In one aspect, an example method includes (i) accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system can operate in a schedule mode or a breakout mode; (ii) switching from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and (iii) while operating in the breakout mode: (a) simulating a broadcast of the first media content item; (b) making a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item; (c) responsive to making the determination, simulating a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item; (d) based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating a simulation log; and (e) presenting the generated log.

A system and method for searching based on input multimedia content elements. The method includes obtaining at least one signature for each of at least one input multimedia content element, each signature representing a concept, wherein each concept is a collection of signatures and metadata representing the concept; determining, based on the obtained signatures, at least one context of the at least one input multimedia content element; generating, based on the determined at least one context, at least one query; and searching in at least one data source using the generated at least one query.

A system and method for identifying trending content based on context. The method includes generating at least one signature for each of a plurality of multimedia content elements, wherein each signature represents a concept, wherein each concept is a collection of signatures and metadata describing the concept; correlating the concepts of the generated signatures to determine at least one context of each multimedia content element, wherein each context represents a sentiment; and identifying, based on the determined contexts, at least one trending multimedia content element, wherein the context of each trending multimedia content element meets a sentiment threshold.

A method and system for planning and running video-on-demand (VOD) advertising includes a planner for planning advertising campaigns and an ad selector for running selected advertisements from selected ones of the campaigns. The campaigns are associated with household demographic classifications, video content category categories, household geographic locations, and/or video viewing times. In response to a viewer requesting a video, the selector selects the campaigns corresponding to the demographic classification associated with the viewer, the content category of the requested video, the geographic location associated with the viewer, and/or the viewing time at which the requested video is viewed. The demographic classification is determined by using an identifier of the viewer's set-top-box. The selector may select the campaigns corresponding to the content categories of the requested video. The content categories are determined by using an identifier associated with the requested video.

A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.

Provided is a system that includes a circuit to generate an interactive item based on a request received from a first distribution network or a second distribution network. The interactive item is overlaid over a media item present in media content. The circuit then activates the generated interactive item overlaid over the media item of the media content. Further, the circuit receives an event trigger, from a client application engine operational on a user device associated with a user, for a selection of the activated interactive item. A personalized list is generated for the event trigger for the selection of the interactive item. Further, the generated personalized list is transmitted for a display for a defined time duration, to one of the first distribution network, the second distribution network or the client application engine operational on the user device.

A method for selecting a data stream for distribution to a plurality of broadcasting sites. The method includes: receiving a main data stream and a back-up data stream respectively, generated by a main broadcast gateway and a secondary broadcast gateway respectively, from source data, called a main stream and a secondary stream respectively; receiving at least one packet including a piece of information representative of a quality of service associated with the main stream and the secondary stream respectively, at one instant at least or over one given period at least, the at least one packet, called a main current packet and a secondary current packet respectively, being generated by the main broadcast gateway and secondary broadcast gateway respectively; and selecting in real time the main stream or the secondary stream respectively in taking account of the main current packet and secondary current packet, delivering the data stream for distribution.

Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception block configured to receive broadcast content broadcast via a broadcasting network; an acquisition block configured to acquire inserted content that is inserted in the broadcast content during the reception thereof; an output block configured to output at least one of the broadcast content and the inserted content; a switch block configured to switch between the broadcast content and the inserted content outputted from the output block; and a buffer configured to sequentially store data of the received broadcast content when the broadcast content is switched to the inserted content; wherein, if the inserted content is switched to the broadcast content, the output block outputs the broadcast content from the buffer while the inserted content is outputted.

Described are methods and systems for combining programming content in a controlled synchronized manner. The systems and methods allow for centrally generated content to be modified using local content. The centrally generated content can include data that specifies what portions of the centrally generated content can be modified by the local content.

A system is provided for concurrent presentation of non-programming media assets with programming media content at a client device. The client device receives a response for occurrence of an event opportunity point from the media presentation and distribution system based on a selection criteria for the event opportunity point. A display view of the client device is modified, and a non-programming media asset is presented from a second media stream for a defined duration and different version of the programming media content in first partition, concurrently with the programming media content over second partition. The different version of the programming media content corresponds to the programming media content encoded based on a region within the modified display view allocated to the first partition. The presentation is based on user preference for specific item in the programming media content and user selection of the non-programming media asset displayed in past engagement.