Systems and methods are described for providing variable-length media clips based upon a received media stream. An exemplary system for providing media clips to users includes a database comprising a list of rules associated with a plurality of programs, as well as a first server and a second server. The first server receives information about a particular program being viewed by a media player and obtains rules from the database for the identified program that are transmitted to the media player. The second server receives a media clip of the particular program being viewed from the media player, wherein the media clip is created at the media player in accordance with the rules corresponding to the program, and subsequently makes the media clip available to the users.

Methods and apparatus for generating personalized menus and a media content interface are provided. In one example, different device specific media asset lists are generated at different user devices for the same user based on the media consumption history at each device. In another example, media asset listings are displayed for multicast and on-demand media assets determined to be of interest to the user. An on-demand media asset is listed at a time when no other multicast media assets are listed. In another example, media asset listings for successive episodes of a media series are displayed in sequential order in response to an input to view successive episodes of a media series. In another example, a text search for media content is performed in which the search priority of media provider results is decreased relative to the search priority of media asset results as additional characters are added to a search string.

Methods and apparatus for generating personalized menus and a media content interface are provided. In one example, different device specific media asset lists are generated at different user devices for the same user based on the media consumption history at each device. In another example, media asset listings are displayed for multicast and on-demand media assets determined to be of interest to the user. An on-demand media asset is listed at a time when no other multicast media assets are listed. In another example, media asset listings for successive episodes of a media series are displayed in sequential order in response to an input to view successive episodes of a media series. In another example, a text search for media content is performed in which the search priority of media provider results is decreased relative to the search priority of media asset results as additional characters are added to a search string.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to monitor media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, machine-readable instructions, and at least one processor to execute the machine-readable instructions to at least establish a direct media network as a Group Owner after performance of a negotiation process with a streaming client device. The at least one processor is to add a client device to the direct media network based on a beacon response from the streaming client device and, after metadata is extracted from first media at the apparatus, cause transmission of the first media to a media presentation device via the direct media network, the metadata representative of an identification of the media, and cause transmission of a message including the identification of the media to a server via a network to credit the media as having been accessed based on the identification.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to monitor media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, machine-readable instructions, and at least one processor to execute the machine-readable instructions to at least establish a direct media network as a Group Owner after performance of a negotiation process with a streaming client device. The at least one processor is to add a client device to the direct media network based on a beacon response from the streaming client device and, after metadata is extracted from first media at the apparatus, cause transmission of the first media to a media presentation device via the direct media network, the metadata representative of an identification of the media, and cause transmission of a message including the identification of the media to a server via a network to credit the media as having been accessed based on the identification.

Methods and apparatuses to deliver at least a portion of an advertisement to a viewer at normal playback speeds after receiving a command from the viewer to fast-forward through an advertisement faster than normal playback speeds are described. In one example, a portion of the advertisement may be delivered to be played at normal playback speeds, and the remaining portion may be delivered to be played at a playback speed that is faster than the specified playback speed so that the combination of the portions delivered at normal and faster playback speeds is delivered to the user at the specified playback speed. In another example, at least a portion of the first advertisement may be delivered at normal playback speeds, and one or more other advertisements may be delivered to the viewer simultaneously with the first advertisement with the audio information muted based on the specified playback speed.

Methods and apparatuses to deliver at least a portion of an advertisement to a viewer at normal playback speeds after receiving a command from the viewer to fast-forward through an advertisement faster than normal playback speeds are described. In one example, a portion of the advertisement may be delivered to be played at normal playback speeds, and the remaining portion may be delivered to be played at a playback speed that is faster than the specified playback speed so that the combination of the portions delivered at normal and faster playback speeds is delivered to the user at the specified playback speed. In another example, at least a portion of the first advertisement may be delivered at normal playback speeds, and one or more other advertisements may be delivered to the viewer simultaneously with the first advertisement with the audio information muted based on the specified playback speed.

An example method involves receiving, by a playback device in a media playback system, limited-access media, where the limited-access media corresponds to a limited-access playback device characteristic. The method may further involve determining, by the playback device, that a particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system. Based on determining that the particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system, the method may further involve causing the media playback system to play back the limited-access media.

An example method involves receiving, by a playback device in a media playback system, limited-access media, where the limited-access media corresponds to a limited-access playback device characteristic. The method may further involve determining, by the playback device, that a particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system. Based on determining that the particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system, the method may further involve causing the media playback system to play back the limited-access media.

A method and computer readable medium for exploring similar users and items of a media service includes generating a user interface. The user interface displays a user selectable indicia representing a similar member function for allowing a user to search a media service for at least one other user. The one other user has a degree of similarity with respect to the searching user. Another method includes facilitating the search of such a similar user within a media service.