Abstract: A disclosed example method to manage network bandwidth allocation in a media delivery environment involves detecting insufficient bandwidth available to deliver requested media to a media receiver and presenting user-selectable options via the media receiver to allocate bandwidth to deliver the requested media to the media receiver. The example method also involves receiving a first user selection of one of the user-selectable options and implementing the selected one of the user-selectable options specifying a second user selection identifying a particular media stream to be delivered at a media quality that is lower than a higher media quality previously selected for that particular media stream.

Abstract: A method of pre-caching video content is provided and includes measuring an available bandwidth of a data connection to a set top box. The available bandwidth measurement can be an average available bandwidth of the data connection to the set top box or a minimum available bandwidth of the data connection to the set top box. Each of a plurality of video files is divided into a first portion and a second portion and the size of each first portion is based on the available bandwidth measurement. The first portion of each of the plurality of video files is downloaded over the data connection and stored in a memory within the set top box. A list is displayed at a display device and includes a list of video titles that correspond to the plurality of video files that have only a first portion downloaded to the memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a PVR server for storing and playing back TV programs, in particular to an improved method for operating a network PVR and to an improved PVR server (102). The inventive method consists in determining the number of users storing in the personal archives thereof a determined TV program, which is stored in the memory (108) of the PVR server (102). When the user number is less than a predefined limit value, an erasing signal occurs to them and the program is cleared during a configurable period of time if no user selects said program as to be preserved.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for providing an experience platform, as well as sentio or experience codecs, and experience agents for supporting the experience platform. The experience platform may be provided by a service provider to enable an experience provider to compose and direct a participant experience. The service provider monetizes the experience by charging the experience provider and/or the participants for services. The participant experience can involve one or more experience participants. The experience provider can create an experience with a variety of dimensions and features. As will be appreciated, the following description provides one paradigm for understanding the multi-dimensional experience available to the participants. There are many suitable ways of describing, characterizing and implementing the experience platform contemplated herein.

Abstract: PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the placeshifting device directs a media recording device to receive the media program and to store the program. The placeshifting device may digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary, and transmit the media program to the remote device for playback.

Abstract: Providing video-on-demand (VOD) content to a subscriber may be disclosed. First, a request for a VOD session may be received from a companion device. Next, in response to the received request for the VOD session, a catalog of VOD content may be sent to the companion device. A selection of VOD content listed in the catalog of VOD content may then be received. A digital transport adaptor (DTA) corresponding to the received request for the VOD session may be identified. Next, the VOD session may be setup with the identified DTA and the selected VOD content may be streamed to the identified DTA.

Abstract: A live media processing and streaming service provides a content provider with media processing and distribution capabilities for live events. The service provides capabilities for capturing a live event, configuring programs from the live event, formatting the programs into a mezzanine format suitable for streaming, storage of the presentation manifest and fragments corresponding to a program into a cloud storage, and distribution of the presentation manifest and fragments to media consumers in real time.

Abstract: The invention provides a new solution for multimedia service guides, so as to aid the user equipment to receive multimedia service. The multimedia service management device notifies a service identifier and a service address of the multimedia service to a network server, and notifies the service identifier of the multimedia service to multimedia service guide device. Multimedia service guide device generates multimedia service guides comprising service identifier. After the user equipment obtains the multimedia service guides, it queries the network server for the service address corresponding to the multimedia service according to the service identifier comprised in the multimedia service guides, and obtains the multimedia service according to the service address.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering content are provided. A request for desired content may be received by a content management server from a customer device associated with a customer. The content management server may include one or more computers. Additionally, the content management server may determine whether the customer device is in communication with one or more additional devices associated with the customer. Based at least in part upon the communication determination, the content management server may determine whether the customer device is located within a subscription area for the customer. Based at least in part upon the determination of whether the customer device is located within the subscription area, the content management server may determine access rights to the desired content.

Abstract: Techniques for providing personalized presentations of aggregated content items are described herein. These techniques may aggregate individual content items from multiple sources, filter the content items based on the preferences of a user, and create an ordered presentation of the content items. A different presentation may be available to the user at different times, for example, a new presentation may be available each day. The new presentation may include more recent or more relevant content items than previous presentations of content items. Each presentation may combine the multiple individual content items together in such a way that each individual content item appears to the user as part of a single content item. User interaction with the aggregation of content items may be analyzed and that analysis may be used to modify subsequent selection and ordering of content items in future presentations.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing over-the-top delivery of content through a plurality of content delivery networks (CDN). The method provided works transparently with standard HTTP servers supporting an initial request for content from a client to a first preferred CDN. If the first CDN does not have the content, the method includes provisions for the first CDN to acquire the content from a second CDN, or for the client to request the content from a second CDN directly. A system is also specified for implementing a client and server infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of the method.

