Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transmedia video bookmarks, the method comprising receiving a first place marker and a second place marker for a segment of video media, extracting metadata from the video media between the first and second place markers, normalizing the extracted metadata, storing the normalized metadata, first place marker, and second place marker as a video bookmark, and retrieving the media represented by the video bookmark upon request from a user. Systems can aggregate video bookmarks from multiple sources and refine the first place marker and second place marker based on the aggregated video bookmarks. Metadata can be extracted by analyzing text or audio annotations. Metadata can be normalized by generating a video thumbnail representing the video media between the first place marker and the second place marker. Multiple video bookmarks may be searchable by metadata or by the video thumbnail visually.

Abstract: Speaker content generated in an audio conference is selectively visually represented. A profile for each audience member who listen to an audio conference is obtained. Speaker content from audio conference participants who speak in the audio conference is monitored. The speaker content from each of the audio conference participants is analyzed. Based on the analyzing and on the profiles for each of the plurality of audience members, visual representations of the speaker content to present to the audience members are identified. Visual representations of the speaker content are generated based on the analyzing. Different visual representations of the speaker content are presented to different audience members based on the analyzing and identifying.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may capture images using a camera system at a location associated with a user, transmit video content representative of the images over a network for presentation by another media processor at another location, receive at a media processor object content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user, and present at a display device of the location the object content and the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the other user at the location, where at least one of the object content and the video content is presented as three dimensional content or holographic content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an opportunistic crowd based service platform is disclosed. A mobile sensor device is identified based on a current location and/or other qualities, such as intrinsic properties, previous sensor data, or demographic data of an associated user of the mobile sensor device. Data is collected from the mobile sensor device. The data collected from the mobile sensor device is aggregated with data collected from other sensor devices, and content generated based on the aggregated data is delivered to a user device.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable media are introduced that relate to data coding and decoding. A computing device encodes received data such as video data into a base layer of compressed video and an enhancement layer of compressed video. The computing device controls drift introduced into the base layer of the compressed video. The computing device, such as a scalable video coder, allows drift bay predicting the base layer from the enhancement layer information. The amount of drift is managed to improve overall compression efficiency.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for identifying a person in an image includes an image analyzer. The image analyzer determines the content of an image such as a person, location, and object shown in the image. A person in the image may be identified based on the content and event data stored in a database. Event data includes information concerning events and related people, locations, and objects determined from other images and information. Identification metadata is generated and linked to each analyzed image and comprises information determined during image analysis. Tags for images are generated based on identification metadata. The event database can be queried to identify particular people, locations, objects, and events depending on a user's request.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for representing media assets. The method includes receiving an original media asset and derivative versions of the original media asset and associated descriptors, determining a lineage to each derivative version that traces to the original media asset, generating a version history tree of the original media asset representing the lineage to each derivative version and associated descriptors from the original media asset, and presenting at least part of the version history tree to a user. In one aspect, the method further includes receiving a modification to one associated descriptor and updating associated descriptors for related derivative versions with the received modification. The original media asset and the derivative versions of the original media asset can share a common identifying mark.

