Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining user interface controls associated with hierarchical levels during media content playback. In some embodiments, instructions may be provided to display user interface controls associated with a level of media content, such as a chapter level. A change in the level of media content and/or the user interface controls associated with the level may be a response to a level change request. A level change request may be initiated by user input and/or may automatically be initiated by the current content playback position.

Abstract: A media device generates a digital fingerprint of perceptual features of a segment of a work. The segment is less than an entirety of the work and includes at least one of audio or video media content. The media device sends a query to a lookup server for data associated with the work, the query including said digital fingerprint. The media device receives the data associated with said work from said lookup server in response to said query, wherein the data was identified based on a comparison of the digital fingerprint to a collection of digital fingerprints of known works. The media device then processes the received data.

Abstract: A processor receives a first list comprising a plurality of events from a portion of digital data of an unknown work and one or more metrics between each pair of adjacent events from the plurality of events. The processor compares the first list to a second list comprising events and metrics between events for a known work to determine a first quantity of hits and a second quantity of misses. The processor determines whether the first list matches the second list based on the first quantity of hits and the second quantity of misses. The processor determines that the unknown work is a copy of the known work responsive to determining that the first list matches the second list.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for initiating one or more actions based at least in part on an audio output device. Upon connection of an audio output device such as headphones one or more actions may be configured to occur. These actions may include playing at least a portion of an audio content, presenting information on a display, and so forth.

Abstract: A content alignment service is described that may generate content synchronization information to facilitate the synchronous presentation of corresponding audio content and textual content. In some embodiments, portions of body text (as opposed to front matter, such as a table of contents; or back matter, such as an index) in the textual content are identified and synchronized with corresponding audio content. In one example application, an audiobook may be synchronized with an electronic book. As the body text portions of the electronic book are consumed, corresponding words of the audiobook may be audibly presented.

Abstract: A media stream cue point creator receives a media stream comprising at least one of an audio portion or a video portion, wherein the media stream lacks at least one indicator of a content segment within the media stream. The media stream cue point creator identifies a first segment of the plurality of segments of the media stream, wherein the segment corresponds to a segment in a segment reference data store, and creates a cue point associated with the first segment, wherein the cue point identifies at least one of a beginning or an end of the first content segment in the media stream.

Abstract: Various systems, processes, and techniques may be used to manage media content playback. In particular implementations, systems and processes may include the ability to generate audio output from media content at a user device and detect an indication to move from a current location in the audio output. The systems and processes may also include the ability to determine a number of location indicators for the audio output, the location indicators associated with different locations in the audio output, select one of the location indicators, and generate audio output beginning near the selected location indicator.

Abstract: A method and system for playlist generation is disclosed. In one aspect, the system may include at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing an unknown work and generating a corresponding representation thereof, and at least one identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from the analysis modules and determining the identity of the unknown work.

Abstract: An authenticator in a second user device captures a media sample played on a first user device in proximity to the second user device. The media sample comprises at least one of an audio portion, a video portion or an image portion of a media stream received by the first user device from a remote media streaming source over a network. The authenticator sends at least a portion of the media sample from the second user device to an authentication server, the authentication server to compare the at least the portion of the media sample to a reference media stream received from the remote media streaming source to determine that the second user device is authenticated for viewing the media stream responsive to the portion of the media sample matching the reference media stream. The authenticator then receives an authentication decision from the authentication server at the second user device, the authentication decision indicating whether the second user device is authenticated.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure enable synchronized content items, such as an ebook and corresponding audiobook, to be navigated via a rotational interface (e.g., a “jog wheel”). Specifically, a playback device is disclosed that enables a rotational interface to be used to select locations within an audiobook or other audio content. During selection of a location, the playback device can maintain an output indicator indicating one or more words within a textual content that match the selected location within the audio content. Thus, a user is enabled to easily and intuitively select precise locations within audio content. In some embodiments, an acceleration or speed of input to the rotational interface may modify how quickly locations within the content item are traversed.

