Abstract: An interactive television system is provided in which targeted messages may be sent to users. The interactive television system may use an interactive television program guide or other interactive applications to provide interactive television services to users. An e-mail or other messaging application may be used to receive the messages. The messaging application may be separate from the program guide or other interactive television application or may be part of the program guide or other interactive television application. Messages may be targeted based on the television channels to which the user subscribes or based on which settings the user has established in the program guide or other application or based on any other suitable criteria.

Abstract: Fans or other persons can upload content that others can choose to view when they play back a film, television show or other packaged media content item. A server system receives a playback indication from a remote media player via a data network, and in response retrieves an uploaded supplemental content item. The playback indication can not only identify the film, television show or other packaged media content item, but can further identify a playback location in the identified content item, such as a specific scene. The server system can use such information to select and retrieve one of a number of uploaded supplemental content items. The server system transmits the supplemental content item to the media player, which then plays back the supplemental content item in association with the packaged media content item.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: Techniques are described for promoting original media titles. Given metadata tags associated with the original title and other media titles, a tag data matrix is generated and factored into two matrices, one of which includes vectors representing the media titles in a first latent space. Similarity scores are computed between a vector representing the original title and each of the other media title vectors to determine a set of media titles most similar to the original title. Then, a play data matrix is factorized, and an average of vectors representing the most similar titles in a second latent space is taken to be a vector representation of the original title in the second latent space. This representation is compared with representations of users in the second latent space to generate similarity scores, and the original title is then promoted to users associated with the highest similarity scores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for informing of the occurrence of an event of a communication terminal in a digital Television (TV) are provided. A method of a TV output generator of informing a digital TV of the occurrence of an event of a communication terminal is provided. The method includes receiving an input of event information from any one of a landline and a mobile terminal, generating a control signal including output information corresponding to the event information, and transmitting the control signal to the TV.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing electronic content to an individual includes receiving an indication that a user of a television controller intends to change away from viewing a video-based media program currently playing on a television controlled by the television controller; causing, with the television or the television controller, a user profile to be accessed that indicates preferences of the user related to video-based media program content, and to identify a media program that is currently accessible to the television and that is determined to match the user profile; and causing the television to display information about the identified media program.

Abstract: One embodiment of a system (3) that provides more than one technique for delivering media and advertisements to consumers (26a) and consumers (26b) over a network (23) and, where a technique permits, measuring the exposure of consumers (26a) and (26b) to the media and advertisements with precision and, where a technique does not permit, using exposure information from other techniques to demonstrate consumer (26a) and (26b) exposure to the media and advertisements. Advantageously, offline consumer (26b) exposure to downloaded media content and advertisements can be demonstrated, which significantly increases the attractiveness of downloaded media content to advertiser (5).

Abstract: Methods and systems may involve receiving a real-time keyword associated with media content, and identifying modifier data associated with a user that encounters the media content. In addition, the real-time keyword and the modifier data may be transmitted to an advertising service, which may select a topic-relevant and user-specific advertisement based on the real-time keyword and the modifier data.

Abstract: A method for customizing a user communication experience is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a user communication input and determining one or more communication input characteristics. Thereafter, one or more advertisements are provided to the user in accordance with the user communication input and the one or more determined communication characteristics.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for providing an adaptive streaming service based on a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file in a data communication network. An MPEG file format defined to support an adaptive streaming service between a server and a client is processed to support an adaptive streaming service between a client and a client. An MPEG file format for a particular message used in a procedure for the adaptive streaming service between the server and the client and a procedure for the adaptive streaming service between the clients is newly defined. In particular, as to the newly defined MPEG file format, necessary information for supporting the adaptive streaming service between clients is defined. As the MPEG file format, both a Transport Stream file format defined in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 transport standards are considered.

Abstract: Systems and methods for video ad delivery using configurable dynamic video ad policies are provided. A system for delivering video ads to a video client may include an ad platform service. The ad platform service may have a media registration module configured to receive input data including a video ad policy and associated metadata and digital video content from a digital video content client. The ad platform service may further include a registration database configured to store input data received from the media registration module. The ad platform service may further include a manifest service and an associated manifest generation engine, wherein the manifest service may be configured to receive an ad manifest request from a video client. In response, the manifest generation engine may be configured to generate a manifest instance based on input data received at the manifest service, the manifest service being configured to send the manifest instance to the video client.

Abstract: The techniques and systems described herein place product information at a location in digital content where an existing object occurs. The techniques may select the product information based on profile data indicative of interests of a user viewing the digital content. Accordingly, the techniques may identify existing objects in the digital content before the user begins viewing the digital content. The techniques may also receive or access product information to be placed in the digital content. The product information may include identifiable brands, products, or services. Then, while rendering the digital content before the user begins viewing the digital content or while the user is viewing the digital content, the techniques may select product information to dynamically place into a scene of the digital content at a location where the existing objects occur.

