Abstract: A playset comprises a near field communication extending system. The near field communication extending comprises a main antenna and a plurality of extending antennas. The main antenna is positioned at a first location of the playset and configured to wirelessly communicate to a near field communication device of a mobile device. The plurality of extending antennas is positioned at a plurality of different locations in an interior of the playset. Each of the plurality of extending antennas is connectable to the main antenna via a plurality of connection elements. The playset further comprises an antenna switching mechanism coupled to the plurality of extending antennas via a plurality of connection elements. The antenna switching mechanism is configured to switchably couple the main antenna with each of the plurality of extending antennas.

Abstract: A system includes processing hardware and a memory storing software code. When executed, the software code receives first skeleton data including a first location of each of multiple skeletal key-points from the perspective of a first camera, receives second skeleton data including a second location of each of the skeletal key-points from the perspective of a second camera, correlates first and second locations of some or all of the multiple skeletal key-points to produce correlated skeletal key-point location data for each of at least some skeletal key-points. The software code further merges the correlated skeletal key-point location data for each of those at least some skeletal key-points to provide merged location data, and generates, using the merged location data and the locations of the first, second, and third cameras, a mapping of the 3D pose of a skeleton.

Abstract: A process receives, with a processor, audio corresponding to media content. Further, the process converts, with the processor, the audio to text. In addition, the process concatenates, with the processor, the text with one or more time codes. The process also parses, with the processor, the concatenated text into one or more text chunks according to one or more subtitle parameters. Further, the process automatically translates, with the processor, the parsed text from a first spoken language to a second spoken language. Moreover, the process determines, with the processor, if the language translation complies with the one or more subtitle parameters. Additionally, the process outputs, with the processor, the language translation to a display device for display of the one or more text chunks as one or more subtitles at one or more times corresponding to the one or more time codes.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for interactive editing of virtual three-dimensional scenes. In the disclosed techniques, rendering is divided into (1) an interactive phase during which a user interactively edits a virtual scene while preview image frames are rendered using a modified ray tracing technique, and (2) a refinement phase during which full ray tracing is performed to show the user a final rendered image frame. The modified ray tracing technique may limit the number of bounces of light rays and/or the computations performed at each bounce, thereby reducing computational expense relative to a full ray tracing technique. Further, the modified ray tracing technique may be user-selectable and associated with a particular department within an animation studio.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for characterizing audience engagement with one or more characters in a media content item. In some embodiments, an audience engagement characterization application processes sensor data; such as video data capturing the faces of one or more audience members consuming a media content item, to generate an audience emotion signal. The characterization application also processes the media content item to generate a character emotion signal associated with one or more characters in the media content item. Then, the characterization application determines an audience engagement score based on an amount of alignment and/or misalignment between the audience emotion signal and the character emotion signal.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments are related to a device, system and method for implementing an audio orientated immersive experience of an event presented at a user device. A server is connected to a user device. The server generates a virtual environment that corresponds to a site of an event. The server receives tracking data corresponding to an object of the event. The tracking data is incorporated into the virtual environment. The server identifies a predetermined condition and selects enhancement data based on the predetermined condition. The predetermined condition corresponds to the tracking data and the virtual environment. The server transmits a data stream to the user device, the data stream including the enhancement data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing facial retargeting using a patch-based technique are disclosed. One or more three-dimensional (3D) representations of a source character's (e.g., a human actor's) face can be transferred onto one or more corresponding representations of a target character's (e.g., a cartoon character's) face, enabling filmmakers to transfer a performance by a source character to a target character. The source character's 3D facial shape can separated into patches. For each patch, a patch combination (representing that patch as a combination of source reference patches) can be determined. The patch combinations and target reference patches can then be used to create target patches corresponding to the target character. The target patches can be combined using an anatomical local model solver to produce a 3D facial shape corresponding to the target character, effectively transferring a facial performance by the source character to the target character.

Abstract: A system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code. The software code is executed to receive a content selection input identifying audio-video (AV) content from a user, and determine a user preferred playback mode for a core video component of the AV content using one or more of (x) a media consumption profile of the user, (y) a playback mode selection input received from the user, or (z) a playback mode supported by a user device. The software code also obtains a media package containing multiple versions of the core video component and metadata identifying a default playback mode, and streams the AV content to the user device using: the user preferred playback mode when a version of the core video component corresponding to the user preferred playback mode is contained in the media package, or the default playback mode otherwise.

