A method is implemented at a server system for controlling play of media content on a media output system by voice. The server system receives a voice message via an electronic device, and determines that the voice message includes a media play request having a user voice command to play media content and a user voice designation of a media output system. In accordance with the voice designation, the server system identifies in a device registry the media output system that is associated with the electronic device in the virtual user domain. The server system then sends to the identified media output system another media play request including information of a media play application and information of the media content requested to be played, thereby enabling the media output system to execute the media play application that controls the media output system to play the requested media content.

A method is implemented at a server system for controlling play of media content on a media output system by voice. The server system receives a voice message via an electronic device, and determines that the voice message includes a media play request having a user voice command to play media content and a user voice designation of a media output system. In accordance with the voice designation, the server system identifies in a device registry the media output system that is associated with the electronic device in the virtual user domain. The server system then sends to the identified media output system another media play request including information of a media play application and information of the media content requested to be played, thereby enabling the media output system to execute the media play application that controls the media output system to play the requested media content.

A method for providing one or more content item recommendations for a user of a content distribution system having a plurality of users, comprises: opening a content recommendation session for a selected user; retrieving user data for the selected user from a first storage resource storing user data on a plurality of users, storing the user data in a second storage resource, and maintaining the user data in the second storage resource during the content recommendation session for the selected user; using the user data from the second storage resource and content information concerning content available from one or more content sources to generate at least one content item recommendation for the selected user during the content recommendation session for the selected user; and providing the at least one content item recommendation, wherein the method further comprises maintaining content recommendation sessions for a plurality of the users and maintaining in the second storage resource user data for said plurality of the users, substantially simultaneously.

Methods and apparatus for identification and characterization of latency in a content delivery network. In one embodiment, interaction of users with content is recorded via collection of tuning records; the latency is then utilized to adjust the timing on the tuning records to account for lapses in time for sending these between entities of the network and the user devices, and for processing occurring at the devices. The latency is determined by taking into account a device specific latency component, and a network latency component. The network latency component is determined in one variant by sending a message to the device from the network requesting a response. Once the timing of the tuning records is adjusted, these tuning records may be relied upon as being accurate on a second-by-second basis. Accordingly, tuning records may be obtained and analyzed for content which lasts for a very short period of time.

Systems and techniques for configurable preview of dynamic CDN rendered websites are described herein. A request may be received for a webpage that includes a configuration bundle. A content request may be generated for a content fragment of the webpage using parameters in the configuration bundle. The content request may be transmitted to a content provider. Instructions may be generated for rendering the content fragment based on a response to the content request. The instructions may be transmitted to a content delivery network (CDN).

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for electronically providing each of a plurality of content distributors with access to a library of content items, facilitating the selection of a combination of the content items, creating a unique set of links for each recipient-distributor combination, and distributing the selected content and unique links via one or more distribution channels to a plurality of recipients. As each link is associated with both a recipient and a distributor, conversion actions stemming from the selection of a link by a recipient are attributed to the proper distributor. Distributors can create content distribution approaches that can be shared with other distributors.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for electronically providing each of a plurality of content distributors with access to a library of content items, facilitating the selection of a combination of the content items, creating a unique set of links for each recipient-distributor combination, and distributing the selected content and unique links via one or more distribution channels to a plurality of recipients. As each link is associated with both a recipient and a distributor, conversion actions stemming from the selection of a link by a recipient are attributed to the proper distributor. Distributors can create content distribution approaches that can be shared with other distributors.

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.

Systems and methods are described for providing a media stream transmitted from an encoding system to a remotely-located media player that requests segments of the media stream. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of encoding a media stream provided from an encoding system to a remotely-located client includes establishing a data connection with the client and acquiring, from the client, client information including a client identifier, a public internet protocol (IP) address, and a geographical location associated with the client. The method further includes determining, based on the client information, whether historical bit rate data is available in a historical bit rate data store provided by the encoding system. If such historical bit rate data is available, an initial bit rate parameter is set for the media stream and the media stream is encoded at the encoding system according to the initial bit rate parameter and transmitted to the client.

Systems and methods are described for providing a media stream transmitted from an encoding system to a remotely-located media player that requests segments of the media stream. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of encoding a media stream provided from an encoding system to a remotely-located client includes establishing a data connection with the client and acquiring, from the client, client information including a client identifier, a public internet protocol (IP) address, and a geographical location associated with the client. The method further includes determining, based on the client information, whether historical bit rate data is available in a historical bit rate data store provided by the encoding system. If such historical bit rate data is available, an initial bit rate parameter is set for the media stream and the media stream is encoded at the encoding system according to the initial bit rate parameter and transmitted to the client.