Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives a specification for aggregating data from processing of beacons. A beacon is associated with an event occurring at a client while a user is interacting with a web application and including unstructured data. The method then parses the specification to automatically generate an aggregation to aggregate structured data that has been converted from the unstructured data and stores dependency information for changes to the aggregation. State information is analyzed and the dependency information to determine when a change in the state information indicates that a change should be made to the aggregation. The method then dynamically changes the aggregation based on the analyzing to generate a new aggregation to aggregate different data based on changed information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing characteristics of a media program to label parts of the media program with a plurality of labels where parts of the media program that are determined to be substantially similar are labeled with a same label. The method then analyzes different partitionings of a sequence of the labels to determine partitions for the media program based on a weighting function that is configured to weight the different partitionings based on portions created from the partitions in the different partitionings. Then, a partitioning for the media program is outputted based on comparing the different partitionings of the sequence of labels using the weighting function. The outputted partitioning partitions the media program into a set of portions and provides points for insertion of information for a service in the media program.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to predict and utilize a user's attributes. A sample user behavior and a sample user attribute are collected. A model is trained based on the sample user behavior and sample user attribute. Using the model, a probability of a predicted user attribute based on the sample user behavior is predicted. Using the model and the probability, the predicted user attribute is fuzzily determined based on a real user behavior. The predicted user attribute is used to improve a user's experience.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method updates a media program streaming application for a media program streaming service. The method downloads the application, which includes a bootstrap application, through a distribution site. The bootstrap application receives a manifest from a remote server that lists remote core files. The bootstrap application determines if a core memory contains updateable core files corresponding to the remote core files. The method determines if an updateable core file is present in the core memory that matches a remote core file and loads the updateable core file from the core memory into a memory. If an updateable core file that matches the remote core file is not present in the core memory, the method requests the remote core file from the remote server and loading the received remote core file into the memory. The method then executes the core files in the memory without recompilation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method determines multiple screens of multiple mobile computing devices should be combined in playback of a video. A first mobile computing device receives the video and determines device characteristics based on a positioning of the first mobile computing device in relation to a second mobile computing device. Playback characteristics are determined based on the device characteristics. Then, the first mobile computing device renders a first portion of the video on a first screen based on the playback characteristics where a second portion of the video is rendered on a second screen of the second mobile computing device.

Abstract: An auction for ad inventory to be placed in streaming video content is characterized by a floor (minimum) price. A seller component receives, via a real time auction exchange system, a request for a set of ad impressions meeting specified criteria to be delivered by an online video streaming system, sometimes referred to as an “auction lot”. The seller component determines a floor price based on an inventory pressure calculated for the auction lot in response to receiving the request. The seller component determines the inventory pressure based on an inventory pressure determined for an inventory segment identified by the auction lot. The auction lot may then be entered into a bidding process including at least one bidder wherein bids less than the floor price are not accepted.

Abstract: A method receives a specification for processing beacons. The beacons are associated with an event occurring at a client while a user is interacting with a web application and include unstructured data. The method parses the specification to determine an object model including objects determined from the specification where different specifications are parsed into a format of the object model. A generator is determined and each generator is configured to process the format of the object model to generate a different type of target program to process the beacons and multiple generators can process different specifications that are parsed into the format of the object model. The method runs the generator with the object model to generate a target program configured to identify the beacons for the specification, determine unstructured data in the beacons that were specified in the specification, and transform the unstructured data into structured data.

Abstract: A method receives a specification for processing beacons. The beacons are associated with an event occurring at a client while a user is interacting with a web application and include unstructured data. The method parses the specification to determine an object model including objects determined from the specification where different specifications are parsed into a format of the object model. A generator is determined and each generator is configured to process the format of the object model to generate a different type of target program to process the beacons and multiple generators can process different specifications that are parsed into the format of the object model. The method runs the generator with the object model to generate a target program configured to identify the beacons for the specification, determine unstructured data in the beacons that were specified in the specification, and transform the unstructured data into structured data.

