The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and machine-readable media for concurrent communication. One method includes displaying an interactive application on a first device of a user during a break in an entertainment segment displayed on a second device, sending a request for interaction from the user through the interactive application, pausing the interactive application when the break in the entertainment segment is over, and notifying the user when an additional break begins so the user can commence interacting with the interactive application.

Described herein are methods, systems, and devices for enabling a user of a mobile phone to at least partially take control of a consumer electronic device on display in a retail store. A session with the mobile phone is initiated in response to the mobile phone being used to scan a scannable code displayed on a display screen in the retail store, wherein the session is associated with the consumer electronic device. A graphical user interface (GUI), which is displayed on the mobile phone during the session, enables the user of the mobile phone to use the mobile phone during the session to at least partially take control of the consumer electronic device that is on display in the retail store, thereby enabling the user of the mobile phone to learn about one or more capabilities of the consumer electronic device that is on display in the retail store.

A system for navigating, exploring, and controlling immersive content and immersive advertisements provided on one or more OTT television applications using connected digital media players and/or user computing devices is presented. Immersive content and immersive advertisements are content and advertisements that can be viewed in 360 degrees so as to change the point of view and view the same content or advertisement from different angles. The user is enabled to control the playback, navigation, and exploration of the 360-degree immersive content and immersive advertisements using a digital trackpad in a downloadable 360-degree media player that can be applied as a separate application integration on a user's smartphone or other device or that can be integrated into the OTT mobile application. Other connected streaming devices can also integrate the 360-degree media player to allow for 360 degree exploration and viewing of the immersive content and immersive advertisements.

Methods, apparatuses and media for providing content upon request are provided. A search request for content is received from a user. A first filter is applied to the search request to modify the search request before a search algorithm searches for the content to return in response to the search request. Items of content are determined based on the search request to which the first filter is applied. A second filter is applied to the items of content to determine search results. The search results are provided to the user.

A system for navigating, exploring, and controlling immersive content and immersive advertisements provided on one or more OTT television applications using connected digital media players and/or user computing devices is presented. Immersive content and immersive advertisements are content and advertisements that can be viewed in 360 degrees so as to change the point of view and view the same content or advertisement from different angles. The user is enabled to control the playback, navigation, and exploration of the 360-degree immersive content and immersive advertisements using a digital trackpad in a downloadable 360-degree media player that can be applied as a separate application integration on a user's smartphone or other device or that can be integrated into the OTT mobile application. Other connected streaming devices can also integrate the 360-degree media player to allow for 360 degree exploration and viewing of the immersive content and immersive advertisements.

A configurable input element of a controlling device is configured by using a data representative of an over-the-top (OTT) media app determined to be installed on an OTT device and a data representative of the OTT device to identify at least one command that is required to be transmitted to cause the OTT device to launch the OTT media app. The at least one command is provisioned to the controlling device and assigned to the configurable input element. When the input element is subsequently activated, the controlling device will transmit the at least one command to cause the OTT device to launch the OTT media app.

A method for supplying an N-screen service by a main N-screen device in a broadcast system is provided. The method includes receiving an Application Information Table (AIT) including a screen_type indicating a type of N-screen device in which a broadcast service application will be run from a broadcast service provider, and one of running the broadcast service application based on the screen_type, performing an operation related to running the broadcast service application by considering a connection relationship between the main N-screen device and a sub N-screen device based on the screen_type, and discarding the AIT based on the screen_type.

A system and method whereby an user interface editing device is used to create a user interface for a controlling device, the created user interface including user interface elements that are associated with functional operations of a virtual equivalent of an appliance. After the created user interface is transferred to the controlling device, the virtual equivalent of an appliance is caused to be linked to an intended target appliance whereupon activation of those user interface elements of the graphical user interface that were associated with functional operations of the virtual equivalent of an appliance will cause the controlling device to transmit commands to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance.

A speech recognition engine is provided voice data indicative of at least a brand of a target appliance. The speech recognition engine uses the voice data indicative of at least a brand of the target appliance to identify within a library of codesets at least one codeset that is cross-referenced to the brand of the target appliance. The at least one codeset so identified is then caused to be provisioned to the controlling device for use in commanding functional operations of the target appliance.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.