution channel to the buffered content. The individual distribution is then terminated, and the individual distribution channel released.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to aggregating content offerings are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a computing node comprises generating a user-specific content catalog comprising content offerings for a plurality of content items from two or more service providers to which a respective user has access. For each content item, the content offerings comprise at least one content offering for the content item from at least one of the two or more service providers. The method further comprises, for a content item, identifying a best content offering from among the at least one content offering for the content item in accordance with one or more content consumption preferences associated with the respective user. The best content offering is a content offering from among the at least one content offering for the content item that most closely satisfies the one or more content consumption preferences.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for seamless media content switching during fixed-duration breaks. A user can request that a first media content item played by a client device during a fixed-length break be skipped. A server can determine an amount of time remaining in the break, determine an updated playlist of one or more media content items that together at least partially but not completely consume the entire amount of remaining time, and provide the updated playlist to the client device. The client device can determine a delay duration amount of time that it will continue playing the first media content item before skipping to a media content item from the updated playlist. This delay duration is determined such that the entire break can be filled with media content without any dead air or clipped media content.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for seamless media content switching during fixed-duration breaks. A user can request that a first media content item played by a client device during a fixed-length break be skipped. A server can determine an amount of time remaining in the break, determine an updated playlist of one or more media content items that together at least partially but not completely consume the entire amount of remaining time, and provide the updated playlist to the client device. The client device can determine a delay duration amount of time that it will continue playing the first media content item before skipping to a media content item from the updated playlist. This delay duration is determined such that the entire break can be filled with media content without any dead air or clipped media content.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for seamless media content switching during fixed-duration breaks. A user can request that a first media content item played by a client device during a fixed-length break be skipped. A server can determine an amount of time remaining in the break, determine an updated playlist of one or more media content items that together at least partially but not completely consume the entire amount of remaining time, and provide the updated playlist to the client device. The client device can determine a delay duration amount of time that it will continue playing the first media content item before skipping to a media content item from the updated playlist. This delay duration is determined such that the entire break can be filled with media content without any dead air or clipped media content.

Abstract: The “swarming” behavior of multimedia content distribution network subscribers—numerous, near-simultaneous requests for the same content by different users—is predicted, based on analysis of past viewing habits. Users are grouped based on correlations in the multimedia content requested and the time at which it is requested. When a set of users of a group requests particular multimedia content, that content is autonomously distributed, via a shared distribution channel, to the terminal equipment of all users in the group, where it is buffered. As other users in the group request the same multimedia content, an initial portion is distributed to each requesting user via an individual channel. As the rendered content catches up to the buffered content, the terminal equipment switches from the content delivered via the individual distribution channel to the buffered content. The individual distribution is then terminated, and the individual distribution channel released.

Abstract: The “swarming” behavior of multimedia content distribution network subscribers—numerous, near-simultaneous requests for the same content by different users—is predicted, based on analysis of past viewing habits. Users are grouped based on correlations in the multimedia content requested and the time at which it is requested. When a set of users of a group requests particular multimedia content, that content is autonomously distributed, via a shared distribution channel, to the terminal equipment of all users in the group, where it is buffered. As other users in the group request the same multimedia content, an initial portion is distributed to each requesting user via an individual channel. As the rendered content catches up to the buffered content, the terminal equipment switches from the content delivered via the individual distribution channel to the buffered content. The individual distribution is then terminated, and the individual distribution channel released.

Abstract: Machine-to-machine communication is employed to allow an image recording device to capture identifying information about objects in the field of view. This captured information can be stored as metadata associated with the recorded image. The metadata can be used for a number of different purposes including tagging of content to allow for classification and retrieval, as well as being used in post processing to allow for identification of particular objects based on the recorded metadata.

Abstract: An IPTV service provider makes use of a detection that a request for content cannot be fulfilled as a result of content distribution agreements as a trigger to select a roaming partner that is able to serve the requested content. The ITF making the request is redirected to the roaming partner to allow user requests to be served. This improves user experience and provides a potential new revenue source to the service provider.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a digit map for a call setup, wherein leading digits of a call number are collected by a gateway and transmitted to a call control server where a call-specific digit map is generated by comparing the leading digits to a numbering plan.

Abstract: A virtual participant profile is created in a manner that allows for an individual user's contribution to be identified so that modifications for new users joining, existing users leaving, and existing users changing their profiles will not require that the entire virtual participant profile is regenerated from the individual profiles.

Abstract: The “swarming” behavior of multimedia content distribution network subscribers—numerous, near-simultaneous requests for the same content by different users—is predicted, based on analysis of past viewing habits. Users are grouped based on correlations in the multimedia content requested and the time at which it is requested. When a set of users of a group requests particular multimedia content, that content is autonomously distributed, via a shared distribution channel, to the terminal equipment of all users in the group, where it is buffered. As other users in the group request the same multimedia content, an initial portion is distributed to each requesting user via an individual channel. As the rendered content catches up to the buffered content, the terminal equipment switches from the content delivered via the individual distribution channel to the buffered content. The individual distribution is then terminated, and the individual distribution channel released.