Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, and an information processing system, each of which provides a service related to a broadcast-type moving picture content. An information processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives, from a first device, a notice of data including a location or acquisition method of information suggesting an action of a virtual character, the action corresponding to an event that occurs in a broadcast-type moving picture content; an acquisition unit that acquires the information on the basis of the data issued as a notice from the first device; a display unit capable of two-dimensional or three-dimensional display; and a control unit that controls driving of the virtual character, which is to be displayed using the display unit, on the basis of the information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are described for facilitating a cell phone content watch party. A system includes a server, a host user device and a client user device—both coupled to the server, a content capture device (CCD) coupled to the host user device, and a content provider coupled to the host user device and the client user device. The content provider provides primary content segments. The CCD provides cell phone content which the host user device provides the cell phone content to the server. The server synchronizes a providing of the cell phone content with a presentation of the primary content segments by the client user device such that the presentations of the cell phone content and the primary content segments occur substantially simultaneously on the host user device and the client user device.

Abstract: A video distribution system is provided with (i) a server that distributes a video including an animation of a character object generated based on motion of an actor and (ii) an information processing terminal in which an application for viewing the video is implemented and used by a viewing user who views the video. The server generates video data related to a video including the character object and a particular object that changes a display mode a plurality of times. The particular object is displayed in the video in a plurality of different display modes. The server transmits the video data to the information processing terminal, receives information about the activity of the viewing user from the information processing terminal, and changes the display mode of the particular object displayed in the video according to the activity of the viewing user.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for creating a live room, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method for creating a live room includes: receiving a trigger instruction of a preset creation identifier; acquiring, according to the trigger instruction, live information associated with the preset creation identifier; and sending the live information to a server such that the server creates a target live room based on the live information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for filtering streaming media content includes receiving at a filtering device one or more packets of a source data stream. The one or more packets are may be received from a content source remote from the filtering device. The source data stream may include one or more of an audio component and a video component. The method further includes determining whether to perform a filtering action on the one or more packets of the source data stream based at least in part on one or more user settings. The method further includes communicating to a media-playing device a filtered data stream generated at least in part by performing the filtering action on the one or more packets of the source data stream.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to implement flexible commercial monitoring for television audience measurement are disclosed. Example television audience measurement systems disclosed herein include a flexible commercial detector to detect whether a first watermark decoded from a television program broadcast signal is a bridge watermark that indicates a portion of the television broadcast signal including the bridge watermark is associated with a flexible commercial insertion event, the flexible commercial insertion event corresponding to insertion of a flexible commercial in the portion of the television broadcast signal. Disclosed example television audience measurement systems also include a commercial metric calculator to credit audience exposure associated with the portion of the television broadcast signal to a flexible commercial crediting metric in response to a determination that the first watermark is the bridge watermark.

Abstract: The timing for displaying an overlay a video is optimized using a system that includes an engagement component that receives information regarding frames of a video at which respective users of a plurality of users stop engaging with the video and an analysis component that calculates user engagement scores for the frames based on the information, wherein the user engagement scores reflect a percentage of the plurality of users that stop engaging with the video at the respective frames, and wherein the higher the percentage the lower the user engagement score. The system further includes an identification component that identifies a subset of the frames associated with relatively lower user engagement scores in comparison to other frames of the video and an overlay component that configures an overlay for displaying over the video near at least one of the frames included in the subset.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method sends a set of requests for a video using a first protocol. The first protocol is selected from a plurality of protocols available for use in a playback session for the video. The method compares a first performance of the first protocol and a second performance of a second protocol and determines whether to switch from using the first protocol to the second protocol in the playback session based on the comparing.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods to identify and credit media using ratios of media characteristics are disclosed herein. Example apparatus to identify media include at least one memory, instructions, and at least one processor to execute the instructions to: determine a first ratio based on a first time interval and a second time interval of a monitored media signal; determine a second ratio based on the second time interval and a third time interval of the monitored media signal; generate a first ratio signature based on the first and second ratios; and initiate transmission of the first ratio signature to a recipient that is to compare the first signature with a second ratio signature to identify the media.

