A video aggregation system for providing a user personalized video content from videos available on the Internet generates a selective feed by combining a first feed and a second feed. The video aggregation system receives a search request from an Internet service and transmits a search reply containing a separately resolvable link to a video content object from the selective feed.

A video distribution method and apparatus and an electronic device, where the video distribution method includes: obtaining a popularity of each video program, wherein the popularity is a preference degree of a user group for a video program within a statistic time period; and determining, according the popularity of each video program, to distribute a video content of the video program through repeating broadcasting channels or by means of broadcasting on demand.

A multicasting download-to-mobile-device service that broadcasts and distributes digital media over cellular networks is described. The most preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a network that distributes a plurality of media titles (e.g., movies, tv shows, concerts, etc.) via multicast streams where the media titles are stored in local storage on a mobile electronic device (e.g., cellular telephones and tablets) and, by way of a mobile device app, allows users to play the stored media titles locally from their devices using current on demand playback methodologies. In addition, at least some preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a data carousel that curates and delivers discrete media titles to selected cell towers and/or hubs, thereby providing for relevant media titles to be multicast to discrete regions and not the entire network. Finally, the data carousel may be configured to synchronize relevant titles for discrete users of the service.

Systems and associated methods are described for providing content recommendations. The system selects a first plurality of subsets of content categories, each subset of content categories comprising a first number of content categories. The subsets are assigned reward scores based on content popularity and duplication. The subset are then iteratively modified to increase the rewards scores. If the reward scores are still low, the process is repeated by selecting a second plurality of subsets of content categories, each subset of content categories comprising a second number of content categories, different from first number.

A video aggregation system for providing a user personalized video content from videos available on the Internet generates a selective feed by combining a first feed and a second feed. The video aggregation system receives a search request from an Internet service and transmits a search reply containing a separately resolvable link to a video content object from the selective feed.

Systems and associated methods are described for providing content recommendations. The system selects a first plurality of subsets of content categories, each subset of content categories comprising a first number of content categories. The subsets are assigned reward scores based on content popularity and duplication. The subset are then iteratively modified to increase the rewards scores. If the reward scores are still low, the process is repeated by selecting a second plurality of subsets of content categories, each subset of content categories comprising a second number of content categories, different from first number.

A method and system for harvesting ads or other modifiable-content segments for use to facilitate dynamic ad replacement or other dynamic content modification. An example method includes (i) determining, based on data carried in-band with a media stream being distributed, a time position of an ad in the media stream, (ii) using the determined time position of the ad in the media stream as a basis to select, from reference fingerprints representing the media stream, a set of the reference fingerprints that represent the ad in the media stream, and (iii) populating the selected set of reference fingerprints into an ad-inventory database as a set of fingerprints representing the ad, to facilitate later detecting presence of another instance of the same ad in the media stream or in another media stream and, based on the later detecting, dynamically replacing the detected other instance of the ad.

Non-linear management of real time sequential data in cloud instances via time constraints is provided by: receiving, at a cloud network facility from a media production facility, a selection of component media flows for assembly into an assembled media package; identifying a time constraint for assembling component media flows into the assembled media package; identifying processes to perform with respect to the component media flows during assembly of the assembled media package; in response to an estimated time to perform the processes with respect to the component media flows exceeding the time constraint, adjusting performance of the processes with respect to the component media flows to increase a speed of performance; and performing, in the cloud network facility, the processes with respect to the component media flows as adjusted to produce the assembled media package.

Devices and methods are provided for using shadow impressions to control storage and delivery of streaming video content. The device may receive a request, the request associated with determining a group of streaming video advertisements for streaming video at a device. The device may determine, based on the request, a first advertisement, wherein the first advertisement is associated with a first number of impressions, wherein the first number of impressions includes a first number of shadow impressions. The device may determine not to include the first advertisement in the group of streaming video advertisements based on the first number of impressions exceeding a first playback threshold. The device may send the group of streaming video advertisements.

Systems and associated methods are described for providing content recommendations. The system selects a first plurality of subsets of content categories, each subset of content categories comprising a first number of content categories. The subsets are assigned reward scores based on content popularity and duplication. The subset are then iteratively modified to increase the rewards scores. If the reward scores are still low, the process is repeated by selecting a second plurality of subsets of content categories, each subset of content categories comprising a second number of content categories, different from first number.