Abstract: A client device is operated by providing a media content record function, receiving a user invocation of the media content record function, recording media content responsive to the user invocation of the media content record function, obtaining a list of authorized recipients for the media content, receiving a user selection of at least one of the authorized recipients for the media content, associating the selected at least one of the authorized recipients with the media content, and transmitting the media content along with information identifying the at least one of the authorized recipients associated therewith from the client device to a network accessible media repository for storage therein. The media content includes audio, video, and/or image content.

Abstract: A system and method of managing delivery of content is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first request for delayed broadcast of a content item at a first time. The first request is from a first user having access to broadcast content. The method further includes receiving a second request for delayed broadcast of the content item at a second time. The second request is from a second user having access to broadcast content. The method further includes scheduling the content item for broadcast to a plurality of users at a third time. The third time is after the first time and after the second time. The plurality of users includes the first and second user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for combining assets for a streaming video signal. Video assets are provided in an adaptive bit rate format. The video assets may comprise fragments of various types of video content. A stitched manifest identifying a combination of the video assets is created in response to a client request for one or more of the video assets. The stitched manifest is provided to a client and used by the client to request the combination of video assets for playback as one continuous video stream in an order specified by the stitched manifest.

Abstract: There is provided an information providing apparatus including an ECG scenario storage portion to store an ECG scenario related to a program in association with reference ID, an ECG package storage portion to store reference IDs of ECG scenarios related to programs in association with discrimination ID of an ECG channel allocated to an ECG package in order to provide a collection of information related to programs having a relationship as an ECG package, an ECG package providing portion to acquire discrimination ID of a particular channel from a receiving terminal, extract an ECG package corresponding to the acquired discrimination ID and provide it to the receiving terminal, and an ECG scenario providing portion to acquire reference ID of a particular ECG scenario included in the ECG package from the receiving terminal, extract an ECG scenario corresponding to the acquired reference ID and provide it to the receiving terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and method for adjusting bitrate among multiple media streams delivered on a common subscriber connection. One such method comprises receiving information describing a maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection, and receiving a plurality of media streams. Each media stream utilizes a corresponding bitrate, and the plurality of media streams has a combined bitrate. The method also comprises adjusting the bitrate of at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

Abstract: System and method embodiments for joint scheduling of buffered video on demand (VoD) and best effort flows within the same band enable improved quality of experience for VoD receiving mobile devices without resource partitioning or sacrificing FSS gains. In an embodiment, a method for scheduling video on demand flows and best effort flows within the same band includes determining with a transmission point (TP) a buffer vacancy for each of the ones of a plurality of mobile devices wirelessly coupled to a transmission point that are receiving VoD flows, calculating, with the TP, buffer vacancy scheduling weights for the plurality of mobile devices using the buffer vacancy, and determining, with the TP, a joint schedule of VoD flows and best effort flows based on the buffer vacancy scheduling weights.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for enhancing a television viewing experience by a group of one or more users. The experience is enhanced by integrating services from a number of different sources. This integration of services aggregates cloud data, identifies content from the aggregated cloud data that is potentially of interest to the user, and distributes that content to a main display or one or more secondary computing devices associated with the one or more users in the group.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to content searching of various databases in an interactive television network; caching programming for rebroadcasting to interactive television network subscribers; and interactively offering goods and services referred to in broadcast programming to interactive television network subscribers.

Abstract: A video playback system, transmission apparatus, and content playback apparatus are provided that are capable of performing accurate resource prediction when playing back content via a network. A transmission apparatus generates consumption resource information in which a playback time and band information of content corresponding to the playback time are paired from management information of content to be played back, and transmits this consumption resource information to a content playback apparatus. Utilizing consumption resource information transmitted from the transmission apparatus, the content playback apparatus predicts a resource that will be consumed by the content playback apparatus, using a table held in the content playback apparatus, according to the playback time and playback mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives packets including video data that was encoded or decoded. The packets are dynamically routed through processing elements in different routes and some of the packets include signatures from processing elements that processed each respective packet. The method then determines a plurality of captures each including a set of packets and determines for each capture, a set of processing elements that processed the set of packets. The set of processing units inserted respective signatures into a user data section of the packets that is defined by a standard used to encode or decode the video data. The determined set of processing elements are analyzed for each capture to determine a processing element in the set of processing elements that is considered to be causing a performance degradation. Then, the method performs a remedial action associated with the processing element.

