Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for conflict resolution of assets selected for insertion into COD content. In one embodiment, the system includes an interface operable to process a request for asset insertion into the COD content selection. The system also includes an asset conflict resolution module operable to identify asset timeslots within the COD content selection from the request, to evaluate the assets to determine conflicts among the assets, to remove conflicting assets, and to select at least a portion of the remaining assets for insertion in the asset timeslots of the COD content selection. For example, the asset conflict resolution module may determine that conflicts exist between certain assets based on various identifiers associated with the assets and/or content such that the conflicts between the assets may be resolved with the removal of one or more of the assets from potential asset insertion selection.

Abstract: A device receives, from a media client, information associated with an event. The device identifies a user profile, associated with the event, including a tracking list which identifies one or more tracked series and a last watched list which identifies one or more last watched episodes associated with one or more watched series. The device determines a next available episode, associated with one of the one or more tracked series, based on the user profile, the information received from the media client, and content metadata which includes information associated with one or more available episodes associated with one or more available series. The device sends a suggestion identifying the next available episode to the media client for presentation to a user associated with the media client.

Abstract: A method is described for selecting and caching a video advertisement to be presented on a client device. The method may include determining customer interests for an individual customer, selecting a video advertisement based upon the customer's interests and providing the video advertisement to a client device so that the video advertisement may be cached on the client device and may be available to display to a customer when a customer selects video content to play on the client device.

Abstract: Links are provided in association with video content that reference and allow navigation to additional content related to the video content. Links may be embedded in the video content metadata or sent separately and synchronized with the video content via time stamps. Selection of the links allows a user to view the additional content or to view the video content item along with the additional content to provide a richer and deeper personalized viewing experience. The video content may be analyzed to determine whether additional content may be available. If additional content is identified, the video content item may include the additional content or the video content may receive links to the additional content. Additional content that is relevant to the user based on the user's viewing history, viewing patterns, viewing behavior, demographic profile, etc. may be identified for association with a given video content item.

Abstract: A user interface for a content distribution system is disclosed which allows a manager of an environment of TV sets to view which content is playing on individual TV sets, and to change, track and otherwise adjust the content. The invention advantageously provides these features without interfering with other TV sets' programming when another TV set is being adjusted, changes or tracked by the manager.

Abstract: Techniques for insertion of supplementary content into a segmented content stream are described. In at least some embodiments, a content stream includes primary content, such as streaming web content, a movie, an event broadcast (live and/or recorded), a television program, and so on. The content stream can be segmented, such as via techniques for adaptive bitrate streaming. Techniques discussed herein enable supplementary content, such as an advertisement, to be inserted into the content stream. The supplementary content can be inserted at any specified time point, even if the specified time point falls within a segment of the content stream. Techniques further enable playback of the content stream to be paused during playback of the supplementary content, and to resume after playback of the supplementary content.

Abstract: Techniques for providing personalized presentations of aggregated content items are described herein. These techniques may aggregate individual content items from multiple sources, filter the content items based on the preferences of a user, and create an ordered presentation of the content items. A different presentation may be available to the user at different times, for example, a new presentation may be available each day. The new presentation may include more recent or more relevant content items than previous presentations of content items. Each presentation may combine the multiple individual content items together in such a way that each individual content item appears to the user as part of a single content item. User interaction with the aggregation of content items may be analyzed and that analysis may be used to modify subsequent selection and ordering of content items in future presentations.

Abstract: Content sorting and definition technology, in which input defining multiple content links to include in a channel is received from a content curator and supplemental channel information that facilitates user experience of content linked to by at least one of the multiple content links is determined. Channel information for the channel associated with the content curator is defined based on the multiple content links and the supplemental channel information and the defined channel information is published at a channel link to make the channel information available to user devices of a content delivery network. The channel link is a network address at which the defined channel information is made available to the user devices of the content delivery network.

Abstract: A system and method for the simultaneous creation, assembly and transmission of synchronous multiple personalized messages to specific targeted individuals or other entities. The system can send rich media distinctly personalized messages such as commercials to a small or large group of selected individuals through any appropriate distribution media. A personalized message is created based on segmenting a message into multiple slots, and providing different selectable segments for each slot. The multiple segments are then simultaneously broadcasted over multiple data streams to a receiver, wherein the receiver switches between the data streams to assemble the personalized message in a just-in-time fashion. Other data including overlays, animation, frame transitions etc. may also be transmitted and used to assemble the personalized message.

