A media device and methods that identify playback states reachable from a current content playback state and identify a reachable state that is likely to occur, are disclosed. A memory associated with the media device may receive frames that enable a smooth transition between the playback state and the reachable state. The media device may receive frames that correspond to points in the content that are separated by an amount of time that is proportional to the playback rate of the likely state. The frames may be frames corresponding to an image that may be played back at the playback rate of the likely state.

Sensing interfaces associated with a home entertainment system are used to automate a system response to events which occur in a viewing area associated with the home entertainment system. Data derived from such sensing interfaces may also be used to enhance the response readiness of one or more system components. Still further, user presence data derived from such sensing interfaces may be used to capture and report user viewing habits and/or preferences.

Systems and methods are described herein for controlling playback and/or recording of media assets at a media device based on the state of a secondary device. Specifically, while displaying a media asset, a media device receives a signal from the secondary device indicating a change of state of the secondary device. The media device displays a notification of the signal, and the user can interact with the notification. If the user interacts with the notification for more than a threshold amount of time, the media device may begin recording the media asset. Once the user has finished interacting with the notification, the media device may stop recording and the user can see content that they may have missed by reviewing the recorded portion of the media asset.

A method for controlling a television device, is implemented using a processor and includes: detecting user operation associated with a control interface for controlling operations of the television device; when it is determined that the television device is powered on, and that the television device has been in an idle state and no user operation has been detected for a predetermined amount of time, controlling the television device to playa selected advertisement; and when user operation is detected, controlling the television device to resume to a state prior to the playing of the selected advertisement.

Systems and methods for virtual interactions are described. One or more users can view or listen to media, react to the media and share such media experience virtually with others. The media experience can take place synchronously, asynchronously or both.

Example embodiments provide systems and methods for replacing recorded media content. In an example method, at least one media content source is searched for a media content item recorded to storage of a first media content device. Based on the media content item being found at a first media content source of the at least one media content source, a recording of the media content item to storage of a second media content device is scheduled based on the media content item being recordable from the first media content source at the second media content device. Based on the media content item not being recordable from the first media content source at the second media device, the availability of the media content item is indicated to the second media content device.

The disclosure provides a connection allocation method in a media playing process, including: receiving playing requests initiated by a player embedded in a webpage, wherein the player plays media data in the webpage; storing the received playing requests into a buffering queue to queue according to a receiving sequence of the playing requests; and allocating connections to the playing requests in the buffering queue according to an upper limit of the number of concurrent connections usable for the buffering queue and the receiving sequence, wherein the connections are used for the player to request to-be-played media data. The disclosure further provides a media playing device and a storage medium.

A method for signalling, to a terminal, substitution of an item of content, broadcast via a broadcast network to which the terminal is connected, with a substitute item of content. Such a method includes: obtaining a substitute information packet including time information indicating a time of execution, by the terminal, of an action for substituting the broadcast item of content with the substitute item of content, wherein the time information corresponds to a date of rendering of an image of the broadcast item of content with reference to a reference clock embedded in the broadcast item of content; generating an event notification message including the time information; and inserting the event notification message into a data flow conveying the item of content broadcast within the broadcast network.

Systems, methods, apparatuses are described for monitoring events in a plurality of different services. A system may monitor manifest files for one or more content items. Manifest files may contain manifest file tags indicating events and insertion opportunities. Events and/or insertion opportunities may be detected, and a switch from one content item to another content item, based on customized user priority preferences, may be caused.

A system that provides for the accessing and playing of media files having differing associated rights such as non-DRM media files, purchased and downloaded media files, subscription download files such as tethered downloads, and subscription streamed DRM files. The system also provides a method and user interface for sharing a media collection among computing devices in communication via a network. The system allows access and playback, from each computing device on a network, of all media files in a media collection, regardless of their associated rights.