Abstract: This invention describes a cloud-based architecture that orchestrates the detection and dissemination of highly-dynamic, real-time, and fine-grained TV white space information to improve spectrum information used for White Space Devices (WSDs). Wasted spectrum opportunities were first identified, both temporal and spatial, due to the current approach of white spaces detection. This invention introduces a next generation of geo-location databases capable of tracking the state of the relatively static TV transmitters and the highly dynamic TV receivers. A quantitative evaluation of the potential gain in white space availability for large scale deployments of this novel architecture demonstrated significant improvement in the availability of white spaces.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatic insertion of interactive television (TV) triggers into a broadcast data stream. The automatic insertion of the Interactive TV trigger can be based on recognition of one or more elements within the broadcast data stream. In particular, a recognized element can trigger the insertion of the interactive TV trigger into the broadcast data stream. Furthermore, the interactive TV trigger can be pre-inserted into the stored broadcast content having the recognized element prior to being broadcast.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate generation, distribution, and presentation of a video program on a virtual channel. In one embodiment, an electronic program guide (“EPG”) manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The EPG manager receives from a program distributor a video stream that has plurality of video programs having program content. Each program has been preassigned for presentation on a particular channel. A virtual channel is linked to one or more users. The EPG manager tracks the types of programs that a user watches and records metadata associated with the programs that the user actually views. When sufficient data is stored in the data base, the virtual channel is provided that program that a user will likely wish to view based on this past viewing history.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating opting back in to, or controlling, the sending of promotional communications by customers. A system is provided that includes at least one computing device upon which an application is executable. The application is configured to determine an option status of a customer with respect to whether the customer wishes to receive a plurality of promotional communications from a merchant. The application is further configured to determine whether an opted-out customer meets a criterion to be prompted to opt back into receiving the promotional communications. Also, the application is configured to associate a prompt with a network content item to send to a client. The prompt is configured to initiate a re-selection of the option status of the customer if manipulated by the customer at the client.

Abstract: A system and method manages the provisioning of an client device connected to a service distribution network, such as an interactive television service-providing network. Provisioning is managed by a provisioning manager that knows the specific provisioning data to collect and where the data is located and is to be forwarded. The client or subscriber can initiate the provisioning transaction through the client device.

Abstract: A device having a sensor detecting patient physiological data, a detection element detecting whether a medical professional is present in a patient's room and a display. If a medical professional is present in the patient's room, the display displays a first display mode, the first display mode including the patient physiological data. If a medical professional is not present in the patient's room, the display displays a second display mode, the second display mode being adapted for viewing by lay viewers.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creating user-defined interaction spaces and modalities in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space in response to control gestures. It also relates to controlling virtual cameras in the 3D sensor space using control gestures and manipulating controls of the virtual cameras through the control gestures. In particular, it relates to defining one or more spatial attributes of the interaction spaces and modalities in response to one or more gesture parameters of the control gesture. It also particularly relates to defining one or more visual parameters of a virtual camera in response to one or more gesture parameters of the control gesture.

Abstract: System and methods for performing a particular action on a second device directed from a first device. In some implementations, the methods include receiving, from a first device, a hyperlink corresponding to associated content, and a user input on the first device enabling the hyperlink; in response to receiving the user input on the first device enabling the hyperlink, parsing the received hyperlink to extract information embedded in the text of the hyperlink; determining, based at least on the extracted information embedded in the text of the hyperlink, and the associated content corresponding to the hyperlink, a particular action to be performed on a second device, wherein the particular action is configured to be viewable to a user providing the user input on the first device; and providing, to the second device, an instruction to perform the particular action on the second device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are describe wherein a service provider provides media services that can include, but are not limited to, telephone, radio, interactive and television services. A user residence and/or a user receiving device are designated as a primary location or device for receiving the services of the service provider. An authorization center authenticates a request to provide the service(s) at one or more secondary location/device. The verification process can include, but is not limited to, password(s), Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and biometric identifiers such as voice, retina, finger print and DNA.

