Abstract: A mobile station (201) receives (301) a transmission from a remote source (such as, but not limited to, a reference server (206)) comprising information regarding downloadable content. This information can comprise, in a preferred approach, addresses that can be used to download corresponding selections of downloadable content. This information can further comprise, in a preferred approach, characterizing information regarding at least some of the downloadable content selections identified via such addresses. In a preferred approach, such a mobile station can then also access (302) locally developed information regarding downloading constraints of interest and then make determinations (303) regarding when to automatically download at least a portion of at least one of the selections of downloadable content as a function, at least in part, of both the characterizing information as was received via the aforementioned transmission and the locally developed information regarding relevant downloading constraints.

Abstract: A mobile station (201) receives (301) a transmission from a remote source (such as, but not limited to, a reference server (206)) comprising information regarding downloadable content. This information can comprise, in a preferred approach, addresses that can be used to download corresponding selections of downloadable content. This information can further comprise, in a preferred approach, characterizing information regarding at least some of the downloadable content selections identified via such addresses. In a preferred approach, such a mobile station can then also access (302) locally developed information regarding downloading constraints of interest and then make determinations (303) regarding when to automatically download at least a portion of at least one of the selections of downloadable content as a function, at least in part, of both the characterizing information as was received via the aforementioned transmission and the locally developed information regarding relevant downloading constraints.

Abstract: Disclosed is commercial-information sharing system in which a vendor provides a shopping device to a customer. When the shopping device presents commercial information to the customer that the customer finds interesting, the customer may choose to share the commercial information. The information is sent from the vendor's shopping device to a personal communications device of the customer. The customer then uses his personal communications device to share the information. The vendor may send tracking information along with the commercial information. If someone is interested in the commercial information shared by the original customer and goes to the vendor to, for example, redeem a coupon, the tracking information provides the vendor with important marketing data. The original customer may also share content that he generates and then associates with the commercial information.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a bookmark server to create a bookmark from content associated with a content source is disclosed. The method comprises a remote device selecting a portion of the content associated with the content source, based on an input received via a user interface. The remote device then generates metadata associated with the selected portion of the content. The metadata includes information pertaining to the content source and the content. The remote device communicates with the bookmark server, which can access the content associated with the content source. The remote device sends the metadata to the bookmark server along with a request message to the bookmark server to create the bookmark based on the metadata.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile device, and a method thereof, for creating media bookmarks. The mobile device comprises a user interface, a timing circuit, a processor, and a wireless transceiver. The user interface detects first and second user inputs associated with a media clip, in which the first user input precedes the second user input. The timing circuit provides a time stamp at a given time. The processor determines an end time associated with the media clip corresponding to a time stamp when the first user input is detected, and a start time associated with a media clip based on the second user input. The processor also identifies a broadcast channel associated with the media clip. The wireless transceiver transmits clip information based on the start and end times to a remote server via a wireless communication link.

Abstract: Energy-efficient discovery techniques are provided for a client node to discover at least one peer provider node in an ad hoc network. For example, the client node can be configured to turn on its first ad hoc interface while in a discovery mode to establish a channel for a first time period. The client node can then transmit a first beacon to advertise its presence to other nodes within the transmission range of the client node to acquire service information from at least one of a plurality of prospective peer provider nodes within the transmission range of the client node. At least one of the prospective peer provider nodes is configured to turn on its second ad hoc interface for a second period of time to listen for beacons from other nodes. The second period of time is less than or equal to the first period of time.

Abstract: A network element (400) can receive (101) (from an end user (404) and via a data network (403)) a message as regards an aggregation of multiple different renderable content items. By one approach this message comprises, at least in part, selection criteria as have been selected by the end user. This network element can then automatically use (102) this selection criteria to select a plurality of specific renderable content items from amongst a plurality of candidate different renderable content items. These teachings will then support automatically combining (103) the plurality of specific renderable content items to form the requested aggregation of multiple different renderable content items.

Abstract: A network element (200) receives (101), from a plurality of different end users (205), information regarding content clips as pertain to audio-visual content and uses (102) that information to automatically infer a relative popularity of audio-visual content as corresponds to the content clips to provide popularity information. Such audio-visual content can comprise, for example, televised content. The aforementioned information can comprise, for example, such items as a start time and a stop time for a given one of the content clips, at least a portion of a given one of the content clips, a content identifier of some kind, and so forth.

Abstract: A method for scheduling the reception of content in a content receiver, for example, in an STB/DVR, includes scheduling (210) the reception of selected content by a tuner resource of the STB/DVR at a particular time. The scheduling may be performed at the STB/DVR, or alternatively at a remote device, for example, at a cellular telephone using an EPG. A virtual tuner is provided (230) to the STB/DVR in the event that the tuner resource of the STB/DVR is not available to receive the selected content when scheduled. In one implementation, usage of the virtual tuner is conditioned on consent to viewing additional non-selected content.

Abstract: A method and architecture for managing a communication campaign direct toward a plurality of media consumption devices associated with a common user (101), including obtaining communication addresses for each of the plurality of media consumption devices (110, 116, 122) associated with the common user, associating the common user with a communication campaign, and prompting transmission of communications to the common user via the plurality of media consumption devices based on a campaign policy.

Abstract: A method of generating an implicit vote for a media item based on user behavior may comprise recording information identifying a first set of user inputs to a media client associated with playing of a first media item, receiving and storing an explicit vote for the first media item, and storing information that correlates a user input from the first set of user inputs with the explicit vote. The first set of user inputs may comprise at least one user input. The method may comprise recording information identifying a second set of user inputs to the media client associated with playing of a second media item, wherein the second set of user inputs may comprise at least one user input matching the stored correlated user input. The method may comprise generating an implicit vote for the second media item based on the stored information correlating the stored correlated user input with the explicit vote.

Abstract: A system for recording media content on different recording devices includes a metadata insertion device configured to annotate advertisement content with metadata, where the advertisement content references a media content, and where the metadata is configured to enable recording of the media content on the different recording devices. The system also includes a program finder server configured to determine the next broadcast of the media content available to the different recording devices and a recording server configured to access information pertaining to the different recording devices and configured to schedule a recording of the media content on one or more of the recording devices based upon data and protocols required by the one or more recording devices.

Abstract: Energy-efficient discovery techniques are provided for a client node to discover at least one peer provider node in an ad hoc network. For example, the client node can be configured to turn on its first ad hoc interface while in a discovery mode to establish a channel for a first time period. The client node can then transmit a first beacon to advertise its presence to other nodes within the transmission range of the client node to acquire service information from at least one of a plurality of prospective peer provider nodes within the transmission range of the client node. At least one of the prospective peer provider nodes is configured to turn on its second ad hoc interface for a second period of time to listen for beacons from other nodes. The second period of time is less than or equal to the first period of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for advertising is provided herein. Location-based content (advertisements) are provided to users of a communication system. A correlation between a user's displayed advertisements and the user's subsequent location is made is a basis for charging fees to the advertiser.