Abstract: A data stream processing system receives a transport stream containing single/multiple program/s and receives alternate content. The system identifies portions of the transport stream to replace with the alternate content. An alternate content data stream is generated that includes the alternate content and at least one sync packet. The sync packet enables synchronous replacement of the alternate content into the transport stream. The system then distributes the alternate content data stream.

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: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information is sent to the user interface devices during a multicast update period. If a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, a unicast update comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information is sent to the given user interface device during a unicast update period. The unicast update may be sent responsive to a request from the given user interface device for a designated portion of the updated targeted information.

Abstract: A system, device and method for service insertion during a video display. A client device detects a video request input, and in response, selects and initiates an advanced service asset while the player buffers the requested video data. The output of the player is displayed in a background field while the media display data of the advanced service asset is displayed in a foreground field. The player display data may be brought to the foreground after a preset time or when the player is ready to display the requested video.

Abstract: A live performance is monitored by analyzing an input data stream comprising real-time updates related to the live performance. Different sets of excitement levels, excitement curves, alerts and teasers are generated based on the analysis and reported to a plurality of subscribers using any of a variety of mobile communication and/or computing devices.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display controller includes a receiver, a display, and an interface. The receiver receives address information indicative of a storage location of document information from a television receiver and receives the document information from the storage location. The document information is based on a broadcast signal. The display includes display areas. The display areas are based on structural information included in the document information received by the receiver, and the display displays at least one ad linked to a broadcast program in the broadcast signal with respect to at least one display area. The interface receives an operation to change information displayed with respect to the at least one display area from a first ad to a second ad.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for customizing advertisements to the individual viewer or user receiving a content which may be generic or customized, subject to or independent of, a broadcast schedule.

Abstract: A system and a method for using the system for targeted commerce in network broadcasting are provided. The system includes an interface device configured to receive a multimedia stream from a network, wherein the multimedia stream includes a close captioning string and wherein the interface device is further configured to process the multimedia stream by providing advertisements in the multimedia stream according to a correlation between the close captioning string and a plurality of vendor keywords; and a viewing device configured to receive the processed multimedia stream and display to a viewer.

Abstract: A method for controlling the output of media content, particularly audio content, to a user in relation to an apparatus, such as a set-top-box, having an input, for receiving media content, and an output, for providing the media content to an output device such as a television or other display device. Media content is received at the input and then analysed using a media content recognition unit. The media content recognition unit undertakes the step of identifying portions of the received media content that contain undesired content, such as offensive language. The output of media content to a user is then controlled, based on any identified undesired content, to prevent the output of content when the identified undesired portions are to be output. A corresponding apparatus and computer program are also provided.

Abstract: In embodiments of current device location advertisement distribution, a mobile network operator receives television content from a content service and can then communicate the television content to a client device via a wireless distribution point. A device location service determines that a current location of the client device is not within a geographic region associated with the client device, and updates the current location of the client device from location data that identifies the current location of the client device. The television content can then be updated for distribution to the client device along with advertisements that correspond to an advertising locale, which includes the current location of the client device.

Abstract: Real-time participation within a media presentation is disclosed. A participant overlay may be generated by preprocessing a media presentation to extract a time-variant metadata stream associated with one or more interactive regions depicted in the media presentation. The participant overlay includes simulated physics, which may include boundaries of the interactive regions defined in accordance with content in said media presentation. A participant's interaction with said media presentation through the interactive regions may be captured and combined with the media presentation for display on a display. The interaction may comprise a user action upon one or more elements in the media presentation, a user action expressed in the media presentation through an avatar, or a user action in said media presentation in connection with a game element.

Abstract: A broadcast response system provides, e.g., a radio broadcast listener with the ability to obtain media content such as music or speech while listening to the radio. The user can respond to items in the radio broadcast such as advertisements, fund raising drives, or interactive listener polls during the broadcast. Data such as song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored, can be transmitted using, e.g., the RBDS/RDS data stream. A reference number representing song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored can also be employed for ease of implementation. This reference number can reside in a lookup table to be accessed by broadcast response server.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to receive from a media communication system metadata describing one or more marketable items depicted in a media program supplied by the media communication system, present images of the media program at a media presentation device without highlighting the one or more marketable items, present an icon at least at one of a remote controller managing operations of the media processor or the media presentation device to indicate a presence of the one or more marketable items in one or more of the images presented at the media presentation device, detect a selection of the icon, and highlight the one or more marketable items. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for selecting an advertisement for play on a specified device for one or more users. Each of the users has a defined relationship with the specified device, and has an information description stored on a mobile communications device. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the respective information description of each of one or more users from the user's communications device to a provider server. The server analyzes one or more information descriptions to identify an advertisement for playing on the specified device. The specified device, in one embodiment, is a television. In an embodiment, advertisements are displayed based on common purchase profiles and common purchase plans among different people. The purchase plans may be sent to the television when the users are in a defined area or come within a given distance of the television.

