A method and system for real-time customizing and synchronizing media by a client device in communication with a server device. A client device customizes stock media content based on user preferences, and synchronizes the customized content for playback with a server-side playback of the stock media content.

In a method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IP addresses indicating online access devices and IP addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for display-related analysis of call data in an IPBX. In an example embodiment, an apparatus is configured to route data/VoIP calls via a data-communications server. An interface circuit is configured to selected parameters of interest based on capabilities of a set of devices and generate subscription requests to subscribe the devices to the parameters of interest. A processing circuit is configured to generate call summary metrics from call event messages for calls routed by the server and with subscription requests being associated with the parameters of interest. The call summary metrics are evaluated in connection with the parameters of interest as subscribed to by the devices and results of the evaluation are provided to the communication devices.

Flat panel displays can broadcast their identity for discovery by handheld devices interested in obtaining data associated with video programming displayed on the displays. An application can be downloaded and activated on smartphones that will enable them to capture an image of the video programming and recognize is with the help of a remote server, or wirelessly obtain a list of available (discovered) flat panel displays (multiple screens, depending on venue) that allow wireless access to data associated with video programming displayed (or previously displayed and stored in a queue) on flat panels. Video programming rendering on a flat panel of interest can be identified via the smartphone and the smartphone can access additional data either directly from the flat panel or from a remote server once the data has been identified and/or engage in an interactive session in association with the displayed programming or data.

A method and system for planning and running video-on-demand (VOD) advertising includes a planner for planning advertising campaigns and an ad selector for running selected advertisements from selected ones of the campaigns. The campaigns are associated with household demographic classifications, video content category categories, household geographic locations, and/or video viewing times. In response to a viewer requesting a video, the selector selects the campaigns corresponding to the demographic classification associated with the viewer, the content category of the requested video, the geographic location associated with the viewer, and/or the viewing time at which the requested video is viewed. The demographic classification is determined by using an identifier of the viewer's set-top-box. The selector may select the campaigns corresponding to the content categories of the requested video. The content categories are determined by using an identifier associated with the requested video.

A method of initializing, provisioning, and managing a cable modem and a customer premise equipment device includes sending a customized configuration file to the cable modem. The configuration file contains service provisioning information and further includes information indicative of a network address type for the customer premise equipment device. A message is passed from the cable modem to the customer premise equipment device indicative of the network address type. The customer premise equipment device is provided with a network address in accordance with the network address type indicated in the message. In this way, the customer premise equipment device knows what kind of address to obtain, and excessive transactions are avoided.

Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for distributing syndicated content or content with one or more distribution restrictions. In one aspect, a method may include assigning a unique ID to a plurality of content items, where the unique ID of at least one of the content items is associated with one or more property distribution restrictions. The method may further include streaming in a video stream the content items to at least two properties and monitoring the unique IDs of the plurality of content items streamed in the video stream to detect least one content item associated with the one or more property distribution restrictions. The distribution of the least one content item associated with the one or more property distribution restrictions may be blocked from the one or more properties concurrently with streaming the video stream, based on the one or more property distribution restrictions.

A method and apparatus for brokering the enablement of the communication of encrypted media programs from a plurality of independent broadcasters to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. The system makes use of a pairing key for each provided service, which is differently encrypted by a pairing server and by the broadcaster providing the service. The encrypted versions of the pairing key are decrypted in a first receiver module using information known to the pairing service but not the broadcaster and in a second receiver module using information known to the broadcaster. The pairing key is used to cryptographically bind the first and second receiver modules.

A server is operable to receive a media device identifying number (ID) and establish an association between a media device and a payment account and, in one embodiment, supports at least one of payment authorization and payment clearing based at least in part on the media device ID and the payment account. A network and system includes a payment card processor server that is operable to receive a payment authorization request and to determine if an authorized media device generated a purchase selection message and to determine to approve a received payment authorization request based, in part, if the media device was authorized for the purchase selection based upon a received media device ID.

Provided herein are systems and methods for measuring effectiveness of an advertising campaign. Measurement of persuasion metrics, rather than engagement metrics, may provide more meaningful data on understanding how brands are actually moving their audience over time.