Abstract: Approaches are described for determining and displaying recommended content on a lock screen of a computing device. For example, a lock screen can include recommended content that can display user-specific offers and/or other information determined to be relevant to the user. One of a full-screen template, a banner template, or a notification template include the recommended content. The recommended content can include selectable elements that, when selected, can cause the computing device to perform an action such as launching an application, providing additional displays, etc. Using display information, the computing device can determine a display schedule, whereby the display schedule can be used to set a frequency at which the recommended content is displayed, a time at which the recommended content is displayed, the type of template used to express the recommended content, placement of the recommended content on a display screen, among other such display options.

Abstract: A function intelligence engine receives input regarding application program content, including functions or capabilities of the application program that can be separately purchasable, and can further receive information regarding advertisements that can be displayed to users within the context of the application program. User-specific information is also received, including a user's current status and context within the application program, as well as a user's history, both within the application program, as well as in other application programs. Based on such information, the function intelligence engine determines and compares the probability of a user purchasing, versus the probability of the user consuming advertising, to acquire the separately purchasable function.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.

Abstract: Automated content interruption point identification improves the accuracy with which potential content interruption points are identified, and increases the efficiency of content interruption point identification and content distribution. Potential interruption points are automatically identified based on transitions occurring within the content, including changes in the sound level, changes in the light, or brightness, level, changes in people visible in a scene of the content, transitions that are identified by content metadata, and other types of transitions. In providing content to a content consumer, a determination is made whether to interrupt the provision of the content, at one or more of the identified potential content interruption points, based on factors including interruption point metadata, metadata associated with auxiliary content that would be inserted, and user information, which includes explicitly specified user settings, as well as detected user information.

Abstract: Increased user interaction performance in group settings is achieved by providing individually interactive secondary content to individual users of a group of users, including a group that is consuming content from a single display device. A group of users is defined based upon detected commonalities. Secondary content is concurrently presented to the defined group of users and includes both non-interactive and interactive content. The interactive content is individually and separately presented to multiple users of the defined group, including co-located users that were consuming the primary content from a single physical display device. The individual and separate presentation includes presenting multiple panels, or sub-divisions, on the single physical display device, with individual, separate panels directed to individual ones of the multiple co-located users and the utilization of personal computing devices that are associated with specific ones of the multiple co-located users.

Abstract: Automated content interruption point identification improves the accuracy with which potential content interruption points are identified, and increases the efficiency of content interruption point identification and content distribution. Potential interruption points are automatically identified based on transitions occurring within the content, including changes in the sound level, changes in the light, or brightness, level, changes in people visible in a scene of the content, transitions that are identified by content metadata, and other types of transitions. In providing content to a content consumer, a determination is made whether to interrupt the provision of the content, at one or more of the identified potential content interruption points, based on factors including interruption point metadata, metadata associated with auxiliary content that would be inserted, and user information, which includes explicitly specified user settings, as well as detected user information.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.

Abstract: Increased user interaction performance in group settings is achieved by providing individually interactive secondary content to individual users of a group of users, including a group that is consuming content from a single display device. A group of users is defined based upon detected commonalities. Secondary content is concurrently presented to the defined group of users and includes both non-interactive and interactive content. The interactive content is individually and separately presented to multiple users of the defined group, including co-located users that were consuming the primary content from a single physical display device. The individual and separate presentation includes presenting multiple panels, or sub-divisions, on the single physical display device, with individual, separate panels directed to individual ones of the multiple co-located users and the utilization of personal computing devices that are associated with specific ones of the multiple co-located users.

Abstract: A function intelligence engine receives input regarding application program content, including functions or capabilities of the application program that can be separately purchasable, and can further receive information regarding advertisements that can be displayed to users within the context of the application program. User-specific information is also received, including a user's current status and context within the application program, as well as a user's history, both within the application program, as well as in other application programs. Based on such information, the function intelligence engine determines and compares the probability of a user purchasing, versus the probability of the user consuming advertising, to acquire the separately purchasable function.

Abstract: Electronic program guide descriptions, of content referenced by the electronic program guide, are user-targeted based on user data. Such user-targeted electronic program guide descriptions aid users in identifying desirable content, thereby increasing user interaction performance with a content presentation device providing such user-targeted electronic program guide descriptions. To generate user-targeted electronic program guide descriptions, received electronic program guide information includes different, alternative or mutually exclusive, content descriptions of a given content item. Such electronic program guide information is compared with the user data and user-targeted content item descriptions is generated from the different content descriptions. A visual electronic program guide, including the user-targeted content item description, is displayed to a user on a physical display device.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by one application, presenting content to users, automatically identifying an independent second application, available on the content presentation device, based on remotely-sourced information, and invoking that second application based on explicit or implicit user input. Bidirectional notifications are enabled between the two applications whereby activity within one application can affect the other. The first application displays an advertisement and can also, based on metadata received with the advertisement, identify the second application and invoke it, based upon explicit or implicit user action, such that both are simultaneously visible in separate content display areas on a physical display device. User interaction with the second application is independent of the display of the corresponding advertisement by the first application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked contents. Linked contents may include a preliminary content and one or more subsequent contents. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent content upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary content. The subsequent content is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent content should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase a good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary content may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling brand detection in audiovisual media. The techniques detect a brand exposed within audiovisual media, such as a name or logo for a product or service, and based on this brand, present a brand advertisement or enable selection of an interactive experience that is associated with the brand. By so doing, marketers enable viewers to quickly and easily learn more about the product or service.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an audience-aware advertising that are advertisements coordinated with both a present media presentation and the media presentation's current audience. An audience-aware advertising pod is a container for advertising content that is shown in association with a media presentation. The audience-aware advertising pod may include multiple advertisements shown during a commercial break in the primary content. The advertisements may be selected for display within a media presentation in real time based on audience members' attention level and response. Audience profiles may be generated and stored locally. The audience profile may be used to determine when an ad is displayed and what advertisement is displayed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are described herein for aggregating viewing data for one or more types of media content. Image data depicting a viewing area of a display device are received. A type of media content being displayed on the display device when the images are captured is identified. Based on the image data, a number of persons may be determined, as well as characteristics about the persons, responses of the persons toward the media content, and levels of engagement of the persons in the media content, or a portion thereof. Each determined item of information may comprise a viewing record for the media content. The viewing records for the media content may then be aggregated to create viewing data for the content, and the viewing data may be distributed to a content provider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an overlay experience that is coordinated with both a present media presentation and the media presentation's current audience. Exemplary media presentations include television, movies, games, and music. An overlay is visible content displayed concurrently with primary content. The overlay may obscure part of the primary content, but not all of the primary content. Embodiments of the present invention use audience data to select an appropriate overlay from one of several overlays available. The audience data may be derived from image data generated by an image-capture device, such as a video camera, that has a view of the audience area. Automated image analysis may be used to generate audience data that is used to select the overlay.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: An interaction hint is presented with a video segment. Upon receiving a user response to the interaction hint, a message is automatically sent to update information associated with a user profile without interrupting presentation of the video segment.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling brand detection in audiovisual media. The techniques detect a brand exposed within audiovisual media, such as a name or logo for a product or service, and based on this brand, present a brand advertisement or enable selection of an interactive experience that is associated with the brand. By so doing, marketers enable viewers to quickly and easily learn more about the product or service.