Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to preprocessing video such that visual elements, such as advertisements, can be inserted at a later point in time when the video is requested by a user. In an embodiment, a video and target data is received. The video is analyzed to determine how a target moves and changes over time. Metadata describing how the target moves and changes over time is stored. When a user requests an on-demand video such as from a video sharing site, a visual element is inserted into the video. The visual elements move and change as defined in the stored metadata. In this way, advertisements can be inserted into on-demand video such as video from a video sharing website.

Abstract: A person can use a portable electronic device to electronically purchase or otherwise request a product, service or other deliverable related to audio programming to which the person is listening at the time they initiate the request. The request is fulfilled by a service that analyzes the audio content to identify the deliverable the person desires.

Abstract: A method of content delivery executed by a computer is provided. The computer specifies an identifier of a content associated with an user identifier, an identifier of a device at a delivery destination of the content, and time until data of the content is delivered to the device at the delivery destination, when event data including the user identifier read by a sensor is received. The computer calculates, from the specified time, a clock time to start content sending to the device at the delivery destination of the content or a clock time to start data sending to a device that carries out the content sending, and stores these data, and sends the stored data to the device of the delivery destination, at a clock time that is stored in the data storage unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live news program; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry corresponds to an initial show-segment VC of a show, wherein the show is scheduled to follow the live news program; (iv) identifying, among log entries scheduled between the first log-entry and the second log-entry, a set of optional-promotion log entries, each such optional-promotional log entry having a duration; (v) determining a cumulative duration of the optional-promotion log entries in the identified set; and (vi) providing the determined cumulative-duration to an output device for presentation.

Abstract: A video on demand server includes a video pump an ad management system interface to disable fast forwarding during commercials and allow fast forwarding during play of content. A playlist generator configures the disabling and allowing of fast forwarding and compiles the playlist from (a) separately provided breakpoints for the commercials during presentation of the content, and (b) an ad map including trick mode instructions that define commands for enabling and disabling trickmode during presentation of the commercials.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing advertisements for inclusion in video content. In one embodiment, a video is formatted into a specific format for advertising purposes. The format describes a standard for advertisement placement opportunities within a video in which a client device may select advertisements for display during these opportunities.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating audio fingerprints at a set top box that is communicatively coupled to a television and reporting the audio fingerprints from the set top box to a remote server is disclosed. After receiving a video signal and an audio signal associated with the video signal from a TV content provider, both of which correspond to a TV program being played on the television, the set top box generates a plurality of audio fingerprints from the audio signal, at least one of which corresponds to a predefined video scene transition detected in the video signal. The set top box then sends the plurality of audio fingerprints to the remote server for determining TV program information associated with the TV program.

Abstract: Personal object based archival systems and methods are provided for processing and compressing video. By analyzing features unique to a user, such as face, family, and pet attributes associated with the user, an invariant model can be determined to create object model adapters personal to each user. These personalized video object models can be created using geometric and appearance modeling techniques, and they can be stored in an object model library. The object models can be reused for processing other video streams. The object models can be shared in a peer-to-peer network among many users, or the object models can be stored in an object model library on a server. When the compressed (encoded) video is reconstructed, the video object models can be accessed and used to produce quality video with nearly lossless compression.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for media monitoring based on predictive signature caching are disclosed. Disclosed example methods to monitor media via a meter include comparing, at the meter, a set of site signatures generated by the meter for a first time period with a first set of reference signatures representative of reference media predicted to be presented during the first time period. Such example methods also include, when a first subset of the site signatures is determined to match a first subset of reference signatures from the first set, reporting, via the meter, metering data indicating that first reference media represented by the first subset of reference signatures was presented during the first time period. Such example methods further include, when the set of site signatures fails to match the first subset of reference signatures, reporting, via the meter, the set of site signatures.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relates to methods and systems for performing a content verification in a video content. The method includes identification of one or more random access points in the video content. Thereafter, one or more work units are created based on the identified one or more random access points. The method further includes processing of the one or more work units by one or more processing units simultaneously, and determining one or more errors in each of the one or more work units while the decoding. The one or more determined errors in each of processed one or more work units are then merged with each other. A verification report is generated based on at least the merging.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for detecting locally-generated or other unknown graphics that are superimposed on a video program displayed on a television receiver or other like device. Devices external to a television receiver, such as a cable or satellite set-top box, can generate logos, electronic program guides, or other images that are then graphically overlaid on the television signal emanating from the device to the television's display. The system and method described herein provides a means to detect the presence of such on-screen graphics both to detect and identify graphical information and to also enable automated resolution of any interference among or between a plurality of video graphic sub-systems.

