Intelligently downloading content to user devices is described herein. According to an embodiment, a user request for content is received. In response to the request, a low quality version of the content is downloaded and played to the user. Then, a higher quality version of the content is downloaded (this may occur during or after the download or playback of the low quality version of the content). Playback of the low quality version is discontinued. Then, playback of the higher quality version begins at the point where playback of the low quality version was discontinued. In some embodiments, the low quality version and the higher quality version of the requested content (among all the versions of the requested content) are identified via crowdsourcing.

Systems and methods relate to display of insights, including a method including: causing a user display to display a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables a user to select a time range and a single digital display as a locale; and causing, based on the user selecting the time range and the single digital display as the locale, the user display to display, on the GUI, a list of a plurality of media content that have been displayed on the single digital display, each of the plurality of media content being ordered according to analysis insight for the single digital display selected and the time range selected. The analysis insight may include at least opportunity to see (OTS) counts of the plurality of media content on one or more digital displays associated with the locale.

Methods and arrangements in a client node and a server node support a decision on decoding and playout of a certain content in the client node. The methods and arrangements relate to the determining, conveying and obtaining of information related to the characteristics (level) required for decoding and playing out the certain media content at a non-regular playout rate. The method and arrangement in the client node further relate to determining, based on the obtained information, which playout rate(s) is/are supported by the client node in regard of level. The methods and arrangements enable the client node to refrain from attempting to decode and play out of the content at a non-regular rate requiring a level which is not supported by the client node.

A multi-media presentation system includes an input subsystem operable to collect data including an unassisted data input of a viewer from within a natural, unaided sensing range of the viewer; a storage subsystem with a multiple of storage subsystems operable to store the data including the unassisted data input in a storage subsystem in a manner associated with a preference; and a server subsystem operable to selectively display a multi-media presentation in accordance with the preference.

Selection of a content presentation can involve obtaining a message representative of a plurality of terms including a first term and a second term, wherein the first term indicates a first capability required for a first content presentation and the second term indicates a second capability required for a second content presentation; and enabling selection of a content presentation from among at least the first and second content presentations available based on a content signal, wherein the selection is based on the message.

The present disclosure relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus and an operating method thereof. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a network interface unit configured to communicate with an external server through a network; a broadcast receiving unit configured to receive a broadcast signal; a storage unit configured to store a database containing information on at least one broadcasting service provider; and a controller, wherein the controller checks whether access to the network is possible through the network interface unit, checks, when the access to the network is possible, a status of an application, which is registered in an application server, that contains information on a broadcasting service provider, through the network interface unit, determines whether it is required to update at least some of information contained in the database, based on a result of checking the status of the application, receives, when the update is required, an application containing information required for the update from the application server, updates at least some of the information contained in the database, based on the received application, and receives the broadcast signal based on the information contained in the database through the broadcast receiving unit. Various other embodiments are possible.

Systems and methods for modifying runtimes of media assets are disclosed. A first input is received indicating a request to modify a current runtime of a media asset being generated for display on a media device. The media asset includes segments. A second input is received and based on the second input, a shortened version of the media asset having a shortened runtime is generated. One or more segments of the media asset are removed from the media asset to generate the shortened version and the shortened version of the media asset is generated for display on the media device.

Embodiments are related to faster provisioning of targeted advertisements at a set-top box (STB) via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the STB and a remote server. The disclosed IP-based advertisement distribution system enables targeted advertisements to be pulled from the remote server efficiently, causing the advertisements to be made available within a short time frame (e.g., less than one day from the time when the advertisements are available). The disclosed methods enables a STB to determine whether to retain existing targeted advertisements, discard them, or provision newly-available advertisements. The targeted advertisements can depend on various factors such as demographic information of an owner of the STB, lifestyle information of the owner of the STB, etc.

Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating live streaming of content on multiple social media platforms. The method comprises receiving, using a communication device, a plurality of digital content from a source user device. Further, the method comprises receiving, using the communication device, a plurality of target identifiers from the source user device. Further, the method comprises identifying, using a processing device, a plurality of social media servers associated with the plurality of target identifiers. Further, the method comprises processing, using the processing device, the plurality of digital content based on a plurality of platform characteristics corresponding to the plurality of social media servers. Further, the method comprises generating, using the processing device, a plurality of transformed digital content based on the processing. Further, the method comprises transmitting, using the communication device, the plurality of transformed digital content to the plurality of social media servers.

A thermostat and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a processor and memory. To improve convenience, the thermostat may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the thermostat may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network.