Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with some embodiments, a server system associated with a media-providing service provides first media content to a user of the media-providing service. The server system analyzes the first media content and selects second media content for delivery in conjunction with the first media content based at least in part on the analysis of the first media content. The method further comprises providing the second media content in conjunction with the first media content.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for delivery of media content with enhanced user-sponsor interaction. User interaction with a media device can be provided by, for example, voice or tactile command, in addition or as an alternative to the device's regular user interface. For example, a user can interact with an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, by speaking to or shaking their device, to signal a preference for a particular type of content or advertisement. As another example, a spoken or shake action can be used to trigger or to pause an advertisement break within a media stream, so that the user can control advertisement breaks to better suit their particular lifestyle.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for delivery of media content with enhanced user-sponsor interaction. User interaction with a media device can be provided by, for example, voice or tactile command, in addition or as an alternative to the device's regular user interface. For example, a user can interact with an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, by speaking to or shaking their device, to signal a preference for a particular type of content or advertisement. As another example, a spoken or shake action can be used to trigger or to pause an advertisement break within a media stream, so that the user can control advertisement breaks to better suit their particular lifestyle.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for watch-now functionality. A media play logic at a media device controls playback of media content and advertisements as received from a media server, and can be configured for regular media play, or extended media play. Periodically, for example when input is received from a user to skip to a next media option for playback, the user can be prompted to watch an advertisement, in return for extended media play. Upon receiving an election by the user to watch the advertisement in return for extended media play, the media application plays the advertisement, and configures the media play logic for an extended period of advertisement-free media play.

Abstract: The present solution provides a variety of delivery techniques for delivering contextualization services to augment content and advertisement to display within content being viewed on a page on a mobile device. The present solution is directed to using any one or more innovative delivery techniques to prompt the user to augmented content and/or advertisements at the point of a user viewing content on a mobile device, such as while a user is scrolling through textual content of a web page on their mobile device. These innovative delivery techniques provide triggering points on the limited screen of mobile devices to deliver contextualized content and/or advertisement on the display of the mobile device.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for delivery of media content with enhanced user-sponsor interaction. User interaction with a media device can be provided by, for example, voice or tactile command, in addition or as an alternative to the device's regular user interface. For example, a user can interact with an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, by speaking to or shaking their device, to signal a preference for a particular type of content or advertisement. As another example, a spoken or shake action can be used to trigger or to pause an advertisement break within a media stream, so that the user can control advertisement breaks to better suit their particular lifestyle.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for delivery of media content with enhanced user-sponsor interaction. User interaction with a media device can be provided by, for example, voice or tactile command, in addition or as an alternative to the device's regular user interface. For example, a user can interact with an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, by speaking to or shaking their device, to signal a preference for a particular type of content or advertisement. As another example, a spoken or shake action can be used to trigger or to pause an advertisement break within a media stream, so that the user can control advertisement breaks to better suit their particular lifestyle.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for delivery of media content and advertisement or other sponsor-directed content across a connected media environment. Playback can selectively follow a user from one location to another location, or from one media device to another media device, either maintaining a same session or switching sessions depending on the user's location, media device used, and user activity. Playback of advertisement or other sponsor-directed content can be synchronized between different areas of the connected media environment, or between different media devices, for example between a secondary device such as an audio speaker in a particular room, which is being controlled by a primary device such as a smartphone in another room.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for selection of targeted advertisement or other sponsor-directed content based on a playlist context. A media device enables access by a user to one or more playlists of media content at a media server. Advertisements can be selected for providing to the user, based on one or more characteristics of a playlist, such as the playlist's description, or the playlist being part of an advertisement campaign. For example, a playlist bearing a particular descriptive title can be used to trigger advertisements that may be relevant to that descriptive title. Adding a particular song to a playlist can be used to trigger advertisements that may be relevant to that song.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for selection of targeted advertisement or other sponsor-directed content based on a playlist context. A media device enables access by a user to one or more playlists of media content at a media server. Advertisements can be selected for providing to the user, based on one or more characteristics of a playlist, such as the playlist's description, or the playlist being part of an advertisement campaign. For example, a playlist bearing a particular descriptive title can be used to trigger advertisements that may be relevant to that descriptive title. Adding a particular song to a playlist can be used to trigger advertisements that may be relevant to that song.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for watch-now functionality. A media play logic at a media device controls playback of media content and advertisements as received from a media server, and can be configured for regular media play, or extended media play. Periodically, for example when input is received from a user to skip to a next media option for playback, the user can be prompted to watch an advertisement, in return for extended media play. Upon receiving an election by the user to watch the advertisement in return for extended media play, the media application plays the advertisement, and configures the media play logic for an extended period of advertisement-free media play.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for watch-now functionality. A media play logic at a media device controls playback of media content and advertisements as received from a media server, and can be configured for regular media play, or extended media play. Periodically, for example when input is received from a user to skip to a next media option for playback, the user can be prompted to watch an advertisement, in return for extended media play. Upon receiving an election by the user to watch the advertisement in return for extended media play, the media application plays the advertisement, and configures the media play logic for an extended period of advertisement-free media play.

Abstract: The present solution provides a variety of delivery techniques for delivering contextualization services to augment content and advertisement to display within content being viewed on a page on a mobile device. The present solution is directed to using any one or more innovative delivery techniques to prompt the user to augmented content and/or advertisements at the point of a user viewing content on a mobile device, such as while a user is scrolling through textual content of a web page on their mobile device. These innovative delivery techniques provide triggering points on the limited screen of mobile devices to deliver contextualized content and/or advertisement on the display of the mobile device.

Abstract: Contextualization services deliver a contextualized toolbar for display on a page. A client agent may contextualize content a page being loaded or displayed to identify and send contextual data to the contextualization service of the server. The page may be designed, configured or constructed for placement of a toolbar on the page, such as a footer bar on the page. The contextualization service may use the contextual data to select a campaign from a plurality of campaigns to deliver a contextual toolbar for the page. Based on the selected campaign, the contextualization service may send a toolbar or configuration for a toolbar to the agent for display on the page. Instead of having a toolbar predetermined or fixed prior to the display of the page, the present solution dynamically contextualizes a toolbar at the point of loading or displaying the page and the contextualization is based on the content of the page being loaded/displayed.

Abstract: Contextualization services may deliver an advertisement to display on or within the real estate or boundaries of an image on a page being loaded. An agent on the client may contextualize a page being loaded or displayed to identify and send contextual data to the contextualization service of the server. The page may be designed, configured or constructed for placement of an advertisement as part of or over an image on the part, such as a footer of the advertisement. The contextualization service may use the contextual data to select a campaign from a plurality of campaigns to deliver an advertisement for the image. Based on the selected campaign, the contextualization service may send an advertisement to the agent for display as part of the image on the page.