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.

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 method for allowing user selection of interactive video software components in a television STB operatively coupled to a video content network includes the steps of: affording the user a selection of interactive video software components to run on the set-top box; and loading selected interactive video software components onto the set-top box. The selected interactive video software components are delivered from a remote node over the video content network to which the STB is coupled.

A facility for updating software installed on a media device in connection with installation of the media device in customer premises is described. Outside the customer premises, the facility transfers a later-issued version of the software installed on the media device from a server to a portable storage device. Within the customer premises, the facility transfers the later-issued version of the software installed on the media device from the portable storage device to the media device for installation on the 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 and apparatus to reprogram a receiver station, where the receiver station includes a receiver and a programmable device of a specific version having a memory. The receiver station receives an electronic digital information transmission including operating system instructions and a digital control signal that designates a designated hardware version of a programmable device. The received operating system instructions are communicated to the memory if a match occurs between the designated hardware version included in the transmission and the specific version of the programmable device resident at the receiver station..Iaddend.

Systems and methods for updating television receiving devices (such as cable and satellite set-top boxes) include functionality that pre-downloads software or firmware updates for the receiving device on a mobile device, such as a smartphone, of a television service provider technician. In order to communicate the updates to the receiving device from the mobile device, during initial installation of the set-top box at the customer premises, the technician connects his or her mobile device to the same input of the set-top box that normally receives the television programming and remote software or firmware updates from the television service provider. The mobile device may include or be coupled to an adapter that adapts a signal and hardware interface from an output interface of the mobile device to a signal and hardware interface compatible with the input interface of the set-top box.

Methods and apparatus for provisioning or updating software over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and each particular client device (e.g., set-top box) on the network is identified by an address or other unique descriptor. A version association file stored on a server or downloaded to the device maps particular application versions to one or more addresses corresponding to individual client devices. When the version association file is modified or created, the server transmits an upgrade message over the network (optionally along with the current version association file). Upon receiving an upgrade message, a set-top box accesses the version association file, and compares a designated application version to that of the application currently in use. If the designated version is not present on the set-top, the box will terminate any old version of the application currently running and download and install the designated version.

The invention discloses a browser-based embedded operation method, a television set and a storage device. A functional requirement of an operating system available to a browser-based embedded device is obtained; an interface for system operations by a user is set by using a predetermined language; a web layer interface for invoking the interface directly is set and an adaptation layer interface for data interaction with the web layer interface is set; a Linux function interface is set based on the adaptation layer interface and a communication way between the web layer interface and the adaptation layer interface is set; and according to the obtained user operation, an interface response is carried out and functional feedback is carried out by a television set. Therefore, the interface design becomes convenient and the interface effect of the embedded device is enhanced.

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.