A TV audience survey system for determining the TV viewing activities of a plurality of individuals in a household includes a master device and multiple tags, each tag assigned to an individual. After an individual logs into the system and starts watching the TV, the master device communicates with the corresponding tag repeatedly to accumulate data representing the individual's TV viewing activities. Such data can be used to determine when the individual stops watching the TV for an extended period of time without logging out of the system and when the household member remains watching the TV after logging or being logged out of the system. The master device then reports the accumulated data to a remote server, which uses the data to determine whether the individual complies with the logging protocol defined by the TV audience survey system and update the TV viewership data associated with this household.

A TV audience survey system for determining the TV viewing activities of a plurality of individuals in a household includes a master device and multiple tags, each tag assigned to an individual. After an individual logs into the system and starts watching the TV, the master device communicates with the corresponding tag repeatedly to accumulate data representing the individual's TV viewing activities. Such data can be used to determine when the individual stops watching the TV for an extended period of time without logging out of the system and when the household member remains watching the TV after logging or being logged out of the system. The master device then reports the accumulated data to a remote server, which uses the data to determine whether the individual complies with the logging protocol defined by the TV audience survey system and update the TV viewership data associated with this household.

A system comprises a first server including a port, a memory, a processor operatively coupled to the port and memory, and a service application for execution by the processor. The service application is configured to: receive identification information related to an over-the-air radio broadcast via the port of the first server, wherein the identification information is transmitted to the first server using a radio broadcast receiver remote from the first server; communicate a request for automatic content recognition (ACR) of an Internet-based streaming version of the over-the-air radio broadcast; and receive metadata associated with the over-the-air radio broadcast in response to the request and initiate transmission of the metadata to the radio broadcast receiver.

A system comprises a first server including a port, a memory, a processor operatively coupled to the port and memory, and a service application for execution by the processor. The service application is configured to: receive identification information related to an over-the-air radio broadcast via the port of the first server, wherein the identification information is transmitted to the first server using a radio broadcast receiver remote from the first server; communicate a request for automatic content recognition (ACR) of an Internet-based streaming version of the over-the-air radio broadcast; and receive metadata associated with the over-the-air radio broadcast in response to the request and initiate transmission of the metadata to the radio broadcast receiver.

Data streams are generally selected according to user preferences and transmitted to the user in general alignment with expressed preferences of the user. Such data streams may be music, including music videos. Users may indicate their general or specific preferences with regards to song, artists, or albums. Any other aspects or factors that might affect the user's preferences can be taken into account. A playlist is created that combines all of these factors. The playlist then serves as the basis for feeding the data streams to the user. Each user is able to express his or her own preferences and receive music corresponding to those preferences on an on-going basis.

Individual user interactions with a social networking site, which indicate user engagement with particular commercial media content, can be tracked. User group data is generated from the user interactions. Message content related to the particular commercial media content, and schedule information indicating a time at which the particular commercial media content is scheduled for delivery, can be received. A message content delivery time can be determined based, at least in part, on the schedule information. At the message content delivery time, the message content can be delivered to users of the social networking site based, at least in part, on the user group data.

The present invention proposes a method for providing a broadcast service. The method for providing a broadcast service in a broadcast signal transmitter according to the present invention may comprise the steps of: encoding media data to a media stream; creating signaling information for signaling the media stream; multiplexing the encoded media stream and the signaling information; and transmitting a broadcast signal comprising the multiplexed media stream and the signaling information.

The present invention proposes a method for providing a broadcast service. The method for providing a broadcast service in a broadcast signal transmitter according to the present invention may comprise the steps of: encoding media data to a media stream; creating signaling information for signaling the media stream; multiplexing the encoded media stream and the signaling information; and transmitting a broadcast signal comprising the multiplexed media stream and the signaling information.

A distribution system for transmitting media content programs to premises equipment via a satellite transmission path addresses signal degradation caused by atmospheric conditions and other factors. Upon detection of a degradation of the satellite signal, the system may begin transmitting the content using an alternative signal path, such as a terrestrial IP network. The satellite transmission path is brought back on line after the satellite link is restored. Alternatively, the system may begin recording the signal in the media distribution system for transmission via the satellite link after the link is restored.

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting/receiving contents through a network such as the Internet, and to a transmitter/receiver using same, the transmission method comprising: converting content stored in a file format into a delivery format; and transmitting the content converted into the delivery format using an IP packet, wherein the delivery format includes indicator information for expressing whether a program clock reference (PCR) has been transmitted to the IP packet.