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.

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.

A method of acquiring and accumulating data from a server via a network is provided. A request is transmitted for a plurality of items of data and includes at least one ingestion marker associated with the data. The at least one ingestion marker represents a last occurrence of when a change was made to the data. Data is received with a transfer protocol in response to the request. The data has at least one associated ingestion marker different than the at least one associated ingestion marker transmitted with the request. The received data and the at least one associated ingestion marker is stored in memory. The request is transmitted and the data is received and stored electronically by an electronic client device communicating with the server over the network. A system of acquiring and accumulating Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data from a web-server over a network is also disclosed.

A method of acquiring and accumulating data from a server via a network is provided. A request is transmitted for a plurality of items of data and includes at least one ingestion marker associated with the data. The at least one ingestion marker represents a last occurrence of when a change was made to the data. Data is received with a transfer protocol in response to the request. The data has at least one associated ingestion marker different than the at least one associated ingestion marker transmitted with the request. The received data and the at least one associated ingestion marker is stored in memory. The request is transmitted and the data is received and stored electronically by an electronic client device communicating with the server over the network. A system of acquiring and accumulating Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data from a web-server over a network is also disclosed.

A computer-implemented method includes: detecting whether a user is watching media content; after detecting that the user is watching media, presenting on a user device a first affordance providing a first user-selectable election to receive information on entities relevant to the media content; in response to user selection of the election: sampling at the user device program information from the media content including one or more of audio signals and subtitles, and sending the program information to a server, which identifies the media content and generates one or more second user-selectable user elections for the identified media content and sends to the user device one or more second affordances providing the second user-selectable elections; displaying the second affordances on the user device; and in response to user selection of one of the second affordances, displaying on the user device information on a respective entity relevant to the media content.

A computer-implemented method includes: detecting whether a user is watching media content; after detecting that the user is watching media, presenting on a user device a first affordance providing a first user-selectable election to receive information on entities relevant to the media content; in response to user selection of the election: sampling at the user device program information from the media content including one or more of audio signals and subtitles, and sending the program information to a server, which identifies the media content and generates one or more second user-selectable user elections for the identified media content and sends to the user device one or more second affordances providing the second user-selectable elections; displaying the second affordances on the user device; and in response to user selection of one of the second affordances, displaying on the user device information on a respective entity relevant to the media content.

Various arrangements for facilitating smart television content receivers in a local network are provided. In an example, a secondary television receiver receives audio data, converts the audio data into voice command data, and transmits the voice command data to a primary television receiver. In response, the primary television receiver transmits the voice command data to a voice processing server via the Internet, receives a command generated based on the voice command data, and transmits the command to the secondary television receiver. Based on the command, an operation of the secondary television receiver is controlled.

Various arrangements for facilitating smart television content receivers in a local network are provided. In an example, a secondary television receiver receives audio data, converts the audio data into voice command data, and transmits the voice command data to a primary television receiver. In response, the primary television receiver transmits the voice command data to a voice processing server via the Internet, receives a command generated based on the voice command data, and transmits the command to the secondary television receiver. Based on the command, an operation of the secondary television receiver is controlled.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for searching for media content across multiple sources. A multi-source content system can connect various media content sources (e.g., internet streaming platforms, local or cloud storage, OTA networks, cable network, satellite network, public library databases, etc.) to a gateway. When a user searches for media content, the gateway can detect the search and perform a query across the various media content sources to locate the media content. The multi-source content system can prioritize the search results according to free content, local storage devices, gateway content services or bandwidth management metrics, and present the search results to the user. The multi-source content system can aggregate multiple media content sources and devices connected to a gateway to retrieve media content.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for searching for media content across multiple sources. A multi-source content system can connect various media content sources (e.g., internet streaming platforms, local or cloud storage, OTA networks, cable network, satellite network, public library databases, etc.) to a gateway. When a user searches for media content, the gateway can detect the search and perform a query across the various media content sources to locate the media content. The multi-source content system can prioritize the search results according to free content, local storage devices, gateway content services or bandwidth management metrics, and present the search results to the user. The multi-source content system can aggregate multiple media content sources and devices connected to a gateway to retrieve media content.