Abstract: A method and system for the transmission of digital data (210) over existing analog radio frequencies (230) is presented, wherein the digital data may include audio data, visual data or audio-visual data for presentation either with analog broadcast data or at a selectable time. The digital data may be transmitted over a plurality of sub-channels that have varying degrees or reliability (250). A “quality-of-service” process manages the transmission of digital data over various sub-channels based on the reliability of the sub-channel, the amount of digital data and the type of digital data to be transmitted. The digital data may further be encrypted and authenticated.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring the effectiveness of advertisements broadcast is described. The method includes detecting that an advertisement has been aired by a broadcast station, monitoring a network for a duration subsequent to the airing of the advertisement for activity attributable to the airing of the advertisement, and developing a quantitative relationship between the activity and a number of listeners of the advertisement.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that improve the efficiency and performance of an Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) system. Several approaches are described that may be used alone or in combination to reduce total system computational costs related to the manner in which such an ACR means takes samples, called “fingerprints,” of digital content being played by a television display device and transmits said fingerprints to a remote server to be compared to a database of fingerprints from known programming. Methods are described for implementing such system performance enhancement including varying sampling rates and other resolution metrics during the process of creating such fingerprints and transmitting them to the database server. The system and method disclosed also describes how to reduce the probability that, when compared to samples from already-identified programming, such fingerprints are incorrectly identified as being of programming other than that which they are in fact derived from.

Abstract: Signature-based program identification apparatus and methods for use with digital audio and/or video systems are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods develop signatures of digital audio and/or video content from a digital data stream at two or more sites and compare the signatures to one another to identify the content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing information by a content receiver. According to an embodiment, the method includes detecting multi-dimensional code data split and inserted into a content provided through broadcast or an IP when the content is played, temporarily storing the detected multi-dimensional code data, synthesizing the temporarily stored multi-dimensional code data into a multi-dimensional code, when the play of the content is terminated, outputting the synthesized multi-dimensional code image on a screen or making a connection to a server corresponding to a URL obtained by decoding the synthesized multi-dimensional code image or generating and displaying a new multi-dimensional code based on the multi-dimensional code image. The identifier of the broadcast receiver or user's identifier is transmitted to the connected server so that a viewer may be compensated for watching the content.

Abstract: A broadcast system provides consumers with inducement to consume portions in which they may not have an active interest, such as commercials. To dissuade consumers from leaving the vicinity of the broadcast receiver or from switching to other broadcasts while a first broadcast airs such a portion, the first broadcast is augmented by a second content entity calculated to be of interest to the consumer. Interaction is required of the consumer in order for him to receive the second content entity, which necessitates his presence and attention.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring audio-video (AV) streams transported over a network. The system may include an AV probe deployed between an AV tuner and AV destination customer premise equipment. The AV probe may receive an incoming AV stream. The AV probe may generate a thumbnail stream by capturing thumbnails of the incoming AV stream. The AV probe may transmit, substantially in real-time, the thumbnail stream to a monitoring engine and the incoming AV stream to the AV destination customer premise equipment.

Abstract: Managing advertisements for multimedia content delivered over the Internet for a live event. In one embodiment, the method receives the multimedia content over a network connection for playback on a media player, and receives a first advertisement marker that indicates a first start time and a first scheduled duration of a first advertisement break. The method adjust the first scheduled duration to a first adjusted portion, and selects one or more advertisements for playback on the media player to fill the first adjusted duration of the first advertisement break, instead of the first scheduled duration.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining if a commercial contains one of metadata, close captioning information, recognizable speech in an audio component of the commercial, or a combination thereof. In response to determining that the commercial does not contain metadata, but does contain close captioning information, an advertised show is identified based on the close captioning information. Likewise, in response to determining that the commercial contains neither metadata, nor close captioning information, but does contain recognizable speech in an audio component of the commercial, the advertised show is identified based on the recognizable speech. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for post-processing video to identify interests based on clustered user interactions are provided. A client application program running on a set-top box is provided to enable a user to interactively select a point of interest within video content being played via the set-top box. The selected points of interest of multiple users is aggregated, and clusters of the points of interest are determined. Objects associated with the clusters are determined by analyzing video segments containing the clustered points of interest. Messages related to the objects are created and sent to the relevant users that indicated selection of points of interest which correlate to the objects.

