A method at a first device includes receiving a first content stream, the first content stream including a first content item and one or more first advertisements inserted in the first content item; receiving first advertisement information, where the first advertisement information is provided by an authorized source and indicates times at which the first advertisements are inserted in the first content item; generating a second content item by removing the first advertisements from the first content item in accordance with the first advertisement information; and outputting the second content item to a display.

A display device includes: a display unit configured to display an image of media content; an external device interface unit configured to receive an image signal outputted from an external device connected to the display device; and a control unit configured to control the display unit and the external device interface unit. The control unit displays a plurality of external input items, receives an instruction for positioning a pointer to one item among the plurality of external input items, displays a plurality of external input switching options on an external input item where the pointer is disposed according to the received instruction, and performs a function corresponding to a selected external input switching option among the plurality of external input switching options based on the image signal outputted from the external device.

A media guidance application is provided by which users can define rules for assigning user equipment devices as destinations for media content. For example, a user may define a rule by which selected media content having attributes that satisfy a user-defined condition are downloaded, recorded, or streamed to a particular, user-specified user equipment device. The user may define and manage rules using media guidance menus, and may restrict other users from accessing the rules (e.g., parents restricting children).

A network media environment includes a first hub network and a second hub network. The first hub network encompasses a first local environment based on a first server which is coupled to a first client. The second hub network encompasses a second local environment based on a second server which is also coupled to the first client. The first local environment and the second local environment overlap. The second local environment is movable with a movement of the second server.

An apparatus information acquisition unit 444 acquires information representative of a limitation relating to viewing or recording of a broadcasting program in regard to each of a plurality of recording apparatus. An operation detection unit 44 accepts a user operation which designates a recording target program. When the user operation is accepted, a recording apparatus selection unit 446 determines a priority of each recording apparatus in response to the limitation relating to viewing or recording of a broadcasting program in each recording apparatus, and selects a recording apparatus which has the highest priority as a recording apparatus which is to record the recording target program.

A portable video delivery device includes data storage, a secure processor, and a wireless network interface that acts as an access point for a secure personal wireless network. Transcoded media files are stored in the data storage so that the portable device maintains a library of stored media programs that can be carried along with the user during commuting, travel and/or other activities. To playback the stored programming, other media player devices use the personal wireless network to securely connect to the portable device and to obtain previously-transcoded content from the data storage of the device.

A technique to backup data on a DVR includes receiving a transfer command, and responsive to the transfer command, backing up content on a first storage of an in-home digital video recorder (DVR) to a second storage configured as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID)-1. The transfer is over a direct communication path between the first and second storages.

A technique for load balancing between first and second DVRs includes receiving a customer-generated signal to enable load balancing of to-be-recorded content at a future time between at least first and second digital video recorders (DVRs). Responsive to the signal and based at least in part on a storage size of at least one content, a load balancing algorithm is executed to determine which of the first DVR or the second DVR to record content at the future time.

A technique includes establishing communication over a network link between first and second digital video recorders (DVRs). The network link includes one or more of: an Internet link, a two way multiple systems operator (MSO) link between a computer system of an MSO and a DVR. Responsive to at least one transfer command, content is transferred from the first DVR to the second DVR over the network link.

A technique for load balancing between first and second DVRs includes receiving a customer-generated signal to enable load balancing between at least first and second digital video recorders (DVRs), and responsive to the signal and based at least in part on a storage size of at least one content, execute a load balancing algorithm to move at least some content from the first DVR to the second DVR.