Abstract: Disclosed embodiments are directed an application program configured to run on a user's mobile device can allow voice-activated call pick-up to the user, without the user having to use his or her hands for picking up the call. For example, the application program can initially be trained to a user's voice command. When an incoming call is received at the mobile device, the user can pick up the call by issuing a voice command. In some embodiments, the application program can determine whether to allow voice-activated pick-up of calls based on data collected from multiple sensors associated with the vehicle, the mobile device, or a remote source.

Abstract: A computer network security manager device connects to a first wireless router and then connects to a plurality of devices (e.g., a plurality of IoT devices). The computer network security manager device then performs device agnostic activation of the plurality of devices to enable the plurality of devices to perform respective functions of each device. The security manager device prevents the plurality of devices from connecting directly to the first wireless router and only allows other devices on the Internet to communicate with the plurality of devices according to specific firewall rules. In response to receiving an indication that the first wireless router to which the network security manager device is connected is out of service or no longer exists, the network security manager device prevents other devices on the Internet from being able to communicate with the plurality of devices.

Abstract: Providing of relevant information to a responder is described. A responder system receives alert data identifying an incident location. Available relevant data for the incident location is stored in the responder system. When relevant data is not stored, relevant data for the incident location is obtained from an external data source and stored in the responder system. While proceeding to the incident location and based on the alert data and the relevant data, initial augmented reality information is prepared for presentation to a responder. Upon arriving at the incident location, second augment reality information is generated. Upon arriving within a localized area of the incident location, an IoT device operable within the localized area is identified and selected and a communications link therewith is established. First IoT device data is received from the selected IoT device, and based thereon third augmented reality information is generated.

Abstract: An Interactive Media Event (IME) system includes a sync server, a first user device, and a second user device, each device is coupled to the server. The server executes computer instructions instantiating a content segment engine which outputs a Party matter to the second user device and instantiates an IME engine which receives, from the second user device, a later reaction to the Party matter. The IME engine synchronizes the later reaction with the Party matter. The Party matter may include a media event and a prior reaction to the media event received from the first user device. The media event includes a primary content segment and synchronization information associated therewith. The prior reaction and/or the later reaction may be synchronized to the primary content segment and/or to each other using the synchronization information. A reaction may include chat data captured during the Party.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are provided to facilitate content receiver control for particularized output of content items based on intra-content metrics. Observation data, corresponding to indications of detected content receiver operations associated with a content receiver and mapped to a first set of content items, may be processed. A first set of intra-content metrics may be detected. An audiovisual pattern of intra-content metrics may be mapped based on correlating the set of observation data with the first set of intra-content metrics. A second set of content items may be processed to detect a second set of intra-content metrics. A subset of the second set of content items may be selected based on a visual category and/or an audio category of the audiovisual pattern of intra-content metrics. The subset may be specified to cause a content receiver to modify operations to record and/or output content corresponding to the subset.

Abstract: A system for facilitating configuration of an audio system tests the existing audio system configuration by playing reference audio clips of various different genres of programming, the audio of which is received by a microphone of a remote control device or other handheld mobile device at various different listening points in the room. The system then compares the audio signal representing audio of the reference audio clip received at the microphone to a reference audio signal representing the reference audio clip and determines other audio characteristics. The system then determines, based on the comparison and other characteristics of the room (e.g., furniture layout, room construction materials, wall treatments and current speaker positioning) suggested changes to a configuration of the audio system to increase audio quality of the audio system for playing audio associated with the various different genres of programming.