Abstract: A device may detect a commercial break for a channel. The channel may be provided for output to a user. The device may determine another channel to provide based on detecting the commercial break for the channel. The other channel may not be associated with a commercial break. The device may provide the other channel for output to the user. The device may monitor the channel to detect that the commercial break for the channel has ended. The device may provide the channel for output to the user based on detecting that that the commercial break for the channel has ended.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image display apparatus includes determining a type of a video signal included in an input signal, determining whether three-dimensional (3D) format information is included in the input signal, if the video signal is a 3D video signal, requesting 3D format information about the video signal to a server that stores 3D format information, if the input signal does not include the 3D format information about the video signal, and processing, upon receipt of 3D format information from the server in response to the 3D format information request, the video signal according to the 3D format information and displaying a 3D image based on the processed video signal.

Abstract: A video display apparatus pairs with a first terminal device. The video display apparatus receives an audio-visual content, and displays the audio-visual content. The video display apparatus acquires enhanced service information on an available enhanced service for the audio-visual content, and notifies an occurrence of the available enhanced service to the first terminal device.

Abstract: Variable subscriber identifiers (V-SubIds) for protecting subscriber privacy are generated and managed. In one aspect, an Anonymous Customer Reference Services (ACRS) component generates a V-SubId, which is a short-lived subscriber identifier that is inserted in a request received from a user equipment during request enrichment. Moreover, a different V-SubId can be inserted in subsequent request from the user equipment and thus, cross-site behavior tracking can be mitigated. In one aspect, the V-SubId can be exchanged for a subscriber identifier (SubId) associated with the user equipment, upon query by trusted systems/applications. Further, the V-SubId can be exchanged for a site-specific Anonymous Customer Reference (ACR) upon query by untrusted systems/applications, if user authorization is received. Moreover, the life cycle of the ACR is managed by the ACRS component, based on subscriber input.

Abstract: A method and computing device that provides viewer impression data for a recorded digital video stream. The method receives a digital video stream as a series of segments, and stores it as a recorded digital video stream having a transition between two consecutive segments at a transition position. The method stores a notification tag that is associated with the transition, and that includes a tag position in the recorded digital video stream, a notification mode, and tag data. During playback of the recorded digital video stream, the method generates a play mode status event, and generates a transition notification when the playback encounters the notification tag and, based on the notification mode, the transition associated with the notification tag. The method collects viewer impression data for one of the two consecutive segments from the play mode status event and the transition notification.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for presenting advertisements are provided. In some implementations, systems for presenting advertisements are provided, the systems comprising: at least one hardware processor that: receives media content containing a video portion and/or an audio portion; determines whether a watermark is embedded in at least one of the video portion and/or the audio portion of the media content; and if it is determined that the watermark is embedded in the at least one of the video portion and/or the audio portion of the media content: identifies a payload in the watermark; receives an advertisement selected at least in part based on the payload; and causes the advertisement to be presented instead of the media content.

Abstract: An affiliate site commands the central site to construct a unique broadcast event log through the affiliate site's command browser. The sequenced data stream of broadcast content is combined with a digital artifact inserted into the digitized broadcast video and/or audio content immediately prior to the data transmission process. Transmission to the affiliate site is accomplished utilizing Internet Protocol. Upon reception at the destination, the commercial advertising or prepared program content is input to the affiliate site's system, routed to the broadcast production system, and in turn, processed by the broadcast transmission site, where it is converted from a digital to an analog signal, and transmitted electromagnetically in the radio frequency spectrum by the broadcast transmitter.

Abstract: There is provided a method of associating program content data in a peer-to-peer digital television network. The network comprises a program content source, a network comprising a plurality of network nodes operable to receive data blocks corresponding to program content propagated from the program content source, and at least one user node coupled to the network. The method includes steps of: (a) receiving one or more user profiles of the at least one user node; (b) matching the one or more user profiles with the program content for determining preferential program content for presentation to the at least one user; (c) including identifiers of the preferential program content in the one or more program content lists for receipt at the at least one user node; (d) procuring for the at least one user node the preferential program content using the identifiers from the plurality of network nodes; and (e) selectively presenting at least part of the preferential program content to the at least one user node.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a video stream, wherein the video stream is divided into video segments, and wherein the video stream is being sent to a customer device and receiving a request to insert a message into the video stream. The method may further include determining a particular video segment after which to insert the message into the video stream; inserting the message into video stream after the particular video segment; and sending the video stream to the customer device, wherein the video stream includes the inserted message.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a system comprising a television decoding unit and a plurality of access modules, said access modules comprising wireless communication means with the television decoding unit, a memory comprising an identification of said module, said television decoding unit comprising means for detecting the presence and to receive the identification of an access module, means to apply a filter on events displayed on the television unit, said filter being defined with pre-defined filter category attached to the identification, and means to record the events consumption while the access module is detected by the television unit.

