Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing cinematic content to a user via a computer-controlled media player includes accessing by a processor a content package including a targeted emotional arc and a collection of digital objects each associated with codes indicating an emotional profile of the each digital object, playing digital objects selected from the content package thereby outputting an audio-video signal for display by an output device; receiving sensor data from at least one sensor positioned to sense a biometric feature of a user watching the output device; determining a value of one or more emotional state variables, based on the sensor data; and selecting the digital objects for the playing based on the one or more emotional state variables, a recent value of the targeted emotional arc, and the one or more codes indicating an emotional profile. An apparatus is configured to perform the method using hardware, firmware, and/or software.

Abstract: A motion picture distribution system, the system including a central computer, an exhibitor computer, a communication channel, and a back channel. The central computer is located at a central site and configured to distribute a digital version of the motion picture. The exhibitor computer is located at an exhibitor location that is remote from the central site. The exhibitor computer is configured both to receive the digital version of the motion picture from the central computer, and to display the motion picture. The communication channel is configured to facilitate the electronic transfer of the digital version of the motion picture from the central computer to the exhibitor computer. The back channel is coupled between the central computer and the exhibitor computer, and configured to allow for the transfer of information between the exhibitor computer and the central computer.

Abstract: Methods for identifying encrypted content in ones of a plurality of encrypted data files in a library of encrypted files without decrypting the data files utilize crowd sourcing for content identification. A method includes selecting, by a computer, content titles for presenting with ones of identifiers for the data files in a data structure. Each of the identifiers includes a hash of metadata for one of the data files and the content titles include a character string that identifies each file's content. The user selection data identifies the content titles that correspond to the data files. The computer determines which content titles satisfy a minimum confidence threshold for associating with one of the identifiers, based on a quality or quantity of the multiple independent clients supplying the user selection data. An apparatus for performing the method includes a memory holding instructions for performing steps of the method as summarized above.

Abstract: Methods for managing digital content include authenticating a user account identifier from a client device over a computer network, registering a telephone number for at least one wireless mobile device in a registry identified with the user account based on the authenticating, as a pre-authorized identifier for accessing digital content licensed for use with the client device. The methods include maintaining a library of digital content identified with the user account for access by the at least one wireless mobile device, and initiating streaming of the digital video content to the at least one wireless mobile device without requiring user authentication from the at least one wireless mobile device, based on the registering of the telephone number as the pre-authorized identifier. An apparatus for performing the method comprises a processor coupled to a memory, the memory holding instructions for performing steps of the method as summarized above.

Abstract: An automatic flagging of sensitive portions of a digital dataset for media production includes receiving the digital dataset comprising at least one of audio data, video data, or audio-video data for producing at least one media program. A processor identifies sensitive portions of the digital dataset likely to be in one or more defined content classifications, based at least in part on comparing unclassified portions of the digital dataset with classified portions of the prior media production using an algorithm, and generates a plurality of sensitivity tags each signifying a sensitivity assessment for a corresponding one of the sensitive portions. The processor may save the plurality of sensitivity tags each correlated to its corresponding one of the sensitive portions in a computer memory for use by a media production or localization team.

Abstract: A specification defining allowable luma and chroma code-values is applied in a region-of-interest encoding method of a mezzanine compression process. The method may include analyzing an input image to determine regions or areas within each image frame that contain code-values that are near allowable limits as specified by the specification. In addition, the region-of-interest method may comprise then compressing those regions with higher precision than the other regions of the image that do not have code-values that are close to the legal limits.

Abstract: A method or apparatus for delivering audio programming such as music to listeners may include identifying, capturing and applying a listener's audiometric profile to transform audio content so that the listener hears the content similarly to how the content was originally heard by a creative producer of the content. An audio testing tool may be implemented as software application to identify and capture the listener's audiometric profile. A signal processor may operate an algorithm used for processing source audio content, obtaining an identity and an audiometric reference profile of the creative producer from metadata associated with the content. The signal processor may then provide audio output based on a difference between the listener's and creative producer's audiometric profiles.

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 sensor coupled to an AR/VR headset detects an eye convergence distance. A processor adjusts a focus distance for a virtual camera that determines rendering of a three-dimensional (3D) object for a display device of the headset, based on at least one of the eye convergence distance or a directed focus of attention for the at least one of the VR content or the AR content.

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: 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 digital still image is processed using motion-adding algorithms that are provided with an original still image and a set of motionizing parameters. Output of the motion-adding algorithms include a motionized digital image suitable for display by any digital image display device. The motionized digital image may be used in place of a still image in any context that a still image would be used, for example, in an ebook, e-zine, digital graphic novel, website, picture or poster, or user interface.

Abstract: Efficient image compression for video data characterized by a non-neutral dominant white point is achieved by transforming the input video signal into a de-correlated video signal based on a color difference encoding transform, wherein the color difference encoding transform is adapted based on the dominant white point using an algorithm. The adapting algorithm is designed for optimizing low-entropy output when the white point is other than a neutral or equal-energy value. Decompression is handled conversely.

Abstract: A playback device includes a port configured to receive content from an external memory device, a device memory residing in the device, and a controller programmed to execute instructions that cause the controller to read a read data pattern from the defined region in the external memory device and determine if the read data pattern correlates to an expected data pattern to a predetermined level, wherein the expected data pattern is derived at least in part from a defect map of the defined region.

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: An apparatus for generating a presentation from content having original audio and video components is described wherein an environment detector is configured to output an environment-type signal indicating a detected particular environment. An acoustics memory is configured to output selected acoustic characteristics indicative of the environment identified by the environment-type signal. An audio processor receives the audio components and the acoustic characteristics and operates to modify the original audio components to produce modified audio components based on the selected acoustic characteristics. The presentation including the modified audio components is output.

Abstract: An improved video streaming method and system that reduces video stream playback dropouts when video data flow from a server is degraded or interrupted. Two adaptive bitrate video streams of the content are operated in parallel with video quality that can be adjusted independently. The first stream receives data blocks at a rate generally concurrent with the video playback. The second stream receives data blocks in advance of the playback point and these blocks are buffered. The best available block is used during playback. Buffered second stream blocks can be used to continue playback when the network connection is compromised or interrupted.

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 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: A playback device includes a port configured to receive content from an external memory device, a device memory residing in the device, and a controller programmed to execute instructions that cause the controller to read a read data pattern from the defined region in the external memory device and determine if the read data pattern correlates to an expected data pattern to a predetermined level, wherein the expected data pattern is derived at least in part from a defect map of the defined region. A memory device includes an array of memory cells configured to store at least one bit of data, the array of memory cells being organized into regions, at least one first region of the array of memory cells having stored therein a defect map of the array of memory cells, and at least one second region of the array of memory cells being designated as a defined region having a known defect pattern.