Systems, and methods are provided to provide cloud-based coordination of customer premise service appliances. A system can include a cloud-based service platform, which includes a coordination server and a cloud-based service appliance, and an on-premise service appliance. The coordination server is configured to establish a service session, select a service appliance, and control a sequence of operations on the selected service appliance. Establishing the service session can include establishing a service session with a first client in response to a service request received from the first client, the first client associated with an account including a service policy. Selecting the service appliance can include selecting the cloud-based service appliance or the on-premise service appliance, based on the service policy, to handle the service request. Upon selection of the on-premise service appliance, the coordination server controls a sequence of operations performed by the on-premise service appliance to satisfy the service request.

A system for exchanging secure and controlled messages between a first entity and a second entity is described. The system includes a data transport mechanism, software operating on one or more processors wherein said software allows for composing, saving, encrypting, decrypting, and streaming messages and associated message rights. The system includes an input means for the first entity and the second entity. To send a secure and controlled message, the sender composes a message and associated message rights, and makes the message along with the associated message rights available to the recipient. The system allows the recipient to receive message rights, and the system allows the recipient to receive message elements for display, if permitted by the message rights associated with the message elements.

A content delivery system includes a computing platform having processing hardware and a system memory storing software code, a user account database, and a content database. The processing hardware executes the software code to receive, from a user device utilized by a user, a request for access to a first content of a plurality of contents, the request including an identifier of a sponsor of the request, to verify, using the identifier, an authorization status of the sponsor, and transmit to the user device, based on verification of the authorization status of the sponsor, content access data enabling access to the first content by the user. The processing further executes the software code to detect that the user is accessing the first content, and to offer, in response to detecting that access, an opportunity to the user to obtain access to the plurality of contents.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to monitor streaming media content. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for determining whether a streaming media flag is asserted in a payload of a watermark detected in media presented by a media presentation device, the streaming media flag to indicate whether the media was distributed to the media presentation device as streaming media. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for discarding the detected watermark from collected data in response to a determination that the streaming media flag is asserted. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for reporting the collected data to a remote server via a network.

Systems and methods are provided for a media provider to allow a user to access media objects with a third-party partner that authenticates the user and authorizes the user to access certain media objects. The media provider offers access to media objects, such as video content or audio content. The partner, through a relationship with the media provider, similarly offers access to the media provider's media objects, for example, as a service or benefit to the partner's customers or users. In particular, a partner integration server mediates user authentication and authorization by the partner. The partner integration server also allows the media provider to easily and flexibly to add and integrate additional partners.

A method, computer program product and computing device for selecting at least one playlist for transfer, the at least one playlist being stored on a first personal media device. The at least one playlist is converted to a common format, thus generating a first common format playlist. Communication is established with a second personal media device. The first common format playlist is transferred to the second personal media device.

A content distribution system configured to store first and second creator content generated respectively by first and second creators, receive first and second rules generated separately by the first and second creator, respectively, the first rules governing requirements for consumers to access the first content, the second rules governing requirements for consumers to access the second content, the first and second rules requiring that a potential consumer must be a member of the respective creator's group, the first rules further requiring that the potential consumer must pay to receive access to the first content, receive a content request from a first-third party system from a first consumer requesting access to the first content, confirm that the first user qualifies to receive access and that the first third-party system is permitted, and provide access to the first content.

A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

A secure communication system is disclosed for communication between first and second party devices. An input interface is provided for receiving from an external host a unique host factor in addition to a user input interface for receiving from a user a unique PIN for a user and a selection input for selecting one of the plurality of stored entropy stores as a user selected entropy store A first private key generator is operable for generating a private key using a key generation algorithm requiring the selected entropy store, the host factor and the unique user PIN. The second party device includes a second storage device for storing a plurality of entropy stores. An input interface is provided for receiving the same unique host factor as received by the first party device. A communication interface facilitates communication with the first party device to receive from the first party device a user PIN and an indication of the user selected entropy store. A second private key generator is operable for generating a private key using the predetermined key generation algorithm with the received user PIN, the received host factor, and an extracted entropy store corresponding to user selected entropy store, wherein the private key generated by both the first and second private key generators are identical. The session is initiated to cause the generation of the identical private keys at both of the first and second private key generators and allow secure communication between the first and second devices. The private key at least one of the first and second devices is deleted at the end of the session.

A system and method for autonomous sustenance of digital assets, including but not limited to digital media, is described. The system may include one or more smart contracts which provide terms for executing a provision of a digital asset to a user on a permanent or duration limited basis. The method may include ensuring the terms of the smart contract are executed such that digital rights holders in the digital assets are paid for access to the digital asset.