Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving automatic selection and timing of messages by a machine or system of machines include an inductive computational process driven by log-level network data from mobile devices and other network-connected devices, optionally in addition to traditional application-level data from cookies or the like. The methods and apparatus may be used, for example, to improve or optimize effectiveness of automatically-generated electronic communications with consumers and potential consumers for achieving a specified target.

Abstract: Methods for managing non-player characters and power centers in a computer game are based on character hierarchies and individualized correspondences between each character's traits or rank and events that involve other non-player characters or objects. Players may share power centers, character hierarchies, non-player characters, and related quests involving the shared objects with other players playing separate and unrelated game instances over a computer network, with the outcome of the quests reflected in different the games. Various configurations of game machines are used to implement the methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a social robot includes providing a set of quantitative personality trait values, also called a “personality profile” to a decision engine of the social robot. The personality profile is derived from a character portrayal in a fictional work, dramatic performance, or by a real-life person (any one of these sometime referred to herein as a “source character”). The decision engine controls social responses of the social robot to environmental stimuli, based in part on the set of personality trait values. The social robot thereby behaves in a manner consistent with the personality profile for the profiled source character.

Abstract: An automated testing framework and associated tools for executable applications such as games focus on integration testing, wherein users create data-driven tests by using test modules and configuration data as building blocks. The tools facilitate cooperation between coders and non-technical Quality Assurance (QA) staff in creating automated tests, by simplifying the user interface for configuring tests. Components of the tools simulate user interactions with the application under test, for example, gamepad button presses. The tools are also capable skipping portions of gameplay or other interactive activity and directly jumping into a desired game mode during automated testing, and other functions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring a customized tour includes providing a list of tour subject indicators with a relevance value for locations to be toured, receiving user selection data regarding the subject indicators, and configuring a tour route based on an aggregate relevance score calculated for the tour subject indicators and locations indicated by one or more users. The method and apparatus may further include defining at least one tour route record comprising an ordered list of locations that satisfies at least a minimum aggregate relevance score constraint and a maximum tour duration constraint and saving information defining the at least one tour route record in a computer memory for use in delivering a corresponding tour.

Abstract: A method for transforming extended video data for display in virtual reality processes digital extended video data for display on a center screen and two auxiliary screens of a real extended video cinema. The method includes accessing, by a computer executing a rendering application, data that defines virtual screens including a center screen and auxiliary screens, wherein tangent lines to each of the auxiliary screens at their respective centers of area intersect with a tangent line to the center screen at its center of area at equal angles in a range of 75 to 105 degrees. The method includes preparing virtual extended video data at least in part by rendering the digital extended video on corresponding ones of the virtual screens; and saving the virtual extended video data in a computer memory. A corresponding playback method and apparatus display the processed data in virtual reality.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method in conjunction with mixed reality gear (e.g., a headset) includes imaging a real scene encompassing a user wearing a mixed reality output apparatus. The method includes determining data describing a real context of the real scene, based on the imaging; for example, identifying or classifying objects, lighting, sound or persons in the scene. The method includes selecting a set of content including content enabling rendering of at least one virtual object from a content library, based on the data describing a real context, using various selection algorithms. The method includes rendering the virtual object in the mixed reality session by the mixed reality output apparatus, optionally based on the data describing a real context (“context parameters”). An apparatus is configured to perform the method using hardware, firmware, and/or software.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing electronics games for play by a group of users in two or more moving vehicles. The method includes maintaining data structures of media program data, user profile data and vehicle profile data, receiving user and vehicle state information, identifying a group of users based on contemporaneous presence in two or more vehicles or common participation in a game or other group experience for related trips at different times, and selecting, configuring or creating media program for play at media players. An apparatus or system is configured to perform the method, and related operations.

Abstract: A portal device for a video game includes a pad with different zones that can be illuminated by selectable colors, a toy sensor (e.g., an RFID tag sensor) associated with each zone, a controller and a communications port for communicating with a video game process executing on a game machine. The colors of each zone can be configured to one or a combination of three primary colors during game play, based on the game process. The portal device reacts to placement of tagged toys on zones and the color of the zones during play and provides sensor data to the game process. The game process controls the game state in part based on data from the portal device and in part on other user input.

Abstract: Mathematical relationships between the scene geometry, camera parameters, and viewing environment are used to control stereography to obtain various results influencing the viewer's perception of 3D imagery. The methods may include setting a horizontal shift, convergence distance, and camera interaxial parameter to achieve various effects. The methods may be implemented in a computer-implemented tool for interactively modifying scene parameters during a 2D-to-3D conversion process, which may then trigger the re-rendering of the 3D content on the fly.

