Abstract:
What is disclosed is a dynamically determined audiovisual content Guidebook that provides a visual summary of an audiovisual content event such as a recorded movie, program, sports event, or documentary and is made up of a subset of content images that together best communicates a summary of the content. Once created, a viewer can then look at the Guidebook to understand the summary of the content event and to determine whether to watch the content event now, later, or to delete it.
Abstract:
Various arrangements are directed to locating a television receiver. Multiple tuners of the television receiver may be simultaneously tuned to different television distribution satellites to receive timing signals. Using these timing signals, the location of the television receiver may be determined. Based on a comparison between a stored, expected location of the television receiver and the determined location, the functionality of the television receiver may be adjusted.
Abstract:
Systems and methods may provide for communication between a plurality of client devices of a broadcast system. The communication may be, for example, a recommendation of a program that is communicated from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers via their client devices. The communication also may be a comment regarding a program, for example, recently viewed at the client device of the one subscriber. In general, the communication may be a message from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers. Further, the communication may be configured to perform a function on one or more other client devices. Such a function may include, but is not limited to, setting a timer to record a program, ordering or purchasing a program or service, cancelling an ordered/purchased program or service, setting or altering user preferences, controlling access to channels, etc.
Abstract:
A system includes a set-top box and a remote device. The remote device receives data representing an event from the set-top box. The remote device determines whether the event has occurred based on the data representing the event and generates a transition command to transition the set-top box from a first operating mode to a second operating mode. Further, the remote device transmits the transition command to the set-top box if the event has occurred.
Abstract:
A system for securely providing adaptive bit rate streaming media content on-demand may include a security server of a program distributor that selects, based on a received authorized request, which of a differently encrypted stored versions of a “special segment” of the requested program to deliver to the receiving device during the transmission of the requested program. The selection may be based on a pseudo-random selection process per request for the program based on an identifier of the request associated with the remote control device. The selection of which of the differently encrypted stored versions of the “special segment” of the ordered program to deliver may be = based on the current session. The secure remote then sends to the receiving device the correct decryption key for the receiving device to decrypt the particular encrypted version selected of the “special segment” to be sent to the receiving device.
Abstract:
A scheduled programming recommendation system narrows down a user's electronic program guide to a short list of about a dozen recommended programs. The list is customized to the user's own interests according to a point scoring algorithm that compares program data with data from the user's viewing history. The content receiver is programmed to offer alternatives to users while engaged in a program, or within a short time interval near the end of a program. If the user switches to another ongoing program, there is an option to start the new program at the beginning. This option is made possible by a feature of the scheduled programming recommendation system that automatically records recommended programs in a background memory location, separate from the user's recorder memory space. Only recommended programs are automatically recorded. Access to recorded content is provided exclusively via the recommended list.
Abstract:
The provisioning of media content to computing devices that might not normally have access thereto. Example types of media or media content may include advertising media, broadcast media, social media, news media, and others.
Abstract:
A content provider transmits instructions to a content receiver to record multiple instances of content. The instances of content are included in the same frequency band of a broadcast transmitted by the content provider via a first communication link and scrambled utilizing the same control word. The content provider determines to supplement the multiple instances of content and transmits an instruction to record a supplemental instance of content from a second content provider via a second communication link. The content receiver receives the instructions and accordingly receives, descrambles, and stores the multiple instances of content and the supplemental instance of content. In some implementations, the first communication link may be a satellite communication link and the second communication link may be a different type of communication link such as a terrestrial broadcast communication link and/or an Internet protocol communication link.
Abstract:
Electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to incorporate image information into an EPG generated at a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives an image associated with a program, processes the received image into a rich media EPG image, receives program presentation schedule information that specifies a presentation schedule of a plurality of programs, wherein the program is one of the plurality of programs scheduled for presentation, associates an identifier with the rich media EPG image and the program, and generates a rich media EPG schedule based upon the received program presentation schedule information and the identifier.
Abstract:
One embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a method and a system for performance enhancing proxy (PEP). A PEP system may include a configuration of software components and hardware devices to increase the performance of a two-way satellite broadband service. The PEP system may include one or more embodiments to reduce the time necessary for users to transmit and receive data provided through a communication network.