An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.

The present disclosure relates to a method for updating service information tables in a digital content decoder comprising: a reception (E1) of a service information table, a filtering (E2) the content of the table to remove or reset to zero, in the table, a table identifier and an item of information unnecessary to the execution of at least one service by the decoder, a calculation (E4) of a hash code relating to an item of information, of the filtered table, a comparison (E5) of the hash code with a hash code relating to an item of information of a previous table, a storage (E6) of said item of information of the table if the hash code of the filtered table and the hash code of the previous table are not identical.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Embodiments described herein provide various techniques for dynamically calibrating digital video recordings of television broadcasts based on analyses of changes to time data and channel data associated with live television broadcasts. In various embodiments, television receivers may transmit sets of recording schedule data to television broadcast monitor devices, which may receive time data corresponding to live broadcast television programs from various data sources, such as satellite or cable television service providers, social media servers, user devices, and other data sources. Television broadcast monitor devices and/or television receivers may receive and analyze the live television broadcast time data and channel data, and may determine updated recording schedule data which may be used to dynamically reprogram the digital video recorders associated with one or more television receivers.

A method and a system for creating a television menu with multiple settings are provided. A television control circuit is used in a television device. The television control circuit performs the method. A memory is provided for storing multiple television menu settings with respect to multiple clients' demands. When the television device is activated, the television control circuit performs a menu-loading sequence that loads one of the television menu settings from the memory. The television control circuit parses the television menu setting and obtains control tags and corresponding setting parameters. The television menu is initiated and displayed on the television device based on the control tags and the setting parameters.

A system and method for automatically analyzing and managing a media hub software update. The system and method each utilize available media hub system and diagnostic information to aid in the analysis and installation of a software update. If the installation of the update is determined to require memory capacity in excess of what is currently available within the media hub, an archive and off-loading process is automatically initiated to free the required memory space during the installation process. Any off-loaded information and/or applications are then restored after the installation is complete.

Systems and methods for efficiently distributing digital cinema files from a server to a theater are disclosed. The systems and methods may comply with DCI requirements. A server updates an original composition playlist, updates a track file associated with the updated composition playlist, and distributes the updated composition playlist and updated track file to one or more theaters over a communications network. The theater is configured to store the updated track file at a storage containing copies of all track files associated with the updated composition playlist and update the theater's original composition playlist to the updated composition playlist. The server may have a database configured to track the composition playlists and associated track files present in each theater in the system.

There is included a method and apparatus comprising computer code configured to cause a processor or processors to perform providing a media presentation description (MPD) event and media segments of video content to be streamed to a client, controlling the client to provide a user interface based on the MPD event and comprising a plurality of selection choices and interactive data for each of the selection choices, and updating MPD data based on at least one selection from the selection choices through the user interface.

In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes using, at least in part, an amount of content-presentation devices in the identified group as a basis to determine an amount of system resources to request. The method also includes requesting the determined amount of system resources for use in performing actions that facilitate at least a portion of the content-presentation devices in the identified group performing respective content-modification operations.

Methods and systems for discovering or tuning-in to near live or current playlists used to stream media content, particularly for live events during which the media content is streamed. The methods and systems can reduce the time required to tune-in to such live events. In one embodiment, a client device can receive an age data in a header of a message that returns a first playlist that was requested by an unattributed playlist request from the client device. The age data can be used to determine how many partial media segments to skip to tune-in to the live event.