Abstract: An electronic device monitors audible output for media content being presented in its vicinity. It detects a volume change event within the monitored audible output. It obtains identification of the media content. Based on the identification, the device obtains a list of expected volume change events within the media content. It determines whether the detected volume change event correlates with one of the expected volume change events. In accordance with a determination that there is no correlation, the device determines that the detected volume change event comprises a volume change event from a user of the device. It analyzes the detected volume change event to determine user interest in the presented media content. The determined level of interest is sent to a server system. The device receives from the server system one or more recommendations based on the determined level of interest, and presents to the user the recommendations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a broadcast video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was broadcast within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying video and/or audio content are presented. An identification management component (IMC) groups users determined to be at least potentially be watching the same content based on first content fingerprints associated with respective content viewed by the users on communication devices, and a defined matching criterion. IMC facilitates identifying the content associated with the group of users based on first content fingerprints associated with the group of users and first reference content fingerprints. IMC receives a second content fingerprint associated with a communication device of a user in the group, sends the second content fingerprint to a third-party identification component for comparison with second reference content fingerprints, and receives content identification information in response.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a broadcast video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was broadcast within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying video and/or audio content are presented. An identification management component (IMC) groups users determined to be at least potentially be watching the same content based on first content fingerprints associated with respective content viewed by the users on communication devices, and a defined matching criterion. IMC facilitates identifying the content associated with the group of users based on first content fingerprints associated with the group of users and first reference content fingerprints. IMC receives a second content fingerprint associated with a communication device of a user in the group, sends the second content fingerprint to a third-party identification component for comparison with second reference content fingerprints, and receives content identification information in response.

Abstract: An electronic device monitors audible output for media content being presented in its vicinity. It detects a volume change event within the monitored audible output. It obtains identification of the media content. Based on the identification, the device obtains a list of expected volume change events within the media content. It determines whether the detected volume change event correlates with one of the expected volume change events. In accordance with a determination that there is no correlation, the device determines that the detected volume change event comprises a volume change event from a user of the device. It analyzes the detected volume change event to determine user interest in the presented media content. The determined level of interest is sent to a server system. The device receives from the server system one or more recommendations based on the determined level of interest, and presents to the user the recommendations.

Abstract: Techniques for using contextual information relating to content presented by a television as part of a search query for an information search are presented. A search management component, at a given moment in time during presentation of television-related content by a communication device in or associated with a television, identifies contextual information associated with a section of the television-related content and generates a content identifier timestamp associated with the contextual information and the section of television-related content. A search component augments a search query using the contextual information to facilitate customization of a subset of search results based on the contextual information. The contextual information in the search query can facilitate disambiguating the search query or promoting a search result over another search result in the subset of search results, based on the contextual information, to facilitate customization of the subset of search results.

Abstract: An electronic device monitors audible output for media content being presented in its vicinity. It detects a volume change event within the monitored audible output. It obtains identification of the media content. Based on the identification, the device obtains a list of expected volume change events within the media content. It determines whether the detected volume change event correlates with one of the expected volume change events. In accordance with a determination that there is no correlation, the device determines that the detected volume change event comprises a volume change event from a user of the device. It analyzes the detected volume change event to determine user interest in the presented media content. The determined level of interest is sent to a server system. The device receives from the server system one or more recommendations based on the determined level of interest, and presents to the user the recommendations.

Abstract: Techniques for using contextual information relating to content presented by a television as part of a search query for an information search are presented. A search management component, at a given moment in time during presentation of television-related content by a communication device in or associated with a television, identifies contextual information associated with a section of the television-related content and generates a content identifier timestamp associated with the contextual information and the section of television-related content. A search component augments a search query using the contextual information to facilitate customization of a subset of search results based on the contextual information. The contextual information in the search query can facilitate disambiguating the search query or promoting a search result over another search result in the subset of search results, based on the contextual information, to facilitate customization of the subset of search results.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a broadcast video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was broadcast within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.

Abstract: An electronic device monitors audible output for media content being presented in its vicinity. It detects a volume change event within the monitored audible output. It obtains identification of the media content. Based on the identification, the device obtains a list of expected volume change events within the media content. It determines whether the detected volume change event correlates with one of the expected volume change events. In accordance with a determination that there is no correlation, the device determines that the detected volume change event comprises a volume change event from a user of the device. It analyzes the detected volume change event to determine user interest in the presented media content. The determined level of interest is sent to a server system. The device receives from the server system one or more recommendations based on the determined level of interest, and presents to the user the recommendations.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying video and/or audio content are presented. An identification management component (IMC) groups users determined to be at least potentially be watching the same content based on first content fingerprints associated with respective content viewed by the users on communication devices, and a defined matching criterion. IMC facilitates identifying the content associated with the group of users based on first content fingerprints associated with the group of users and first reference content fingerprints. IMC receives a second content fingerprint associated with a communication device of a user in the group, sends the second content fingerprint to a third-party identification component for comparison with second reference content fingerprints, and receives content identification information in response.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was presented within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.

Abstract: An electronic device monitors audible output for media content being presented in its vicinity. It detects a volume change event within the monitored audible output. It obtains identification of the media content. Based on the identification, the device obtains a list of expected volume change events within the media content. It determines whether the detected volume change event correlates with one of the expected volume change events. In accordance with a determination that there is no correlation, the device determines that the detected volume change event comprises a volume change event from a user of the device. It analyzes the detected volume change event to determine user interest in the presented media content. The determined level of interest is sent to a server system. The device receives from the server system one or more recommendations based on the determined level of interest, and presents to the user the recommendations.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying video and/or audio content are presented. An identification management component (IMC) groups users determined to be at least potentially be watching the same content based on first content fingerprints associated with respective content viewed by the users on communication devices, and a defined matching criterion. IMC facilitates identifying the content associated with the group of users based on first content fingerprints associated with the group of users and first reference content fingerprints. IMC receives a second content fingerprint associated with a communication device of a user in the group, sends the second content fingerprint to a third-party identification component for comparison with second reference content fingerprints, and receives content identification information in response.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

Abstract: A process identifies a search query spike from queries submitted by users during a first span of time, which is less than a predefined duration. The spike corresponds to a set of queries identified as equivalent. The frequency of submitting queries from the set during the first time span exceeds the frequency of submitting queries from the set during an average span of time. The process correlates the spike to a video program by matching terms from the set of search queries to subtitle terms appearing in the video program at a first location. The first location in the video program was presented within a predefined time before the first span of time. The process receives notification from a user device indicating user interest in the video program. The process transmits to the user device search results corresponding to some search queries from the set of search queries.