Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting presentations of sponsored content and identifying persons bearing the content. A set of sponsored content items is identified for which a bearer presenting the content item in qualifying ways may receive payment, and a group of participating users is established, with information being stored for the users so as to allow for identification of a user presenting a content item in order to direct proper credit to the user making the presentation. A plurality of video feeds are identified and monitored and any video feed in which a sponsored logo appears is further examined to identify a bearer of the content item. Upon identification of the bearer, presentation of the content item is evaluated and appropriate payment is calculated. Details of content item presentations and payments may be stored in connection with users and evaluated to provide insight into the circumstances surrounding and influencing presentations.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for delivering custom created content to users. As programming content is delivered to a user, the content selected for delivery is continuously monitored. When a point is reached in the delivered content appropriate for delivery of custom created content such as an advertisement, stored user information is examined and analyzed to identify content to which the user is likely to be receptive. Customized content is constructed based on the identification, by collecting and organizing media objects, and the constructed content is placed in the content being delivered.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for selecting a multimedia presentation to accompany text. The method for selecting a multimedia presentation to accompany text comprises analyzing a body of text, selecting a multimedia presentation based on the body of text, and playing the selected multimedia presentation at an appropriate time simultaneous with presenting portions of the body of text. In one embodiment, the audio track comprises music, sound effects, silence, one or more ambient effect (such as dimming lights), and any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the audio track is based on content of the text, language, an associated still illustration or video clip, meta-data or a user profile. In yet another embodiment, an appropriate volume is determined for playing the selected audio track and that volume is used to adjust how loudly the selected audio track is played. Multiple multimedia presentations can be played back collaboratively and simultaneously.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for contextual adaptive advertising. The method for contextual adaptive advertising comprises tracking user behavior across multiple modalities or devices, storing one or more representations of user behavior in a log as descriptors, normalizing the descriptors, merging the normalized descriptors into a unified click or interactive stream, and generating a behavioral model by analyzing the click or interactive stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for adaptive content rendition, the method comprising receiving media content for playback to a user, adapting the media content for playback on a first device in the user's first location, receiving a notification when the user changes to a second location, adapting the media content for playback on a second device in the second location, and transitioning media content playback from the first device to second device. One aspect conserves energy by optionally turning off the first device after transitioning to the second device. Another aspect includes playback devices that are “dumb devices” which receive media content already prepared for playback, “smart devices” which receive media content in a less than ready form and prepare the media content for playback, or hybrid smart and dumb devices. A single device may be substituted by a plurality of devices.

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. One aspect further aggregates video bookmarks from multiple sources and refines the first place marker and second place marker based on the aggregated video bookmarks. Metadata can be extracted by analyzing text or audio annotations. Another aspect of normalizing the extracted metadata includes 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: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for recommending media content, the method comprising generating a playlist representing one or more media segments, receiving comments describing the one or more media segments, transmitting the playlist and received comments to one or more viewers, and charging a fee for displaying the media segment represented by the playlist. In one aspect, the fee charged is paid in full or in part by one or more of a recommending party, a third party, one or more viewer, and an advertiser in exchange for inserting advertising content in one or more of the playlist and the comments. Referral credit can be granted recursively when the viewer recommends the playlist to a second viewer and a second fee is charged. In one aspect, received comments are generated based on one or more of media segment metadata, text or audio comments from a recommending party, and previously generated comments describing the media segment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for rich media annotation, the method comprising receiving a first recorded media content, receiving at least one audio annotation about the first recorded media, extracting metadata from the at least one of audio annotation, and associating all or part of the metadata with the first recorded media content. Additional data elements may also be associated with the first recorded media content. Where the audio annotation is a telephone conversation, the recorded media content may be captured via the telephone. The recorded media content, audio annotations, and/or metadata may be stored in a central repository which may be modifiable. Speech characteristics such as prosody may be analyzed to extract additional metadata. In one aspect, a specially trained grammar identifies and recognizes metadata.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for contextual adaptive advertising. The method for contextual adaptive advertising comprises analyzing a video program, selecting at least one advertisement related to the video program and based on a viewer profile, and displaying the at least one advertisement simultaneously with the video program. One aspect of the method includes advertisements that are one or more of audio, text, images, or video and are displayed in a different modality, in a different location, or on a different device. Contextual adaptive advertisements may be displayed in a partially transparent manner over the video program. Contextual adaptive advertisements may be streamed, stored in advance, or a combination of both. The space and time for advertisements may also be auctioned to interested parties based on a number of parameters.

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: 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 contextual adaptive advertising. The method for personalized hold comprises collecting a set of data elements about a user, generating a user profile based on the set of data elements, selecting media content from one or more content repositories based on the user profile, and delivering selected media content to a device for playback to the user during noncommunicative gaps. One aspect provides further for recording a playback order of delivered media content in order to avoid playing the same media content back to back.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting advertising data, comprising detecting a plurality of different scenes in a video data stream; correlating each of the scenes with a plurality of advertising data classes; and selecting advertising data for one of the scenes based on the correlation. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed for containing data for performing the method.

Abstract: A repository receives metadata from databases associated with different service providers. The repository converts the received metadata to a common format, such as MPEG7, and stores the converted metadata in a central database. The repository can also receive a query from a client device. The repository retrieves metadata associated with the query from the central database and provides it to the requesting client device. The repository can also convert the provided metadata to an appropriate format for the requesting device. Because the metadata is stored at a common location in a common format, content from different providers can be efficiently identified.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying contact information is provided. A system to identify contact information may include an input to receive a data stream. The data stream may include audio content, video content or both. The system may also include an analysis module to detect contact information within the data stream. The system may also include a memory to store a record of the contact information.

Abstract: The head in a series of video images is identified by digitizing sequential images, subtracting a previous image from an input image to determine moving objects, calculating boundary curvature extremes of regions in the subtracted image, comparing the extremes with a stored model of a human head to find regions shaped like a human head, and identifying the head with a surrounding shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and indexing audio information exchanged during an audio conference call, or video, audio and data information exchanged during a multimedia conference. For a multimedia conference, the method and apparatus utilize the voice activated switching functionality of a multipoint control unit (MCU) to provide a video signal, which is input to the MCU from a workstation from which an audio signal is detected, to each of the other workstations participating in the conference. A workstation and/or participant-identifying signal generated by the multipoint control unit is stored, together or in correspondence with the audio signal and video information, for subsequent ready retrieval of the stored multimedia information. For an audio conference, a computer is connected to an audio bridge for recording the audio information along with an identification signal for correlating each conference participant with that participant's statements.

Abstract: An inexpensive, yet robust color matcher is achieved by an apparatus which includes a compare device coupled to receive, as a first input, an input signal representing a combination of a luminance component Y and a chrominance component, and further coupled to receive as a second input, a threshold T, for comparing the input signal to the threshold T and outputting a color match signal if the input signal falls within a range defined by T and -T; and a threshold supply device coupled to the second input for supplying the threshold T, wherein the threshold T is a function of Y and at least two adjustable parameters.