Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A first screen schedule for the linear delivery of video content is received and analyzed. The first screen schedule may include slots in which first screen advertisements could be displayed. Particular embodiments can then determine the feasibility of providing second screen advertisements based on the first screen schedule. Then, second screen advertisements that advertisers wish to display in conjunction with first screen advertisements are determined When the linear delivery of the video content commences, particular embodiments monitor a messaging stream associated with the delivery of the video content. When an ad placement marker is encountered, an ad server may select a first screen advertisement. When the first screen advertisement is placed, the messaging stream identifies a first screen advertisement that is delivered. If the first screen advertisement has a corresponding second screen advertisement, particular embodiments output the second screen advertisement on a second screen environment.

Abstract: A method for creating derivative advertisements is provided. The method includes identifying a visual element based on an analysis of a primary advertisement asset such that the visual element is representative of a branding message provided within the primary advertisement. The method also includes identifying a call-to-action (CTA) data element based on the analysis and creating a derivative advertisement asset having the visual element and CTA data element. A system and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing software for executing the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: A mobile station (201) receives (301) a transmission from a remote source (such as, but not limited to, a reference server (206)) comprising information regarding downloadable content. This information can comprise, in a preferred approach, addresses that can be used to download corresponding selections of downloadable content. This information can further comprise, in a preferred approach, characterizing information regarding at least some of the downloadable content selections identified via such addresses. In a preferred approach, such a mobile station can then also access (302) locally developed information regarding downloading constraints of interest and then make determinations (303) regarding when to automatically download at least a portion of at least one of the selections of downloadable content as a function, at least in part, of both the characterizing information as was received via the aforementioned transmission and the locally developed information regarding relevant downloading constraints.

Abstract: In a device that is a member of an ad-hoc group in a network, a method includes determining an encounter history of the device with other devices in the ad-hoc group and filtering content intended to be shared by the device with the ad-hoc group based on the encounter history. A device includes a network interface to communicate with other devices in an ad-hoc group of a network and a disclosure assessment agent to determine a disclosure factor for disclosure of content to the ad-hoc group based on an encounter history of the device with other devices in the ad-hoc group. The device further includes a disclosure filter agent to filter content intended to be shared with the ad-hoc group based on the disclosure factor.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for triggering (i.e., initiating, launching, or running) a software application (e.g., an interactive game application) or other computer program or application on a user device (e.g., a computer, etc.) based on multimedia content being provided to (e.g., displayed on) a different user device (e.g., a different computer, a television, etc.). The methods may comprise displaying, using a first device, multimedia content. A multimedia-analysis process may then be performed to determine an attribute of the multimedia content being displayed. These attributes may be used to acquire (e.g., select or produce) a software application comprising one or more elements that relate to the multimedia content. The software application may then be launched (i.e., triggered, initiated, or run) on a second device, the second device being different from the first device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for including an insert (e.g., an advertisement) in multimedia content. The method comprises receiving, by a receiving module, one or more indications, each indication being an indication that a consumer intends to consume, at some time in the future, the multimedia content. Using the indications, a value of a metric is then determined. The metric is dependent upon the number of received indications or one or more attributes of consumers whom the indications indicate intend to consume the multimedia content. An insert is then selected depending on the determined value for the metric. The selected insert is then included in the multimedia content.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying data associated with a first application and data associated with a second application on a portable computing are disclosed. Data from physical and virtual sensors is captured and used to determine a context vector. The context vector may provide information about portable computing device usage. Application modes associated with the context vector by the first application and by the second application are identified in addition to a container mode associated with the context vector by a display container. In one embodiment, the display container is a virtual display space used to identify and describe data for display on a display device. A display configuration is determined form the application modes associated with the context vector and the container mode associated with the context vector and used to display data on a display device.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.