Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and techniques receiving a request for information from a user and, in response, outputting the requested information along with unsolicited, interesting content that is related to, yet nonresponsive to, the requested information. In some instances, if the requested information is unknown, the techniques may output an indication that the information is unknown, followed by the additional, unsolicited, interesting content.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and techniques receiving a request for information from a user and, in response, outputting the requested information along with unsolicited, interesting content that is related to, yet nonresponsive to, the requested information. In some instances, if the requested information is unknown, the techniques may output an indication that the information is unknown, followed by the additional, unsolicited, interesting content.

Abstract: A system in which players participate as characters in a virtual game world via game clients executing on client devices. An observer mode is provided that enables users to navigate in the game world without requiring a game client so that a user can navigate the game world while not actively playing the game. When a user accesses the game in observer mode, a view of the game world is rendered from the viewpoint of an observer's character; the observer's character may not correspond to a character in the game and the observer's character may not be visible to the players in the game. The rendered view of the game world is streamed to a viewing application on a personal device. Navigation inputs allow the observer's character to move freely within the game world.

Abstract: A real-time video exploration (RVE) system that allows users to pause, step into, move through, and explore 2D or 3D modeled worlds of scenes in a video. The RVE system may allow users to discover, select, explore, and manipulate objects within the modeled worlds used to generate video content. The RVE system may implement methods that allow users to view and explore in more detail the features, components, and/or accessories of selected objects that are being manipulated and explored. The RVE system may also implement methods that allow users to interact with interfaces of selected objects or interfaces of components of selected objects.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and techniques receiving a request for information from a user and, in response, outputting the requested information along with unsolicited, interesting content that is related to, yet nonresponsive to, the requested information. In some instances, if the requested information is unknown, the techniques may output an indication that the information is unknown, followed by the additional, unsolicited, interesting content.

Abstract: A real-time video exploration (RVE) system that allows users to pause, step into, and explore 2D or 3D modeled worlds of scenes in a video. The system may leverage network-based computation resources to render and stream new video content from the models to clients with low latency. A user may pause a video, step into a scene, and interactively change viewing positions and angles in the model to move through or explore the scene. The user may resume playback of the recorded video when done exploring the scene. Thus, rather than just viewing a pre-rendered scene in a movie from a pre-determined perspective, a user may step into and explore the scene from different angles, and may wander around the scene at will within the scope of the model to discover parts of the scene that are not visible in the original video.

Abstract: A real-time video exploration (RVE) system that allows users to pause, step into, move through, and explore 2D or 3D modeled worlds of scenes in a video. The RVE system may allow users to select and manipulate objects within a scene, and to modify an object by adding or removing accessories from the object or otherwise customizing the object according to the user's preferences or desires. The RVE system may also provide an interface or interfaces via which the user can obtain additional information for the object, customize the object, be given a price or price(s) for the object as customized, and purchase the object as specified if desired.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and apparatus that enable constraint based communications between two or more devices. For example, a first user of a first device may submit a communication request to establish a communication session with a second user and provide a constraint for that communication session, such as a time-limit (e.g., limit the communication session to five minutes). In such an example, if the second user accepts the communication request with the constraint, a communication session is established and the system monitors the communication session to determine when a condition corresponding to the constraint has been satisfied. When the condition is satisfied, the communication session is terminated by the system.

Abstract: A game spectating system that leverages game metadata to allow spectators to join or “step into” games being broadcast. Broadcast content may include user interface elements via which spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain demo or full versions of games. Game client software and game data may be obtained and downloaded to the spectator's devices via the spectating system interfaces and broadcast streams. Spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain characters, avatars, and gear for participation in particular games. Using the spectating UI to obtain the game client software, game data, characters, and gear via the broadcast streams, the spectators may join live game sessions of online games, start new game sessions, and/or replay previously recorded game sessions.

Abstract: A system that collects, analyzes, and applies physical metrics from participants in game environments. Participants (players and/or spectators) in a game may wear or hold devices that collect physical data from the participants via sensors, generate metrics data from the sensor data, and provide the metrics data to a participant metrics module. The module may receive the metrics data from the devices, analyze the metrics data to generate game inputs based on the participants' physical metrics, and provide the game inputs to the game system to affect game play. The module may also receive alerts or other information from the game system or from players, determine feedback for participants according to the received information, and signal the devices to provide feedback or alerts to the participants in the game. The devices may include indicators that are activated by the signals to provide visual, audio, and/or haptic indications to respective participants.

Abstract: A system in which players participate as characters in a virtual game world via game clients executing on client devices. An observer mode is provided that enables users to navigate in the game world without requiring a game client so that a user can navigate the game world while not actively playing the game. When a user accesses the game in observer mode, a view of the game world is rendered from the viewpoint of an observer's character; the observer's character may not correspond to a character in the game and the observer's character may not be visible to the players in the game. The rendered view of the game world is streamed to a viewing application on a personal device. Navigation inputs allow the observer's character to move freely within the game world.

