A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector and a decision module. The recommendation detector is configured to receive, at a viewer's system, a recommendation for a content item from a contact of a viewer. The decision module may be configured to determine an action to be performed at the viewer's system, based on the recommendation and on one or more rules, accept the recommendation as an instruction to perform the action, and initiate the action at the viewer's system.

Methods and systems are described for downloading media assets efficiently and quickly before loss of network connectivity. The method may allow a user to download portions of a media asset in different versions to download a maximum portion of the media asset before loss of network connectivity. Certain versions of media assets may be downloaded more quickly than other versions of media assets. The method may also allow a user to view partially downloaded media assets without network connectivity. The method may also replace portions of media assets downloaded in a first version with portions of the media assets in a second version once network connectivity is restored.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, over a first mobile network, first media content from a media content server, and detecting a travel route associated with the communication device. Further embodiments can include identifying a group of mobile networks associated with the travel route in which the group of mobile networks comprise the first mobile network. Additional embodiments can include determining a network condition associated with a second mobile network of the group of mobile networks, and identifying a portion of the travel route associated with the network condition. Also, embodiments can include adjusting the obtaining of the first media content from the media content server according to the network condition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method of selectively decrypting encrypted data may include selecting a plurality of encrypted data bits between and including a first encrypted data bit and a last encrypted data bit; for each encrypted data bit from the plurality of encrypted data bits: determining a corresponding encrypted block and a block number that contains the encrypted data bit, determining a corresponding counter for the determined block number, determining a bit position of the encrypted data bit within the determined encrypted block, selecting a counter bit at the bit position within the counter, encrypting the counter, and executing an XOR operation between the encrypted data bit and the corresponding encrypted counter bit.

A device includes a touch-screen display and a lens on a same side of the device as the touch-screen display. The device concurrently displays a live preview of content in a field of view of the lens and a capture affordance for capturing media corresponding to the field of view of the lens. While concurrently displaying the live preview and the capture affordance, the device detects an input corresponding to selection of the capture affordance displayed on the touch-screen display that is on the same side of the device as the lens. In response to detecting the input corresponding to selection of the capture affordance displayed on the touch-screen display that is on the same side of the device as the lens, the device captures media corresponding to the field of view of the lens that is on the same side of the device as the touch-screen display.

In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a media module and a modification module included in an embedded appliance. The media module is configured to receive a first media signal associated with a first input port of the embedded appliance and a second media signal associated with a second input port of the embedded appliance. The media module is configured to identify a first set of media signal parameters based on the first media signal. The modification module is configured to receive a modification instruction associated with a session format having a second set of media signal parameters different from the first set of media signal parameters. The modification module is configured to modify the first media signal based on the first set of media signal parameters and the modification instruction to produce a first modified media signal in the session format and having the second set of media signal parameters.

Systems and methods are provided for recommending and dynamically scheduling content. A time when a request to consume a content item is likely to be received is identified and an identifier of the content item is displayed on a device. Prior to the identified time, an option to consume, at the identified time, the content item is also displayed on the device. In response to the option being selected, the device stops displaying the identifier of the content item until the identified time.

Systems, devices, and methods for detecting and reporting recording status are disclosed. A recording device determines a recording status of the recording device. The recording device receives via wireless communication one or more beacons from one or more other recording devices, the one or more beacons include information regarding a recording status of the one or more other recording devices respectively. The recording device provides information regarding the recording status of the recording device and the one or more other recording devices via a user interface of the recording device.

A system and method dynamically supporting the concurrent storage of both quadrature amplitude modulated formatted and Internet protocol formatted video content. In particular, this dynamic support is based, at least in part, upon the recognition of format of the content being stored or retrieved from a memory. This memory is typically a hard-disk drive associated with a media gateway appliance. The system and method enable the provision of an improved content viewing and storage experience for users.

Systems and associated methods are described for providing recording of a blacked out media content item. A system receives a request from a first user device associated with a profile to record a media content item scheduled to broadcast on a second user device (different from the first user device) associated with the profile, at a second location. The system determines that the media content item is subject to a blackout during a blackout period within a blackout region. The system determines that the first user device and the second user device are associated with the same profile and that the first user device is at a first location outside the blackout region. The system then accesses the media content item for recording on the second user device during the blackout period. The system further transmits the recorded media content item to the first user device after expiry of the blackout period.