Abstract: A method of setting controls on a digital communication device operated by an end user participant in a digital content event provided from a digital communication network includes operating a tracking control in the digital communication network to track activity of the digital communication device in a context of the digital content event; operating a timer in conjunction with the activity to form a time-stamped set of ranking controls; attenuating the time-stamped set of ranking controls according to an elapsed time; applying the time-stamped set of ranking controls and content inputs from a digital content manager to operate a ranking control and digital filter to generate a control interface for the digital communication device, the control interface comprising a plurality of individually operable controls; and configuring the digital communication device with the control interface.

Abstract: Event records can include session data representing a particular consumer and a particular standard period of time, and can include station identification information indicating a media station to which the consumer was tuned during standard period of time. Records can be designated as overlapping event records if multiple event records represent the same consumer and the same period of time, but identify different media stations, and at least some overlapping event records can be eliminated from consideration before determining audience migration information. Audience migration information, including tune-ins and tune-outs, can be determined based on whether or not a consumer has multiple event records showing different media stations at adjacent times. The audience migration information can then be transmitted to an end-user machine for display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate threshold values for state detection are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a threshold generator to maintain, in memory, a collection of audio data elements representative of sound levels present in an environment at respective times when ON-indications are detected for a monitored media device. The threshold generator to replace, in response to detection of a next ON-indication in the environment, one of the audio data elements in the memory with a new audio data element representing a sound level in the environment at a time of the next ON-indication. A selector to select, for a value of a threshold condition of a state detection analysis, one of the audio data elements in the memory corresponding to a lowest sound level, at least one of the threshold generator or the selector implemented by at least one of a processor or hardware.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for assisting users to share specific locations within videos. Specifically, controls are provided to enable a viewer of a video to drop a “video pin” on a location within a video. In response to the user dropping a video pin at a particular location in the video, a “video pin record” that indicates the selected location is automatically generated by a video pin application. The video pins may be used to identify specific time points in the video and/or specific time segments of the video. Video pin records may be shared with other users to allow the other users to immediately jump to the locations, within the video, at which the corresponding video pins were dropped.

Abstract: A system and a method for measuring and monitoring effectiveness of on-line advertising are provided. The system and method provide a code attached to, for example, an advertising banner of a company that may advertise goods and/or services of the company. The code provides a signal to a server when the banner is viewed on a computer of a user. Cookie data is transferred by the server to the computer of the user providing information related to viewing of the advertising banner. Surveys are further presented to users to obtain information related to the effectiveness of the advertising for both exposed users and control users.

Abstract: A method for controlling, by a policy and charging enforcement unit, an access procedure of a mobile entity to a packet switched network via a cellular network, the mobile entity belonging to a group of mobile entities having common policy and charging rules. The method comprises the steps of receiving an attach request message to establish a group session for one of the mobile entities belonging to group, and checking whether a group subscription profile with policy and charging rules is provided in the policy and charging enforcement unit for the group, wherein if the policy and charging rules are provided in the policy and charging enforcement unit, the provided policy and charging rules are applied to the one mobile entity for which the attach request message has been received.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a system and methods for media content analysis based at least in part upon social media data. In some embodiments, a computer system may identify social media messages corresponding to televised content. For example, following the uploading of a television show (or advertisement) to an Internet website, or transmission across a television network, viewers and non-viewers of the show may begin commenting upon the show. The system may correlate the number of viewers of the show with the social media messages to generate one or more metrics describing relations between the show's viewership and the show's social media effects.

Abstract: A method for providing a playlist, a remote controller applying the same, and a multimedia system are provided. The method for providing a playlist includes displaying a plurality of content lists of a plurality of kinds of contents in which contents of a same kind are arranged together, the plurality of content lists being displayed on a first area of a screen, if at least two different kinds of contents are selected from the plurality of content lists in a selecting, collecting the selected contents of the at least two different kinds of contents, and generating and displaying a playlist including play information regarding the collected contents of the at least two different kinds of contents.

Abstract: Media content may include one or more advertisements for a product or a company, and such an advertisement may display a visual object (e.g., a logo) of an advertiser. An advertisement impact machine accesses media content, where the media content includes a frame within which the visual object is depicted. The advertisement impact machine accesses a viewer count that represents a number of viewers of the media content. The advertisement impact machine determines a duration during which the visual object is presented within the media content. The advertisement impact machine determines an impact factor based on the duration and on the viewer count. The impact factor may then be provided by the advertisement impact machine as a numerical score indicating a degree of effectiveness of an advertisement that includes the visual object within the media content.

