Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamically inserting secondary content into a live stream or a video on demand (VOD). The secondary content can include, for example, a public service announcement or warning, censoring content, live or prerecorded commentary, an advertisement, or any other type of content to be integrated with or inserted into the main content. Example methods may include receiving a content stream including a first fragment having a first duration and a second fragment having the first duration. Certain methods may include determining an increased quality of service associated with encoding the content stream into fragments having a second duration. Certain methods may include generating, based at least in part on the increased quality of service, a third fragment having the second duration, and sending the content stream having the third fragment to a user device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for routing content are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for routing content include receiving audio data representing a command from a first electronic device, determining content that is associated with the command, sending responsive audio data to the first electronic device, and sending instructions to the second electronic device to output the content associated with the command. In some embodiments, a method for routing contents includes determining a state of the second electronic device and sending instructions to output the content to a selected one of the first and second electronic devices based on the state of the second electronic device.

Abstract: A method of identifying media content presented on a display device includes determining a selected input source providing a video signal to the display device, and then selecting a first set of content identification rules when it is determined that the selected input source is a first input source, and selecting a second set of content identification rules when it is determined that the selected input source is a second input source. The method further comprises applying the selected first set or second set of content identification rules to the video signal in order to generate content identification data for the media content presented on the display device. Application of the content identification rules includes waiting for a trigger event and applying an algorithm to one or more frames of the video signal following the trigger event.

Abstract: A compensation device for maintaining a desired signal quality in transmitted signals includes a signal strength loss curve comparison component configured to compare a predetermined signal strength loss curve to a low band signal strength of a radio-frequency (RF) signal in an amplified forward path of a premise device. The compensation device also includes a gain curve adjustment component configured to output an adjusted gain curve across the RF signal in response to a comparison by the signal strength loss curve comparison component.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose methods and systems for identifying consumption intent of a user in multimedia of an electronic device. A method disclosed herein includes generating contextual data elements for content of the multimedia, wherein the contextual data elements include direct and implied information of the multimedia that enable a user to match and validate intent of consuming the content of the multimedia. The contextual data elements include a text summary, a visual summary, keywords and/or keyphrases, paragraphs, chapters, index tables, questions, analytics, emotions and insights for the content of the multimedia. Further, the method includes displaying the contextual data elements to the user. The user uses the contextual data elements to navigate within the multimedia/across multiple multimedia.

Abstract: The non-linear content scheduling and encoding (recording) system provides a highly automated file-based video-on-demand (VOD) publishing workflow. The system includes content-provider scheduling and broadcast programming for encoding, editing, and distribution of video assets (e.g., episodes). The invention effectively scales VOD production and allows broadcasters to use the same schedule and sources as their traditional playout operation to quickly and efficiently produce VOD deliverables with all the correct metadata. The systems of the invention process content at significantly faster rates than traditional, real-time VOD generation. The systems provide program management and incorporate traffic system ad components within fully integrated VOD publishing. The systems enable automatic retrieval of sources for VOD generation from generic storage, video servers, non-linear editing systems, archiving systems, content delivery systems, data or video tapes, as well as from live video sources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting content delivery service are described. In accordance with the invention content can be supplied to temporary storage of a regional or local server used to supply the content to a customer's premises when the requested content is not already available in the regional or local server. A content server hierarchy may be implemented with servers higher up in the hierarchy including more content, e.g., titles, than the number of titles stored in the lower level servers. By storing less frequently accessed content in servers higher in the hierarchy and frequently requested titles lower in the hierarchy, a vast number of titles can be supported without overburdening the storage available at local and regional servers. In addition, a national or other server high in the hierarchy can be used to store, move, and distribute local or other content as part of an on demand service.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying and classifying audience reactions during a playback of a media item. In one embodiment, among others, a computing device is used to identify a reaction event from sensor data of a participant consuming a playback of a media item. The reaction event is correlated with a point in time of the media item. A reaction classification for the reaction event is determined based on the sensor data, and the reaction classification is associated with the point in time of the media item.

Abstract: An image recognition based interactive control system and method for a smart television. The system comprises: an image acquisition module for acquiring a card image; a gesture recognition module for recognizing a gesture of a user holding a card and outputting a gesture recognition result, wherein the gesture recognition result is channel switching, program selecting or content searching; a card recognition module for recognizing the content of the card image and outputting a card recognition result; and an interactive control module for performing a relevant interactive operation according to the gesture recognition result and the card recognition result.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to monitor media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an orderer to order metadata according to timing information, the metadata corresponding to digital media from a media provider; a data shifter to adjust the ordered metadata using a plurality of offsets to generate a plurality of adjusted ordered metadata; a comparator to perform a plurality of comparisons by comparing the plurality of adjusted ordered metadata to reference data; and compute a plurality of errors corresponding to the plurality of comparisons; and the data shifter to identify an offset of the plurality of offsets corresponding to a lowest computed error of the plurality of errors; and adjust the ordered metadata using the offset.

Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer-program products for identifying a media content stream when the media content stream is playing an unscheduled media segment. A computing device may receive a plurality of media content streams, where at least two of the plurality of media content streams concurrently includes a same unscheduled media segment. The computing device may determine that the media display device is playing the unscheduled media segment by examining the media content available at the current time in each of the plurality of media content streams. The computing device may determine identification information from the media content included in the media content stream. The computing device may determine contextually-related content, which may be disabled while the unscheduled media segment is being played by the media display device. The computing device may display the media content stream and the contextually-related content after the unscheduled media segment has been played.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing control over targeted secondary content based on a zone associated with a user. In one exemplary embodiment, a user request for primary content from a non-legacy device results in the delivery of the same secondary content which would have been provided had the request been generated at a legacy device (so-called “zone preservation”). To accomplish this, the devices are associated with a user's zone at a zone preservation server in communication with the server providing content to the devices. The zone preservation server associates each user with an advertisement zone identifier, and utilizes the identifier to direct the delivery of primary and secondary content. In another embodiment, a prescribed rule set for one or more zones is employed, such as where certain types of advertisements or secondary content are inserted given a particular device or user context.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives a request from a user for one or more extensions to a first program. The first program is associated with a first bundle that indicates the first program starts at a first time and ends at a second time. A second program that starts before the first time or starts after the second time is selected. The second program is associated with a second bundle that indicates the second program ends at the first time or starts at the second time. The method generates an extension bundle that includes information for the one or more extensions and uses the extension bundle to record an extended program for the user that includes the first program and at least a portion of the one or more extensions from the second program.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards remotely generating encoding metadata at a remote content distributor for use by a local user computing device. The remote content distributor receives and encodes content. During or after the encoding process, the remote content distributor generates encoding metadata that indicates how the content was encoded by the remote content distributor. The remote content distributor provides the encoding metadata to the user computer device. The user computing device receives the content and the encoding metadata and encodes the content based on the encoding metadata. The user computing device can then provide the encoded content to another computing device for decoding and presentation to a user.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to modem and router modules for use with digital display systems, including televisions. A modem module is configurable to attach to a set-top box, a set-back box, directly to a digital display, or may even be integrated into display equipment. Router functions and ports can be integrated into the module to provide for networking of additional devices in proximity to the module and/or display, using either or both wired and wireless access technologies. Systems including the module convert power to the appropriate forms for delivery to the different devices, hardware, and components associated with the module. The modem and routing functions are configurable to provide separate security domains to isolate or direct traffic among the various networked devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that predicts an interest of a viewer in a media program that will be available for consumption over a content delivery network, determines a first advertisement that may be shown to the viewer during a broadcast of the media program, and transmits the first advertisement to a local device of the viewer in advance of the broadcast of the media program. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering video programs are provided. A plurality of video programs are provided in a fragmented, adaptive bit rate format. A request for a respective video program from the plurality of video programs is received from each of a plurality of clients. The requested video programs are multiplexed for delivery to the clients in a multiplex over a shared, fixed-bit-rate transmission channel. In the fragmented, adaptive bit rate format, the fragment delivered to the client may not be the same as the requested fragment and is dependent on multiple criteria, including the bitrate and quality of the requested and delivered fragments, the total available delivery bandwidth, and other fragment requests made on the channel. The resulting multiplex may be either a constant bit rate multiplex or a variable bit rate multiplex.

Abstract: A content streaming system and methodology for facilitating the management of content streaming. A video packaging and origination service requests streaming content that is organized according to content segments. Individual content segments will be encoded according to a plurality of encoding profiles and received at different ingress nodes within video packaging and origination service. The video packaging and origination service utilizes deterministic data generated by the different ingress nodes to determine when receipt of individual content segments is complete.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for packaging media and data for transmission over a broadband communications network link for display at a terminal destination. Features of the method included creating desired media segments for transmission to the terminal destination and for creating targeting information, for example in whole or in part in the form of metadata, for transmission to the terminal destination. Other features include packaging the created media segments and the created targeting information in a single package and unpacking the single package for display of the targeted media at the terminal destination.

Abstract: A system for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the system includes a TV service provider headend and a set top box (STB). The HDTV may have an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect. The STB may be electrically coupled to the headend and have an STB DVI interconnect. When the HDTV DVI interconnect is initially electrically coupled to the STB DVI interconnect, the HDTV generally presents a data signal to the STB and the STB generally presents the data signal to the headend.