Methods and systems of providing alternative advert (AA) query items for an AA system are disclosed. A request is received to generate an AA query. In response to the request, it is determined whether a percentage of scoreable AA query items for which a viewer has a known or derived preference exceeds a threshold value. Each scoreable AA query item has an assigned equity score and an assigned viewer-item affinity score. In response to determining that the percentage of scoreable AA query items exceeds the threshold value, one or more first AA query types are determined to create for the viewer. The requested AA query is sent. A response to the sent AA query is received. Equity scores and viewer-item affinity scores of total scoreable AA query items are updated based on the response.

Various arrangements for authorizing content viewing are detailed herein. Sports wager data corresponding to a sports wager placed by a user may be provided to a television service provider system. The television service provider system can perform a lookup action to determine a content event based on the sports wager data. In response to the received sports wager data, a user account may be authorized using a rights scheme for access to a television channel on which the content event is scheduled to be broadcast. The television service provider system may deauthorized the user account for access to the television channel by removing the rights scheme such that access to the television channel on which the content event was broadcast is blocked after the event.

A videophone system includes a processor which selectively sets a television (TV) broadcast program viewing function mode and videophone function mode in response to manual operation of a remote control, a decoder which performs, in the TV program view mode, a TV program-use decode function for decoding a broadcast program signal received from a TV tuner to thereby display it on a display screen while producing audio sounds by loudspeakers and which performs, in the videophone function mode a videophone-use decode function for decoding a videophone signal received from a distant party to thereby display on the screen an image of the distant party using the screen and speakers, and an encoder which performs a videophone-use encode function for encoding a video signal from a camera and a voice signal from a microphone to generate a videophone signal, which is sent to the distant party via a network.

A videophone system includes a processor which selectively sets a television (TV) broadcast program viewing function mode and videophone function mode in response to manual operation of a remote control, a decoder which performs, in the TV program view mode, a TV program-use decode function for decoding a broadcast program signal received from a TV tuner to thereby display it on a display screen while producing audio sounds by loudspeakers and which performs, in the videophone function mode a videophone-use decode function for decoding a videophone signal received from a distant party to thereby display on the screen an image of the distant party using the screen and speakers, and an encoder which performs a videophone-use encode function for encoding a video signal from a camera and a voice signal from a microphone to generate a videophone signal, which is sent to the distant party via a network.

Systems and methods for quick start-up of playback in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Media content may be encoded in a plurality of alternative streams and a quick start-up stream. The quick start-up stream may include media content that is encoded at a lower quality that the alternative streams and may be encrypted with a different, less secure encryption process than that of the alternative streams. During a start-up of playback, the playback device streams the media content from a quick start-up stream until a metric, such as a decryption key for the alternative streams is met. The device then streams the media content from the alternative streams in response to the metric being met.

Techniques for reducing piracy of media content are described. In some embodiments, a collusion resistant method is performed at a device, where the device receives a first request for a base copy of a media content item. In response, the device determines a first transformation based on a statistical performance criterion and a viewing performance criterion. The device further generates a first copy of the media content item by replicating and applying a first transformation to the base copy, where the first copy of the media content item satisfies the viewing performance criterion, and the first copy of the media content item is statistically different from the base copy or other copies in accordance with the statistical performance criterion. The device then causes transmission of the first copy of the media content item in combination with a first watermark for the base copy of the media content item.

Systems and methods are provided for generating a customized media asset to incentivize a first user to subscribe to a subscription service. A first user provides their subscription access information to a media provider. In response to receiving the subscription access information, the media provider determines whether the subscription access information is from an account subscribed for a trial period. If the account is subscribed for the trial period, the media provider presents a plurality of media assets for selection to the first user, receives a selection of a media asset available from the subscription service, generates a customized media asset based on a media asset consumption profile of the first user, wherein the customized media asset includes a segment from an additional media asset different from the selected media asset, and presents to the first user the customized media asset instead of the selected media asset.

Systems and methods are provided for generating a customized media asset to incentivize a first user to subscribe to a subscription service. A first user provides their subscription access information to a media provider. In response to receiving the subscription access information, the media provider determines whether the subscription access information is from an account subscribed for a trial period. If the account is subscribed for the trial period, the media provider presents a plurality of media assets for selection to the first user, receives a selection of a media asset available from the subscription service, generates a customized media asset based on a media asset consumption profile of the first user, wherein the customized media asset includes a segment from an additional media asset different from the selected media asset, and presents to the first user the customized media asset instead of the selected media asset.

Disclosed are a television apparatus and a display method. The television apparatus includes a display configured to display an image, a communication interface configured to communicate with a mobile device and one or more servers, and a controller in connection with the display and the communication interface. The controller is configured to receive authentication information from a second server of the one or more servers, display the authentication information on the display of the display apparatus, receive a display request for displaying an item in actual physical size from the second server, and display the item in actual physical size on the display of the television apparatus.

A managed notification system compares image(s) and/or indicia relating to the image(s) and where there is a match selectively provides a notification of the same.