Abstract: An information processor includes: a content acquisition section adapted to acquire linked content that includes a plurality of scenarios, each made up of content data and control information used to control the reproduction of the content data; a control information acquisition section adapted to acquire the control information; and a reproduction control section adapted to control the reproduction of the linked content by reproducing the content data according to the control information, wherein the control information acquisition section acquires, as an event adapted to allow a move from the current scenario to another scenario, the control information including an absolute time-of-day event that occurs at a specific date and time on the scenario time axis, and the reproduction control section allows a move from the current scenario to another scenario if the absolute time-of-day event occurs.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to transmitting and displaying a channel of a television to a non-subscriber when a subscriber is viewing the channel so that both the non-subscriber and the subscriber can simultaneously view the channel. A channel is displayed to a subscriber of a service offering the channel. A presence status of the subscriber is monitored. The presence status characterizes a subscriber presence for viewing the channel. The presence status is displayed to one or more contacts of the subscriber, including the non-subscriber. The channel can be simultaneously displayed to the subscriber and the contacts of the subscriber for as long as the subscriber views the channel until a predetermined period of time. Related methods, apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A streaming video server generates a virtual file system that includes virtual addresses of a plurality of encrypted segments of a plurality of video programs at each of a plurality of bitrates, without storing the plurality of encrypted segments in persistent storage. A request is received from a client device to access a selected one of the plurality of video programs via a request to access the virtual file system. The plurality of encrypted segments of the selected one of the plurality of video programs are generated at a selected bitrate, in response to the request.

Abstract: A file server delivers media files in unicast mode to a media gateway device in response to user requests, and a FCAST/NORM media streamer delivers a stream of these media files in multicast mode to the media gateway device. By using a file server operating in unicast mode and a FCAST/NORM media streamer delivering a stream of these media files in multicast mode, it is possible to switch seamlessly between the two modes in an embodiment. In an embodiment of the invention, a media gateway device includes a cache memory for storing media files from the file server and/or the FCAST/NORM media streamer; and a controller that controls delivery of media files from the cache memory to the user and transmits user requests for media files to the file server when the cache memory does not contain the media files requested by the user. Thus, the controller requests media files from the file server only when the media files requested by the user are not cached.

Abstract: Provided is a video processing device capable of displaying an easily viewable video utilizing a broader area in a display. A video processing unit that is included in the video processing device and processes an input video includes a first memory that stores the input video, a second memory that stores the input video, a compression/expansion control unit that compresses and/or expands a first area of the input video stored in the first memory and compresses and/or expands a second area of the input video stored in the second memory, and an image composing unit that generates an output video in which a video of the first area compressed and/or expanded by the compression/expansion control unit and a video of the second area compressed and/or expanded by the compression/expansion control unit are horizontally aligned.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing on the fly transcoding of video on demand content for adaptive streaming are disclosed. For example, a media server has access to a single rendition of a video on demand item. The media server receives a request from a computing device. The request is for a portion of one of a plurality of renditions of the video on demand item that are available for adaptive streaming, where each of the renditions has a distinct bitrate. In response to the request, the media server generates, on the fly, the requested portion of the requested rendition by transcoding a corresponding portion of the accessible rendition. The media server sends the generated portion to the computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for multimedia viewership surveying of an end-user's set-top-box (STB). The multimedia information may be received from at least one satellite via a satellite receiver. The satellite receiver may convey the multimedia information to a service provider location. At the service provider location, a content server may receive a request for transmission of multimedia information. The request may be validated to determine whether the request is authorized. The method may also include monitoring channel requests, and channel viewing times. The method may also include recording and/or logging the channel requests and information associated with the requested program in a user log. The user log may be evaluated to facilitate targeted marketing of end-user subscribers based upon demonstrated television viewing habits.