Abstract: A content delivery system includes a computing platform having processing hardware and a system memory storing software code, a user account database, and a content database. The processing hardware executes the software code to receive, from a user device utilized by a user, a request for access to a first content of a plurality of contents, the request including an identifier of a sponsor of the request, to verify, using the identifier, an authorization status of the sponsor, and transmit to the user device, based on verification of the authorization status of the sponsor, content access data enabling access to the first content by the user. The processing further executes the software code to detect that the user is accessing the first content, and to offer, in response to detecting that access, an opportunity to the user to obtain access to the plurality of contents.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments are related to a device, a system, and a method for implementing a mechanism that is configured to prevent the unauthorized execution of software. A user device is configured to execute a feature access function corresponding to an application feature included in an application. The feature access function is configured to receive one of a plurality of values each time the application is launched. During operation, the feature access function receives a value and determines whether a condition is satisfied. When the condition is satisfied, the value is returned which indicates that execution of the application feature is permitted.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for redirecting to content after an interruption includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a content redirection software code. The hardware processor executes the content redirection software code to track a playout status of a primary content being provided by the system, and detect a pause to playout of the primary content due to receipt of an interrupt content by the system. In addition, the hardware processor executes the content redirection software code to, during playout of the interrupt content by the system, save the playout status of the primary content at the pause. The hardware processor further executes the content redirection software code to detect completion of interrupt content playout by the system, and enable a return to the primary content after the pause.

Abstract: A process generates a certificate of authenticity for a virtual item. Further, the process sends, with the processor, the certificate of authenticity to a decentralized network of computing devices such that two or more of the computing devices store the certificate of authenticity. The two or more of the computing devices receive, from a user device that provides a virtual reality experience in which a virtual item is purchased, a request for authentication of the certificate of authenticity. In addition, the two or more computing devices authenticate the certificate of authenticity based on one or more consistency criteria for the certificate of authenticity being met by the two or more computing devices.

Abstract: In one implementation, an enhanced vision system includes a portable user device, a base station including a hardware processor and a memory storing a virtual effects rendering software code, and a display device communicatively coupled to the base station. The hardware processor executes the virtual effects rendering software code to detect the presence of the portable user device in a real-world environment, obtain a mapping of the real-world environment, and identify one or more virtual effect(s) for display in the real-world environment. The hardware processor further executes the virtual effects rendering software code to detect actuation of the portable user device, and to control the display device to display the virtual effect(s) in the real-world environment based on the mapping, and the position and orientation of the portable user device during the detected actuation.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating a content page having a plurality of layers. The technique includes detecting a first application event associated with a first layer included in a plurality of layers of a content page and accessing, via a template file, at least one parameter of the first layer that corresponds to the first application event. The technique further includes modifying at least one aspect of the first layer based on the first application event and the at least one parameter to generate a first modified layer, and outputting the first modified layer for display.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a computing platform having processing hardware, a display, and a system memory storing a software code. The processing hardware is configured to execute the software code to receive a three-dimensional (3D) digital model, surround the 3D digital model with multiple virtual cameras oriented toward the 3D digital model, and generate, using the virtual cameras, a multiple renders of the 3D digital model. The processing hardware is further configured to execute the software code to generate a UV texture coordinate space for a surface projection of the 3D digital model, and to transfer, using the multiple renders, lighting color values for each of multiple surface portions of the 3D digital model to the UV texture coordinate space.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments relate to converting Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) content to High Dynamic Range (HDR) content using a machine learning system. In some embodiments, the neural network is trained to convert an input SDR image into an HDR image using the encoded representation of a training SDR image and a training HDR image. In other embodiments, the neural network is trained to convert an input SDR image into an HDR image using a predefined set of color grading actions and the training images.

Abstract: A system includes a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code including a predictive model. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive an input including an image having a pixel anomaly, and image data identifying the location of the pixel anomaly in the image. The software code uses the predictive model to extract a global feature map of a global image region of the image, the pixel anomaly being located within the global image region; to extract a local feature map of a local image region of the image, the pixel anomaly being located within the local image region and the local image region being smaller than the global image region; and to predict, based on the global feature map and the local feature map, a distraction level of the pixel anomaly within the image.

Abstract: A new controller for use in robots with kinematic loops as well as in most other types of robots (such as those with fully actuated kinematic trees). The controller includes an inverse kinematics (IK) module that implements a versatile IK formulation for retargeting of motions, including expressive motions, onto mechanical systems (i.e., robots with loops and/or without loops). Further, the controller is configured to support the precise control of the position and orientation of end effectors and the center of mass (CoM) (such as of walking robots). The formulation of the algorithms carried out by the IK module safeguards against a disassembly when IK targets are moved outside the workspace of the robot. A regularizer is included in the controller that smoothly circumvents kinematic singularities where velocities go to infinity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for detecting physical contacts effectuated by actions performed by an entity participating in an event. An action, performed by the entity, is detected based on a sequence of pose data associated with the entity's performance in the event. A contact with another entity in the event is detected based on data associated with the detected action. The action and the contact detections are employed by neural-network based detectors.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of changing a face within an output image or video frame includes: receiving an input image that includes a face presenting a facial expression in a pose; separately encoding different portions of the image by, for each separately encoded portion, generating a latent space point of the portion, thereby generating a plurality of multi-dimensional vectors where each multi-dimensional vector is an encoded representation of a different portion of the input image; concatenating the plurality of multi-dimensional vectors into a combined latent space vector; and decoding the combined latent space vector to generate the output image in accordance with a desired facial identity but with the facial expression and pose of the face in the input image