Systems and methods for sorting favorite content sources are provided. A list of favorite content sources arranged in a first order is stored. The favorite content sources in the list are accessed according to the order of the favorite content sources in the list. At a given time, a user request to change a currently accessed content source to one of the favorite content sources in the list is received. In response to receiving the user request, an attribute of content presented on the currently accessed content source at the given time is identified. The favorite content sources in the list are rearranged into a second order based on the identified attribute. The favorite content sources in the list arc accessed according to the second order in response to receiving the user request.

Systems and methods are provided herein for scheduling a season recording. A series is provided to a user device, the series having a plurality of sequential seasons, and each season having a plurality of episodes. A request for recording the series is received from the user. In response, a last episode of the series watched by the user is identified. A relevant season of the plurality of seasons is then determined, such that the relevant season precedes another season of the plurality of seasons and includes the last episode watched by the user. Then, episodes of the relevant season that follow the last episode watched by the user are scheduled for recording, such that episodes of a season that precedes the relevant season are not scheduled for recording.

A robust, computationally-efficient and secure system is described for streaming content from a server to a client device via the Internet or another digital network. Various aspects relate to automated processes, systems and devices for securing a media stream with efficient yet effective digital cryptography. In particular, content may be transmitted in transport stream (TS) format in which all packets are encrypted (e.g., using a cipher block chain), in which control packets are exempted from encryption (e.g., using an electronic codebook), or in any other manner.

A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.

A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.

A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of apportioning, by a processing system including a processor, a viewable area of a display screen into a main area and an application area; downloading, by the processing system, media content; displaying, by the processing system, the media content within the main area of the display screen; extracting, by the processing system, metadata from the media content; and providing, by the processing system, the metadata to an application, wherein the application: downloads information associated with the metadata provided in the media content, applies a bitrate limit to the downloading of the information to prevent interference with the downloading of the media content, generates display content based on the information, and sends the display content for displaying within the application area of the display screen concurrently with the media content being displayed in the main area of the display screen. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A system for locking a remote-control device blocks a remote-control device from sending signals related to user input until a code to unlock the remote-control device is received. The system for locking a remote-control device receives an indication that the remote-control device should be locked and locks the remote-control device. The system for locking a remote-control device receives user input and determines whether the user input included a predetermined code. Based on a determination that the user input included the predetermined code, the system for locking a remote-control device unlocks the remote-control device.

A method, system and apparatus for applying and synchronizing filter information with a multimedia presentation, such as a movie provided in a video-on-demand context, to suppress objectionable content. In one example, filter information, which includes an indicia of a portion of the multimedia presentation including objectionable content and a type of suppression action, is provided on either a set-top-box or a video-on-demand server. A user selects a particular video-on-demand presentation, and the selection is transmitted to the set-top-box. Additionally, whether in a video-on-demand, DVD, or other environment it may be necessary to synchronize filter with the multimedia content so that the proper objectionable content is suppressed.

Methods and systems are described for downloading media assets efficiently and quickly before loss of network connectivity. The method may allow a user to download portions of a media asset in different versions to download a maximum portion of the media asset before loss of network connectivity. Certain versions of media assets may be downloaded more quickly than other versions of media assets. The method may also allow a user to view partially downloaded media assets without network connectivity. The method may also replace portions of media assets downloaded in a first version with portions of the media assets in a second version once network connectivity is restored.