Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine whether audience measurement meters are co-located. An example apparatus is to, based on a difference between a first sampling time of a first entry of a first log and a second sampling time of a corresponding entry of a second log satisfying a first threshold, determine at least one matching instance of at least one first device identifier of the first entry and at least one second device identifier of the corresponding entry. Additionally, the example apparatus is to populate a variable with the at least one matching instance. The example apparatus is also to, based on a metric satisfying a second threshold, cause transmission of an alert indicating that a first meter and a second meter were co-located during generation of the first log and the second log, the metric based on the at least one matching instance.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example system includes a first distributor server to cause transmission of first media associated with first data representing a first state of the first media scheduled to end at a scheduled end-time. The example system includes a receiver to obtain second data representing a second state of a past event corresponding to a subject of the first media, determine a predicted end-time of the first media based on a comparison of the first and second states, and after a determination that the predicted end-time is after at least one of the scheduled end-time of the first media or a scheduled start-time of second media, generate an electronic program guide (EPG) based on the predicted end-time. The example system also includes a second distributor server to cause transmission of a portion of second media to the receiver, the second distributor server different from the first distributor server.

Abstract: Delay in output of a requested content asset by a user device may be reduced by sending a portion of the content asset to the user device in a particular type of format, such as an unsecured format. The unsecured portion of the content asset may be sent to the user device while a license for the content asset is being processed. The size of the unsecured portion of the content asset may be determined based on a time for the user device to receive the license. The time for the user device to receive the license may be determined based on a time to process the license. After sending the license to the user device, another portion of the content asset may be sent to the user device in a secured format. The user device may use the license to access the secured portion of the content asset.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating at least one highlight video from an input video, comprising, using at least one processor for: identifying a plurality of significant frames of the input video, computing video-level features of the input video, selecting a plurality of subsets of the plurality of significant frames, for each subset, computing a similarity score indicating similarity between visual features of the subset and video-level features of the input video, clustering the input video into a plurality of clusters of sequential frames according to sequential positions within the video based on the similarity scores correlated with the plurality of significant frames, and creating at least one highlight video by selecting a cluster of sequential frames of the input video.

Abstract: Television tuner emulation techniques are described. In an implementation, a television tuner is emulated through execution of software on a processing system by a computing device, the emulated television tuner includes functionality to obtain television content over an Internet Protocol (IP) based network. The functionality of the emulated television tuner is exposed to one or more applications that are executed by the computing device such that the application is not aware that the television tuner is emulated through execution of the software.

Abstract: A video generating device obtains Laplace pyramid levels of 360° video frames; upscales each of the obtained Laplace pyramid levels so as to recover a set of corresponding Gaussian pyramid levels for each 360° video frame; determines a recovered Gaussian pyramid level among the set of recovered Gaussian pyramid levels for each pixel in each 360° video frame based on a bitrate budget for live streaming and a viewport region by performing a pyramid level assignment procedure; composes a 360° video with heterogeneous spatial quality based on summing up the determined recovered Gaussian pyramid levels for each pixel in each 360° video frame. Thereby, reduction of bitrate while providing a high video quality to the user when watching 360° videos is possible. Furthermore, the disclosure also relates to a download proxy comprising such a video generating device, corresponding methods, and a computer program.

Abstract: A multimedia content selection system includes at least one processor executing instructions for performing operations. The operations include receiving a playback request from a playback unit, including a content identifier, providing, to the playback unit, a manifest with at least a set of content segment identifiers based on the content identifier, each content segment identifier identifying a content segment associated with a content stream, receiving a content stream request comprising one of the content segment identifiers, and selecting a segment for playback from the content segment associated with the received content segment identifier, determined using a set of content selection rules.

Abstract: An object model for a real-world object is constructed using a parameter-based object generator, where the parameters for the object model are determined using sensor data such as photographic images, radar images, or LIDAR images obtained from the real-world object. Conversion of the sensor data to appropriate object parameters is accomplished using a machine learning system. The machine learning system is calibrated by generating a plurality of object parameters, generating a corresponding plurality of learning objects from the plurality of object parameters, generating a plurality of simulated sensor return data for the learning objects, and then providing the simulated sensor return data and object parameters to the machine learning system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively replacing commercials that are in a video data stream with alternative commercials. Automatic content recognition (ACR) is performed on the video data stream to detect the identity of each of the commercials played in a commercial block during a commercial break. Commercials in the video data stream which are detected as being displayed on a video display device are stored in a first database, and commercials in the video data stream which are detected as not being displayed on the video display device are stored in a second database. A rules engine defines how commercials in the video data stream should be replaced with other commercials. Commercials in the video data stream that were previously detected as being displayed on the video display device are selectively replaced with commercials that were previously detected as not being displayed on the video display device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, dividing a media content item into a plurality of media content segments, at each media content segment of the plurality of media content segments, applying motion estimation between at least two video frames of the media content segment to determine a content weight for the media content segment, determining a bit rate for the media content segment according to the determined content weight for the media content segment, and encoding the media content segment at the determined bit rates to generate a data stream for the media content segment, whereby a plurality of data streams for the plurality of media content segments of the media content are generated, and transmitting the plurality of data streams for the plurality of media content segments of the media content to the one or more media devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for systems and methods that can be used to operate a media transmission network. In at least one embodiment, the media transmission network comprises a plurality of media processing devices configured to receive and process media streams based on control data. The media transmission network also comprises a controller coupled to the plurality of media processing devices and configured to generate a control signal for some or all of the media processing devices in the network. The controller is configured to determine the timing at which to transmit the control signal to a respective media processing device in order for the instructions in the control signal to be executed at the same time as the media data is received. The controller determines the transmission timing of each control signal by determining the latencies and delays of the network and the devices, such as, for example, network latency, processing delay, and/or control delay.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of using channel tuning data from a video asset viewing device connected to a network to measure video asset viewing at a second-by-second level during one or more user defined lead-in periods, and then correlating that with video asset viewing during a user defined target period, for the purpose of analyzing how viewing activity during the lead-in period(s) correlates with viewing activity during the target period, thus producing longitudinal viewing metrics; all while maintaining viewer anonymity. Additionally, viewing metrics can be categorized based on user defined demographic, geographic, and histogram groupings representing the percentage of video asset viewing with the result that the analyst is able to gain detailed insight into customer viewing behavior. The lead-in video asset may be any video asset or assets. The target may be any subsequent video asset. The metrics produced are useful to service providers, advertisers, and content producers.

