Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.

A method of processing media output events, each having a corresponding duration, from a plurality of media content receivers within a media distribution system, comprises: a. dividing the output events into a plurality of segments, such that output events having similar properties are placed into the same one of said segments; b. within each said segment, identifying a long duration threshold based on the distribution of the durations of the output events within that segment; c. and applying the long duration thresholds of each said segment for control and/or analysis of the media distribution system.

A method of processing media output events, each having a corresponding duration, from a plurality of media content receivers within a media distribution system, comprises: a. dividing the output events into a plurality of segments, such that output events having similar properties are placed into the same one of said segments; b. within each said segment, identifying a long duration threshold based on the distribution of the durations of the output events within that segment; c. and applying the long duration thresholds of each said segment for control and/or analysis of the media distribution system.

The invention relates to a method for modifying a stream of digital content received via a first data connection at a reproducing device, the stream of digital content being related to at least one time code. The method comprises the following steps when reproducing the stream of digital content: (a) receiving at least one cue point by the reproducing device via a second data connection; and (b) modifying the stream of digital content by the reproducing device when the at least one time code related to the stream of digital content matches the at least one cue point.

The invention relates to a method for modifying a stream of digital content received via a first data connection at a reproducing device, the stream of digital content being related to at least one time code. The method comprises the following steps when reproducing the stream of digital content: (a) receiving at least one cue point by the reproducing device via a second data connection; and (b) modifying the stream of digital content by the reproducing device when the at least one time code related to the stream of digital content matches the at least one cue point.

A server system accesses a profile of a user of the media-providing service. The profile indicates a demographic group of the user. For each media item of a plurality of media items, the server system determines a year associated with the media item. The server system selects content for the user based at least in part on an affinity of members of the demographic group, as compared to members of other demographic groups, for content from the year associated with the media item. The server system provides the selected content to a client device associated with the user.

A server system accesses a profile of a user of the media-providing service. The profile indicates a demographic group of the user. For each media item of a plurality of media items, the server system determines a year associated with the media item. The server system selects content for the user based at least in part on an affinity of members of the demographic group, as compared to members of other demographic groups, for content from the year associated with the media item. The server system provides the selected content to a client device associated with the user.

A searching system for searching contents that were broadcast, the searching system having an inputting unit, a searching unit, and a terminal unit is disclosed, wherein the inputting unit comprises a first storing means for storing information representing at least time at which contents were broadcast corresponding to a predetermined operation, and a first communicating means for transmitting the information representing time stored in the storing means to an external unit, wherein the searching unit comprises a second storing means for correlatively storing information representing contents and broadcast time thereof, and a searching means for searching information representing the contents stored in the second storing means corresponding to the info nation representing time, and wherein the terminal unit comprises a second communicating means for receiving the information representing time transmitted from the inputting unit through the first communicating means, a third communicating means for transmitting the information representing time received by the second communicating means and receiving search results transmitted from the searching unit, and a first displaying means for displaying the information representing time received by the second communicating means and the search results by the searching unit.

A searching system for searching contents that were broadcast, the searching system having an inputting unit, a searching unit, and a terminal unit is disclosed, wherein the inputting unit comprises a first storing means for storing information representing at least time at which contents were broadcast corresponding to a predetermined operation, and a first communicating means for transmitting the information representing time stored in the storing means to an external unit, wherein the searching unit comprises a second storing means for correlatively storing information representing contents and broadcast time thereof, and a searching means for searching information representing the contents stored in the second storing means corresponding to the info nation representing time, and wherein the terminal unit comprises a second communicating means for receiving the information representing time transmitted from the inputting unit through the first communicating means, a third communicating means for transmitting the information representing time received by the second communicating means and receiving search results transmitted from the searching unit, and a first displaying means for displaying the information representing time received by the second communicating means and the search results by the searching unit.