Abstract: In various embodiments, a consistency application constructs a consistent view of an eventually consistent database. The consistency application determines multiple backup files that are associated with at least one datacenter included in the eventually consistent database and extracts aggregated data from the backup files. The consistency application performs compaction operation(s) on the aggregated data to generate compacted data. Notably, the aggregated data includes at least two replicas for each data item stored in the eventually consistent database, whereas the compacted data includes a different consistent data item for each data item stored in that eventually consistent database. The consistency application generated the consistent view of the eventually consistent database based on the compacted data.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a sequence-based encoding application partitions a set of shot sequences associated with a media title into multiple clusters based on at least one feature that characterizes media content and/or encoded media content associated with the media title. The clusters include at least a first cluster and a second cluster. The sequence-based encoding application encodes a first shot sequence using a first operating point to generate a first encoded shot sequence. The first shot sequence and the first operating point are associated with the first cluster. By contrast, the sequence-based encoding application encodes a second shot sequence using a second operating point to generate a second encoded shot sequence. The second shot sequence and the second operating point are associated with the second cluster. Subsequently, the sequence-based encoding application generates an encoded media sequence based on the first encoded shot sequence and the second encoded shot sequence.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for deblocking video frames. The technique includes determining a filter length associated with a boundary between a first block and a second block included in the same video frame. The technique also includes computing a parameter value that minimizes a sum of squares of second derivatives associated with samples from the first block and second block that are adjacent to the boundary. The technique further includes determining a plurality of filter values based on the parameter value and the filter length, and applying a filter having the filter length and the filter values to additional samples within the first and second blocks to generate two filtered blocks corresponding to the first and second blocks. The technique additionally comprises generating a second video frame that includes the two filtered blocks.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving, from a first endpoint device, a first event during a first time period, modifying an event log to include a record associated with the first event, causing a rollup queue to include a request to count a first count value associated with the first event, and generating, in a second time period subsequent to the first time period, a counter value associated with at least the first event based on the rollup queue and the event log.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing a media item that includes multiple media item segments that are to be played back in a specific manner. The method may also include generating playgraphs for the media item, where the playgraphs define different playback paths between media item segments. The method may next include selecting a specific playgraph from the generated playgraphs, and then providing the selected playgraph to a playback device. Playback of the media item according to the selected playgraph may thereby provide a customized presentation of the media item. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a computer-implemented method of receiving a header associated with an object, where the header includes a limit value that specifies a quantity of times the object is to be served from a cache device before revalidation, and a current count value that specifies a number of times that the object has been served since a most-recent revalidation or load, receiving a request for the object from a requesting device, and upon determining that the current count value is below the limit value, serving the object to the requesting device from the cache device, or upon determining that the current count value matches the limit value, transmitting a request for revalidating the object.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a quality inference application estimates perceived video quality for reconstructed video. The quality inference application computes a set of feature values corresponding to a set of visual quality metrics based on a reconstructed frame, a source frame, a display resolution, and a normalized viewing distance. The quality inference application executes a trained perceptual quality model on the set of feature values to generate a perceptual quality score that indicates a perceived visual quality level for the reconstructed frame. The quality inference application performs one or more operations associated with an encoding process based on the perceptual quality score.