Abstract: An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to identify, utilizing ACR, viewer interaction and/or viewer information. The ACR-enabled connected TV device may present, utilizing the ACR, a variant of an advertisement in a next ad pod during presentation of content, based on the identified viewer interaction and/or the identified viewer information. The viewer information may comprise customized preferences profile, default preferences setting, viewing habits, time of day and/or location. The viewer information may also comprise objects and/or events captured by an associated camera. When an identified stored episode of a show is presented via DVR playback, the ACR-enabled connected TV device may present, in a next ad pod, a new version of an advertisement, where the new version of the advertisement may be associated with a new episode of the show and presentation of the new version may result in a C3 rating credit.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that receives at a server a first request to rebroadcast a first sponsored content item that was displayed on the social network to the first user to a second user. A second request to display at least one sponsored content item to the second user when the second user accesses an electronic document associated with the social network is received at the server. The first sponsored content item is retrieved for rebroadcast from one or more sponsored content items indicated for rebroadcast to the second user. The first sponsored content item is output to the second user of the social network in response to the second request to display and without requiring the second user to select the first sponsored content item for display.

Abstract: A user screen display control unit displays not only a content selected by the user but also places a plurality of icons, with which to select a content to be displayed, adjacent to each other and displays the plurality of icons. When a drag operation over the plurality of icons is detected by an operation detector, the user screen display control unit displays the caption for a selected icon in a forefront manner and switches the caption for each icon sequentially selected by a drag operation and sequentially displays the caption. When a predetermined operation is detected on an icon located in a position where the drag operation ends, the user screen display control unit switches the content displayed on the display device to a content associated with the icon located in the position where the drag operation ends.

Abstract: A method for presenting advertisements for commercial products in video productions, whereby the commercial product is placed in the video production as an element of the video production. A viewer is enabled to interact with the video production to select the product. Information is then displayed about the selected product; and the viewer is enabled to purchase the selected product.

Abstract: A system, method and various software tools enable a video hosting website to automatically identified unlicensed audio content in video files uploaded by users, and initiate a process by which the user can replace the unlicensed content with licensed audio content. An audio replacement tool is provided that enables the user to permanently mute the original, unlicensed audio content of a video file, or select a licensed audio file from a collection of licensed audio, and insert the selected in place of the original audio.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described herein that are configured to enable updating of an output text. In some example embodiments, a method is provided that comprises generating a new message for each updateable data element based on a predetermined indication. The method of this embodiment may also include determining a classification for each new message by comparing each new message with a corresponding message that describes the updateable data element. The method of this embodiment may also include generating an additional document plan tree that contains at least a portion of the new messages. The method of this embodiment may also include combining the additional document plan tree with an original document plan tree.

Abstract: Disclosed are a multimedia device that may simultaneously display advertisement broadcasting of a current viewing channel and another channel broadcasting when advertisement broadcasting starts in the current viewing channel, and a method for displaying advertisement broadcasting thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selecting personalized advertisements to be transmitted to a user device during the streaming of advertisement-supported media item content. A primary user and a secondary user may be associated with the consumption of media item content being streaming to a user device. Based on the identification of both the primary user and secondary user, presence metadata may be generated. Using at least the presence metadata, advertisements that are appropriate for and target both the primary and any secondary users may be selected and transmitted to the client device.

Abstract: Follow-up content items are determined for being played out when the current play-out of a content item has ended or is scheduled to end. The follow-up content items are determined, based on one or more bibliographic or semantic attributes of the item being played out and, on additional parameters such as the available bandwidth and the required data transfer rate. During the playing out of the content item, at least the first portions of the follow-up content items are retrieved and buffered in a buffer local to the equipment. Upon the playing-out of the content item being halted, the playing-out of the follow-up content items can be started right away from the buffer.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, systems and/or methods for creating a preferred channel list, including determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system, collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user's interaction with the content presentation system, storing the channel use information, determining a value for each of the plural channels as a function of the channel use information, and creating a preferred channel list for the plural channels as a function of the determined value.