Abstract: A media gateway that services a plurality of client devices may be used to combine a plurality of encoded multimedia transport streams, which may comprise a buffered copy of received encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream and an encoded local multimedia transport stream that pertains to the broadcast transport stream. The media gateway may decode the encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream to extract broadcast multimedia content carried therein based on determination of capabilities of one or more client devices used in playback of the content. The encoded local multimedia transport stream may be generated based on local multimedia content generated and/or captured via one or more client devices. The buffering duration of the received encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream may be adaptively determined, to ensure that the encoded local multimedia transport stream and the encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream are synchronized when they are combined.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

Abstract: Cache management techniques are described for a content distribution network (CDN), for example, a video on demand (VOD) system supporting user requests and delivery of video content. A preferred cache size may be calculated for one or more cache devices in the CDN, for example, based on a maximum cache memory size, a bandwidth availability associated with the CDN, and a title dispersion calculation determined by the user requests within the CDN. After establishing the cache with a set of assets (e.g., video content), an asset replacement algorithm may be executed at one or more cache devices in the CDN. When a determination is made that a new asset should be added to a full cache, a multi-factor comparative analysis may be performed on the assets currently residing in the cache, comparing the popularity and size of assets and combinations of assets, along with other factors to determine which assets should be replaced in the cache device.

Abstract: This technique relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, and a program that can demodulate transmitted signals with high accuracy. A receiving device of this disclosure includes: an amplifying unit that amplifies a received signal; an adjusting unit that adjusts gain of the amplifying unit in accordance with power of the signal; a demodulating unit that demodulates the amplified signal; and a detecting unit that detects an interval from the signal, information having the same content continuously appearing in the interval. The adjusting unit restricts the process of adjusting the gain of the amplifying unit in accordance with a result of the detection of the interval. This disclosure can be applied to receiving devices that receive broadcast signals compliant with DVB-C2 via a CATV network.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for managing playback of content delivered to a mobile device with a pause and resume functionality. The method and system includes receiving delivered content on a mobile device, initiating playback of the delivered content, pausing playback of the content being delivered to the mobile device in response to an action and resuming delivery of the content upon a request.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on the distribution network.

Abstract: A display device and a method for providing content using the display device are disclosed. A controller receives a search term and searches for at least one content including a video frame associated with the received search term. A display displays a list of the searched content.

Abstract: A virtual content store may be provided. Upon receiving a request for a content stream from a subscriber at a regional headend, a central content vault may be examined to determine whether the content stream is available. Once the content stream is determined to be available in the central content vault, a streaming session may be established to the subscriber from the regional headend. The content stream may be retrieved from the central content vault and provided to the subscriber via the streaming session.

Abstract: A method of requesting video data distributed across a plurality of video servers(210-21N) connected to a communications network (120) is disclosed. A request (e.g., 1000) is transmitted to one of the video servers (e.g., 210). The request (1000) includes at least time information about at least a first portion of the video data. The first portion of video data is received from the video server (210). A redirection message (e.g., 1008) is also received from the video server (210). The redirection message (1008) specifies a next one of the video servers (210) containing a temporally adjacent further portion of the video data.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving, by a media content delivery subsystem from an end-user media content processing device via a network, a request to record a live transmission of a media content instance, recording, by the media content delivery subsystem, the live transmission of the media content instance, and transmitting, by the media content delivery subsystem, data representative of the recorded live transmission of the media content instance to the end-user media content processing device via the network for local storage by the end-user media content processing device. In certain embodiments, the recording includes generating at least one media data file containing the data representative of the recorded live transmission of the media content instance, and the transmitting includes transferring the at least one media data file from the media content delivery subsystem to the end-user media content processing device via the network.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video server includes an encoder, a transmission module, storage modules, and a controller. The encoder outputs a request in response to encoding a video signal. The controller confirms whether or not the number of outputs of video data and a video file to the storage modules within a time interval is less than a limitation number in response to the request. The controller selects the best storage module to store the encoded video data from among the storage modules if the number of outputs is less than the limitation number. The apparatus controller transmits an instruction to the encoder designating the selected storage module as a transmission destination. The encoder outputs the encoded video data designating the transmission destination. The transmission module transmits the output video data to the transmission destination. The storage modules designated as the transmission destination stores the transmitted video data.

Abstract: A transport stream (TS) includes a plurality of first download data blocks (DDBs), a plurality of second download data blocks, and a download information indication (DII). Each download data block includes a first processing method tag and a first content data. The first processing method tag is for indicating a first data processing method, and the first content data forms a part of a firmware after having been processed according to the first data processing method. Each second DDB includes a second processing method tag and a second content data. The second processing method tag is for indicating a second data processing method different from the first data processing method, and the second content data forms another part of the firmware after having been processed according to the second data processing method. The DII includes information for controlling the first DDBs and the second DDBs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently distributing digital cinema files from a server to a theater are disclosed. The systems and methods may comply with DCI requirements. A server updates an original composition playlist, updates a track file associated with the updated composition playlist, and distributes the updated composition playlist and updated track file to one or more theaters over a communications network. The theater is configured to store the updated track file at a storage containing copies of all track files associated with the updated composition playlist and update the theater's original composition playlist to the updated composition playlist. The server may have a database configured to track the composition playlists and associated track files present in each theater in the system.