Abstract: Content may be inserted at a duplicating device by inserting advertising content into a duplicated feed, and transmitting the duplicated feed to the terminal. The transmission of the duplicated feed is performed in response to a state of the terminal.

Abstract: Content may be inserted at a duplicating device by inserting advertising content into a duplicated feed, and transmitting the duplicated feed to the terminal. The transmission of the duplicated feed is performed in response to a state of the terminal.

Abstract: An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information that identifies an affected area. The information identifying the affected area includes primitive shapes. Customer premises equipment within the affected area is identified based upon the primitive shapes. The information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by customer premises equipment.

Abstract: Social media content items and references to events that occur therein are aligned with the time-based media events they describe. These mappings may be used as the basis for sending messages to populations of authors of content items, where the populations are determined based on whether the author has written a content item that refers to a specific TV show or advertisement. TV streams are monitored to detect when and where a specific advertisement for a particular advertiser is shown. Concurrently, social media streams are monitored for content items that refer to or are about specific TV shows and advertisements. Responsive to a specific advertisement being detected as being shown during a specific TV show, a message associated with the advertisement is sent to the authors of the content items associated with that TV show or advertisement. The messages can be transmitted while the advertisement is being shown.

Abstract: A cloud based video delivery system along with a method and graphical user interface for streaming synchronized video content data to a group of user devices are disclosed. The user devices of the group receive speech to text converted audio (or speech-to-text communications) generated by the different users of their group along with the streaming video content data from the cloud based video delivery system. The speech to text communication and streaming video content data are then displayed on the user devices of the users in a synchronized fashion.

Abstract: The system described herein works by eliminating the need for a viewer to actively select media. Instead, this new method creates a viewer passive profile by analyzing viewer and media metadata and then provides such media directly to the viewer through the system whenever the system is activated or whenever the user wants to watch it (time preference). Active selection of media by the viewer is no longer necessary. Instead, the viewer automatically receives his or her media profile preferences in a timely fashion.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for customizing media content distributed by a multicast network based on a stored user profile. A new high quality video distribution method is disclosed. A new system supporting targeted, interactive advertising is taught. The tracking of media content consumed in the home is enabled. Media content producers are provided with a new connection to media content consumers. Unwanted media channels are no longer distributed to a customer.

Abstract: A widget running on user equipment selectively obscures portions of media content according to user and/or service provider defined criteria. Information regarding potentially objectionable content in media content may be stored in databases. Based on the information regarding potentially objectionable content and the defined criteria, the database may provide censor instructions. The instructions may be executed by the widget to obscure the potentially objectionable content in media content that is accessed by the user equipment.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method can automatically present a plurality of selectable rich media video clips associated with goods and/or services offered for sale via an interactive networked communication system including at least one client and at least one server. A request to the server can be initiated at the client via the interactive networked communication system to select a plurality of rich media video clips from a database of rich media video clips associated with corresponding goods and/or services. A static descriptor can be displayed on the client for each of the plurality of rich media video clips as selected and received from the server. The plurality of rich media video clips can automatically be presented on the client in a concatenated sequence in a continuous rich media video stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing audio information based on gaze information are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to receive gaze information indicative of a wearer-view associated with the computing device. Based on the gaze information, the computing device may be configured to determine content displayed in the wearer-view. Further, the computing device may be configured to determine audio information relating to the content and cause an audio stream associated with the audio information to be played at the computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method in which, when a customer to view pay-per-view broadcasting contents over an Internet protocol television (IPTV) or a personal computer (PC) consents to advertisement reception, a broadcasting service provider receives money from an advertiser that has previously agreed to pay advertising costs without receiving a subscription fee from the customer, transmits the pay-per-view contents to the customer, and applies screen-splitting technology at certain intervals to generate a split screen irrespective of main broadcasting contents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging media content consumption characteristics in a network is described. The method includes receiving input data, the input data indicating that a first user in a user group has changed a content consumption characteristic, determining if the first user's changed content consumption characteristic is based a content consumption characteristic of a second user in the user group, and generating a message, the message including information indicating that the first user's changed content consumption characteristic is based on the content consumption characteristic of the second user in the user group. The apparatus includes a transceiver circuit that is coupled to the network and a controller circuit that receives input data from the first user, further determines if the first user's change is based on input data received through the transceiver circuit from the second user, and further generates the message that is provided.

Abstract: Matching advertising information to media content/user combinations in which information and content are delivered to a user over a network is disclosed. Content providers and advertisers may find out about the offerings of one another as well as user profiles and preferences thereby facilitating agreement of ads with content and users. Viral syndication is also facilitated by allowing the user to share downloaded media with friends and associates. Users may bookmark, share, and/or request/find more content with similarities to the downloaded content with various analytics being reported with respect to the same.