Abstract: The method of providing a mobile IPTV service, performed in a terminal that receives streams of all channels belonging to a channel group of a currently viewed channel, includes, when a channel is selected, determining whether the selected channel and the currently viewed channel belong to the same channel group, and when the selected channel and the currently viewed channel are determined to belong to the same channel group, decoding, by the terminal, an IPTV channel stream of the selected channel within a currently received channel. Therefore, since the channel group is generated based on channel selection preference, and a multicast stream including a channel stream of the channel group is broadcast, it is possible to decrease average processing complexity and to guarantee rapid channel change when a user changes the channel to another channel in the same channel group.

Abstract: A system, method and various software tools enable a video hosting website to automatically identified unlicensed audio content in video files uploaded by users, and initiate a process by which the user can replace the unlicensed content with licensed audio content. An audio replacement tool is provided that enables the user to permanently mute the original, unlicensed audio content of a video file, or select a licensed audio file from a collection of licensed audio, and insert the selected in place of the original audio.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing advertising (AD) content to a radio system of a vehicle. A smartphone may have a stored application thereon related to a specific broadcast station. A utility application may be associated with the radio system (RS) and used to inform the smartphone when the RS is tuned to the specific broadcast station. The RS may have a processor for detecting a start maker and a stop marker in a broadcast signal being received from the specific broadcast station, and to inform the smartphone when the start marker is detected. The start marker and the stop marker define a time interval where at least one advertisement is present in the broadcast signal. The smartphone may provide AD content to the RS which is inserted for playback during the time interval.

Abstract: A broadcasting receiving apparatus and a method for providing broadcasting signal relation information are provided. The broadcasting receiving apparatus, which accesses a server through a network, includes a broadcasting signal receiver which receives a broadcasting signal; a channel identifier which identifies a change of a channel of the broadcasting signal, generates a fingerprint corresponding to the broadcasting signal of the changed channel, and receives identification information of the changed channel from a matching server based on the generated fingerprint; and a relevant information provider which receives conditional information that indicates a condition for receiving relevant information of the broadcasting signal if the channel is changed, receives the relevant information based on the conditional information and displays the received relevant information.

Abstract: Techniques are described for receiving a request from a client, parsing the request, the request identifying a characteristic associated with content in response to the request, generating a response including content selected based on a parameter, characteristic, or profile, identifying commercial content that based on the content, the commercial content being formatted to be displayed in a skin associated with a player, determining another commercial content based on the content, the commercial content and activity data detected from the client, the another commercial content associated with a control parameter configured to modify a function that is available while playing the content, the commercial content, or the another commercial content, displaying the content, the commercial content, or the another commercial content in the skin, and modifying the function based on the control parameter during display of the content, the commercial content, or the another commercial content.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system having a controller to present a merchant a graphical user interface (GUI) for entering advertisement information, receive from the merchant advertisement information, generate an advertisement GUI for presenting the received advertisement information, identify a plurality of users of the IPTV system that demographically correlate to the advertisement information, and direct the advertisement GUI to one or more set-top boxes of the identified plurality of users. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for associating data with a media asset are provided. A plurality of messages from a plurality of users is received at a remote server. Each message identifies a play position within the media asset at which the respective one of the users paused the media asset. A reference play position is selected based on the play position identified by one of the plurality of messages. A number representing how many of the messages identify a play position that corresponds to the reference play position is computed. In response to determining that the number exceeds a threshold, a frame of the media asset that corresponds to the reference play position is selected. Data associated with the media asset is updated based on the selected frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that can provide users with personalized video content feeds. In several embodiments, a multi-modal segmentation process is utilized that relies upon cues derived from video, audio and/or text data present in a video data stream. In a number of embodiments, video streams from a variety of sources are segmented. Links are identified between video segments and between video segments and online articles containing additional information relevant to the video segments. The additional information obtained by linking a video segment to an additional source of data can be utilized in the generation of personalized playlists. In the context of news programming, the dynamic mixing and aggregation of news videos from multiple sources can greatly enrich the news watching experience. In several embodiments, processes for linking video segments to additional sources of data can be implemented as part of a video search engine service.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a handheld control with a user interface adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a parameter of an adjustable bed and a parameter of a home control system. A display on the user interface displays a graphical representation of the adjustable bed parameter and a graphical representation of the home control system parameter.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media for representing a portion of a user interface of a web browser as a web address. In some implementations, a computing device receives a request to encode as a web address a portion of a user interface provided in a web browser at the computing device. The computing device then generates a web address to identify content of the portion of the user interface. The portion of the user interface represented by the web address includes a primary user interface component and one or more secondary user interface components associated with the primary user interface component.