Abstract: In a streaming video system with included video ad breaks, a pacing component allocates ads to particular ad breaks so as to pace the distribution of ads over a defined ad campaign period according to a pacing protocol using discrete time bins. A curve fitting algorithm may be used to provide increased or adjustable granularity of time bins used in the pacing protocol.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to control the presentation of advertisements to select prefacing advertisements in lieu of more time consuming or more numerous intervening advertisements presented during the media program.

Abstract: During or prior to streaming of video content to a client device, a server provides data configuring an interactive object on the client device. When activated by user input, the interactive object enables a user to select one or more video ads to be streamed to the client device during an upcoming ad break, during play of the streaming video. The interactive object enables the user to perform the selection without interrupting viewing of the video.

Abstract: To address the requirements described above, a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer. The method permits the user to provide survey responses in exchange for viewing a media program with fewer advertisement, and permits the user to manage the survey responses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for navigating a media program via a searchable transcript of the dialog of the media program is disclosed. In one embodiment, a textural transcript of the dialog is generated, wherein the textural transcript comprising a plurality of portions wherein each portion is associated with a segment of the media program, a command is accepted to display the transcript and in response to that command, user interface data is transmitted to the client computer for presentation in a user interface, wherein the user interface comprising a concurrently presented media program player and the textural transcript.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product provide the ability to bookmark a media program for subsequent viewing. A first interface is displayed and identifies a first media program. Via the first interface, a user requests that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in a list of maintained bookmarks. The list of bookmarks is displayed. A user selects one of the bookmarks from the list and in response, the first media program is displayed to the first viewer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method distributes files for assets to a plurality of content delivery networks (CDNs). The method determines a set of asset characteristics related to an asset of video content and analyzes the set of asset characteristics to determine a delivery classification for the asset. Different asset characteristics result in different delivery classifications. The method then automatically determines a set of content delivery networks to distribute files for the asset based on the delivery classification where assets with different delivery classifications have files delivered differently to sets of content delivery networks.

Abstract: Estimating a number of unique ad impressions in a streaming video system includes defining parameters of an ad campaign and a desired number of ad impressions for the campaign. A computer system determines a discrete probability distribution of video advertising segments per unit time per client device in a population of video advertising segments streamed to a plurality of client devices, based on historical data. The system randomly samples the probability distribution without replacement, based on the defined number of desired ad impressions. An enhanced binary search algorithm may be used for the sampling. Each sample of the probability distribution identifies a number of ads streamed to a different client device in the probability distribution. The system determines, based on the sampling, a number of unique client devices included the samples, thus obtaining an estimate of unique ad impressions for the defined ad campaign.

Abstract: Estimating ad inventory in an online video streaming system accurately handles interdependencies among targeted attributes. The estimating includes determining a probability distribution of samples taken from electronic data records of ad impressions in an interactive online video streaming service, among a population comprising each different combination of targeted attributes recorded for each of the samples. In addition, the estimating may include populating an electronic data structure with data relating the each different combination of the targeted attributes to corresponding forecasted number of available impressions in a defined time period, based on the probability distribution and a forecasted total number of available impressions in the time period.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing characteristics of a media program to label portions of the media program with a plurality of labels. Portions of the media program that are determined to be substantially similar are labeled with a same label. The method then analyzes different partitionings of a sequence of the labels to determine partitions for the media program based on a weighting function. A plurality of partitions of the media program are outputted based on comparing the different partitionings of the sequence of labels using the weighting function. The plurality of partitions partition the media program into a plurality of portions and provide points for insertion of information for a service in the media program.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing supplemental video content for third party websites is disclosed. In one embodiment, coded instructions are transmitted from a content enhancement server to a host server, for incorporation into the webpage source code. The host server is controlled by a first entity and the content enhancement server is controlled by a second entity commercially distinct from the first entity. Keywords are obtained by executing of the coded instructions in the webpage received in the client computer from the host server to send the address of the requested webpage to the content enhancement server, which generates supplemental substantive video content information for transmission to the client.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for generating a media program database having a plurality of media programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is comprises the steps of receiving first media program metadata from a first source, searching the Internet to find second media program metadata from a second source distinct from the first source, determining if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, merging the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, and storing the merged first media program metadata and second media program metadata in the media program database.