Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for unlocking in-game content for a video game application. In one embodiment, the video game application may be operated by a user that is concurrently viewing media content. The video game application captures an audio signal from the concurrently-playing media content, performs content recognition on the captured audio signal, and determines whether to unlock one or more portions of in-game content based on the identified media content.

Abstract: An immersive experience system is provided. The immersive experience system has a processor that determines a position of a first head-mounted display. Further, the processor determines a position of a second head-mounted display. The processor also generates a first image for a first immersive experience corresponding to the position of the first head-mounted display. Moreover, the process encodes the first image into a first infrared spectrum illumination having a first wavelength. In addition, the processor generates a second image for a second immersive experience corresponding to the position of the second head-mounted display. Finally, the processor encodes the second image into a second infrared spectrum illumination having a second wavelength. The first wavelength is distinct from the second wavelength.

Abstract: There is provided a system including a memory and a processor configured to stream a media content for playback to a first media device for viewing by a first user, receive, while streaming the media content, an input from the first media device indicating an insertion point in the media content selected by the first user for inserting a contextual message provided by the first user, receive the contextual message from the first media device, stream the media content for playback to a second media device for viewing by a second user, and deliver the contextual message to the second media device for viewing by the second user when streaming the media content to the second media device reaches the insertion point.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method to generate user representative avatars that fit within a design paradigm. The method includes receiving depth information corresponding to multiple user features of the user, determining one or more feature landmarks for the user based on the depth information, utilizing the one or more feature landmarks to classify a first user feature relative to an avatar feature category, selecting a first avatar feature from the avatar feature category based on the classification of the first user feature, combining the first avatar feature within an avatar representation to generate a user avatar, and output the user avatar for display.

Abstract: A system for providing user-driven customization and enhanced personalization of interactive experiences. The system includes data storage for storing player profiles, with each including customization preferences useful in enhancing or generating one of the interactive experiences. The system includes a gameplay space adapted to provide an interactive experience, which includes one or more interactive elements. The system includes a gameplay device configured to be worn or carried by a player. A detection device detects a presence of the player in the gameplay space and obtains a unique identifier for the gameplay device. The system includes a controller retrieving a set of the customization preferences in one of the player profiles associated with the identifier.

Abstract: A method for interacting with a playset comprises acquiring, using a sensor on a mobile device, data corresponding to the playset, and selecting a virtual presentation to display on the mobile device based on the data. The method further comprises displaying, on the display, the virtual presentation while the mobile device is mounted with the playset. The virtual presentation comprises virtual content corresponding to at least one of an interior of the playset and a first physical object.

Abstract: A window in a multi-window display configuration is provided. A gaze of one or more users is directed at the window. The multi-window display configuration has a plurality of windows that are each configured to display corresponding content. Further, a window attribute of the window is modified based upon the gaze. In addition, a request for the content corresponding to the window is sent to a server. The content corresponding to the window is received from the server. The content corresponding to the window is then displayed according to the modified window attribute at the window.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives input data to calculate an effect of a variable on a group for a plurality of methods. Methods in the plurality of methods calculate the effect of the variable for the input data using different logic. A plurality of sub-weights for methods in the plurality of methods are generated. The sub-weights are generated based on a balance metric, a dissimilarity metric, and a reliability metric. The method combines the plurality of sub-weights for methods in the plurality of methods to generate a final weight for the methods. The respective final weight is applied to an intermediate result from a respective method in the plurality of methods to generate a weighted intermediate result for the method. The method combines weighted intermediate results for the plurality of methods to generate a final result for the effect of the variable.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for an airframe of a volitant body are presented herein. An apparatus may include a body having a normal axis. The body comprising a central air passage communicating through the body along the normal axis of the body. The central air passage may have an inlet at a first end of the body and an outlet at a second end of the body, the second end being opposite the first end. The central air passage may form an interior surface of the body. The central air passage permitting a flow of air through the body via the central air passage. The inlet may be formed to produce a Venturi effect in the flow of air passing through the central air passage from the inlet to the outlet by choking the flow of air at the inlet.

Abstract: An interactive autonomous robot is configured for deployment within a social environment. The disclosed robot includes a show subsystem configured to select between different in-character behaviors depending on robot status, thereby allowing the robot to appear in-character despite technical failures. The disclosed robot further includes a safety subsystem configured to intervene with in-character behavior when necessary to enforce safety protocols. The disclosed robot is also configured with a social subsystem that interprets social behaviors of humans and then initiates specific behavior sequences in response.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a communication fusion application enables other software application(s) to interpret spoken user input. In operation, a communication fusion application determines that a prediction is relevant to a text input derived from a spoken input received from a user. Subsequently, the communication fusion application generates a predicted context based on the prediction. The communication fusion application then transmits the predicted context and the text input to the other software application(s). The other software application(s) perform additional action(s) based on the text input and the predicted context. Advantageously, by providing additional, relevant information to the software application(s), the communication fusion application increases the level of understanding during interactions with the user and the overall user experience is improved.

Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a CDN that uses revalidation to force edge servers to refresh their cached objects (i.e., download new copies of the objects from the origin data center). Revalidation can be used by edge servers to determine whether an object currently cached at the edge servers has been updated or changed in the origin data center. The embodiments herein leverage revalidation to perform a forced refresh to force the edge servers to refresh their cached object, regardless whether those cached objects match the objects stored in the origin data center. A forced refresh can be used when there is a network connection that may have caused the cached objects to become corrupted. Moreover, the forced refresh can be performed in batches so as not to overwhelm the network and computing resources in the CDN.

Abstract: A modeling engine generates a prediction model that quantifies and predicts secondary dynamics associated with the face of a performer enacting a performance. The modeling engine generates a set of geometric representations that represents the face of the performer enacting different facial expressions under a range of loading conditions. For a given facial expression and specific loading condition, the modeling engine trains a Machine Learning model to predict how soft tissue regions of the face of the performer change in response to external forces applied to the performer during the performance. The modeling engine combines different expression models associated with different facial expressions to generate a prediction model. The prediction model can be used to predict and remove secondary dynamics from a given geometric representation of a performance or to generate and add secondary dynamics to a given geometric representation of a performance.

Abstract: There is provided a system including a memory storing an executable code and a processor executing the executable code to receive a plurality of video inputs, wherein each video input of the plurality of video inputs includes a video feed from an event, provide the plurality of video inputs to each of a plurality of media devices, receive a plurality of user video inputs each from a different one of the plurality of media devices, wherein each of the plurality of user video inputs is created using the plurality of video inputs, and stream each of the plurality of user video inputs as a separate media channel for display by a plurality of media devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods operating a set remotely, and more specifically, for enabling the control of a remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device as well as the communication between the remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device and various specialty devices of a cloud control center configured to remotely control features of the remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device. In operation, a talent component may receive a user input indicative of turning on the r remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device. Based on receiving the user input, the talent component may automatically connect, via a network, to a cloud control center. Based on connecting to the talent component, the cloud control center may remotely control the remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device an enable the remote recording of audio-visual content.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for methods, computer program products, and systems to improve media playback comprising receiving a variant stream, identifying respective maximum segment durations for a plurality of different types of client devices that will play media content contained in the variant stream, generating, using the variant stream, a respective playlist for each of the plurality of different types of client devices, wherein the respective playlists each contain different maximum segment durations, and delivering the respective playlists to at least one of the plurality of different types of client devices via a distribution network.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a customized content, comprising identifying a customizable content from which to produce the customized content, identifying a base content in the customizable content, and receiving at least one customizing criterion as input. The method further comprises determining a plurality of content modifiers for harmonizing the base content and the customizing criterion, extracting the plurality of content modifiers from a modification library, and integrating the plurality of content modifiers with the base content to produce the customized content. In one embodiment, the method is embodied as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. A system for producing customized content comprises a content host hosting a customizable content including a base content, a modification library, and a content customizing application.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives usage data that is based on a delivery of content by a plurality of content delivery network entities. A first value of a selection parameter is used to determine whether to select a content delivery network entity from the plurality of content delivery network entities to process a first request for content. The method allocates the usage data in a first distribution to the plurality of content delivery network entities. The allocating does not use a condition to determine the first distribution. The usage data is allocated in a second distribution to the plurality of content delivery network entities. The allocating uses the condition to determine the second distribution. The method adjusts the first value of the selection parameter to a second value based on the first distribution and the second distribution.

Abstract: A behavior detection platform may obtain video data of an environment including a guest and may determine a set of normal guest behaviors associated with the environment. The platform may analyze, using a first machine learning model, the video data to identify features of the guest and analyze, using a second machine learning model, the video data and the features to determine an actual guest behavior of the guest. The platform may predict, using the second machine learning model, a predicted guest behavior of the guest based on the actual guest behavior. The behavior detection platform may determine that at least one of the actual guest behavior or the predicted guest behavior is not included in the set of normal guest behaviors. The platform may cause assistance to be provided to the guest based on determining that the actual guest behavior or the predicted guest behavior are not included.

Abstract: A transparent display system is provided where broadcast talent (or presenter) can see interactive content, tool palettes, prompts (and the like) as well as their own sketches and annotations, but a viewing audience sees only the broadcast talent and content intended for the viewing audience with the talent's annotation thereof. A transparent scattering screen together with optical filtering or gating of a first optical property of the light (e.g., polarization-based or wavelength-based) is used such that the first property of the light is projected onto the screen so the talent can see the projection, and a camera-side filter blocks the first property of the light so it is not seen by the camera. Simultaneously, a broadcast talent (or presenter) is illuminated by light having properties other than the first property, which allows the talent image to pass through the screen and the camera-side filter allowing the talent to be seen by camera.