Abstract: An audience selection system for the selection of an entity, based on an entity's consumption history without requiring the storage of a content descriptor for identifying content previously accessed by the entity. By directly and/or indirectly observing the usage of words used to locate content through a search engine over time for a population, a list of depersonalized keywords can be discovered, creating the ability to characterize content based on depersonalized keywords. A protected consumption history can be recorded for an entity using depersonalized keywords instead of recording a content descriptor for identifying the content. Depersonalized keywords do not uniquely identify content. Associating depersonalized keywords with an entity does not mean that the entity has used those depersonalized keywords; it only means that the entity has accessed content which has been accessed in the past by other entities in a population using the depersonalized keywords.

Abstract: A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising non-transitory computer executable program code configured to perform the steps of: receiving a representation of an unlabeled event; labeling the unlabeled event according to a unitary relative event ontology; and storing the labeled event in the computer readable storage medium. The unitary relative event ontology can comprise an information description vector comprising a plurality of ontological primitives, and the plurality of ontological primitives can comprise a point description element, a reference-body description element, an observer description element, a position description element, a scene description element, and a specification description element.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for capturing audio and delivering the audio in digital streaming media formats are disclosed. Several aspects of the systems and techniques operate in a cloud computing environment where computational power is allocated, utilized, and paid for entirely on demand. The systems and techniques enable a call to be made directly from a virtual machine out to a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) via a common Session Interface Protocol (SIP) to PSTN Breakout service, and the audio to be delivered onward to one or more Content Delivery Network (CDN). An audio call capture interface is also provided to initiate and manage the digital streaming media formats.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for transmitting a set of signals to a plurality of subscriber receivers, where each signal represents information which belongs to a particular contents category. At least one client computer coupled to a central management server. Thus, the client computer(s) may produce administrative instructions for organizing a sub-set of the signals to be transmitted to the subscriber receivers. The central management server receives the administrative instructions pertaining to the transmission of the signals. In response to the administrative instructions, the central management server organizes and synchronizes signals originating from one or more signal sources before these signals are transmitted to at least one of the plurality of subscriber receivers. Thus, the contents category of each signal determines which signal that will be presented in which subscriber receiver.

Abstract: A tablet computing device and controlled-environment communications processing system implemented process calls for the tablet requesting, via the controlled-environment communications system, a communication link between the tablet and another communications device. A resident of the controlled-environment facility operating the tablet is identified by the tablet to the controlled-environment communications system. The controlled-environment communications system selects advertisement(s) to be played on at least the tablet operated by the resident. The advertisement(s) are played on at least the tablet. The communications link is established by the controlled-environment communications system, between the tablet and the other communications device, before, during or following playing of the advertisement(s) on at least the tablet. Communication is carried out on the tablet, via the communications link, before, during and/or following playing of the advertisement(s).

Abstract: Data indicative of first and second members of a social group, a media content accessed by the first and second members of the social group, and a time at which the media content was accessed by the first and second members of the social group is collected. A system then compares the received data to determine if the second member of the social group accessed the same media content as the first member of the social group and if the second member of the social group accessed the same media content within a predetermined amount of time. When the second member of the social group accessed the same media content as the first member of the social group within the predetermined amount of time the first member of the social group is identified as a social influencer.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an electronic marketplace that matches units of content from secondary content providers with suitable vacancies from primary content providers. Vacancies may constitute, or be included in, any digital transmission containers, such as a television or radio programming, web pages, and the like. Specifically, the electronic marketplace automatically matches content offered by secondary content providers with vacancies offered by primary content providers thus filling the vacancies in these containers through a real-time content trading, placement, and distribution system. To do so, attributes associated with the vacancies and with units of secondary content are used to trade and match suitable vacancies with suitable content. This invention enables both secondary content owners and vacancy owners (primary content providers) to obtain the full commercial benefit of their secondary content and containers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing additional content in a digital broadcast reception apparatus, the method including receiving a locator of additional content from a broadcast server while a user watches a broadcast program, receiving an instruction to insert the additional content from the broadcast server, receiving and reproducing the additional content from a content providing server designated by the locator, and switching back to the broadcast program. Thus, it is not necessary to allocate a separate channel and/or to switch channels for providing additional content.

