AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP

Other

Facebook, Inc.

Ankur Mukerji

Scott A White

Charles V Scott

James Leonard Cansler

Sreenivasa Rao Gorti

Robert Dailey

Scott Thomas

A method includes selecting, at a content management computer, a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device. The particular content source is selected based on a network topology of an access network. The method includes sending a first instruction to the particular content source from the content management computer. The first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device. The method includes, after sending the first instruction, receiving, at the content management computer, a request for the media content item from a second media device. The method also includes sending a second instruction from the content management computer to the first media device. The second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device.

System and method of providing media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

System for managing media content

A method includes receiving, from a set-top box device, data that indicates selected media content from a list of available media content. The method includes locating one or more content sources for the selected media content. The method includes selecting a particular content source from the one or more content sources. The method includes locating an access rules source for the selected media content. The method includes instructing the particular content source to send the selected media content to the set-top box device. The method also includes instructing the access rules source to send an access rule associated with the selected media content to the set-top box device.

Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content.

Shared multimedia experience including user input

An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer's request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program.

Electronic permission slips for controlling access to multimedia content

A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor can have a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system according to one or more graphical user interface (GUI) templates that define a plurality of segments of a presentation area of the personal TV channel and one or more modules that arrange media content of the subscriber in the plurality of segments of a select one of the plurality of GUI templates. Other embodiments are disclosed.

System for managing media content for a personal television channel

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller that receives media content from a subscriber of a media communication system, receive marketing content from a marketing information source, and present the media content and the marketing content in a personal TV channel. The media content is presented in a first region of a two-dimensional, segmented display configuration, with the media content presented in a first region and the marketing content presented in a second region of the segmented display configuration. Other embodiments are disclosed.

System for presenting marketing content in a personal television channel

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box comprising a controller to send an invite for participation in a media conference to at least one media device, the media conference comprising a presentation of a media program supplied by an interactive television (iTV) network, receive an acceptance of the invite from at least one accepting media device of the at least one media device, connect the at least one accepting media device to a communications bridge operably coupled to the STB, wherein the communications bridge enables the STB and the at least one accepting media device to engage in one of voice, video, and synthesized speech to text communications, and present the media program with at least a portion of the communications between the STB and the at least one accepting media device during the media conference. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for group media consumption

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to receive media content from a subscriber of a media communication system, receive marketing content from a marketing information source, and present the media content and the marketing content in a personal TV channel. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method includes receiving information identifying at least one recommended media content item at a computing device. The information is received from a sender device. The at least one recommended media content item is selected from an electronic program guide and an address associated with the computing device is selected via a graphical user interface at the sender device. The method includes receiving a user selection of at least one item of media content from the at least one recommended media content item. The method includes automatically scheduling recording of the at least one item of media content at a media recorder device when the at least one item of media content is a scheduled program. The method also includes automatically placing the at least one item of media content in an on demand queue when the at least one item of media content includes on demand media content.

System and method to send information identifying recommended media content items

A method for remotely accessing selected content can include receiving a list of content separate from a video stream. The list of content can include content previously recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule. The method can further include sending a request for content selected from the list of content, receiving the content through a network, and displaying the content.

Systems and methods for remote access to programming information

A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system, transmit to the media source a communication identifier, and receive from the media source media content in the personal TV channel adapted according to the communication identifier. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Ankur Mukerji