Abstract: Techniques of providing an interactive programming guide with a personalized lineup are disclosed. In some embodiments, a profile is accessed, and a personalized lineup is determined based on the profile. The personalized lineup may include a corresponding media content identification assigned to each one of a plurality of sequential time slots, where each media content identification identifies media content for the corresponding time slot. A first interactive programming guide may be caused to be displayed on a first media content device associated with the profile, where the first interactive programming guide includes the personalized lineup.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for automated cover song identification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes memory, and one or more processors to execute instructions to identify query audio from a content source based on a search query using rights metadata associated with the query audio, execute a constant Q transform on query time slices of the query audio, binarize the constant Q transformed query time slices, execute a two-dimensional Fourier transform on query time windows within the binarized and constant Q transformed query time slices to generate two-dimensional Fourier transforms of the query time windows, generate a query data structure based on a sequential order of the two-dimensional Fourier transforms, select a subset including reference audio of a reference database based on the rights metadata, and identify the query audio as a cover rendition of the reference audio based on a comparison between the query and reference data structures.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method is described. The implementation accesses a plurality of media clips and metadata for the plurality of media clips. The implementation also uses the metadata for the plurality of media clips to select, from the plurality of media clips, a subset of media clips including a first media clip and a second media clip. The implementation also matches a first fingerprint of at least a part of the first media clip with a second fingerprint of at least a part of the second media clip. The implementation also determines a temporal overlap of the first media clip with the second media clip based at least in part on the match. The implementation also, based on the temporal overlap, merges the first media clip and the second media clip into a group of overlapping media clips, and generates a presentation that includes the group.

Abstract: A neural network-based classifier system can receive a query including a media signal and, in response, provide an indication that a particular received query corresponds to a known media type or media class. The neural network-based classifier system can select and apply various models to facilitate media classification. In an example embodiment, classifying a media query includes accessing digital media data and a context parameter from a first device. A model for use with the network-based classifier system can be selected based on the context parameter. In an example embodiment, the network-based classifier system provides a media type probability index for the digital media data using the selected model and spectral features corresponding to the digital media data. In an example embodiment, the digital media data includes an audio or video signal sample.

Abstract: A computing system identifies multiple matching points between (i) query fingerprints representing a media stream being received by a client and (ii) reference fingerprints, each identified matching point defining a respective match between a query fingerprint timestamped with client time defined according to a clock of the client and a reference fingerprint timestamped with true time defined according to a timeline within a known media stream. Further, the computing system performs linear regression based on the timestamps of the matching points, to establish a mapping between true time and client time. The computing system then uses the mapping to determine a client-time point at which the client should perform a content revision or other action with respect to the media stream being received by the client. And the computing system causes the client to perform the content revision or other action at the determined client-time point.

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: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.

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: 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: 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: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.

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: As a user is being presented with interactive media by a presenting device, a separate monitoring device may be used to monitor the presentation of the interactive media and detect an event that occurs therein. Such a monitoring device may be configured and positioned to access media content from the presentation of the interactive media. For example, the monitoring device may be configured and positioned to record video content with a camera and record audio content with a microphone. Having accessed this media content, the monitoring device may generate an identifier, such as a fingerprint or watermark, of the media content and compare the generated identifier with a reference identifier that is generated from the source of the media content. Based on the generated identifier matching the reference identifier, the monitoring device may detect that an event has occurred within the interactive media presentation and present a corresponding notification.

Abstract: Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for audio identification during a performance are disclosed herein. An example method includes transforming a segment of audio into a log-frequency spectrogram based on a transform using a logarithmic frequency resolution. The log-frequency spectrogram is transformed into a binary image, each pixel of the binary image corresponding to a time frame and frequency channel pair. A matrix product of the binary image and a plurality of reference fingerprints is computed. Based on a number of frequency ranges represented in the binary image, the matrix product to form a similarity matrix is computed. Selecting an alignment of a line in the similarity matrix that intersects one or more bins in the similarity matrix with the largest calculated Hamming similarities. A reference fingerprint is selected based on the alignment.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for modifying the playback of content using pre-processed profile information are described. Example instructions, when executed, cause at least one processor to access a media stream that includes media and a profile of equalization parameters, the media stream provided to a device via a network, the profile of equalization parameters included in the media stream selected based on a comparison of a reference fingerprint to a query fingerprint generated based on the media, the profile of equalization parameters including an equalization parameter for the media; and modify playback of the media based on the equalization parameter specified in the accessed profile.

Abstract: As a user is being presented with interactive media by a presenting device, a separate monitoring device may be used to monitor the presentation of the interactive media and detect an event that occurs therein. Such a monitoring device may be configured and positioned to access media content from the presentation of the interactive media. For example, the monitoring device may be configured and positioned to record video content with a camera and record audio content with a microphone. Having accessed this media content, the monitoring device may generate an identifier, such as a fingerprint or watermark, of the media content and compare the generated identifier with a reference identifier that is generated from the source of the media content. Based on the generated identifier matching the reference identifier, the monitoring device may detect that an event has occurred within the interactive media presentation and present a corresponding notification.

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: When a media client is receiving a media stream, the media client determines an upcoming time point at which the media client is to perform a content revision involving insertion (e.g., substitution or overlaying) of new content. The media client further determines an advanced time point when the media client should initiate a process of acquiring the new content, setting the advanced time point sufficiently in advance of the upcoming content-revision time point to enable the media client to obtain at least enough of the new content to be able to start the content revision on time. In an example implementation, the media client could determine the advanced time point by predicting how long the content-acquisition process will take, based on consideration of past instances of content acquisition, possibly correlated with operational factors such as content source, processor load, memory load, network speed, and time of day.