A media system configured to select personalized programming for individual users is disclosed. The programming may include content, advertisements, and/or interactive queries, each of which may be selected based on profiles of the users.

A media system configured to select personalized programming for individual users is disclosed. The programming may include content, advertisements, and/or interactive queries, each of which may be selected based on profiles of the users.

A portable information terminal includes a controller configured to control a communication interface to transmit a charging permission response to a broadcast receiving apparatus in response to a charging permission request data transmitted when a broadcasting program that a user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view contains an asset that requires charging. The charging permission response is allowed to be transmitted when positional information indicates that the portable information terminal is positioned inside of a predetermined positional range and apparatus identification information in the charging permission request data, by which the broadcast receiving apparatus is allowed to be identified, coincides with apparatus identification information stored in a memory. The controller controls the communication interface to transmit a charging denial response to the broadcast receiving apparatus when the positional information indicates that the portable information terminal is positioned outside of the predetermined positional range.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive broadcasting data on digital broadcasting is used. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes: a broadcast receiving unit configured to receive broadcasting data containing coded video data regarding a broadcasting program of the digital broadcasting and control information for the broadcasting program; a video decoding unit configured to decode the coded video data received by the broadcast receiving unit to reproduce program video information; a display unit configured to display the program video information reproduced by the video decoding unit; a communication unit configured to transmit viewing permission request data to a predetermined portable information terminal in a case where a broadcasting program that a user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view is a program on which viewing limit is to be imposed, the communication unit being configured to receive response data from the portable information terminal, the response data responding to the viewing permission request data; an authentication information storing unit configured to store terminal identification information and authentication information, the predetermined portable information terminal being allowed to be identified by the terminal identification information; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: control the video decoding unit or the display unit so as not to limit viewing of the broadcasting program that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view in a case where the response data received by the communication unit indicates a display permission response and both of terminal identification information and authentication information contained in the display permission response respectively coincide with the terminal identification information and the authentication information stored in the authentication information storing unit; and control the video decoding unit or the display unit so as to limit the viewing of the broadcasting program that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view in a case where any of the terminal identification information and the authentication information contained in the display permission response does not coincide with corresponding one of the terminal identification information and the authentication information stored in the authentication information storing unit even though the response data received by the communication unit indicates the display permission response.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive broadcasting data on digital broadcasting is used. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes: a broadcast receiving unit configured to receive broadcasting data containing coded video data regarding a broadcasting program of the digital broadcasting and control information for the broadcasting program; a video decoding unit configured to decode the coded video data received by the broadcast receiving unit to reproduce program video information; a display unit configured to display the program video information reproduced by the video decoding unit; a communication unit configured to transmit viewing permission request data to a predetermined portable information terminal in a case where a broadcasting program that a user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view is a program on which viewing limit is to be imposed, the communication unit being configured to receive response data from the portable information terminal, the response data responding to the viewing permission request data; an authentication information storing unit configured to store terminal identification information and authentication information, the predetermined portable information terminal being allowed to be identified by the terminal identification information; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: control the video decoding unit or the display unit so as not to limit viewing of the broadcasting program that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view in a case where the response data received by the communication unit indicates a display permission response and both of terminal identification information and authentication information contained in the display permission response respectively coincide with the terminal identification information and the authentication information stored in the authentication information storing unit; and control the video decoding unit or the display unit so as to limit the viewing of the broadcasting program that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus desires to view in a case where any of the terminal identification information and the authentication information contained in the display permission response does not coincide with corresponding one of the terminal identification information and the authentication information stored in the authentication information storing unit even though the response data received by the communication unit indicates the display permission response.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a co-viewing calculator to calculate a co-viewing factor corresponding to a demographic of panelists based on exposure information, an exposure time calculator to calculate a number of census co-viewer exposure minutes based on the co-viewing factor, a data aggregator to determine an aggregate exposure time total based on census exposure information and the number of census co-viewer exposure minutes, and a report generator to generate a report including the aggregate exposure time total.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a co-viewing calculator to calculate a co-viewing factor corresponding to a demographic of panelists based on exposure information, an exposure time calculator to calculate a number of census co-viewer exposure minutes based on the co-viewing factor, a data aggregator to determine an aggregate exposure time total based on census exposure information and the number of census co-viewer exposure minutes, and a report generator to generate a report including the aggregate exposure time total.

Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's user station where selected music files are recorded. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to playback for their enjoyment. An antipiracy WID tag is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjusts scheduling according to demand for various CD's. Receivers store selections that are likely to be preferred by a specific customer. In those instances where weather conditions, motion of atmospheric layers or dish obstructions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a good copy. In conjunction with the blanket transmission of more popular music, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD's that are not frequently requested and distribute them by ground transportation.

A data storage system allows a subscriber to store data at the time the subscriber experiences the date with an indication, such as a press of a button or a voice command. The indication causes a request to obtain and store the data to be issued. For example, the subscriber can store music while listening to it, store or request movies while viewing them, or store movie soundtracks while viewing movies. The entire music file can be stored, for example, in a vehicle in which the subscriber is traveling. For some environments, such as storage in a cellular telephone, a portion of the music is stored in a format compatible for that environment, such as cellular telephone ring tone format. When the indication is received, a determination is made as to which music is required, generally by determining the time of the indication. The music heard by the listener is then downloaded for storage in accordance with the subscriber's request. Movies, songs or soundtracks can be stored when they are viewed or heard, for example, while in a movie theater.

Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's user station where selected music files are recorded. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to playback for their enjoyment. An antipiracy WID tag is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjust scheduling according to demand for various CD's. Receivers store selections that are likely to be preferred by a specific customer. In those instances where weather conditions, motion of atmospheric layers or dish obstructions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a good copy. In conjunction 20 with the blanket transmission of more popular music, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD's that are not frequently requested and distribute them by ground transportation.