Abstract: A method or apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for retrieving a plurality of sensory information from an environment of a device. A digital representation of the environment of the device is identified corresponding to the plurality of sensory information from the environment of the device. A media presentation element of the device associated with media content of the device is identified. A user interface of the media presentation element is adapted to modify a presentation of the media content by the media presentation element of the device according to the digital representation of the environment of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel mechanism is disclosed by which a sender can direct information such as an audiovisual signal to a particular recipient's audiovisual display device, such as a cable television set and, thereby, share information between the sender and the recipient. In one embodiment, a calling party originates a telephone call and associates that telephone call with audio-visual information that exists on the caller's personal computer or on an Internet server. The called party answers the call, and can tune an associated cable television to the appropriate channel in order to view the audio-visual information. In another embodiment, the caller is a hotel guest and the called party is a hotel concierge and vice versa. The concierge provides information to the hotel guest such that the hotel guest can tune in to a channel on their hotel television set and access the information.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal directed to a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, receive usage information from the radio frequency identifier tag, determine a measure of wear and tear of the first item from the usage information, compare the measure of wear and tear to a threshold, detect from the comparison a state of usage of the first item, and submit a notice representative of the state of usage of the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and computer readable medium for encoding data onto a channel broadcasting a program are disclosed. For example, the method selects a channel that is being used to broadcast a program, generates data having characteristics in accordance with an error burst signature and transmits the data on the channel that is being used to broadcast the program.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may capture images using a camera system at a location associated with a user, transmit video content representative of the images over a network for presentation by another media processor at another location, receive at a media processor media content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user, and present at a display device of the location the media content and the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the other user at the location, where at least one of the media content and the video content is presented as three dimensional content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile device that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, operations including requesting transport characteristics of a network coupled to a server and to the device according to a trajectory of the device. Data packets are transported to the mobile device according to a dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol. The operations include obtaining the current transport characteristics of the network and predicting a future transport characteristic of the network, according to the trajectory of the device. A time is scheduled for sending a request to the server for transmission over the network of a data packet. The time can be scheduled according to the current and future transport characteristics of the network, to avoid degradation in quality of media content presented by the device. The data packet received responsive to sending the request is buffered for a future presentation of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method or apparatus accessing, by a recipient device, media content supplied by a source device. The media content is modified to generate first updated media content, wherein the media content is modified according to a comparison of first information descriptive of a first environment of the source device to second information descriptive of a second environment of the recipient device. Images are obtained of a gesture performed within the second environment. A command is identified from the gesture and the first updated media content is modified to generate second updated media content according to the command. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of improving the lighting conditions of a real scene or video sequence. Digitally generated light is added to a scene for video conferencing over telecommunication networks. A virtual illumination equation takes into account light attenuation, lambertian and specular reflection. An image of an object is captured, a virtual light source illuminates the object within the image. In addition, the object can be the head of the user. The position of the head of the user is dynamically tracked so that an three-dimensional model is generated which is representative of the head of the user. Synthetic light is applied to a position on the model to form an illuminated model.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining first images that are captured by a first camera system at a first location associated with a live presentation by the first user, transmitting first video content representative of the first images over a network for presentation by a group of other processors that are each at one of a group of other locations associated with corresponding other users, receiving second video content representative of second images that are associated with each of the other users, and presenting the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates each of the other users being present in an audience at the first location. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for adaptive media playback based on destination. The method for adaptive media playback comprises determining one or more destinations, collecting media content that is relevant to or describes the one or more destinations, assembling the media content into a program, and outputting the program. In various embodiments, media content may be advertising, consumer-generated, based on real-time events, based on a schedule, or assembled to fit within an estimated available time. Media content may be assembled using an adaptation engine that selects a plurality of media segments that fit in the estimated available time, orders the plurality of media segments, alters at least one of the plurality of media segments to fit the estimated available time, if necessary, and creates a playlist of selected media content containing the plurality of media segments.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for temporally adaptive media playback. The method for adaptive media playback includes estimating or determining an amount of time between a first event and a second event, selecting media content to fill the estimated amount of time between the first event and the second event, and playing the selected media content possibly at a reasonably different speed to fit the time interval. One embodiment includes events that are destination-based or temporal-based. Another embodiment includes adding, removing, speeding up, or slowing down selected media content in order to fit the estimated amount of time between the first event and the second event or to modify the selected media content to adjust to an updated estimated amount of time. Another embodiment bases selected media content on a user or group profile.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, receiving first and second media content portraying images of first and second users, wherein the first and second users participate in a conference call. Joint media content is generated of the conference call including the images of the first and second users, that when presented at a display of a third user includes the images of the first and second users. Speech of the first user directed to the second user is detected and, in response, the image of the first user of the joint media content is adjusted to obtain a rotated image of the first user. The joint media content includes the rotated image of the first user and the image of the second user, that when presented at the display of the third user portrays the first user turned toward the second user.