Abstract: A system distributes digital media content to a plurality of user devices, where a given user is associated with multiple user devices. First content is provided by a controller to a first user device and, in response, the controller determines interaction by the user with the first content. Thereafter, the controller provides second content to a second user device based on the prior provision of the first user content to the first user device and the first interaction information. More extensive user interaction history as well as device types may also be employed by the controller when determining the second content.

Abstract: A method for recommending choices to a user comprises receiving data. A first set of recommendation choices based on the data is derived using a first model that models a user's subconscious reactions (i.e., intuition) to the data, and a second set of recommendation choices based on the data is derived using a second model that models the user's consciousness. The first and second sets of recommendation choices are blended using a blending function based on characteristics of a domain of the data to create a third set of recommendation choices that are arranged in an order, which is presented to the user. A conscious decision of the user and subconscious reactions of the user are monitored, and data representing the subconscious reactions of the user and data representing the conscious decisions of the user are appended to a first and second memory space, respectively.

Abstract: One or more computing devices may be configured to identify information corresponding to a program change request associated with a multi-program data transmission. The information may comprise at least a link to a desired program within the multi-program data transmission. The one or more computing devices may communicate the link to the desired program to a client device over a specified time period. After the time period, the one or more computing devices may communicate the desired program to the client device using a single program data transmission. The single program data transmission may be derived from the multi-program data transmission.

Abstract: Audience migration information can include information about audience members who tuned to, or away from, a station at particular times, and can suggest a rate of change in the average number of audience members over a first time period, and a rate of change in the number of audience members over a second period. Normalized audience migration information, which can indicate a difference between the two rates of change can be generated and used as one of multiple graph plots. The normalized audience migration information can be generated at a server, at a networked computer running a browser, or the like. A graphical user interface (GUI) can be used to display a graphical representation of the audience migration information. Additional panes tied to the content displayed in the graphical representation can also be displayed in the GUI.

Abstract: A system and method for reconciling media content available through a number of service providers. A request is received to identify media content. One or more characteristics of the media content are determined. A determination is made whether the media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics. An identifier is associated with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content. The media content is cross referenced between the number of service providers utilizing the identifier and time zones. A database is updated to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content.

Abstract: A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) service and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including an NRT service, the method comprises receiving a broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying the NRT service based on the first signaling information, parsing the second signaling information to identify an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NRT service signaling channel, receiving the NRT service signaling channel by accessing the IP address, and downloading a desired NRT service based on the NRT service signaling channel.

Abstract: To provide audience measurement services without requiring broadcasters to install additional watermarking equipment, a small video capture device may receive a video signal viewed by an audience member, the signal including embedded closed captioning data, and may decode and transmit the closed captioning data to an audience measurement server. The measurement server may receive the data and compare the received data to a database of closed captioning text to identify matches. The database may be populated via one or more additional capture devices receiving local or national broadcast signals, or with data separately provided by broadcasters. When a match is found, the measurement server may determine that the audience member is watching a program having the corresponding closed captioning. Dynamically generated confidence scores may allow for reliable identification of audience members of content, even with very short closed captioning data lengths.

Abstract: An example information processing device displays a partial area of a panoramic video on a display device. The information processing device obtains range information with which it is possible to identify a display range of the panoramic video to be displayed and/or to identify a position within the display range. The obtained range information is information regarding a display range determined based on an input made on a predetermined input device while the panoramic video is played. Where the panoramic video is output using the display device, the information processing device outputs the panoramic video while changing output content thereof in accordance with the obtained range information.

Abstract: A television guide search query is received from a user. A plurality of suggested search terms are selected. Each of the plurality of suggested search terms is assigned to, and is ranked within, one of a plurality of categories A number of suggested search terms to be returned to the user, nc, is determined for each of the plurality of categories, nc being equal to a ratio of the number of suggested search terms in the respective category to a total number of suggested search terms multiplied by a total number of displayed search terms. A result set is created by adding, for each of the plurality of categories, the top ranked nc suggested search terms to the result set. The result set is transmitted to the user. A selection of a search term is received from the user and is used to conduct a television guide search.

