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.

An apparatus and method for providing a virtual online live video channel are disclosed. In one implementation, a processing device may receive a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player. The processing device may establish a connection between a manifest server and the video player. The processing device may further identify a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources. The processing device may then provide, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of a live video stream and a second location of a prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player and presented to a user of the video player.

An apparatus and method for providing a virtual online live video channel are disclosed. In one implementation, a processing device may receive a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player. The processing device may establish a connection between a manifest server and the video player. The processing device may further identify a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources. The processing device may then provide, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of a live video stream and a second location of a prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player and presented to a user of the video player.

Embodiments are provided for receiving media content based on the user media preferences. An example implementation includes a one or more servers receiving data representing a guest list for an upcoming event corresponding to a first user account, the guest list indicating multiple guests corresponding to respective second user accounts of a second cloud service and querying one or more streaming media services for music preferences corresponding to the multiple guests. The one or more servers receive, from the one or more streaming media services, data representing respective music preferences corresponding to the multiple guests and generate a playlist of audio tracks based on the received respective music preferences corresponding to the multiple guests. During the event, the server(s) cause the playlist to be queued in a playback queue for playback by one or more playback devices of a particular media playback system registered with the first user account.

Embodiments are provided for receiving media content based on the user media preferences. An example implementation includes a one or more servers receiving data representing a guest list for an upcoming event corresponding to a first user account, the guest list indicating multiple guests corresponding to respective second user accounts of a second cloud service and querying one or more streaming media services for music preferences corresponding to the multiple guests. The one or more servers receive, from the one or more streaming media services, data representing respective music preferences corresponding to the multiple guests and generate a playlist of audio tracks based on the received respective music preferences corresponding to the multiple guests. During the event, the server(s) cause the playlist to be queued in a playback queue for playback by one or more playback devices of a particular media playback system registered with the first user account.

The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for augmenting data via data crowd sourcing. Local data are acquired by one or more sensors deployed on a first device. Augmented data are obtained where such augmented data are generated based on the local data and remote data from at least one second device and are rendered on the first device.

Systems and methods for providing an advertisement marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade mediacast advertisement inventory programmatically at local, national, and/or worldwide levels. The marketplace system may include a seller-controlled marketplace system which connects sellers with buyers and offers revenue management tools for optimizing yields across direct and programmatic channels. The advertisement inventory is bought and sold as canonical inventory units which group similar but discrete advertisement slots together. The marketplace system may include a seller side platform (SSP) for sellers through which sellers can access demand across multiple sales channels and can make advertisement inventory available and accept or reject bids based on marketplace demand.

Systems and methods for providing an advertisement marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade mediacast advertisement inventory programmatically at local, national, and/or worldwide levels. The marketplace system may include a seller-controlled marketplace system which connects sellers with buyers and offers revenue management tools for optimizing yields across direct and programmatic channels. The advertisement inventory is bought and sold as canonical inventory units which group similar but discrete advertisement slots together. The marketplace system may include a seller side platform (SSP) for sellers through which sellers can access demand across multiple sales channels and can make advertisement inventory available and accept or reject bids based on marketplace demand.

In some embodiments, a method receives a request for a video and receives a ranking of content delivery networks for the request. Also, global constraints are received for the content delivery networks. The global constraints define an allocation for respective content delivery networks. The method selects a content delivery network using the global constraints and the ranking. A score for the content delivery network is altered from a first score to a second score in the ranking and used in the selecting of the content delivery network. The content delivery network that is selected for the request is outputted.