Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems that interact with users to provide access to media appropriate to and/or customized for a particular user using the entertainment system, the location at which the entertainment system is being accessed, and/or a predefined event. For example, in certain exemplary embodiments, an entertainment system in a location is configured to provide jukebox-related and entertainment system mediated services that are accessible from within and from the outside of the location, and provide (1) attract or flight media operations, (2) browsing services, and/or (3) search screens appropriate to and/or customized for a particular user using the entertainment system, the location at which the entertainment system is being accessed, and/or a predefined event. Such screens may be provided with a three-dimensional look-and-feel in certain exemplary embodiments.

A MSS chunking method for an MP4 file, an MSS adapter, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are disclosed. The method may include: receiving an MSS download request for downloading of at least one MSS chunk of a first MP4 file; determining, according to MSS chunk indexes and virtual chunk indexes of the first MP4 file, data segments in the first MP4 file corresponding to data of the at least one MSS chunk, each MSS chunk index containing a playing address of a respective MSS chunk of the first MP4 file, and each virtual chunk index containing a correspondence between the data of a respective MSS chunk and a respective one of data segments of the first MP4 file; sending a data segment download request to a media server and receiving data segments; and assembling contents of the data segments to generate the at least one MSS chunk.

A MSS chunking method for an MP4 file, an MSS adapter, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are disclosed. The method may include: receiving an MSS download request for downloading of at least one MSS chunk of a first MP4 file; determining, according to MSS chunk indexes and virtual chunk indexes of the first MP4 file, data segments in the first MP4 file corresponding to data of the at least one MSS chunk, each MSS chunk index containing a playing address of a respective MSS chunk of the first MP4 file, and each virtual chunk index containing a correspondence between the data of a respective MSS chunk and a respective one of data segments of the first MP4 file; sending a data segment download request to a media server and receiving data segments; and assembling contents of the data segments to generate the at least one MSS chunk.

Mechanisms for presenting media content items using multiple devices are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting media content are provided that include: detecting an offer to initiate a purchase of a content item being presented using the media device, wherein the media device has not been authenticated with a content service that provides the content item; in response to detecting the offer to initiate the purchase of the content item when the media device has not been authenticated with the content service that provides the content item, causing the media device to be discoverable by one or more mobile devices that are connected to a same local area network as the media device; encoding offer data corresponding to the detected offer to initiate the purchase of the content item; in response to receiving a status request from a mobile device that is connected to the same local area network as the media device, transmitting the encoded offer data associated with the purchase of the content item to the mobile device, wherein the encoded offer data causes a payment user interface to be presented on the mobile device; receiving a cast request from the mobile device to cast the content item on the media device; and in response to the cast request, executing a receiver application on the media device that accepts the cast request from the mobile device and causes the content item to be presented using the media device.

Methods and systems for routing key commands received from a remote-control device are provided. The method and/or system may include receiving, at a device, a key command from the remote-control device, generating a first message that includes the key command, sending, from the device, the first message to a keystroke router, and determining, at the keystroke router, a system network controller associated with the device. Moreover, the keystroke router may send the key command to the system network controller.

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.

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.

Providing and using a branching narrative content service can include receiving from a user device a request for branching narrative content including a first segment. A live manifest can be generated with time metadata, a first content segment identifier that identifies a first content segment of the first segment, and a second content segment identifier that identifies a second content segment of the first segment. The live manifest can be provided to the user device, the user device obtaining the first content segment and the second content segment using the content segment identifiers. The user device obtains a selection of a branch while the first segment is being played and an updated live manifest is generated with updated time metadata and a third content segment identifier. The user device obtains the third content segment using the third content segment identifier and plays the second segment at the user device.

A method and apparatus for performing an integrated search is provided. An interface is provided that allows users to search and select any data related to a searchable term. Searchable terms may comprise titles of content, actors, and tags. Upon receiving results from the initial search, the user progresses through the initial search by selecting a result from the initial search and conducting a further search of that selection. The search may progress through many layers of searching in order to find information useful to the user and the user may perform actions based upon results of the search. The search implements a display with two columns, the first column displaying selectable data, and the second column displaying results to the selected data. The search is further customizable based upon a privacy level selected by the user.

Systems and methods for providing access to media content by connecting, to a public device, a private device that has an installed application associated with the media content. A media guidance application may receive a communication from a private device, running a private interface application, requesting to access content using the public device. In response, the media guidance application may retrieve, at the public device, a public interface application associated with the private interface application, from a content provider of the content. The private interface application may be configured to control a graphical user interface of the public interface application. Accordingly, the user may be able to access content via the public device when the private device is within a predetermined proximity to the public device.