Abstract: A community space is established for a media content item. Data items are received from contributing account holders. Each data item has metadata including an index time corresponding to a time of relevance of the data item during playback of the media content item. Each data item is separate from the media content item. The data items and their associated metadata are stored within the community space in correlation with the media content item. A streaming request for the media content item is received from a requesting account holder. The media content item is streamed to a device of the requesting account holder in response to the streaming request. At least some of the data items and their associated metadata correlated with the media content item are transmitted from the community space to the requesting account holder in conjunction with streaming the media content item to the requesting account holder.

Abstract: In order for a terminal to play a video, a first video file is obtained. The first video file is sliced to generate a plurality of first slice files. A play index is generated to include entries respectively corresponding to the first slice files. An entry corresponding to a second video file is inserted into the index between an entry corresponding to one first slice file and an entry corresponding to another first slice file in the play index. The first slice files are played in sequence according to the play index, and the second vide file is played after the one of the first slice files and before the other of the first slice files according to the play index.

Abstract: An over-air media server obtains first media content, including external content stored in a location external to the over-air media server, and delivers it for broadcast via on-air broadcast chain. A streaming media server is in communication with the over-air media server and a streaming broadcast chain. The streaming media server operates in a synchronized mode, during which it delivers, under control of the over-air media server, second media content to a streaming broadcast chain. The streaming server transitions from the synchronized mode to an independent mode, during which it delivers the second media content to the streaming broadcast chain independent of control by over-air media server. While operating in the independent mode the streaming media server obtains the second media content, including obtaining external content, from the same location from which over-air media server obtains its external content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a skip time for navigating a media content in a media content system are disclosed herein. An input to perform a media content skip operation on the media content is detected. A current play position time in the media content is further detected, and a skip time amount based on the current play position time and a total media content play time is determined. The media content is skipped to a new play position time based on the skip time amount in response to the detected input.

Abstract: Techniques described herein are directed toward creating one or more “dynamic profiles” for media (video) streaming in which an encoding bit rate (and optionally other profile settings) is optimized for particular content. More specifically, techniques involve performing one or more “probe” encodings of the particular content to determine an encoding bit rate (and optionally other profile settings) that results in an encoding having a quality value sufficiently near (within a threshold) a target quality value.

Abstract: A method for the reception of a flow representing a multimedia content is described, along with a device for receiving such a flow. The method includes determining that the restoration of first and second successive portions of the content modified by the restoration of respective first and second multimedia content, and activating a reading module for reading the first multimedia content, and another reading module for reading the second multimedia content, at a point in time prior to the end of the first portion. The method also includes alternately controlling the restoration of the first multimedia content and the second multimedia content during the reading of the first and second portions, respectively.

Abstract: A mobile communication device having a processor and set of processor readable code of instructions that identifies and enables multiple mobile communication devices in a predetermined geographic region (geo-fence) to simultaneously capture audio video recordings (the “recordings”) of an event or scene from varying POV in the same time and space and automatically uploads the recordings to a remote server which bundles, processes and optimizes the plurality of audio video recordings for distribution and monetization. The instant invention provides instant access to the recording feature when opened and allows a limited amount of recording time, such as up to sixty (60) seconds to record a particular event in desired region. Audio is also captured during the recording. A user may be given a predetermined amount of time, such as five (5) seconds, to delete the recording.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively replacing commercials that are in a video data stream with alternative commercials. Automatic content recognition (ACR) is performed on the video data stream to detect the identity of each of the commercials played in a commercial block during a commercial break. Commercials in the video data stream which are detected as being displayed on a video display device are stored in a first database, and commercials in the video data stream which are detected as not being displayed on the video display device are stored in a second database. A rules engine defines how commercials in the video data stream should be replaced with other commercials. Commercials in the video data stream that were previously detected as being displayed on the video display device are selectively replaced with commercials that were previously detected as not being displayed on the video display device.