Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.

Premises apparatus and methods for providing aggregated high-bandwidth, low-latency data service over a content delivery network including existing wireline infrastructure. In one embodiment, a network architecture having service delivery over at least portions of extant hybrid fiber coax (HFC) infrastructure is disclosed, which includes standards-compliant ultra-low latency and high data rate services (e.g., 3GPP and IEEE Std. 802.11 services) via a common service provider. In one variant, an expanded frequency band (e.g., 1.6 GHz in total bandwidth) is used over the coaxial portions of the HFC infrastructure, which is allocated to two or more sub-bands. Premises apparatus are used to support multi-service integration (e.g., aggregation of mobile wireless, premises, and other services), as well as incipient IoT applications and technologies.

Items of video content offered for viewing on a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV service provider are each assigned a respective title and hierarchical address corresponding to hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories within which the title for the video content is to be categorized. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. The EPG dynamically adjust its display listings of each level of categories, subcategories, and titles in order to minimize the number of remote control keypresses needed for a viewer to navigate to a title of interest. In one basic form, the EPG display is reordered by listing more frequently visited categories or subcategories first, and other less frequently visited categories or subcategories lower on the listing or out-of-sight on another page of the display.

A system that provides for the accessing and playing of media files having differing associated rights such as non-DRM media files, purchased and downloaded media files, subscription download files such as tethered downloads, and subscription streamed DRM files. The system also provides a method and user interface for sharing a media collection among computing devices in communication via a network. The system allows access and playback, from each computing device on a network, of all media files in a media collection, regardless of their associated rights.

A video-on-demand server, having a plurality of audiovisual assets stored in association therewith, and an application server module, are interconnected with a first group of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated with a first group of subscribers and a second group of CPE associated with a second (different) group of subscribers, via a video content network. The application server module, the first group of CPE, and the second group of CPE are cooperatively configured to prepare a first video-on-demand catalog comprising a first group of the audiovisual assets and a second video-on-demand catalog comprising a second (different) group of the audiovisual assets. The application server module, the first group of CPE, and the second group of CPE are further cooperatively configured to make the first video-on-demand catalog available to the first group of subscribers and to make the second video-on-demand catalog available to the second group of subscribers.

Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that can cause a specific portion of a media asset to be stored based on a user command. For example, if the user requests the closing scene from a given movie, the media guidance application may detect the command, determine that it comprises an instruction to store a portion of a media asset, identify a source of the portion of the media asset, and cause the portion of the media asset to be stored. The media guidance application may also cause the entirety of the media asset to be stored and initiate playback at the start of the requested portion. This may allow users to store and watch portions of particular interest without requiring that the users seek through the entire media asset on their own.

An example apparatus to monitor media that is presented via a mobile device includes: an application monitor to determine when media presentation software is being executed by the mobile device; and a metering information collector to collect at least one of a signature or a code of the media presented by the media presentation software based on the media presentation software being executed by the mobile device.

A media player system is provided for receiving and processing a media program that uses a time interval interval t.sub.D required to decode N.sub.D frames of the media program segment. The media system receives the requested media program segment, processes the segment and determines if the throughput of the media program differs from the desired presentation throughput by a tolerance amount. Both decoding and rendering performance are determined and used to determine presentation throughput, and to determine if heavier or lighter variants of the media program should be requested for subsequent media program segments.

Several ways are provided for a viewer of a movie to create a deep tag, that is, a bookmark for a segment of the movie. The deep tag can be associated with descriptive text and sent to an address provided by the viewer, either an e-mail address or an instant messaging address. Additionally, before the deep tag is created, it can be checked whether the content owner of the movie is known. If known, the content owner's rules, if any, regarding deep tagging are followed. If unknown, a set of registered content owners can be alerted of the presence of new content. When ownership of the new content is established, the already-created deep tags can be updated in accordance with the content owner's rules, if any, regarding deep tagging.

Several ways are provided for a viewer of a movie to create a deep tag, that is, a bookmark for a segment of the movie. The deep tag can be associated with descriptive text and sent to an address provided by the viewer, either an e-mail address or an instant messaging address. Additionally, before the deep tag is created, it can be checked whether the content owner of the movie is known. If known, the content owner's rules, if any, regarding deep tagging are followed. If unknown, a set of registered content owners can be alerted of the presence of new content. When ownership of the new content is established, the already-created deep tags can be updated in accordance with the content owner's rules, if any, regarding deep tagging.