Abstract: Embodiments are related to faster provisioning of targeted advertisements at a set-top box (STB) via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the STB and a remote server. The disclosed IP-based advertisement distribution system enables targeted advertisements to be pulled from the remote server efficiently, causing the advertisements to be made available within a short time frame (e.g., less than one day from the time when the advertisements are available). The disclosed methods enables a STB to determine whether to retain existing targeted advertisements, discard them, or provision newly-available advertisements. The targeted advertisements can depend on various factors such as demographic information of an owner of the STB, lifestyle information of the owner of the STB, etc.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for intelligent ad-based routing. In example aspects, a destination input, desired time for arrival, and user profile data is received in a ride-sharing application. The input data is classified by applying one or more machine-learning models to the data. Based on the classified data results, candidate physical advertisement locations may be selected along a certain route. Different types of routes may be selected that range from the shortest possible route (i.e., a direct route) to a major detour (i.e., the most cost-effective route). A major detour takes the user on a route that exposes the user to as many advertisements as possible while still arriving at the final destination before the desired time of arrival. In exchange for a longer route and more exposure to physical advertisements, the cost of the ride may be offset.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for use in interpreting, converting, generating, embedding, presenting, storing and otherwise using mini-banner content. For at least one embodiment, a mini-banner content system may include a secondary content system element which executes non-transient computer executable instructions to configure: a content interpreter to interpret secondary content, identify aspect information, and output the aspect information; a content converter, which when receiving aspect information at least one of retrieves a first element corresponding to the aspect information and/or generates a second element corresponding to the aspect information, and generates a mini-banner content element based upon results of the retrieving operation and/or the generating operation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory, machine-readable media are disclosed for audio adaption of content items to device operations of an endpoint media device. First observation data corresponding to media device operations associated with a first media device and mapped to first content items may be processed. A first content composite including an adaptable content item may be received. The first content composite may be adapted with a first audio segment. Based on the first observation data, the first audio segment may be selected. The first content composite may be configured with the first audio segment so that the adapted first content composite plays the first audio segment when the adapted first content composite is presented. The adapted first content composite may be output for presentation, where the first endpoint media device or the second endpoint media device performs at least one operation relating to the adapted first content composite.

Abstract: Commentary rating determination systems and methods determine a commentary rating for commentary about a subject media content event that has been generated by a community member. An exemplary embodiment receives video information acquired by a 360° video camera, identifies a physical object from the received video information, determines a physical attribute associated with the identified physical object, wherein the determined physical attribute describes a characteristic of the identified physical object, compares the determined physical attribute of the identified physical object with a plurality of predefined physical object attributes stored in a database, and in response to identifying one of the plurality of predefined physical object attributes that matches the determined physical attribute, associates the quality value of the identified one of the plurality of predefined physical object attributes with the identified physical object.

Abstract: A drone deployable power line fault detection sensor. The sensor can include a clamp mechanism having a clamp ring with first and second ring portions movably connected to each other and a resilient member positioned to urge the first and second ring portions toward a closed configuration. A latch can be positioned to retain the first and second ring portions in an open configuration whereby the sensor can be positioned on a power transmission line with a drone. A trigger can be coupled to the latch and operative, under the weight of the sensor, to disengage the latch thereby releasing the first and second ring portions to close around the transmission line under the force of the resilient member. One or more sensors are carried by the clamp mechanism and positioned to detect a line fault on the power transmission line, which is reported to a power station control system to de-energize the power transmission line.

Abstract: Methods, systems, media devices, and non-transitory, machine-readable media to facilitate asynchronous wireless media transfer are disclosed. A request for video service from a content provider system via a wireless network may be received. A media device may be configured to provide an asynchronous session for subsequent video content transfer. The configuring may utilize a network layer and a transport layer without utilizing a presentation layer and an application layer. Specifications of asynchronous session parameters may be created to define delivery operations with the asynchronous session. An encrypted token, corresponding to the specifications, may be created. Opening of the asynchronous session may be requested by transmitting the encrypted token to the content provider system from the transport layer. At the session layer, the asynchronous session may be started for video content delivery in accordance with the specifications of the asynchronous session parameters.