Abstract: Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.

Abstract: Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for using second screen devices to augment media engagement metrics. In one aspect, a method includes accessing user activity data describing user activities performed by a user on a first user device during a first time period, and accessing data describing presentation of one or more content items during the first time period on second user devices. For the first user device, determining based on the user activity data, for each of a plurality of second time periods that are sub-periods of the first time period, a first level of user engagement with the first user device, and determining, based on the user activity data, for each second time period that is a sub-period of the first time period, a second level of user engagement with the one or more content items presented.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to identify media using hash keys. An example method involves when a first metered hash key does not match a first reference hash key, generating, with a processor, an error level using a bitwise comparison of the first metered hash key and a second reference hash key corresponding to a second metered hash key. When the error level satisfies a threshold, the example method involves obtaining, with a processor, media reference data stored in association with the second reference hash key, and storing, with a processor, the media reference data in association with the first metered hash key.

Abstract: Systems and methods for surveying presence messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing are disclosed. The system includes a presentity module and surveying server, specifying a parameter for subsequent publishing and compiling a notification list of watchers for participation in a given survey. The system further includes a presence-notification server, presence-messaging user agent module and a client feedback module, collecting information regarding interacting with the message in and transmitting the information to the surveying server. The method includes composing a message, specifying at least one parameter for subsequent publishing, compiling a notification list of watchers for participation in a given survey, selectively notifying the message to the watchers in the notification list, viewing the message notified to the watchers in notification list and interacting with the message.

Abstract: Effects of content communications propagated to users of a social networking system may be tracked and measured by the social networking system. Identifiers of content presented to users within a time period before the users interact with the content are recorded. As users interact with the content, additional data describing the interactions with the content and the users interacting with the content are stored. Various metrics may be determined from the data describing interactions with the content. For example including virality metrics and reach metrics, may be determined and presented to the user that posted the content.

Abstract: A server device may receive, from a user device, a request to store a unique copy of particular content, associated with a particular user; store, in a storage device associated with the server device, the unique copy of the particular content; determine a set of attributes of the particular content; determine a set of criteria based on which the unique copy of the particular content should be provided to the user device, the determining being based on one or more attributes, of the set of attributes of the particular content; determine that the set of criteria have been met; output, based on determining that the set of criteria have been met, the unique copy of the particular content to the user device; and delete the unique copy of the particular content from the storage device after outputting the particular content to the user device.

Abstract: A server computer system receives event logs from one or more client devices for multiple consumption sessions of an online media item. The event logs are received based on random schedules. The system determines, for various times, a first number of consumption sessions during which an event log is scheduled to be sent at the corresponding times. The system determines, for the various times, a second number of consumption sessions during which an event log was sent to the server computer system at the corresponding times. The determinations being based on the event logs. The system determine, for each of the times, a probability that consumption time for the online media item is the corresponding time or less. The determination is based on the first number and the second number. The system determines consumption time metrics for the online media item based the probabilities for the plurality of times.

Abstract: Tuning data representing a television viewing event associated with a particular household is accessed. Household member data representing information on individual members of the particular household is accessed. Viewing profile data representing information on individual members of other households regarding viewership by the individual members of the other households is accessed. Fractional viewership values for the individual members of the particular household are determined based on the tuning data, the household member data, and the viewing profile data. Household viewership data is determined based on the fractional viewership values.

Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a set of devices (including two or more online devices and possibly a set-top box); and (ii) delivers an advertisement targeted using profile information associated with one of the online devices. The advertisement is presented along with media content. If the media content is viewed using a single-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select or receive the media content. If the media content is viewed using a multiple-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select, receive, or present the media content or with an online device associated with one or more of those online devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing portable device presence utilizing environmental ambient audio fingerprints. Portable devices provide media exposure data and environmental ambient fingerprints to a processing device, where the environmental ambient signatures provide at least one characteristic of the ambient audio surrounding each portable device. The environmental ambient signatures are then processed to determine if they match. Portable devices associated with matching signatures are identified. Ambient fingerprints may also be used to establish a logical location where media exposure took place. The ambient signatures are alternately combined with monitored data to provide more robust data sets for contextual processing.

