Methods and systems to provide and manage on-demand sessions are described herein. A request is received from a client to start an on-demand session. It is determined if there are sufficient resources to start the on-demand session for the client. The request is inserted into a queue if there aren't sufficient resources to start the on-demand session for the client. The on-demand sessions is started when there are sufficient resources available and it is the client's turn in the queue.

An imaging device comprises: an imager configured to image a target; a main-body display configured to display thereon image information acquired by the imager; a main-body communicator configured to communicate with external equipment including a display via a network; a storage configured to store therein the acquired image information and information for indicating a predetermined content; and a display controller configured to cause the display or the main-body display to display thereon the information for indicating the predetermined content.

Provided are methods and systems for inserting custom content. An example method can comprise receiving, at a first computing device, an insertion instruction over a first non-packet-switching protocol information stream. The method can also comprise querying, by the first computing device, a second computing device in response to receiving the insertion instruction. The method can further comprise receiving, at the first computing device, content over a packet-switching protocol information stream in response to querying the second computing device. The content can be customized for an end-user associated with the first computing device.

A master node in a multimedia content network includes a processor, a content interface coupled to the processor and configured to receive, from a media source, a multimedia stream including a multimedia program, a network interface coupled to the processor and configured to provide an interface to a broadband network, processor executable instructions for performing operations including: identifying a group of subordinate nodes available to analyze a multimedia program, assigning different analysis tasks for the multimedia program to the available subordinate nodes, receiving analysis results from the subordinate nodes; and modifying electronic programming guide information for the multimedia program based on the analysis results.

Aspects of a method and system for content selection, delivery and payment may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to select one or more parameters associated with a particular content type from the management entity. The particular content type may specify a type of media content that is handled by the one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to receive configuration information from the management entity based on the selected one or more parameters associated with the particular content type. The one or more endpoint devices may be configured utilizing the received configuration information. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to pay for the received configuration information.

Aspects of a method and system for content selection, delivery and payment may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to select one or more parameters associated with a particular content type from the management entity. The particular content type may specify a type of media content that is handled by the one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to receive configuration information from the management entity based on the selected one or more parameters associated with the particular content type. The one or more endpoint devices may be configured utilizing the received configuration information. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to pay for the received configuration information.

A system and method includes a first device having an ordering interactive interface having available content. The first device forms a content selection corresponding to the on-demand content from the interactive interface and communicates the content selection to a content processing system. The content processing system communicates a control word to the user device. A user device receives the content corresponding to the selection in response to the control word. The content processing system or the user device generates an email indicative of a completion of storing the content in the user device.

A system and method includes a first device having an ordering interactive interface having available content. The first device forms a content selection corresponding to the on-demand content from the interactive interface and communicates the content selection to a content processing system. The content processing system communicates a control word to the user device. A user device receives the content corresponding to the selection in response to the control word. The content processing system or the user device generates an email indicative of a completion of storing the content in the user device.

A method and system for real-time customizing and synchronizing media by a client device in communication with a server device. A client device customizes stock media content based on user preferences, and synchronizes the customized content for playback with a server-side playback of the stock media content.

A method and system for real-time customizing and synchronizing media by a client device in communication with a server device. A client device customizes stock media content based on user preferences, and synchronizes the customized content for playback with a server-side playback of the stock media content.