The embodiments of the disclosure provide an audio playback method, a computer-readable storage medium and a terminal device. The method includes: in response to an instruction of acquiring a recommended audio, acquiring the recommended audio; in response to an instruction of playing the recommended audio, saving playback information of a currently playing target audio, and playing the recommended audio; and in response to an instruction of ceasing to play the recommended audio, ceasing playing the recommended audio and playing the target on an audio playback interface according to the playback information. The audio playback method provided by the embodiments of the disclosure can effectively avoid interruptions in audio playing caused by the insertion of the recommended audio or other audio.

A method and system for controlling viewing of multimedia content includes collecting viewing control profiles and associated viewing control passwords via an Internet-protocol television portal, a web portal, and a mobile portal. The viewing control profile may be usable to restrict access to certain multimedia programs. The viewing control may be applied using a unified storefront application, providing access to multimedia content via the Internet-protocol television portal, the web portal, and the mobile portal, to offer and provide controlled access to the multimedia assets.

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems that interact with users so as to provide for social networking and/or other services. In certain exemplary embodiments, an entertainment system is configured to provide jukebox-related and entertainment system mediated services that are accessible from within and from the outside of the location, coordinating social networking services among and between patrons within and outside of the location and also providing for advertisement opportunities. In certain exemplary embodiments, the entertainment system within a location may serve as and/or be connected to a jukebox. The entertainment system within the location may be connected to one or more client devices, one or more displays, one or more bar-top or hand-held gaming devices, etc., in certain exemplary embodiments. The jukebox-related and entertainment system mediated services may provide mechanisms for enhancing patrons' experiences, creating a sense of ownership and/or belongingness to a connected community of entertainment system users.

There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.

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.

This document describes, among other things, systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for using information about how long various videos were presented at client devices to determine subsequent video recommendations and search results. In some implementations, a computing can include a modeling apparatus, a front-end server, a request manager, one or more video file storage devices, a video selector, or a combination of some or all of these. The video selector can select video content for a particular digitized video among a plurality of digitized videos to serve to a computing device responsive to a request. The selection can be based at least in part on how long the particular digitized video has been presented at client devices associated with users having characteristics that match one or more characteristics of the user that submitted the request for video content, as indicated by the modeling apparatus.

Methods and apparatus to calibrate media ratings based on return path data are disclosed. An apparatus includes a processor and memory including instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: determine an initial rating for the media provided in a first geographic area based on return path data (RPD) tuning information obtained from RPD devices in subscriber households in the first geographic area; determine a first panelist rating for the media provided in a second geographic area based on first panel tuning information obtained from first metering devices in a first subset of panelist households in the second geographic area; determine a nonsubscriber calibration factor based on the first panelist rating; and determine a final rating for the media in the first geographic area by modifying the initial rating based on the nonsubscriber calibration factor.

A programming access device such as, for example, a cable or satellite set top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal computer, and/or a digital media receiver automatically optimizes an order of content choices presented in a content listing, such as a program guide display, favorite channel display, and/or a recording listing display based on the past viewing and/or recording history of a current user.

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.

Provided are systems and methods for generating a customized summary of content for a user using a co-relation graph and a user preference. The co-relation graph maps, for each segment of the content, summary information of the segment and a characteristic of the segment. The system identifies, using the co-relation graph, a subset of the segments of the content based on the user preference and the characteristics of the segments. The customized summary of the content is generated based on the summary information for the identified subset of segments. The system may also use a current presentation time of the content to limit which segments are used to generate the summary. The system can also use a priority ranking to exclude summary information from less important segments to keep the summary within a desired size.