Abstract: A user of a network-based system may correspond to a user profile that describes the user. The user profile may describe the user using one or more descriptors of items that correspond to the user (e.g., items owned by the user, items liked by the user, or items rated by the user). In some situations, such a user profile may be characterized as a “taste profile” that describes an array or distribution of one or more tastes, preferences, or habits of the user. Accordingly, the user profile machine within the network-based system may generate the user profile by accessing descriptors of items that correspond to the user, clustering one or more of the descriptors, and generating the user profile based on one or more clusters of the descriptors.

Abstract: Techniques of content unification are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises: determining clusters based a comparison of a plurality of audio content using a first matching criteria, each cluster of the plurality of clusters comprising at least two audio content from the plurality of audio content; for each cluster of the plurality of clusters, determining a representative audio content for the cluster from the at least two audio content of the cluster; loading the corresponding representative audio content of each cluster into an index; matching the query audio content to one of the representative audio contents using a first matching criteria; determining the corresponding cluster of the matched representative audio content; and identifying a match between the query audio content and at least one of the audio content of the cluster of the matched representative audio content based on a comparison using a second matching criteria.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems that operate to provide interactive streaming content identification and processing are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a classifier to determine an audio characteristic value representative of an audio characteristic in audio; a transition detector to detect a transition between a first category and a second category by comparing the audio characteristic value to a threshold value among a set of threshold values, the set of threshold values corresponding to the first category and the second category; and a context manager to control a device to switch from a first fingerprinting algorithm to a second fingerprinting algorithm different than the first fingerprinting algorithm, responsive to the detected transition between the first category and the second category.

Abstract: A computing system obtains a fingerprint of video content being rendered by a video presentation device, including a first portion representing a pre-established video segment and a second portion representing a dynamically-defined video segment. While obtaining the query fingerprint, the computing system (a) detects a match between the first portion of the query fingerprint and a reference fingerprint that represents the pre-established video segment, (b) based on the detecting of the match, identifies the video content being rendered, (c) after identifying the video content being rendered, applies a trained neural network to at least the second portion of the query fingerprint, and (d) detects, based on the applying of the neural network, that rendering of the identified video content continues. And responsive to at least the detecting that rendering of the identified video content continues, the computing system then takes associated action.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device, that a remote control transmitted to the playback device an instruction configured to cause a modification to operation of the playback device while the playback device displays the replacement media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device based on the instruction, an overlay that the playback device is configured to provide for display in conjunction with the modification; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a region within a display of the playback device corresponding to the overlay; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, a transparency of the region such that the overlay is visible through the replacement media content when the playback device provides the overlay for display.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method is described. The implementation accesses first and second media clips. The implementation also matches a first fingerprint of the first media clip with a second fingerprint of the second media clip and determines an overlap of the first media clip with the second media clip. The implementation also, based on the overlap, merges the first and second media clips into a group of overlapping media clips, transmits, to a client device, data identifying the group of overlapping media clips and specifying a synchronization of the first media clip with the second media clip, and generates for display on a display device of the client computing device, a graphical user interface that identifies the group of overlapping media clips, specifies the synchronization of the first media clip with the second media clip, and allows access to, and manipulation of, the first and second media clips.

Abstract: A machine is configured to identify a media file that, when played to a user, is likely to modify an emotional or physical state of the user to or towards a target emotional or physical state. The machine accesses play counts that quantify playbacks of media files for the user. The playbacks may be locally performed or detected by the machine from ambient sound. The machine accesses arousal scores of the media files and determines a distribution of the play counts over the arousal scores. The machine uses one or more relative maxima in the distribution in selecting a target arousal score for the user based on contextual data that describes an activity of the user. The machine selects one or more media files based on the target arousal score. The machine may then cause the selected media file to be played to the user.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for inserting information into playing content are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems may identify a break in content playing via a playback device, select an information segment representative of information received by the playback device to present during the identified break, and insert the information segment into the content playing via the playback device upon an occurrence of the identified break.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for synchronizing streaming media content. An example apparatus includes a storage device, and a processor to execute instructions to identify a first source streaming broadcast media to a first computing device based on an audio fingerprint of audio associated with the broadcast media, identify sources broadcasting the broadcast media streaming to the first computing device, the sources available to a second computing device including the processor, select a second source of the identified sources for streaming the broadcast media to the second computing device, the second source different than the first source, detect termination of the streaming of the broadcast media on the first computing device, the termination corresponding to a termination time of the broadcast media, and automatically start, by using the selected second source, streaming of the broadcast media to the second computing device at the termination time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modification of electronic system operation based on acoustic ambience classification are presented. In an example method, at least one audio signal present in a physical environment of a user is detected. The at least one audio signal is analyzed to extract at least one audio feature from the audio signal. The audio signal is classified based on the audio feature to produce at least one classification of the audio signal. Operation of an electronic system interacting with the user in the physical environment is modified based on the classification of the audio signal.