Abstract: Technology is described for personalizing a product placement in content. The method may include identifying a dynamic location in the content available for the product placement. A user profile may also be identified. The product placement may be selected based on the dynamic location identified in the content and the user profile. The product placement for the dynamic location identified in the content may then be provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring audio-video (AV) streams transported over a network. The system may include an AV probe deployed between an AV tuner and AV destination customer premise equipment. The AV probe may receive an incoming AV stream. The AV probe may generate a thumbnail stream by capturing thumbnails of the incoming AV stream. The AV probe may transmit, substantially in real-time, the thumbnail stream to a monitoring engine and the incoming AV stream to the AV destination customer premise equipment.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the positive or negative impact of digital and social media on perceptions, intent and behavior are provided utilizing a computer mediated perceptual, intent and behavioral analysis engine.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for, in one aspect, determining when a trigger, such as an application trigger, should be generated. In some embodiments, the application trigger may be generated when a frame included in a feed (e.g., a content feed) matches a specified or indicated frame. In some embodiments, a comparison between the feed and the specified or indicated frame may be based on one or more tolerances or thresholds. In some embodiments, the feed may be split and content (e.g., video) obtained via the split may be combined (e.g., multiplexed) with a trigger. The combined content and trigger may be transmitted to one or more devices, such as one or more user devices.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus comprises a recorder of the received digital contents and commercial messages. Commercial message retrieved from the recorder is interposed into a digital content or between a pair of digital contents in accordance with the type of commercial message. Interposition of commercial message is controlled by internal information, such as history of actually displaying the same commercial message, or history of skipping the same commercial message. The receiving apparatus controls the repetition time of displaying the same commercial message, or decision whether or not actually displaying a specific commercial message, or the order of displaying commercial messages. Skip of commercial message is prevented unless display has been repeated over a minimum requirement, or user agrees with a compensation for the skip. Repetition of the same commercial message ceases with skip repeated over a limit. Notice of interposing commercial message or of compensation for skip is made in advance.

Abstract: An independent auditing and ad service system that may be utilized in conjunction with a system for presenting marketing campaigns to audiences via a network of players located in public locations. Independent agents in the players monitor media content that is presented to audiences during marketing campaigns and generate independent agent playlogs that are provided to a content registry service. The content registry service compares the independent agent playlogs with playlogs that are provided by a network operator to validate the network-operator-generated playlogs. The independent agent playlogs may also be provided to an analytics service where they are used to analyze the performance of marketing campaigns. Based on the analyzed performance, the service may determine that the media content being presented to audiences via the media players should be changed. The independent agents may be instructed to implement recommended changes by modifying the media content being presented on the players.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring locally inserted media content are disclosed. A disclosed method includes obtaining identification data and inserting the identification data in the media content after the media content has been received at a media consumption location. Another disclosed method includes receiving media content before the media content is output by a consumer receiving device and monitoring the received media content. Monitoring the received media content may include extracting signatures from the received media content and transmitting the extracted signatures to another location.

Abstract: The invention enables and/or facilitates the display of personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network. In particular, the invention can be used to enable the display of targeted content to television viewers and/or targeted product placements within a television program. The invention can advantageously enable identification of the content observer(s) observing a content display device at a particular time and/or identification of the content display site, and selection of targeted content for display based on a determination of content appropriate for display to those content observer(s) in accordance with a criterion based on the identity and/or a characteristic of the content observer(s) and/or the content display site.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods to identify local market media content utilizing a disturbed system and to determine what additional content is relevant in a self-aware, automatic way. A central location stores identification information and related content so in the future it is available if and when another user watches the same content. Therefore, the next time local market media content is played, it can be identified and additional related content can be quickly (e.g. in real time) made available.

Abstract: A system and method may include providing a media stream via a network, the media stream comprising one or more advertisement content segments, identifying aggregate information associated with a viewer, assigning the one or more advertisement content segments to one or more categories and a category score associated with the one or more categories, filtering the one or more advertisement content segments based at least in part on the one or more categories, the category score associated with the one or more categories and the aggregate information associated with the viewer, and outputting the filtered one or more advertisement content segments to the viewer.

