Methods, systems are computer program products are provided for restricting video content including displaying, via an interface, an output of a portion of a video that is recommended for preview to facilitate restricting of the portion of the video during playback for one or more audience groups, receiving, via the interface and for a user profile, an indication of whether to restrict the portion of the video during playback for the one or more audience groups, and storing the indication for use in restricting the portion of the video during playback for the one or more audience groups.

Embodiments are related to faster provisioning of targeted advertisements at a set-top box (STB) via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the STB and a remote server. The disclosed IP-based advertisement distribution system enables targeted advertisements to be pulled from the remote server efficiently, causing the advertisements to be made available within a short time frame (e.g., less than one day from the time when the advertisements are available). The disclosed methods enables a STB to determine whether to retain existing targeted advertisements, discard them, or provision newly-available advertisements. The targeted advertisements can depend on various factors such as demographic information of an owner of the STB, lifestyle information of the owner of the STB, etc.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a window-metric rule for return path data (RPD). In some examples, a media monitor includes a count calculator to determine a first count of a number of devices in a first household that reported RPD for a first day. The example media monitor also includes an RPD selector to compare the first count to a current window-metric, the current window-metric associated with a window of time for the first household, the window of time associated with a content provider and having N number of days. The example RPD selector the RPD from the first household for the first day when the first count does not satisfy the current window-metric. The example media monitor also includes a report generator to generate a media exposure report using the RPD from the first household for the first day when the first count satisfies the current window-metric, independent of if the first household has heartbeat data available.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, communicating with a server via a first type of communication path to obtain permission to provide media content, that is stored locally at a device, to another device; and responsive to obtaining the permission from the server, providing at least some of the media content to the another device, the media content being provided to the another device via a second type of communication path that is different from the first type of communication path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Various embodiments are directed to one or more transcoder devices in communication with an input device such as a remote control device and multiple destination devices in which the transcoder device(s) facilitate communication between the remote control and the various destination devices in the vicinity. The transcoder device(s) can also provide the user with an environmental awareness of conditions and events surrounding the user. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on the distribution network.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, an authentication device, and a control method therefor. The electronic device includes: a communicator configured to communicate with an authentication device; a storage configured to store data; and a processor configured to encrypt first authentication data by causing the authentication device to encrypt identification information on the electronic device and unique data of the authentication device to generate second authentication data, store the generated second authentication data in the storage, and transmit the stored second authentication data to the authentication device to request authentication of the electronic device. In this way, a CAS operator does not need to generate security keys for each electronic device and does not need to manage matching information between the electronic devices and the security keys. In addition, a manufacturer of the electronic device does not need to receive the security keys for each electronic device separately, and does not need to provide the CAS operator with usage history of the security keys for each electronic device.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, communicating with a server via a first type of communication path to obtain permission to provide media content, that is stored locally at a device, to another device; and responsive to obtaining the permission from the server, providing at least some of the media content to the another device, the media content being provided to the another device via a second type of communication path that is different from the first type of communication path. Other embodiments are disclosed.