Abstract: Example access control techniques described herein are intended to enable guest access for a media playback system while maintaining security of the media playback system. An example implementation involves a computing device receiving a request to control a media playback system comprising a playback device. After receiving the request, the computing device obtains access to the media playback system. Obtaining access may involve obtaining a first identifier associated with the media playback system, obtaining a second identifier using the first identifier over a wide area network (WAN) with a computing system, and obtaining a token using the second identifier over the WAN with the computing system. The example implementation further involves receiving a request for the media playback system to perform an operation and causing the media playback system to perform the operation using the token.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes an advertisement determiner to identify a first plurality of respondents that received an addressable advertisement and a second plurality of respondents that received a linear advertisement based on combined program tuning data and reference advertisement data; a calculator to calculate a first average commercial minute rating for the addressable advertisement based on first duration weighted impressions associated with the first plurality of respondents and a second average commercial minute rating for the linear advertisement based on second duration weighted impressions associated with the second plurality of respondents; and a communication interface to transmit the first average commercial minute rating and the second average commercial minute rating for crediting the addressable advertisement and the linear advertisement with audience viewership metrics.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recognizing different users in a household without having the users to register or enroll their biometric features are provided. The apparatus may leverage sensors integrated with a remote control device or connected to a media device and create pseudo-identity of a user when the user is consuming the content services from media device. When pseudo-identity is created, user's content preference, user's viewing habit, and user's viewing behavior with respect to the content, may be associated with more than one pseudo-identity to better identify the same user. In subsequent usage, personalized services, such as personalized guide & programs, user-selected preferences, targeted advertisement, or content recommendation, may be provided by service provider to user in a subtle and natural manner.

Abstract: In a system for distributing video image content from a server to a viewer terminal, a configuration is provided in which the load to the transmission path is reduced by reducing the volume of distribution volume while improving the image quality to be viewed. Content data based on a low-bitrate-encoded image and data of an image of a transformation matrix in a neural network which is model data for obtaining an image close to an original image from the low-bitrate-encoded image are transmitted to the viewer terminal from the video image content distribution server. These data are used by the viewer terminal to obtain improved video image content.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for setting up, in one embodiment, a generic streaming media device as a set-top box for a multichannel content provider that provides a content delivery service. The set up process can be performed automatically and as background operations while a user manually sets up the device, in foreground operations, for use with an online streaming media store or source of content. The set up process can use a device token that was previously associated with the multichannel content provider for use with the device during the set up process. The device token can be stored by the developer of the device and sent by the developer to the multichannel content provider during a set up process of the device; the device token can be opaque to the developer but provides information used by the multichannel content provider to set up the device as a set top box.

Abstract: A processor of a server includes: a keyword generator that narrows object images from video based on both activity information on the activity history of a user and a first level of narrowing down and generates candidate keywords, as candidate comments, by generating a candidate keyword for each of the images; an identifier that identifies one or more target keywords from among the candidate keywords generated by the keyword generator based on both the activity information and a second level of narrowing down; a comment generator that generates, for each of the one or more target keywords, a comment related to each target keyword; and an adjuster that adjusts the first level of narrowing down in the keyword generator and the second level of narrowing down in the identifier in accordance with processing information on processing performable by the keyword generator and processing performable by the identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disambiguation of an ambiguous entity in a search query based on the gaze of a user. These systems and methods may be implemented by a media guidance application (e.g., executed by user equipment associated with the user). In some aspects, the media guidance application may monitor the gaze of the user and attempt to disambiguate the ambiguous entity based on an area of the screen the user viewed while issuing the search query. If the media guidance application receives an indication that it did not disambiguate the ambiguous entity in the search query correctly, the media guidance application may increase the area of the screen that the user viewed in order to find an additional entity. This may allow the media guidance application to quickly and accurately find the correct answer to the user's search query.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating social posts for users watching media content include processing inputs provided by one or more users of a group viewing the media content. Mood of each user in the group is predicted based on context of a portion of the media content currently rendering and the inputs of the users. A social post is generated for each user based on the predicted mood of the user. The social post is forwarded for rendering as input from the user.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, media content; (ii) generating, by the computing system, a fingerprint of the received media content; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that a channel-change operation was performed; (iv) responsive to determining that the channel-change operation was performed, transmitting, by the computing system, the generated fingerprint to a content identification server to identify the received media content; and (v) performing an action based on the identified media content.

Abstract: A method of dynamically binding supplemental content to video content includes receiving the video content at a device and identifying at least one value related to one or more products or services, where the at least one value is associated with the video content. The method also includes obtaining the supplemental content based on the at least one value, where the supplemental content provides additional information about the one or more products or services. In addition, the method includes dynamically binding the supplemental content to the video content and positioning the supplemental content in association with the video content using a supplemental interactive display.

Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein include a return path data classifier to classify a first viewing period associated with segments of return path data received from a set top box into tuning classifications based on the segments of the return path data; calculate a total reported tuning duration for the first viewing period when the first viewing period is classified as live or playback tuning; and compare the total reported tuning duration to a duration threshold to determine whether the segments of return path data associated with the first viewing period are valid. The example apparatus also includes a return path data rectifier to rectify missing tuning data associated with a second viewing period based on tuning data included in the segments of return path data associated with the first viewing period when the segments of the return path data associated with the first viewing period are determined to be valid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic and television environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data or application data, which may include blackout information, is received. The blacked out content may be automatically recorded to the user equipment or a network server for later playback after the blackout has expired. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, retrieve more information about the blackout, or present summary information, such as a sports ticker, in place of the blacked out cell.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented herein for streaming of media content. The methods and systems include receiving a request to stream a media content item; accessing a profile of a user authorized to access the streaming service; determining whether a bonus stream in addition to a default number of streams should be granted based on an analysis of at least one of: a status of the streaming service, a status of the requesting media device, metadata of the media content item, a status of the communication system, the profile, and a status of the currently streaming media device. Related apparatuses, devices, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify alternate language versions of media based on signature matching are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a signature matcher to compare signatures in monitored data with reference signatures to determine signature match strengths associated with portions of the monitored data, the reference signatures associated with reference media assets. Disclosed example apparatus also include a data segmenter to divide the monitored data into first and second segments, the first segments including temporally adjacent portions of the monitored data having signature match strengths that satisfy a threshold, the second segments including temporally adjacent portions of the monitored data having signature match strengths that do not satisfy the threshold.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a broadcast video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was broadcast within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for location-tracked media delivery. For example, a particular consumer premises has multiple media consumption devices, each located in a different room of the premises. One or more media streams being consumed via one or more of the media consumption devices can be tracked. As one or more consumers move through the premises, their respective physical locations in the premises can also be tracked with respect to media consumption regions of the media consumption devices. By detecting movement of the consumers with respect to the consumed streams and the media consumption devices, embodiments can automatically provide various features. For example, streams can automatically be transferred or cloned among the media consumption devices, and/or streams and devices can be adapted automatically to facilitate some continued media consumption in some dead space regions.

Abstract: During steaming of media selection to a user device, products are identified within scenes of the selection for selection by a user. A selected product returns a Unique Identification Number (UIN). Retailers offering the selected product are identified and prices offered for the product obtained based on the UIN. A sorted list of the retailers and prices are returned to the user during media selection play on the user device. A selected retailer by the user made during media selection play on the user device initiates a transaction with that retailer for purchase of the product by the user. In an embodiment, audit data for selected products and purchased products are maintained; metrics generated for the audit data, and specific targeted products by user or by media selection are identified for highlighting during media selection playing by the users.

Abstract: A system is provided for establishing a shared media session for client devices that receives event data and media corresponding to a shared media session and previous shared media sessions from a recording client device communicably coupled to a distributed communication network. A persistent record of the event data and media is generated until the shared media session is terminated by at least one of a first client device or by abandonment of the distributed communication network by the first client device and by second client devices. A new disparate live media output stream is generated with multiple distinct channels based on augmentation of a disparate live media output stream in the shared media session. The augmentation is based on an interaction from a user on actions in the shared media session.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method that includes a media presentation device (i) generating query fingerprint data representing video frames of a channel being rendered by the media presentation device, and transmitting the generated query fingerprint data from the device over a network to a server, (ii) responsive to transmitting the query fingerprint data to the server, receiving, from the server, channel-icon fingerprint data representing channel icons of multiple channels selected based at least on the server having detected that the query fingerprint data representing the video frames of the channel being rendered by the media presentation device matches the reference fingerprint data representing the frames of the multiple channels of video content, and (iii) responsive to receiving the channel-icon fingerprint data from the server, performing channel-icon fingerprint matching to determine which channel in the multiple channels is the channel being rendered by the media presentation device.

Abstract: A radio-frequency amplifier for a cable network includes a forward amplifier configured to amplify a high frequency range of signals that are provided downstream to a cable receiver of the cable network and a return amplifier configured to amplify a low frequency range of signals that are provided upstream to a head end of the cable network. An out-of-band forward amplifier configured to amplify a digitally protected video signal having a frequency in a range between 70 MHz and 130 MHz that are provided downstream to the cable receiver of the cable network and a notch filter configured to reject the amplified digitally protected video signal having the frequency in the range between 70 MHz and 130 MHz from being amplified by the return amplifier.