The present invention provides a media player configurable to provide the user with a seamless way of conducting transactions from within a window of the media player itself. All intermediate steps relating to the required transaction are carried out by calling up relevant modules/applications from within the application libraries from within an e-commerce platform. In preferred embodiments, the media player is configured to retrieve an encoded media file from a server or other content delivery network (CDN). The media player is further configured to display predefined overlays to the user during playback of the media file in response to identifying cues encoded into the media file by the content owner. The content owner can upload the media files to a server or other CDN via a dashboard/user interface. The cues can be encoded with a plurality of fields to enable the desired functionality to be achieved.

Systems and methods for controlling a graphical user interface in a live-game environment are disclosed. The systems and methods comprise obtaining a signal indicative of an output of a Hardware Random Number Generator (HRNG). The output of the HRNG comprising a symbol (e.g. an integer) within a predefined set comprising a plurality M of unique symbols (e.g. 1-75). Further comprising providing a graphical user interface on a display of a remote electronic device, where the graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation having a live video stream (or video feed) of at least the output of the HRNG, and a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element defining or embodying a virtual card. Further comprising identifying the symbol of the output of the HRNG, determining a virtual card score for each virtual card of the plurality of virtual cards based on the identified symbol, and updating the graphical representation.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, transmitting a first request that includes a key, wherein the key identifies: a processing system that is a targeted recipient of an advertisement, a stream in which a primary content item is being provisioned to the processing system, and a service provider, based at least in part on the transmitting of the first request, obtaining information pertaining to an advertisement from a device of the service provider, and inserting the information within a portion of the stream corresponding to a break in the primary content item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A computing system is configured to execute a computer program on a server and to provide a video stream of the program output to a geographically remote client over a communication network. An add-on manager is provided to facilitate the use of add-ons to extend the functionality of the computer program. The add-on manager is responsive to commands received from the client and is configured to associate individual add-ons and add-on data with specific user accounts. The add-ons can be located on the server or some other location remote from the client.

A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.

A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.

A method of acquiring access rights to conditional access content. The method comprises receiving an access right on a first terminal through a first communication channel; storing said access right in said first terminal; sending a request for said conditional access content to a content provider, said request containing at least an identifier of an account to which said first terminal is associated, an identifier of the requested content and a piece of information concerning said access right; verifying, by said content provider, the authenticity of said access right using said piece of information concerning the access right; and when there has been a successful verification, marking said access right as used, and sending said conditional access content to at least one terminal linked to said account. The first terminal using near field communication technology (NFC) during at least one transfer of said access rights.

Interactive multimedia package methods and systems are provided. An interactive multimedia package system may generate, manage, deliver, and/or play interactive multimedia packages with various digital media. An interactive multimedia package may be incorporated into any platform such as physical media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, etc.), web services (e.g., download, or streaming), and other applications. A user may shop directly off of the digital media that he or she is experiencing (e.g., watching a movie, viewing a digital news, reading an e-book, playing a video game, etc.) The user may be directed to an e-commerce website, a digital storefront, or a list of items associated with an object, by clicking on the object of interest in the digital media.

A facility for selectively suppressing notifications on a portable device is described. The facility accesses data characterizing the condition of the portable device. The facility infers from the accessed data that that the portable device is being carried by a person who is viewing content being played by a media player device. In response to this inference, the facility determines whether notifications should be suppressed on the portable device. If the facility determines that notifications should be suppressed on the portable device, it causes a wireless communication to be transmitted to the portable device instructing the portable device to suppress notifications.

Computer implemented systems and methods are described for providing layered multimedia content. Specifically, the systems and methods can analyze a content stream or file using software to identify objects present in the first content, which could include people, items, places, music, sounds, and so forth. One or more elements can be generated and overlaid on to the content, which allow a viewer of the content to access information about the object and/or purchase a product or service associated with the object. Such information can be presented to the viewer when the viewer clicks on or otherwise interacts with the element.