Abstract: An audio-visual terminal and a viewing authentication system and control programs therefor are provided. The audio-visual terminal includes a reproducing part for reproducing the audio-visual program, a motion instructing part for instructing, a motion sensor for detecting a response motion of the viewer made by the viewer for transmission to a viewing authenticating principal, a sending part for sending information output from the audio-visual terminal to a viewing authentication system of the viewing authenticating principal, and a coding part for coding information about the response motion of the viewer obtained from a detection result detected by the motion sensor into a signal sendable by the sending part.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying media and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for decoding identifiers after broadcast. An example method includes a portion of an identifying code from a media signal, determine a partition of the look-up table based on the portion of the identifying code wherein the partition of the look-up table includes reference signatures associated with the portion of the identifying code, and identify the media signal by comparing a signature extracted from the media signal to reference signatures in the partition of the look-up table.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate audience measurement information are disclosed. An example method includes analyzing a plurality of media identifiers collected over a first period of time to identify a dominant one of the media identifiers for the first period of time; and communicating the dominant media identifier for the first period of time via a text-only messaging service to a storage facility.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system for detecting violation of intellectual property rights of a digital file, comprising, in a distribution channel, digitally sending or streaming the file from a sending party to a receiving party, adding a watermark to the digital file at the sending party prior to sending or streaming the file, wherein the watermark comprises an identifier of the sending and receiving party(s), as well as a unique file ID. In one embodiment, the party is informed about user and/or customer behavior, and can take precautions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data. Offline and online audience measurement data may be compared and correlated to improve the quality of each data and source set. Positive correlations between the offline and online data sets related to a particular event may indicate demographic traits that are likely true, such that outliers may be removed from the set or considered at a reduced weight. Negative correlations may indicate that demographic information within a source set, such as the online measurement data, may be false or suspect.

Abstract: Disclosed an apparatus and method of rendering user interface for playing the broadcast program, which is effective to enable a user to view the broadcast program without being limited to the past or future time zone, in the case that a user makes the current viewing point be located in the past or future time zone compared to the current broadcasting point when the broadcast program is played.

Abstract: Systems and methods are describe wherein a service provider provides media services that can include, but are not limited to, telephone, radio, interactive and television services. A user residence and/or a user receiving device are designated as a primary location or device for receiving the services of the service provider. An authorization center authenticates a request to provide the service(s) at one or more secondary location/device. The verification process can include, but is not limited to, password(s), Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and biometric identifiers such as voice, retina, finger print and DNA.

Abstract: An intelligent television is provided that can collect viewer information for use by a rating service.

Abstract: A display device includes a display module configured to output a broadcast program and a channel banner list, a communication module configured to perform a data communication with an external server, a receiving unit configured to receive a channel change signal, a memory configured to store a viewing history data of a user, and a controller configured to control an operation of the display device, the controller is further configured to output a first broadcast channel banner list including a channel banner of broadcast channels received by the display device in a screen, receive a broadcast channel change signal more than a first number within a predetermined time period, output a second broadcast channel banner list having changed a size of the channel banner of the channels included in the first broadcast channel banner list.

Abstract: A method of and system for conducting multiple competitions of skill for a single performance are described herein. User generated competition groups and system generated competition groups allow users to participate in multiple competitions at once based on answering the same questions or making the same selections related to a single event. The users are informed of each competition either via email, text message or when logging into the network via a website. The users select which competitions groups to join. After joining the desired groups, the users then make their selections related to the event which are transmitted to the network where results are tabulated and transmitted back to the users. The results are separated based on each competition group, so that users can continually know where they stand in each separate competition. With multiple competition groups, users are able to have varying success from the same performance in multiple competitions.

Abstract: In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile.

Abstract: A data-providing system comprising a first data-transmitting section (control unit 1), a control section (control unit 3), and a second data-transmitting section (control unit 3). The first data-transmitting section transmits a continuous stream of content data that consists of multimedia content groups, each composed of program data and auxiliary data items. The control section processes data items obtained by dividing each program data, attribute data of the auxiliary data items and user profile data, thereby to automatically assemble new data. The second data-transmitting section changes the order in which to transmit the auxiliary data items inserted in a program, in accordance with the new data assembled by the control section.