Provided herein are novel systems and methods of digital content delivery designed to be easy, instant, and minimally disruptive for the user. The novel systems and methods of the invention can provide the device user with an instant and ephemeral snippet of entertaining media, in a metered presentation controlled by the user. The system is minimally disruptive in that the user can summon a video clip or other media content with a simple input, whereupon a clip is instantly played for the user. Upon reaching the end of the media presentation, the media player window self-closes and returns the user's device to the exact state it was in prior. In this way, a user can enjoy a short, entertaining pause without substantially interrupting their previous activity on the device.

Techniques and systems are provided for identifying a video segment displayed on a screen of a remote television system, and providing an option to switch to an alternative or related version of the video program that includes the video segment. For example, video segments displayed on a screen of a television system can be identified, and contextually-targeted content or contextually-related alternative content can be provided to a television system based on the identification of a video segment. The alternative or related version of the video program can include the currently displayed program in an on-demand format that can be viewed off-line and can be started over from a beginning portion of the program.

To provide a video processing device that allows a user to quickly search for a desired scene while at the same time easily confirming details of an image string. There is provided a video processing device that acquires a first image string and a second image string different from each other that are made up of a plurality of frame images extracted from a video of interest, that performs control such that the first image string is shown on a display device screen as an image string of interest, that causes the frame images included in the first image string to scroll in response to a scrolling operation by the user while the first image string is shown, and that switches the image string of interest from the first image string to the second image string if the scrolling operation satisfies a given determination condition.

The present disclosure provides a method for playing a multimedia file from a re-positioned playing point, including: receiving a jump instruction, obtaining a re-positioned playing point specified by the jump instruction; obtaining a subtitle time axis of a current multimedia file, wherein the subtitle time axis records a start point of each subtitle of the multimedia file; in a jump direction specified by the jump instruction, searching start points recorded by the subtitle time axis for a start point which is closest to the re-positioned playing point as an actual re-positioned playing point; and playing the multimedia file from the actual re-positioned playing point. The present disclosure also provides an apparatus for playing multimedia file from a re-positioned playing point.

The systems and methods are described herein for playback of content based on progress point information. The systems and methods detect nearby media devices to transmit or request progress point information. Based on the communicated progress point information, the system may generate an option to play back content at a point within the content up to which content was last consumed. When content providers offer different versions of one content item and the user does not select to play back content from the content provider associated with the progress point information, the system determines a proper playback point in other content providers.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for avoiding playback of an advertisement by selectively switching between media streams. To this end, a media guidance application receives a plurality of media streams from different sources, switches to a first media stream and plays back a first media asset of the first media stream, and determines that an end to playback of the first media asset is imminent. The media guidance application then determines whether a second media stream of the plurality of media streams is within a threshold amount of time of playing back a beginning of a second media asset, and if the second media stream is within the threshold amount of time of playing back the beginning of the second media asset, the media guidance application switches from the first media stream to the second media stream and plays back the second media asset.

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed enabling smart search functionalities utilizing key scene changes appearing in video content. In various embodiments, the method includes the step or process of, while engaged in playback of the video content, receiving a user command at a playback device to shift a current playback position of the video content to a default search playback position (PP.sub.DS). In response to receipt of the user command, the playback device searches a time window encompassing the default search playback position (PP.sub.DS) for a key scene change in the video content. If locating a key scene change within the time window, the playback device shifts playback of the video content to a playback position corresponding to the key scene change (PP.sub.ST). Otherwise, the playback device shifts playback of the video content to the default search playback position (PP.sub.DS).

A digital content operating apparatus, including: a communication unit which communicates with an external device which has a display for displaying the digital content; a user operation interface which receives a user operation to control the digital content which is displayed on the external device; a display which displays either a linear content operation panel or an interactive content operation panel; and a controller which controls the user operation interface corresponding to information on the digital content which is displayed on the external device; wherein either the linear content operation panel or the interactive content operation panel is displayed alternatively as the user operation interface on the display.

Systems and methods for maintaining knowledge of a network address (e.g., a MAC address) for a playback device while changing power states are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for maintaining knowledge of the network identity of a playback device while changing power states includes determining that a playback device is entering a sleep state, sending state information from the playback device to a central data repository over a network responsive to the determination that the playback device is entering sleep state, where state information includes a MAC address, receiving the state information about the playback device at a waking device from the central data repository, waking the playback device periodically at predetermined time intervals while in sleep state to listen for messages addressed to the MAC address, and receiving a wake-up message at the playback device from the waking device and responding by changing from sleep to active state.

An information processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to receive a manifest file for a content stream, the manifest file including a manifest file update mechanism indicating one or more ways of receiving an update to the received manifest file. The circuitry is also configured to receive a manifest file update through the manifest file update mechanism indicated by the received manifest file. The manifest file update indicates that early termination of content during a period in the content stream is possible. The circuitry is also configured to send a request for the content associated with the period to a server based on the manifest file update, and receive the content from the server. The circuitry is also configured to output the content for display during the period and terminate the content early based on the manifest file update.