Abstract: A video distribution server according to one embodiment of the present invention encourages communication among viewers of a live video, while strengthening the relationship between a distributor of the live video and each of the viewers. The server provides a live video distribution service for distributing and viewing live videos to users via user terminals. The server generates a combo when an input of an item by each of a plurality of viewers of the live video satisfies a predetermined combo condition, thus encouraging communication among the viewers of the live video. In addition, the benefit is given to the distributor upon the generation of the combo, which may strengthen the relationship between the distributor and each of the viewers.

Abstract: A facility for generating and displaying information regarding the packaging of individual media asset files associated with multiple scheduled presentations of interstitial media assets is provided. Scheduling information is received regarding future scheduled media presentations for each of a plurality of media assets via one or more content channels. Based at least in part on the received scheduling information, one or more package files are generated such that each package file includes a plurality of media asset files, each corresponding to at least one of the future scheduled media presentations, for distribution to a plurality of distinct media receivers. Database information is generated regarding the generating of the one or more package files, such that the database information includes a completion time associated with the generating of each package file.

Abstract: A display device according to an embodiment in the present disclosure comprises: a display; a communication unit to perform communication; a memory storing one or more instructions; and a control unit including at least one processor to perform at least one of the one or more instructions. The display device according to an embodiment in the present disclosure can increase the convenience and efficiency of refund processing by automatically providing a refund request method based on reproduction quality information of a content item.

Abstract: Systems and methods generating interactive videos on an automated platform are provided herein. The example methods can include receiving data associated with at least one physical item and receiving video content comprising a visual presentation of the physical item. The method can include receiving a selection of a predetermined template, in which the template comprising a plurality of modules organized in a tree structure. The method can further include organizing the video content into the predetermined template to form organized video content, and embedding an object in a portion of the organized video content to form an interactive video, in which the object is based on the received data and is configured to enable at least one of: (i) user interaction with the physical item; or (ii) a link to a webpage associated with the physical item.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calculating, storing, and allowing electronic searches for metadata associated with media titles. The metadata includes scores specific to each actor and each genre of a media title, where the scores indicate the degree to which an actor's performance in that title corresponds to a particular genre. Electronic searches for particular actors' performance in a specific genre thus return more accurate results that more correctly reflect how well the actors' performances reflect that genre.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a technical solution of live comments generating, which may acquire candidate texts highly similar with segments of video as live comments of corresponding segments by matching the candidate texts with the segments, and further generate new live comments based on video segments and existed live comments to enrich the live comments information of related video.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying comments relative to a video frame are described herein. The disclosed techniques include receiving a frame of a video; receiving bullet screen data comprising a plurality of comments associated with the frame; receiving a mask frame data segment corresponding to the frame; determining a mask area based on the mask frame data segment, wherein the mask area corresponds to a main area of the frame; and displaying the plurality of comments relative to the frame in areas other than the mask area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining increasing robustness of media signatures are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein is to select to at least one of (A) boost a first characteristic of a media signal at a first time or (B) attenuate a second characteristic of the media signal at a second time based on an effect of the at least one of the boost of the first characteristic or the attenuation of the second characteristic on a difference between a third characteristic of the media signal at a third time and a fourth characteristic of the media signal at a fourth time. The disclosed example apparatus is also to perform the selected one of (A) the boost of the first characteristic of the media signal at the first time or (B) the attenuation of the second characteristic of the media signal at the second time to enhance the media signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for providing a storyline based media content. At least two storylines may be identified, each storyline specifying an order of providing a plurality of episodes from a plurality of interrelated series. Identifiers of the plurality of episodes are displayed. Then identifiers of a first set of the plurality of episodes that are relevant to the first storyline are graphically modified to indicate relevance to the first storyline. Identifiers of a second set of the plurality of episodes that are relevant to the second storyline are also graphically modified to indicate relevance to the second storyline. A first and second storyline identifier are generating for display to enable storyline selection. The interrelated series are then provided to a user device in the order specified by the selected storyline.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device detects that playback of content has reached a respective playback position. In some embodiments, in response to detecting that the playback of the content has reached the respective playback position and in accordance with a determination that the respective playback position in the content is associated with respective augmented reality content corresponding to the content, an electronic device provides a notification corresponding to the respective augmented reality content wherein an input directed to the notification initiates a process for displaying of the respective augmented reality content. In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the respective playback position in the content is not associated with the respective augmented reality content, an electronic device forgoes providing the notification corresponding to the respective augmented reality content.