Various arrangements for facilitating smart television content receivers are provided. A primary television receiver (PTR) having a first operating system may be configured to receive digital content from a remote content provider and distribute the content to one or more devices in response to a request for the content. A secondary television receiver (STR) configured to be in communication with a PTR and having a second operating system may be configured to receive the digital content from the PTR and provide the content to a display for presentation. The STR may include a first software stack including first processes and a first inter-process communication (IPC) mechanism, and a second software stack including second processes and a second IPC mechanism. The first processes may use the first IPC to communicate with the second processes. The second processes may use the second IPC to communicate with others of the second processes.

Disclosed herein is a receiver that generates a video signal. A first video is assigned to a first display layer of a plurality of display layers. A first trigger signal causes a first application to assign a first user interface to a second display layer, which is positioned over the first display layer. A second trigger signal causes a second application to assign a second user interface to a third display layer, which is positioned over the second display layer. The second trigger signal causes a reduction in a size of the first video, and a first portion of the third display layer and a second portion of the second display layer to be made transparent. The reduced size of the first video is positioned beneath the first portion. A combination of the first display layer, the second display layer, and the third display layer generates the video signal.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for a media device upgrading system over a wireless network. An embodiment operates by determining an app has been installed on a media device and that the media device is connected to an upgrader device over a wireless network connection. A command to execute functionality of the app from a remote control is received. It is determined that a speed of the wireless network connection exceeds a threshold. The command is transmitted to the upgrader device based on both the determination that the upgrader mode is active and the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection exceeds a threshold. At the media device, a response from the upgrader device executing the command is received at the media device, which directs the media device to output content associated with the app.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for a media device upgrading system. An embodiment operates by receiving a command at a media device that includes an upgrader device connected via or plugged into an input port of the media device. It is determined that the command is associated with modifying a software component of the media device, wherein both the media device and the upgrader device include operating systems configured to process the command and modify the software component. The command is provided to the upgrader device based on a determination that the media device is in an upgrader mode of operation. A visual indication corresponding to the modification is provided.

Methods, systems, and media for presenting media content are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: receiving, at a streaming media device connected to a display device, an instruction, from a mobile phone communicatively coupled with the streaming media device using a peer-to-peer networking protocol, to launch an application for presenting media content on the display device; in response to receiving the instruction, transmitting a request to a media content sharing service associated with the application for presenting media content to render a video player on the display device; receiving, from the mobile phone, an instruction to present a media content item on the display device using the video player; transmitting, to the mobile phone, a request for a first portion of the media content item, wherein a plurality of portions of the media content item including the first portion have been previously downloaded to the mobile phone; receiving, from the mobile phone, the first portion of the media content item using the peer-to-peer networking protocol; storing the first portion of the media content item in memory of the streaming media device; and causing the first portion of the media content item to be presented on the display device using the video player by playing the stored first portion of the media content item from the memory of the streaming media device.

.[.A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming..]. .Iadd.A method is described for controlling a receiver station using stored data specific to a user. By receiving a computer program transmitted from a transmitter station, the computer program is stored at the receiver station. Upon execution of the computer program, the data specific to a user is processed to generate information content at an output device..Iaddend.

A source apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage, a communicator, and a processor configured to, when the source apparatus being turned on while the source apparatus is turned off, identify an application related to a content included in the content reproduction history among a plurality of applications based on a content reproduction history stored in the storage, control the communicator to receive a content list provided by the application, and provide the content list by executing the application.

Systems, methods, and non-transitory, machine-readable media to facilitate streaming in a local network are disclosed. A primary media device may be configured to: operate as a server in a local network, receive audio/video (A/V) content, and provide the A/V content to a first display. A secondary media device may be communicatively connected to the primary media device and may be configured to: operate as a client with respect to the primary media device in the local network, receive the A/V content from the primary media device, and provide the A/V content to a second display. The primary media device and the secondary media device may use multiple subnets in the local network. The primary media device and/or the secondary media device may select a first subnet of the multiple subnets to use based at least in part on a type of content to communicate via the first subnet.

.[.A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming..]. .Iadd.A method is described for providing a subscriber specific solution or recommend a subscriber specific action in at least one of a visual and an audible form at a receiver station. A remote data source stores digital data and receives a transmission originated from the receiver station. The subscriber specific solution or subscriber specific action is based on a subscriber specific analysis, and is dependent on transmitting the digital data from the remote data source to the receiver station. .Iaddend.

A method is directed to recovering a target file by an audio/video receiving equipment, the audio/video receiving equipment including at least two communication interfaces, including a first communication interface able to receive broadcast data and a second communication interface able to establish a bidirectional dialog with a server. The method makes possible to make data available simultaneously: in the “normal” direction, from the beginning to the end, on an IP interface via a file server (HTTP/FTP/etc.); in the “reverse” direction, from the end to the beginning, on a broadcast interface via a DSM-CC carousel, referred to as a dedicated channel. Thus the audio/video reception equipment can efficiently recover the data by simultaneously using two communication interfaces including at least one unidirectional interface.