Abstract: A system is provided for generating video content with hue-preservation in virtual production. A processor determines data in a scene-based encoding format based on raw data received in a pre-defined format. The raw data includes a computer-generated background rendered on a rendering panel and a foreground object. Based on the data in the scene-based encoding format, scene linear data is determined. A saturation of the scene linear data is controlled when a first color gamut corresponding to the pre-defined format is mapped to a second color gamut corresponding to a display-based encoding color space. Based on the scene linear data, a standard dynamic range (SDR) video content in the display-based encoding color space is determined. Hue of the SDR video content is preserved, when the rendering panel is in-focus or out-of-focus, based on a scaling factor that is applied to three primary color values that describe the first color gamut.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods are disclosed for providing social entertainment experiences in a moving vehicle via an apparatus that simulates human social behavior relevant to a journey undertaken by the vehicle, for displaying human-perceivable exterior communication on the moving vehicle to neighboring vehicles and/or pedestrians, and for providing a modular travel experience.

Abstract: An entertainment system provides data to a common screen (e.g., cinema screen) and personal immersive reality devices. For example, a cinematic data distribution server communicates with multiple immersive output devices each configured for providing immersive output (e.g., a virtual reality output) based on a data signal. Each of the multiple immersive output devices is present within eyesight of a common display screen. The server configures the data signal based on digital cinematic master data that includes immersive reality data. The server transmits the data signal to the multiple immersive output devices contemporaneously with each other, and optionally contemporaneously with providing a coordinated audio-video signal for output via the common display screen and shared audio system.

Abstract: A method for matching mouth shape and movement in digital video to alternative audio includes deriving a sequence of facial poses including mouth shapes for an actor from a source digital video. Each pose in the sequence of facial poses corresponds to a middle position of each audio sample. The method further includes generating an animated face mesh based on the sequence of facial poses and the source digital video, transferring tracked expressions from the animated face mesh or the target video to the source video, and generating a rough output video that includes transfers of the tracked expressions. The method further includes generating a finished video at least in part by refining the rough video using a parametric autoencoder trained on mouth shapes in the animated face mesh or the target video. One or more computers may perform the operations of the method.

Abstract: A digital content package includes first content comprising a video feature such as a motion picture or the like, and a user-selectable application configured to operate as follows. When activated using an icon off of a menu screen, the application records an identifier for scenes (discrete portions) of the first content that are selected by a user to generate a playlist. The user may select the scenes by indicating a start and end of each scene. The application saves the playlist locally, then uploads to a server. Via a user account at the server, a user may publish the playlist to a user-created distribution list, webpage, or other electronic publication, and modify the playlist by deleting or reordering scenes.

Abstract: Motion picture film is scanned by high-resolution, continuous sprocketless scanner, producing a first sequence of digital images each representing a plurality of motion picture frames and perforations (perfs) of the film input. The first sequence of images is processed using a processor running an analysis and extraction algorithm, producing a second sequence of images each including a single, edge-stabilized frame of the motion picture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a social robot includes operating an electronic output device based on social interactions between the social robot and a user. The social robot utilizes an algorithm or other logical solution process to infer a user mental state, for example a mood or desire, based on observation of the social interaction. Based on the inferred mental state, the social robot causes an action of the electronic output device to be selected. Actions may include, for example, playing a selected video clip, brewing a cup of coffee, or adjusting window blinds.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for geometric matching of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) output contemporaneously with video output formatted for display on a 2D screen include a determination of value sets that when used in image processing cause an off-screen angular field of view of the at least one of the AR output object or the VR output object to have a fixed relationship to at least one of the angular field of view of the onscreen object or of the 2D screen. The AR/VR output object is outputted to an AR/VR display device and the user experience is improved by the geometric matching between objects observed on the AR/VR display device and corresponding objects appearing on the 2D screen.

Abstract: Methods for digital content production and playback of an immersive stereographic video work provide or enhance interactivity of immersive entertainment using various different playback and production techniques. “Immersive stereographic” may refer to virtual reality, augmented reality, or both. The methods may be implemented using specialized equipment for immersive stereographic playback or production. Aspects of the methods may be encoded as instructions in a computer memory, executable by one or more processors of the equipment to perform the aspects.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for obtaining a digital representation of user engagement with audio-video content includes playing digital data comprising audio-video content by an output device that outputs audio-video output based on the digital data and receiving sensor data from at least one sensor positioned to sense an involuntary response of one or more users while engaged with the audio-video output. The method further includes determining a Content Engagement Power (CEP) value, based on the sensor data and recording the digital representation of CEP in a computer memory. An apparatus is configured to perform the method using hardware, firmware, and/or software.