Abstract: A method of producing and playing a personalized video includes producing a plurality of video templates according to contents of a plurality of videos; inserting a personalized content into a video template among the plurality of video templates, in order to generate the personalized video; playing the personalized video on a digital out of home (DOOH) among a plurality of DOOHs or a television (TV) broadcasting medium among a plurality of TV broadcasting media; announcing time and location of playing the personalized video on at least one social networking website or a channel of the TV broadcasting medium in advance before the DOOH or the TV broadcasting medium plays the personalized video; and delivering the personalized video on the social networking website simultaneously or after a specific period of time when the personalized video is played by the DOOH or the TV broadcasting medium.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system is designed to adapt to changing viewer behavior by detecting Peer-To-Peer communications, or other Skype or Skype-like communication during streaming video content (e.g., commercial, movie, television show, sponsored content, live or recorded, etc.) viewed on a TV, monitor, Laptop, tablet, computerized watch or computerized glasses. The present invention incorporates a logo graphic, watermark, banner, video, and the like (with or without static, 3-D, sound, picture-in-picture etc.) or other message over the streaming video content onto the background. This graphic displays the advertiser's brand message to achieve a brief imprint on the viewer. The DAI augments the linear spot so the advertiser can reach their intended target audience.

Abstract: A TV control device, for an external TV device includes a storage unit storing a user identification code and user setting data corresponding to the user identification code, and a wireless communication unit transmitting a control signal to the external TV device according to the user identification code and the user setting data, wherein the external TV device determines a TV setting of the external TV device according to the user identification code and the user setting data when the external TV device receives the control signal.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining social media data associated with a plurality of end user devices of a plurality of users interacting with a social media network where the social media data includes user commentary at the social media network, determining first targeted advertising for delivery to first end user devices of a portion of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the social media data, and determining second targeted advertising for delivery during a target broadcast programming to a second end user device of a target user of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the user commentary, wherein the analysis includes identifying a comment context. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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: There are many boxes (e.g., set-top boxes) in a system offering media services to users. Each of the boxes maintains a library with a significant number of titles. Techniques for updating the library in each of these boxes using a transmission infrastructure are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a service provider is provided with a high bandwidth broadcasting or multicasting capability, a release fragmented into a header and several segments is transmitted to all boxes that are respectively configured to receive a proper release package to update the library. Alternatively, separate release packages may be transmitted via different channels to the boxes, wherein each of the boxes is tuned to a proper channel to receive a proper release package.

Abstract: There is provided an information providing apparatus including an ECG scenario storage portion to store an ECG scenario related to a program in association with reference ID, an ECG package storage portion to store reference IDs of ECG scenarios related to programs in association with discrimination ID of an ECG channel allocated to an ECG package in order to provide a collection of information related to programs having a relationship as an ECG package, an ECG package providing portion to acquire discrimination ID of a particular channel from a receiving terminal, extract an ECG package corresponding to the acquired discrimination ID and provide it to the receiving terminal, and an ECG scenario providing portion to acquire reference ID of a particular ECG scenario included in the ECG package from the receiving terminal, extract an ECG scenario corresponding to the acquired reference ID and provide it to the receiving terminal.

Abstract: There is provided a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for recommending a program to sufficiently reflect a user's taste based on capturing position information of a still image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing users in a user group to interact and exchange media content characteristics in a network as a part of the entertainment experience is described. The method and apparatus include identifying a group of users from a plurality of users in a network, detecting a change in at least one content consumption characteristic by a first user, the content consumption characteristic associated with the first user consuming media content, providing information related to the change in the least one content consumption characteristic to other users in the identified group, detecting a change in at least one content consumption characteristic by a second user in the group of users, the change based on the information related to the change by the first user, and providing information related to the change by the second user to the other users in the identified group.

Abstract: There is disclosed a media file distribution system and method. An asset management and delivery system and method for the distribution of digital files and data is provided. There are two major functions, with sub-functions within each. The system first serves as a fully automated management system for a company involved in video/file distribution, such as in video on demand (VOD) or other digital file industries. The system can ingest, prepare, schedule, transmit, track and report on any aspect of the business chain. Secondly, it also serves as a product for both content providers and recipients to be able to view, manage and run their entire content offering remotely from anywhere through the Internet.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system for advertisement and content distribution are provided. Supplementary content is synchronized with advertisement slots, or commercial intervals, of a program stream and distributed via separate multicast group addresses. The program content is distributed via an alternative multicast group address during commercial intervals. Ports associated with respective users are mapped or otherwise associated with multiple multicast group addresses in a forwarding table thereby allowing distribution of supplementary content, or alternatively the program content, during commercial intervals.