Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficient storage and retrieval of content items, such as recorded content items of a cloud DVR system or other system storing content items.

A display control unit of an illustrative embodiment simultaneously displays a plurality of cut-out images cut out from respective ranges of a wide-angle moving image.

Tools are provided for distributing access-restricted content in an internet protocol television (“IPTV”) environment based on portable entitlement keys. Such tools can include a decoder, an encoder, and a network entitlement handler. The decoder may be configured to receive a key associated with entitlement information, and transmit the entitlement information over a network. The encoder may be configured to receive content from content providers, and to encode the content to create IP-compatible content, with access restrictions based on entitlement. The network entitlement handler may be configured to receive a request for requested content from the decoder; receive the access-restricted content (including the requested content) from the encoder; and transmit the requested content over the network to the decoder using IP, when the decoder is entitled to receive the requested content.

Methods and systems for managing data and/or operations on data are disclosed. A method can comprise receiving content from a first storage medium for playback. The received content can comprise a stored first portion of a transport stream. At least a portion of the received content can be caused to playback. A playback position of the at least a portion of the received content can be determined relative to a live position of the transport stream. If the determined playback position of the at least a portion of the received content is outside a predetermined threshold proximity to the live position, a second portion of the transport stream can be stored to the first storage medium. If the determined playback position of the received content is within the predetermined threshold proximity to the live position, the second portion of the transport stream can be stored to a second storage medium.

Systems and methods are described herein for generating a watch schedule and compressed series for a user for a series that is expected to become unavailable. Availability data indicating when a content series will become unavailable is received and compared to user progression habits. If the content series will become unavailable before the user will complete it, a watch schedule may be offered to the user. If the user subsequently falls behind on this watch schedule, a compressed version of the content series may be offered to the user.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, a device, and a computer program product for storing and providing a video. A method for storing a video is provided, including: acquiring frame storage information in a to-be-stored video, the frame storage information including information related to storage of a plurality of frames in the video; converting the video into a plurality of data blocks based on the frame storage information; and converting the frame storage information into a streaming media index file to characterize the video in association with the plurality of data blocks. Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a method for providing a video.

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) identifying, by a playback device, a media device based on a control message received from the media device by way of an audio and/or video interface, where the media device provides media content to the playback device; (ii) providing, by the playback device, replacement media content for display; (iii) determining, by the playback device, that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to the identified media device; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the identified media device; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.

A projector includes: a projection unit which projects content in response to a playback instruction to play back the content; and a transmitting unit which transmits the playback instruction to another projector. The playback instruction includes specification information which specifies the content.

System and devices for live captioning events is disclosed. The system may receive event calendar data and a first plurality of caption files and preselect a first caption file based on the event calendar data. The system may then access an audiovisual recorder of a user device, and receive a first feedback from the recorder. The system may then determine whether the first caption file matches the first feedback. When there is a match, the system may determine a first synchronization between the caption file and the feedback. When there is no match, the system may determine if there is a match with a second caption file of the first plurality of caption files and determine a second synchronization. When the second caption file does not match, the system may receive at least a third caption file over a mobile network and determine a third synchronization for display.

A method includes rendering a portion of first video on a display associated with a device; and, in response to a first user gesture and/or interaction on and/or with a touch-sensitive interface, selecting a second video, and rendering a portion of the second video on the display, wherein the first user gesture and/or interaction corresponded to a first time in the first video, and wherein the portion of the second video begins a second time in the second video corresponding substantially to the first time in the first video. The method may include, in response to a second user gesture and/or interaction on and/or with the touch-sensitive interface, selecting a third video, and rendering a portion of the third video on the display, wherein the second user gesture and/or interaction corresponded to a second time in the second video, and wherein the portion of the third video begins a third time in the third video corresponding substantially to the second time in the second video.