A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. .[.At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc..]. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.

A system and method to provide streaming video content to a screen of a smart electronic device in non-viewable form until a user agrees to view the video in exchange for an incremental amount of currency, at which time the streaming video content becomes viewable in pre-determined increments of time pre-paid for by the user of the smart device by interacting with the screen. The user can determine through the screen how many increments of viewable streaming of video content are desired to be purchased and viewed by interacting with the screen in a pre-determined way each time the streaming video content becomes non-viewable.

A system and method to provide streaming video content to a screen of a smart electronic device in non-viewable form until a user agrees to view the video in exchange for an incremental amount of currency, at which time the streaming video content becomes viewable in pre-determined increments of time pre-paid for by the user of the smart device by interacting with the screen. The user can determine through the screen how many increments of viewable streaming of video content are desired to be purchased and viewed by interacting with the screen in a pre-determined way each time the streaming video content becomes non-viewable.

A device and a method for monitoring behavior of listening to broadcast comprises a transmitter transmitting a characteristic audio signal which is modulated on a carrier signal; a collector collecting an ambient sound; a detector detecting whether the collected ambient sound contains the characteristic audio signal; and a determiner determining whether a broadcast receiving apparatus receives the broadcasting channel corresponding to frequency of the carrier signal according to the result of the detector.

A satellite reception assembly that provides satellite television and/or radio service to a customer premises may comprise a wireless interface via which it can communicate with other satellite reception assemblies. Wireless connections between satellite reception assemblies may be utilized for providing satellite content between different satellite customer premises. Wireless connections between satellite reception assemblies may be utilized for offloading traffic from other network connections.

A satellite dish assembly may comprise a broadcast receive module and a basestation module. The broadcast receive module may be operable to receive a satellite signal, recover media carried in the satellite signal, and output the media. The basestation module may be operable to accept the media output by the broadcast receive module and transmit the media in accordance with one or more wireless protocols. In being conveyed from the broadcast receive module to the basestation, the media content may not traverse any wide area network connection. The one or more wireless protocols may comprise one or more of: a cellular protocol and IEEE 802.11 protocol. The satellite dish assembly may comprise a routing module that may be operable to route data between the broadcast receive module, the basestation, and a gateway.

In a media automation system, a database server transmits a request to a traffic and billing system to identify both an advertisement for potential inclusion in a content block, and a first primary programming item to be scheduled adjacent to the advertisement in a broadcast log, i.e. a paired advertisement and primary programming item, and receives a message identifying the advertisement and the first primary programming item from the traffic and billing system in response to that request. The database server responds to the message from the traffic and billing system by inserting the advertisement into the broadcast log adjacent to the first primary programming item, transmitting a signal notifying the traffic and billing system that the advertisement and the first primary programming item have been inserted into the broadcast log, and delivering the broadcast log to a media server.

In a media automation system, a database server transmits a request to a traffic and billing system to identify both an advertisement for potential inclusion in a content block, and a first primary programming item to be scheduled adjacent to the advertisement in a broadcast log, i.e. a paired advertisement and primary programming item, and receives a message identifying the advertisement and the first primary programming item from the traffic and billing system in response to that request. The database server responds to the message from the traffic and billing system by inserting the advertisement into the broadcast log adjacent to the first primary programming item, transmitting a signal notifying the traffic and billing system that the advertisement and the first primary programming item have been inserted into the broadcast log, and delivering the broadcast log to a media server.

A system 100 includes a first content delivery network 280(1) for a first type of user device, a second content delivery network 280(n) for a second type of user device and a content repository 274 communicating with the first content delivery network 280(1) and the second content delivery network 280(n). The first content is in a first format associated with the first content delivery network 280(1) and a second content associated with the second content delivery network 280(n). A content management system 221 generates a first content list for the first content delivery network 280 and generates a second content list for the second content delivery network 280(n). A content distribution system 260 communicates with the content management system and the first content delivery network and the second content delivery network. The content distribution system 260 transfers content to the first and second content delivery network from the content repository. The first content delivery network 280(1) publishes the content according to a publication start time. The first content delivery network 280(1) communicates the first content list to a first user device. The second content delivery network 280(n) communicates the second content list to a second user device.

A system 100 includes a first content delivery network 280(1) for a first type of user device, a second content delivery network 280(n) for a second type of user device and a content repository 274 communicating with the first content delivery network 280(1) and the second content delivery network 280(n). The first content is in a first format associated with the first content delivery network 280(1) and a second content associated with the second content delivery network 280(n). A content management system 221 generates a first content list for the first content delivery network 280 and generates a second content list for the second content delivery network 280(n). A content distribution system 260 communicates with the content management system and the first content delivery network and the second content delivery network. The content distribution system 260 transfers content to the first and second content delivery network from the content repository. The first content delivery network 280(1) publishes the content according to a publication start time. The first content delivery network 280(1) communicates the first content list to a first user device. The second content delivery network 280(n) communicates the second content list to a second user device.