Abstract: A media system configured to select personalized programming for individual users is disclosed. The programming may include content, advertisements, and/or interactive queries, each of which may be selected based on profiles of the users.

Abstract: A method for digital commerce in conjunction with a digital broadcast, the method may comprise: a) receiving a digital broadcast signal with a receiving device, wherein the digital broadcast signal includes a commercial message and ancillary data associated with the commercial message; b) presenting the commercial message with a display device associated with the digital broadcast receiving device if a predetermined condition exists; c) generating response information using the ancillary data, wherein the response information is usable to determine an effectiveness of the commercial message in generating a response of a percipient of the commercial message; and d) transmitting the response information if a commercial transaction associated with the commercial message is completed. An alternative method may include a), b) and determining an effectiveness of the commercial message in generating a response of a percipient of the commercial message.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for re-presentation of previously presented content. One of the methods includes providing a video advertisement for presentation on a user device along with a video content item, in response to receiving a request to view the video content item. First information is received that indicates that a user of the user device wants to skip the video advertisement or that the video advertisement has completed play. After receipt of the first information, a control to facilitate re-presentation of the video advertisement is provided. Second information is received indicating that the user of the user device has interacted with the control. The video advertisement is provided for re-presentation to the user device.

Abstract: During or prior to streaming of video content to a client device, a server provides data configuring an interactive object on the client device. When activated by user input, the interactive object enables a user to select one or more video ads to be streamed to the client device during an upcoming ad break, during play of the streaming video. The interactive object enables the user to perform the selection without interrupting viewing of the video.

Abstract: A method and computing device for switching from a first transport stream to a second transport stream. The method detects a trigger in the first transport stream that determines a switch point for tuning to the second transport stream. The method receives a last frame of audio/video content in the first transport stream that immediately precedes the switch point, and initiates a switch to the second transport stream after receiving the last frame. The method processes the last frame through an audio/video decoder simultaneous with the initiating of the switch, and disables the output of the audio/video decoder after the processing of the last frame. The method receives a first frame of audio/video content in the second transport stream, and enables the output of the audio/video decoder after processing the first frame through the audio/video decoder.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to monitoring and using telemetry information in various ways. For example, a system that monitors telemetry information may include a user that gathers telemetry information of a device and transmits the information to a monitored room. A manager may join a monitored room and monitor the monitored room for particular types of telemetry information. In one example, a manager may determine whether a downstream device is experiencing a network problem, such as a low bitrate. A manager may also transmit commands to the player via the monitored room, which causes the downstream device to operate in accordance with the transmitted command. In one example, a manager may transmit a command that causes a player to decode a particular service.

Abstract: A method and system selects advertisements based on data regarding a user's behavioral patterns, such as the user's broadcast viewing history, current state of motion, and location, interests, and intentions.

Abstract: A video services receiver for presenting video content, and related methods of operating the video services receiver, are presented here. An exemplary operating method identifies, at the video services receiver, an upcoming program event having content preferred by a user of the video services receiver. The method continues by generating, at the video services receiver, a graphical program notification comprising information related to the upcoming program event. The graphical program notification is provided for presentation on a display associated with the video services receiver.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for managing playback of content delivered to a mobile device with a pause and resume functionality. The method and system including receiving delivered content on a mobile device, initiating playback of the delivered content, pausing playback of the content being delivered to the mobile device in response to an action and resuming delivery of the content upon a request.

Abstract: A system and method in a television system for presenting information associated with a user-selected object in a television program is provided. An identity of a user-selected object in a television program being presented to a user is determined. Based at least in part on the identity of the user-selected object in the television program, information to present to the user is determined. The determined information is presented to the user on a television display.

Abstract: Monitoring user activity on a mobile device is described. In one aspect, video content is received and played to a user of the mobile device. The monitoring activity detects an interruption of playback of the video content and determines an event associated with the interruption. The event is stored in the mobile device and communicated to a remote device.

Abstract: An early warning system is provided. The early warning system includes a plurality of sensors, a server, and an information appliance device. The sensors produce status information. The server produces event information according to the status information of the sensors, transforms the event information into a first multimedia signal, and transmits the first multimedia signal to the information appliance device through a computer network. The information appliance device is connected to a display device, wherein the information appliance device transforms the first multimedia signal into a second multimedia signal capable of displaying through the display device. The disclosure further provides an early warning server, an early warning method, and a computer program product for report information.