Abstract: Techniques of providing motion video content along with audio content are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer-implemented system is configured to perform operations comprising: receiving primary audio content; determining that at least one reference audio content satisfies a predetermined similarity threshold based on a comparison of the primary audio content with the at least one reference audio content; for each one of the at least one reference audio content, identifying motion video content based on the motion video content being stored in association with the one of the at least one reference audio content and not stored in association with the primary audio content; and causing the identified motion video content to be displayed on a device concurrently with a presentation of the primary audio content on the device.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to a media device that provides media content to the playback device; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the media device; and (iv) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for volume adjustment are disclosed herein. An example method includes collecting data corresponding to a volume of an audio signal as the audio signal is output through a device, when an average volume of the audio signal does not satisfy a volume threshold for a specified timespan, determining a difference between the average volume and a desired volume, and applying a gain to the audio signal to adjust the volume of the audio signal to the desired volume, the gain determined based on the difference between the average volume and the desired volume.

Abstract: An apparatus (a) groups descriptors into a cluster based on associating the descriptors with each of a first item and a second item, (b) accesses biometric data of a user, (c) determines a first activity of the user based on contextual data correlating the cluster with the biometric data, including determining whether the first activity represents an anomalous phase of the user based on a time period of the first activity being shorter than a threshold duration, and (d) generates a user profile based on the first activity of the user and the cluster, including (i) responsive to determining that the first activity represents the anomalous phase of the user, omitting a name of the cluster from the user profile, and (ii) responsive to a second activity of the user matching the first activity associated with the cluster, generating a recommendation including a third item based on the user profile.

Abstract: A media client ascertains a plurality of matching points between (i) query fingerprints representing a media stream being received by the client and (ii) reference fingerprints, each identified matching point defining a respective match between a query fingerprint that is timestamped with client time defined according to a clock of the client and a reference fingerprint that is timestamped with true time defined according to a timeline within a known media stream. Further, the client performs linear regression based on the timestamps of the ascertained plurality of matching points, to establish a mapping between true time and client time. The client then uses the established mapping as a basis to determine a client-time point at which the client should perform an action with respect to media stream being received by the client. And the client performs the action at the determined client-time point.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method is described. The implementation accesses first and second media clips. The implementation also matches a first fingerprint of the first media clip with a second fingerprint of the second media clip and determines an overlap of the first media clip with the second media clip. The implementation also, based on the overlap, merges the first and second media clips into a group of overlapping media clips, transmits, to a client device, data identifying the group of overlapping media clips and specifying a synchronization of the first media clip with the second media clip, and generates for display on a display device of the client computing device, a graphical user interface that identifies the group of overlapping media clips, specifies the synchronization of the first media clip with the second media clip, and allows access to, and manipulation of, the first and second media clips.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for synchronizing streaming media content. An example apparatus includes a storage device, and a processor to execute instructions to identify a first source streaming broadcast media to a first computing device based on an audio fingerprint of audio associated with the broadcast media, identify sources broadcasting the broadcast media streaming to the first computing device, the sources available to a second computing device including the processor, select a second source of the identified sources for streaming the broadcast media to the second computing device, the second source different than the first source, detect termination of the streaming of the broadcast media on the first computing device, the termination corresponding to a termination time of the broadcast media, and automatically start, by using the selected second source, streaming of the broadcast media to the second computing device at the termination time.

Abstract: A machine is configured to identify a media file that, when played to a user, is likely to modify an emotional or physical state of the user to or towards a target emotional or physical state. The machine accesses play counts that quantify playbacks of media files for the user. The playbacks may be locally performed or detected by the machine from ambient sound. The machine accesses arousal scores of the media files and determines a distribution of the play counts over the arousal scores. The machine uses one or more relative maxima in the distribution in selecting a target arousal score for the user based on contextual data that describes an activity of the user. The machine selects one or more media files based on the target arousal score. The machine may then cause the selected media file to be played to the user.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for inserting information into playing content are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems may identify a break in content playing via a playback device, select an information segment representative of information received by the playback device to present during the identified break, and insert the information segment into the content playing via the playback device upon an occurrence of the identified break.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modification of electronic system operation based on acoustic ambience classification are presented. In an example method, at least one audio signal present in a physical environment of a user is detected. The at least one audio signal is analyzed to extract at least one audio feature from the audio signal. The audio signal is classified based on the audio feature to produce at least one classification of the audio signal. Operation of an electronic system interacting with the user in the physical environment is modified based on the classification of the audio signal.