Abstract: The image signature extraction device includes an extraction unit and a generation unit. The extraction unit extracts region features from respective sub-regions in an image in accordance with a plurality of pairs of sub-regions in the image, the pairs of sub-regions including at least one pair of sub-regions in which both a combination of shapes of two sub-regions of the pair and a relative position between the two sub-regions of the pair differ from those of at least one of other pairs of sub-regions, and being classified into a plurality of types based on a combination of shapes of two sub-regions and a relative position between the two sub-regions of each of the pairs. The generation unit generates an image signature to be used for identifying the image based on the extracted region features of the respective sub-regions.

Abstract: Interactive audio-video episodes may be provided in which progression of storylines is contingent upon user interactions with the episodes. User activities may be facilitated during presentation of an episode. The user activities may be contextually related to the storyline of the presented episode. A given user activity may include a visual and/or audio queue to prompt the user to participate in the given user activity. Progression of the storyline of the presented episode may be suspended during the given user activity. One or more user interactions may be received during individual user activities facilitated during presentation of the episode. The storyline may continue to progress after the given user activity responsive to receipt of a given user interaction prompted by the given user activity.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving one or more transmitted frame identifiers that are mathematical representations of one or more transmitted video frames included within a multi-frame video. One or more video frames included within the multi-frame video are received, thus defining one or more received video frames. A mathematical representation of each of the one or more received video frames is generated, thus defining one or more received frame identifiers. The one or more received frame identifiers are compared to the one or more transmitted frame identifiers to determine a level of similarity between the one or more received video frames and the one or more transmitted video frames.

Abstract: A data storage device protecting security code stored therein and a data storage system including same are disclosed. The data storage device efficiently prevents unauthorized access to the security code by allowing command descriptor block (CDB) information to be read using only a read-only memory (ROM).

Abstract: A processing workflow method, system, and computer program product provide the ability; to recommend alternative programming during playback of a source media program. A media program player plays the source media program to a first viewer and provides information regarding the first viewer to a recommendation engine. The recommendation engine calculates and sends the media player a list of recommended media program candidates (including identifications of the candidates) based on the information. Prior to reaching an advertising break in the source media program, the media player transmits a request (including the identifications) for an advertisement to an advertising server and in response, receives an advertisement that is played to the first viewer during the advertising break.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking of advertisements. The system includes a user interface for accessing information associated with commercial breaks and advertisements. The system also includes one or more edge devices for recording advertisements aired during commercial breaks on a television or radio channel. Further, the system includes a media server. The media server includes a memory, and a processor for storing recorded advertisements along with a stamp of region, channel, program and time of insertion associated with the advertisements in a repository of a media server, and providing access to the recorded advertisements for the advertisers. The method includes recording advertisements aired during commercial breaks on the television or the radio channel, storing recorded advertisements along with a stamp of region, channel, program and time of insertion associated with the advertisements in a repository of a media server, and providing access to the recorded advertisements for the advertisers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and a method of generating a first and a second fingerprint (102,104) usable for synchronisation of at least two signals (101,103) and corresponding method and device for synchronising two or more signals. A fingerprint pair is generated on the basis of a segment of a first signal e.g. an audio signal and of a segment of a second signal e.g. a video signal at each synchronisation time point. The generated fingerprint pair(s) are stored in a database (203) and communicated or distributed to a synchronisation device (303). During synchronisation, fingerprint(s) of the audio signal and fingerprint(s) of the video signal to be synchronised are generated and matched against fingerprints in the database. When a match is found, the fingerprints also determine the synchronisation time point, which is used to synchronise the two signals. In this way, a simple, reliable and efficient way of synchronising at least two signals is obtained.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method, system and user device for obtaining a key frame in a streaming media service. The method includes: setting a threshold time for receiving a key frame, receiving video data by a client from a streaming media server, and analyzing the video data, when the network state is normal, sending a request for adjusting a video key frame generating frequency to the streaming media server if a video key frame is not received by the client in the threshold time; when the request is received, the streaming media server determines whether to adjust the video key frame generating frequency, if so, then adjusts the video key frame generating frequency according to the request of the client. The application of the invention can improve the quality of the streaming media service, and advance the experience level of the streaming media service.

Abstract: An advertisement storage and filtering system for selectively identifying targeted advertisements to be stored in the memory of the STB. This storing of the selected advertisements can be accomplished in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the advertisements, in real-time and as they are received at the STB, are processed by the STB and only those advertisements with the appropriate characteristics are stored on the hard drive (HD). This may require some buffering of the advertisements in the STB memory as the STB processes and determines whether or not to store the advertisement. The information required to determine whether or not to store the advertisement could also be sent in advance, e.g., as a data service in an advertisement channel. Alternatively, the STB may store incoming advertisements in a memory temporarily and subsequently determine whether or not to retain the stored advertisements.