Abstract: Systems and associated processes for guiding users to provide more useful reviews are described. These systems and processes can provide guided reviews in certain embodiments by presenting questions to a user in the form of an interview. The questions can be relevant to the item being reviewed, and as such, may be specifically and dynamically selected based on the particular item under consideration. Many other criteria may be used to select the types of questions presented to users, examples of which will be described below. Presenting review questions to users can have the effect of reducing or eliminating the “blank page” effect of having to write a review from scratch, with no guidance. Accordingly, review questions can potentially elicit more thorough and useful feedback than existing review systems in some embodiments.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for presenting multiple content items based on one or more rules defining how the multiple content items are to be presented. One content item may be a primary content item, and any number of additional content items may be related to or supplement the primary content item in some way. Rules may define which related content items may be presented and, in the case of multimedia content (e.g., content with both audio and video elements), which elements of the primary content may be overridden by or mixed with related content, and which may not. References to related content may be embedded in the primary content item, or references may be accessed at a content management system or service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed enabling recommendations of content items available in multiple formats based on an expected difficulty of a user in comprehending individual formats of the content item. For example, a user wishing to increase reading fluency may be provided with a recommendation for a multi-format content item including both an e-book and an audiobook. The recommended multi-format content item may be selected such that the e-book is expected to be somewhat difficult for the user to comprehend, and such that the audiobook is expected to be relatively less difficult for the user to comprehend. Thereafter, the user may simultaneously consume multiple formats of the recommended content item (e.g., by listening to the audiobook simultaneously to reading the e-book) in order to increase reading fluency.

Abstract: A content alignment service may generate content synchronization information to facilitate the synchronous presentation of audio content and textual content. In some embodiments, a region of the textual content whose correspondence to the audio content is uncertain may be analyzed to determine whether the region of textual content corresponds to one or more words that are audibly presented in the audio content, or whether the region of textual content is a mismatch with respect to the audio content. In some embodiments, words in the textual content that correspond to words in the audio content are synchronously presented, while mismatched words in the textual content may be skipped to maintain synchronous presentation. Accordingly, in one example application, an audiobook is synchronized with an electronic book, so that as the electronic book is displayed, corresponding words of the audiobook are audibly presented.

Abstract: An authenticator in a second user device captures a media sample comprising at least one of an audio portion, a video portion or an image portion. The media sample is played on a first user device. The authenticator compares at least a portion of the media sample to a reference media stream to determine whether the portion of the media sample matches the reference media stream. If the portion of the media sample matches the reference media stream, the authenticator determines that the second user device is authenticated and requests a media stream from a media streaming source.

Abstract: A computing device may provide a control interface that enables the user to manage the synchronized output of companion content (e.g., textual content and corresponding audio content). For example, the computing device may display a visual cue to identify a current location in textual content corresponding to a current output position of companion audio content. As the audio content is presented, the visual cue may be advanced to maintain synchronization between the output position within the audio content and a corresponding position in the textual content. The user may control the synchronized output by dragging her finger across the textual content displayed on the touch screen. Accordingly, the control interface may provide a highlight or other visual indication of the distance between the advancing position in the textual content and the location of a pointer to the textual content indicated by the current position of the user's finger.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating user format preference data and using that data to select and/or deliver a specific format of a work. For example, a dynamic format delivery service can dynamically collect data representing a user's preferences respecting specific contexts and formats, and can store this data in association with the user. The dynamic format delivery service can then make use of that data to dynamically select a format for a requested work in order to provide the user with a format tailored to that specific user's consumption habits. Moreover, data representing preferences of a population of users, context attributes, or device-specific format preferences may further contribute to selecting a work format.

Abstract: A processor receives a first list comprising a plurality of events from a portion of digital data of an unknown work and one or more metrics between each pair of adjacent events from the plurality of events. The processor compares the first list to a second list comprising events and metrics between events for a known work to determine a first quantity of hits and a second quantity of misses. The processor determines whether the first list matches the second list based on the first quantity of hits and the second quantity of misses. The processor determines that the unknown work is a copy of the known work responsive to determining that the first list matches the second list.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to one or more configured computing systems identifying when decoupled content includes a companion content pair (e.g., a first content and a second content) that can be synchronously or interchangeably presented. Further, aspects of the present disclosure relate to notifying a user of the availability of companion content. Notifications can be displayed to a user at any number of notifications triggers that indicate the user may be interested in acquiring companion content. Further, notifications may correspond to an offer to acquire at least a portion of companion content, such as a trial of the companion content. If a user accepts such an offer, synchronization information may be used to begin presentation of the companion content from a last consumed position of a corresponding first content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating a sample of electronic content for transmission to others. For example, a user may select a portion of an electronic content file to be transmitted as an excerpt file to another user. In some instances, transmission may be prohibited based on various criteria.