In the field of communications technologies, disclosed are a program playing method and apparatus, to resolve problems of relatively high costs of an internet protocol television (IPTV) operator and relatively high costs for subscribing to and maintaining an IPTV service by a user. In the method, a communications device receives a program playing request message sent by using a first transmission protocol. The communications device determines a corresponding target program channel based on a media file identifier included in the program playing request message, and may send a data stream request message to an IPTV platform by using a second transmission protocol. The communications device may send, by using the first transmission protocol, a received data stream to a playing device for play.

Methods and systems that provide an interactive media guidance application having a locked mode for viewing media assets. In the locked mode, the interactive media guidance application may provide media assets suited to a certain audience. The interactive media guidance application may determine suitable media assets for the locked mode based on media assets viewed by other users having characteristics similar to the user of the interactive media guidance application. In the locked mode, the interactive media guidance application may allow access to only certain media assets and/or limit the time period for which the media assets are presented.

A video-on-demand server, having a plurality of audiovisual assets stored in association therewith, and an application server module, are interconnected with a first group of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated with a first group of subscribers and a second group of CPE associated with a second (different) group of subscribers, via a video content network. The application server module, the first group of CPE, and the second group of CPE are cooperatively configured to prepare a first video-on-demand catalog comprising a first group of the audiovisual assets and a second video-on-demand catalog comprising a second (different) group of the audiovisual assets. The application server module, the first group of CPE, and the second group of CPE are further cooperatively configured to make the first video-on-demand catalog available to the first group of subscribers and to make the second video-on-demand catalog available to the second group of subscribers.

Methods and apparatus for delivering content to a user so as to optimize and enhance the “experience” of the content. In one embodiment, an optimization and monitoring entity (OME) is used which determines, evaluates, and provides notification and/or recommendation of alternative content delivery platforms which are available to a user. The OME receives requests for content forwarded from a content server containing information identifying requesting devices and/or subscriber accounts. The OME examines the capabilities of the registered devices, and identifies/recommends alternative devices based on e.g., video/audio quality, picture size, bandwidth availability, and/or any other additional capabilities of the client devices. A notification is then sent to the client devices indicating which of the user's devices may receive the content alternatively, or in addition to, the requesting device. The notifications may be interactive, allowing the user to select one or more of the devices for delivery.

Methods and apparatus to collect distributed user information for media impressions and search terms are disclosed. An example method includes accessing, from a media device, a first identifier and a search term at a first server, the first identifier corresponding to at least one of the media device or a user of the media device, the search term associated with a search request, generating a second identifier based on the first identifier, sending the second identifier and the search term from the first server to a data collection server to facilitate the data collection server to logging the search request, and receiving user information associated with the search request from a database proprietor based on the second identifier.

Systems and methods are described for leveraging machine learning to deliver time-sensitive media content offers to a consumer over an optimal device and channel. In an implementation, a server system transmits media content offers over an optimal device and channel to a user. The server system captures metadata of at least one of: the user's use of multiple devices, the user's media content preferences, the user's preferred transmission channels for receiving media content offers over the multiple devices, and the user's preferred times for receiving media content offers. The server system prepares a media content offer for transmission to the user. Based on the captured metadata, the server system selects a user device of the multiple user devices and a transmission channel of multiple transmission channels to transmit the media content offer; and transmits the media content offer to the selected user device over the selected transmission channel.

An electronic device may include a wireless communication circuit, a memory, and a processor. The memory may store instructions that allow, when executed, the processor to: obtain context information associated with the state of the electronic device, and contents information being provided by the electronic device; extracting first keywords on the basis of the context information and the contents information; analyze the keyword level for the first keywords; changing the first keywords into a superordinate concept according to preset keyword levels to obtain second keywords; and transmit the second keywords to at least one server by using the wireless communication circuit. Other various embodiments identified through the specification are possible.

Methods and apparatus to model on/off states of media presentation devices based on return path data are disclosed. An apparatus includes a memory and processor circuitry to execute instructions stored in the memory to: generate a first probability distribution indicative of actual durations of panel tuning segments, the panel tuning segments corresponding to time periods during which panelists were exposed to first media; generate a second probability distribution indicative of modelled durations of modelled tuning segments, the modelled tuning segments corresponding to modified lengths of the panel tuning segments; and estimate a set-on time for a media set associated with an RPD device based on RPD tuning information and the first and second probability distributions, the RPD tuning information reported from the RPD device, the RPD tuning information indicative of a reported RPD tuning segment during which the RPD device was accessing second media.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to expand panelist enrollment are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a network communicator to enable the apparatus to communicate with a local area network. A media monitor is to monitor a media presentation of the apparatus and report monitoring data identifying the media presentation to a central facility. A network scanner is to scan the local area network and store an identification of a second device connected to the same local area network as the apparatus. A network information processor is to review the identification of the second device connected to the same local area network as the apparatus, the network information processor to add the identification of the second device to a fingerprint if the second device is commonly connected to the same local area network as the apparatus. A fingerprint reporter is to transmit the fingerprint to the central facility.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to expand panelist enrollment are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a network communicator to enable the apparatus to communicate with a local area network. A media monitor is to monitor a media presentation of the apparatus and report monitoring data identifying the media presentation to a central facility. A network scanner is to scan the local area network and store an identification of a second device connected to the same local area network as the apparatus. A network information processor is to review the identification of the second device connected to the same local area network as the apparatus, the network information processor to add the identification of the second device to a fingerprint if the second device is commonly connected to the same local area network as the apparatus. A fingerprint reporter is to transmit the fingerprint to the central facility.