Abstract: Techniques described herein include evaluation and management of device hardware, software, and network resources during streaming, downloading, or playback of video resources on client devices from remote locations. Certain aspects relate to evaluating the current resources available at a client device, such as memory, processing capacity, device battery status, network availability and/or network data quotas, in view of a video resource request. Based on the evaluation of the client device's resources, and estimations of the effects that video streaming/downloading and playback may have on the client device's resources, the client device may control, customize, and/or alter the retrieval or playback of requested video resources.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for usage tracking for shared dockless personal transport vehicles (PTVs) over one or more communications networks. Features encourage desired interactions between consumers and PTVs, such as by encouraging consumers to park the PTVs in a desirable condition and in desirable locations. For example, embodiments obtain location data from at least one sensor (e.g., a camera of a smart phone) indicating a parked location of a PTV of a fleet of shared PTVs. A set of parked location attributes is computed in accordance with the obtained location data, and an arbitration determination is computed indicating whether the set of parked location attributes meets a stored set of acceptance criteria. In accordance with a favorable computed arbitration determination, embodiments can output lock control data for a vehicle lock of the PTV (e.g., to lock the PTV in its parked location).

Abstract: A consolidated watch party system includes a sync server and a first user device communicatively coupled thereto. The sync server executes computer instructions instantiating a consolidation engine operable to assemble a watch party reel that includes a content segment and a prior reaction to the content segment and output the watch party reel to the first user device for presentation to a first user. The content segment may include a portion of a content presented during a watch party. The prior reaction may include chat data, captured during the watch party by a watch party user device, that includes a user reaction to the content. The prior reaction may include a facial response, an audible response, or other response. The consolidation engine selects the content segment, from a collection thereof, using a first tag associated therewith, generated by a source of the content segment, and/or corresponding to a criteria.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for operating system (OS) agnostic containerization for application deployment. For example, an application is being deployed to a large number of target computational environments running a variety of different OSs, including OSs that are either unknown to the deployment environment or not directly supported by OS-specific container runtimes accessible to the deployment environment. Embodiments can automatically generate a resource profile of a target OS running in a target computational environment, for example, by exploiting functionality of a network interface application also running in the target computational environment. The resource profile can be used to convert an OS-agnostic container runtime into a target-tailored container runtime (tailored for the target OS), and the target-tailored runtime can be deployed to build the containerized application in the target computational environment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for adapting content items to device operations of an endpoint media device are disclosed. A first content composite may be created by one or more processing devices for delivery in a packet stream from a content provider system via one or more networks, where the first content composite may include an adaptable content item corresponding to a set of one or more audio and/or video packets corresponding to audio and/or video content. The first content composite may be transmitted, where, consequent to delivery of the first content composite to a first endpoint media device or a second endpoint media device, the first endpoint media device or the second endpoint media device may perform one operation relating to a second content item of the first content composite, where the adaptable content item may be modified based on the second content item.

Abstract: Improved technical functionality is provided to dynamically select and seamlessly play advertisements immediately before playing of a recorded program upon selection of the recorded program for playing, or upon other detected events and conditions associated with the set-top-box (STB) or user. In some embodiments, this is performed by using metadata which may be delivered to and stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) prior to recording the program, providing a technical solution to enable opportunities for additional advertisement impressions. Playing of the advertisement may also or instead occur upon the recorded program finishing playing. Thus, the technical solution provides the additional opportunity for the content creator and/or the satellite television or cable service provider to sell advertising spots in addition to those already sold for breaks within the recorded program.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for detecting and remediating compression artifacts in multimedia items. In example aspects, a machine learning model is trained on a dataset related to compression artifacts and non-compression artifacts. Input data may then be collected by a data collection module and provided to a pattern recognition module. The pattern recognition module may extract visual and audio features of the multimedia item and provide the extracted features to the trained machine learning model. The trained machine learning model may compare the extracted features to the model, and a confidence value may be generated. The confidence value may be compared to a confidence value threshold. If the confidence value is equal to or exceeds the confidence threshold, then the input data may be classified as containing at least one compression artifact. Remedial action may subsequently be applied (e.g., boosting the system with technical resources).