Transaction activity of a cache maintaining content may be monitored to determine periods of transaction activity below a first threshold amount of transactions. A period of anticipated transaction activity above a second threshold amount of transactions may be determined. A period of anticipated transaction activity below the first threshold may be selected based upon the monitored periods of transaction activity below the first threshold and the determined period of anticipated transaction activity above the second threshold. Content then may be evicted from the cache during the selected period of anticipated transaction activity.

A first media server delivers content for broadcast via a first media channel, and a second media server delivers media content for broadcast via a second media channel. The first media server operates in a synchronized mode, under control of the second media server during some periods of time, and during other periods of time operates in an independent mode. When operating in the synchronized mode, content delivered by the first and second media servers can be synchronized, so that the timing of spot blocks played on the two servers generally coincides. When the first server operates in the independent mode, the timing of spot blocks and other content broadcast on the first media channel are not synchronized under control of the second media server.

A method and apparatus for providing remote control of content rendered by a set top box is described including transmitting a state request message by a user to the set top box via a server, receiving a state reply message by the user from the set top box via the server, determining by the user if the user needs to control the set top box responsive to information in the state reply message and transmitting a remote control command to the set top box via the server. Also described are a method and apparatus including recording information of events by the set top box, receiving a state request message via a server, generating a state reply message including the recorded information, transmitting the state reply message via the server, receiving a remote control command via the server and performing an action specified by the remote control command.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving decoded satellite signals, obtaining media channels from the decoded satellite signals, selecting a portion of the media channels for distribution to a plurality of media processors, encoding the portion of the media channels selected according to a satellite distribution protocol, such as a protocol that facilitates satellite switching, to generate satellite encoded content, formatting the satellite encoded content according to a transport protocol to generate formatted content, and providing the formatted content for distribution to the plurality of media processors via a communication network, such as a single wire communication network or other network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A multi-tenant application that provides high speed data services to one or more subscriber devices. The multi-tenant application comprises one or more first servers that each perform packet switching and routing and one or more second servers that each perform FCAPS functions for the one or more subscriber devices. FCAPS functions comprise fault operations, configuration operations, accounting operations, performance operations, and security operations. Each of the one or more first and second servers are implemented entirely within an application-specific logical host composed of one or more application containers. The one or more second servers may optionally each further perform network functions and user plane functions for the one or more subscriber devices. The one or more second servers may optionally each further perform OLT control functions and OLT MAC/PHY functions for the one or more subscriber devices.

A system and method for operating the same includes a language processing module generating a search request text signal and determining identified data from the search request text signal. A search module generates search results in response to the search request text signal. A dialog manager classifies the search request text signal into a response classification associated with a plurality of templates, selects a first template from the plurality of templates in response to the response classification and corrects search results in response to the identified data and the template to form a corrected response signal. A device receives and displays the corrected response signal.

A method of detecting CPD in an HFC network is disclosed, where the network includes a return receiver, a cable plant, and a node. The node includes an optical receiver, optical transmitter, a diplexer having forward and return legs, a forward path defined between optical receiver and forward leg, and a return path defined between the optical transmitter and return leg. The optical receiver provides a forward signal to the cable plant and a portion of the forward signal leaks through the return leg and travels to the return receiver. The cable plant contains a CPD source which generates a CPD signal from the forward signal. The CPD signal travels to the return receiver. The method comprises: (a) operating the return receiver to synchronously capture the CPD signal and leaked portion of forward signal; (b) generating from the captured forward signal a reference signal, which substantially simulates the CPD signal; (c) performing a cross-correlation of the reference and captured CPD signals to produce a correlation peak; and (d) detecting the actual CPD signal from the correlation peak.

Alternative approaches to the insertion of local commercials and messages into networks feeds are provided. Embodiments include digital commercial insertion for cable operators and others that not only offer more flexibility and features, but may also be significantly cheaper to implement. The actual insert of the local commercial or message into the digital program is performed by a standard set top box, with several methods of providing the local commercial to the set top box at the proper insertion time. Another embodiment allows a cable operator to significantly save on equipment in the form of splicers and ad inserters, by allowing easy and dynamic mapping of local commercials to insertion zones.

Methods and apparatus for supporting content delivery service are described. In accordance with the invention content can be supplied to temporary storage of a regional or local server used to supply the content to a customer's premises when the requested content is not already available in the regional or local server. A content server hierarchy may be implemented with servers higher up in the hierarchy including more content, e.g., titles, than the number of titles stored in the lower level servers. By storing less frequently accessed content in servers higher in the hierarchy and frequently requested titles lower in the hierarchy, a vast number of titles can be supported without overburdening the storage available at local and regional servers. In addition, a national or other server high in the hierarchy can be used to store, move, and distribute local or other content as part of an on demand service.

A user receiving device including at least one transceiver module, an output module, a control module, and a transaction module. The at least one transceiver module is configured to receive an ad or an offer transmitted from at least one backend device to the user receiving device. The offer is directed to a product and/or service referred to in the ad. The output module is configured to display the ad or the offer on a display. The display is connected to the user receiving device. The at least one transceiver module is configured to receive a response signal transmitted from a mobile device to the user receiving device. The response signal is in response to the offer. The transaction module is configured to perform a transaction between the at least one backend device and a user of the mobile device based on the response signal.