Abstract: An audio analysis system that may analyze participant audio input in a game spectating environment. The audio analysis system may receive audio input for participants (broadcasters and/or spectators) in a game spectating system. The audio analysis system may analyze the audio input to generate audio analysis information for broadcasts, and provide the information to the game spectating system. The audio analysis information may be applied in the game spectating system in various ways. For example, the information may be used to determine active or popular broadcasts, broadcasters, games, and/or recordings of broadcasts, and the active or popular content may be indicated to spectators via a game spectating user interface. The audio analysis system may provide an application programming interface (API) to receive the audio input and to provide audio analysis information.

Abstract: A service provider may obtain information about a plurality of items offered for acquisition by a merchant. The service provider may identify one or more items of the plurality of items that are the same as one or more respective items included in a catalog of items associated with the service provider. The items included in the catalog of items may be available for acquisition via the service provider. Additionally, the service provider may communicate with the merchant to offer services in relation to the items included in the service provider catalog of items that match the items offered by the merchant.

Abstract: A system in which players participate as characters in a virtual game world via game clients executing on client devices. An observer mode is provided that enables users to navigate in the game world without requiring a game client so that a user can navigate the game world while not actively playing the game. When a user accesses the game in observer mode, a view of the game world is rendered from the viewpoint of an observer's character; the observer's character may not correspond to a character in the game and the observer's character may not be visible to the players in the game. The rendered view of the game world is streamed to a viewing application on a personal device. Navigation inputs allow the observer's character to move freely within the game world.

Abstract: A real-time video exploration (RVE) system that allows users to pause a pre-recorded video (e.g., a movie) and change viewing positions and angles of one or more scenes. The RVE system may also allow users to select, manipulate, and modify objects within one or more scenes. The RVE system may render new video of the scenes and stream the new video to the user's client device. Using the RVE system, a user may create modified versions of one or more scenes to replace original scenes in a video to thus create a modified version of the video. The RVE system may allow the user to record the modified version of the video, and may allow the user to share the modified version of the video with other viewers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting information for physical products by providing virtual products to customers. Virtual products (digital representations of physical products) may be provided to customers that provide item information including but not limited to evidence of ownership of corresponding physical products, for example photographs or sales receipts. The customers may use the virtual products in various applications in which the customers may establish a virtual presence. The information provided by the customers may be collected, analyzed, and applied in one or more areas of real-world production and marketing, for example in obtaining competitive pricing information. Digital lockers may be provided for the customers to which the virtual products are stored; the applications may access the virtual products for a customer from a respective digital locker.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for presenting highlights from broadcasts in spectating environments. A highlight service determines highlight events in the broadcasts, and extracts highlight segments from the broadcasts according to the determined events. Highlight reels may be created from the highlight segments according to highlight selection criteria (genre, game title, broadcaster, time period, etc.) and/or spectator preferences. The highlight service may provide a highlight user interface (UI) via which spectators may selectively view the highlights and highlight reels. The highlight service may generate highlight reels targeted to particular spectators or groups of spectators according to spectators' specified or otherwise determined preferences, demographics, viewing history, and so on.

Abstract: A system in which players participate as characters in a virtual game world via game clients executing on client devices and communicate via an in-game communications channel. A messaging service is provided that enables active players to communicate with non-players via messaging platform(s). A player may send a message to another person via an in-game communications channel; upon detecting that the person is not active in the game, the service maps the person's identity to one or more messaging platform endpoints, tags the source of the message with the sending player's in-game identity, and forwards the message to the person via the messaging platform(s). The person may respond to the message via the messaging platform(s). The identities of the active player may be obfuscated so that a player's personal contact information is not exposed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting information for physical products by providing virtual products to customers. Virtual products (digital representations of physical products) may be provided to customers that provide item information including but not limited to evidence of ownership of corresponding physical products, for example photographs or sales receipts. The customers may use the virtual products in various applications in which the customers may establish a virtual presence. The information provided by the customers may be collected, analyzed, and applied in one or more areas of real-world production and marketing, for example in obtaining competitive pricing information. Digital lockers may be provided for the customers to which the virtual products are stored; the applications may access the virtual products for a customer from a respective digital locker.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and apparatus that enable constraint based communications between two or more devices. For example, a first user of a first device may submit a communication request to establish a communication session with a second user and provide a constraint for that communication session, such as a time-limit (e.g., limit the communication session to five minutes). In such an example, if the second user accepts the communication request with the constraint, a communication session is established and the system monitors the communication session to determine when a condition corresponding to the constraint has been satisfied. When the condition is satisfied, the communication session is terminated by the system.