A method and system of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a STB provisioning system are provided which include storing STB profile information in a provisioning datastore, receiving a customer order at a service provisioning system, notifying a billing system of the customer order, and notifying a conditional access system of the customer order. The method and system further include storing information from the customer order in a provisioning datastore, notifying a video device manager about the STB, and delivering a cable operator configuration message from the video device manager to the STB, the configuration message being based on information from the provisioning datastore, thereby provisioning the STB without essential involvement of the conditional access system.

The non-linear program planner, preparation, and delivery system performs multiplatform planning and scheduling across multiple content delivery platforms. The system coordinates planning to deliver high-quality video content in a very efficient and scalable manner. The system includes automated avails and other processes that increases the accuracy of the information provided to distribution partners. The system checks on content rights and incorporates metadata structures that facilitate delivery of content to a wide range of distribution channels. The invention increases accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency of content delivered to partners and allows providers to generate revenue from online (non-linear) platforms and over the top (OTT) video services.

The non-linear program planner, preparation, and delivery system performs multiplatform planning and scheduling across multiple content delivery platforms. The system coordinates planning to deliver high-quality video content in a very efficient and scalable manner. The system includes automated avails and other processes that increases the accuracy of the information provided to distribution partners. The system checks on content rights and incorporates metadata structures that facilitate delivery of content to a wide range of distribution channels. The invention increases accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency of content delivered to partners and allows providers to generate revenue from online (non-linear) platforms and over the top (OTT) video services.

The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions having higher added values. The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast service, controls an operation including activation and end of an application that is in cooperation with a broadcast program based on application-related information, and selects control relating to reactivation of the application based on a user's operation. If activation of the application is requested after the end of the application, the broadcast receiver controls the reactivation or non-reactivation of the application in accordance with the selection of control by the user.

The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions having higher added values. The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast service, controls an operation including activation and end of an application that is in cooperation with a broadcast program based on application-related information, and selects control relating to reactivation of the application based on a user's operation. If activation of the application is requested after the end of the application, the broadcast receiver controls the reactivation or non-reactivation of the application in accordance with the selection of control by the user.

Various embodiments include a system for providing users access to audio/visual content, the system comprising means for storing content, means for broadcasting content on a scheduled basis, means for downloading the stored content from the storage means, means for enabling a user to access the downloaded content only within a specified time period, means for streaming content off the storage means, and means for receiving the content broadcast on a scheduled basis.

Various embodiments include a system for providing users access to audio/visual content, the system comprising means for storing content, means for broadcasting content on a scheduled basis, means for downloading the stored content from the storage means, means for enabling a user to access the downloaded content only within a specified time period, means for streaming content off the storage means, and means for receiving the content broadcast on a scheduled basis.

There is provided mechanisms for determining a time offset for a video segment of a video stream using metadata. The metadata comprises time information of at least one of a start time and an end time of the video segment. A method is performed by a video network node. The method comprises extracting a first video part and a second video part from the video stream. Each of the first video part and the second video part comprises a common video segment. The method comprises identifying a sequence of video frames in the first video part that represents the common video segment. The method comprises determining the time offset based on a time difference between an end-point frame of the Identify sequence of video identified sequence of video frames and the time information in the metadata.

Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception portion configured to receive AV content; a trigger acquisition portion configured to acquire trigger information for operating an application program to be executed in interlocked relation to the AV content; a table acquisition portion configured to acquire a correspondence table associating a command for controlling the operation of the application program with a valid time of the command; and a control portion configured such that when the time acquired from the trigger information as indicative of the progress of the AV content satisfies a predetermined condition of validity in reference to the valid time of the command on the basis of the acquired correspondence table, the control portion controls the operation of the application program in accordance with the command being valid.

Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception portion configured to receive AV content; a trigger acquisition portion configured to acquire trigger information for operating an application program to be executed in interlocked relation to the AV content; a table acquisition portion configured to acquire a correspondence table associating a command for controlling the operation of the application program with a valid time of the command; and a control portion configured such that when the time acquired from the trigger information as indicative of the progress of the AV content satisfies a predetermined condition of validity in reference to the valid time of the command on the basis of the acquired correspondence table, the control portion controls the operation of the application program in accordance with the command being valid.