Abstract: System and method for providing a probabilistic order of tiles relative to a current section of a video that a user is viewing. A cache implementation uses this ordering to decide what tiles to evict from the cache, i.e. which tiles will probably not be accessed within a particular timeframe, but not when to evict (this is up to the cache implementation). A cache implementation can also use the prioritized list of the present embodiment to pre-fetch tiles.

Abstract: A method includes sending, by a user device, a request for video content based on a selected video content chapter of the video content. The method also includes receiving video content information that includes a list of video content chapters of the video content. The method includes determining, for each listed video content chapter, whether the video content chapter has been previously stored on the user device. The method further includes downloading particular chapters of the video content in a priority order based on the selected chapter in response to a determination that the particular chapters have not been previously stored on the user device, and playing the video content based on the selected chapter.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to support efficient and secure delivery of a media stream or content file to a mobile phone, tablet, computer or other remote device. Most of the media stream's content is received directly from a content source for efficient bandwidth allocation, but at least a portion of the stream is delivered from a set top box, television receiver, or other home device that is located at the customer's premises to preserve the security of the stream. The portion that is delivered from the home device may be a key portion of the stream that is essential to the playback of media stream.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for simplifying the process of creating a video-on-demand system. For example, in one embodiment, a method for creating a video-on-demand (VOD) system is disclosed that includes dynamically capturing segments of an adaptive bit rate (ABR) live stream of the program at time of broadcasting and storing the captured segments of the ABR live stream of the program as a VOD file. The method also includes creating a manifest file comprising information for playing back the VOD file. The method further includes playing back, using the manifest, the VOD file by transmitting the captured ABR segments to a client device in response to receiving a subscriber request for the program.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing on the fly transcoding of video on demand content for adaptive streaming are disclosed. For example, a media server has access to a single rendition of a video on demand item. The media server receives a request from a computing device. The request is for a portion of one of a plurality of renditions of the video on demand item that are available for adaptive streaming, where each of the renditions has a distinct bitrate. In response to the request, the media server generates, on the fly, the requested portion of the requested rendition by transcoding a corresponding portion of the accessible rendition. The media server sends the generated portion to the computing device.

Abstract: A method and system for a plurality of devices to share a channel map of digital broadcast in a home network is provided. In a system and method for sharing a channel map of digital broadcast in a home network according to the present invention, a Remote User Interface Server (RUIS) stores a channel map including an occupied count field for indicating a number of devices using each of a plurality of digital broadcast channels and an occupier indicator field including indicators of the devices using corresponding digital broadcast channels, and at least one Remote User Interface Client (RUIC) as one of the devices receives and displays the channels for which occupier indicator fields include the occupier indicator of the RUIC.

Abstract: A method at a first set top box includes transmitting to a second set top box a request to use a television tuner associated with the second set top box. The method further includes receiving a return recording option from the second set top box. The method also includes generating an indication of a rejection of the request from the second set top box based on the received return recording option. The indication includes a graphical message specifying the rejection of the request.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a method and an apparatus for digital content transmission that comprise: (a) partitioning the digital content into a plurality of sequential segments; (b) selecting a plurality of transmission time instants for each of the sequential segments as a function of their order; (c) generating a plurality of linear combinations of the plurality of sequential segments during the plurality of transmission time instants resulting in a plurality of linearly combined coded segments; and (c) transmitting the plurality of linearly combined coded segments from a server to a plurality of clients. In particular embodiments, the method and apparatus further comprise performing error correction based on an implicit error correction (IEC) method that employs the redundancy present in the linearly combined coded segments to perform error correction at the client side without extra bandwidth cost.

Abstract: A video-on-demand system including a video server storing video-on-demand content and for streaming video-on-demand through a first layer of an internet page having a first layer and a second layer; and a controller for causing there to be formed in the second layer a plurality of selectable overlay images such that a user at a location in communication with the internet remote from the video server and the controller can display streamed video-on-demand of the first layer in combination with the overlay images of the second layer and can select one of the overlay images; wherein the overlay images correspond to respective control functions for the video-on-demand stream; and the controller is responsive to selection of an overlay image to change the video-on-demand stream in accordance with the corresponding respective control function.