Abstract: The systems herein include a support structure and multiple light sources mounted to the support structure. The light sources are configured to project light onto a recording stage to light a specified video scene that is to be recorded on the recording stage. These systems also include a perforated layer that includes an arrangement of apertures. The perforated layer has an inward face directed toward the lighting sources and an outward face directed toward the recording stage. The inward face of the perforated layer includes a surface layer that is more reflective than the surface layer of the outward face of the perforated layer. These systems also include a controller that modifies the light emission profile of the light sources, including changing color balance, brightness, time dependence, and/or spatial variation over the light emissive surface of the light sources. Various other apparatuses and recording stage devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a content platform receives, from a user device, a request for a web page. In response to receiving the request for the web page, the content platform retrieves one or more page construction items associated with the web page and one or more page content items associated with the web page, wherein each page construction item included in the one or more page construction items indicates a structure of a different element included in the web page and each page content item included in the one or more page content items indicates a content of a different element included in the web page. The content platform generates a content interface associated with the web page based on the one or more page construction items, the one or more page content items, and user data associated with a user of the user device.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving, from a client device, a request for multimedia content, where the request includes both a manifest request that includes client identification data and a license request that includes a license challenge. The method may further include validating the received request for multimedia content using the client identification data in the manifest request and generating a manifest response that includes an identification of a specified multimedia content stream that is to be provided to the client device. The method may also include acquiring at least one license in response to the license request, where the license includes a response to the license challenge having various content keys, and then providing the specified multimedia content stream, including the generated manifest response and the acquired license, to the client device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a serverless function agent determines that a client stub function has been invoked with a first set of arguments in a first execution environment. The serverless function agent then performs one or more operations on a media item that is associated with a first argument included in the first set of arguments to generate a second argument included in a second set of arguments. Notably, the first argument has a first data type and the second argument has a second data type. Subsequently, the serverless function agent invokes a function with the second set of arguments in a second execution environment. Advantageously, because the serverless function agent automatically performs operations on the media item, the overall amount of technical know-how and manual effort required to enable the function to successfully execute on a wide range of media items can be reduced.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a bootstrapping training subsystem performs sampling operation(s) on a training database that includes subjective scores to generate resampled dataset. For each resampled dataset, the bootstrapping training subsystem performs machine learning operation(s) to generate a different bootstrap perceptual quality model. The bootstrapping training subsystem then uses the bootstrap perceptual quality models to quantify the accuracy of a perceptual quality score generated by a baseline perceptual quality model for a portion of encoded video content. Advantageously, relative to prior art solutions in which the accuracy of a perceptual quality score is unknown, the bootstrap perceptual quality models enable developers and software applications to draw more valid conclusions and/or more reliably optimize encoding operations based on the perceptual quality score.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include systems and methods for automatically generating sound event subtitles for digital videos. For example, the systems and methods described herein can automatically generate subtitles for sound events within a digital video soundtrack that includes sounds other than speech. Additionally, the systems and methods described herein can automatically generate sound event subtitles as part of an automatic and comprehensive approach that generates subtitles for all sounds within a soundtrack of a digital video—thereby avoiding the need for any manual inputs as part of the subtitling process.

Abstract: Various embodiments set forth systems and techniques for securing media content capture capabilities on a device. The techniques include receiving a frame of a media content item; determining whether the frame of the media content item is signed based on an analysis of one or more pixels of the frame; and when the media content is signed, removing one or more restrictions on one or more functions on the device based on whether the one or more pixels on the frame meet one or more conditions, wherein the one or more functions enable the device to perform one or more operations on the frame of the media content item.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for improving user experience of multimedia streaming over computer networks. More specifically, techniques presented herein reduce (or eliminate) latency in playback start time for streaming digital media content resulting from digital rights management (DRM) authorizations. A streaming media client (e.g., a browser, set-top box, mobile telephone or tablet “app”) may request a “fast-expiring” license for titles the streaming media client predicts a user is likely to begin streaming. A fast-expiring license is a DRM license (and associated decryption key) which is valid for only a very limited time after being used for playback. During the validity period of such a license, the client device requests a “normal” or “regular” license to continue accessing the title after the fast-expiring license expires.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a manifest customization application generates presentations of media titles for playback. The manifest customization application selects a first set of video streams from multiple sets of video steams that are associated with a media title and included in a media package video streams based on a first preference associated with a user. The manifest customization application selects a first set audio streams from multiple sets of audio streams included in the media package based on a second preference associated with the user. The manifest customization application generates a recommended presentation based on the first set of video streams and the first set of audio streams. The manifest customization application generates a manifest file that allows the media title to be played back in accordance with at least the recommended presentation.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented methods and systems include pausing a digital content stream being provided to a display device in response to determining that the display device is powered off. For example, rather than utilizing signals related to the power status of the display device, the disclosed methods and systems utilize signals related to display protocols and interfaces utilized by the display device to determine its power status. In response to determining that a display device is powered off, the disclosed methods and systems can pause the digital content stream being provided to the display device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include predicting, by a machine learning model, a user action and a timing of the user action for an application on a computing device. The method may also include determining that an expected lag in executing the user action is greater than a predetermined threshold based on one or more resource constraints of the computing device and initializing a setup of the application to reduce the expected lag in executing the user action based on the predicted timing. Furthermore, the method may include prefetching one or more application components in response to initializing the setup of the application and preprocessing at least a portion of a function of the application used to execute the user action. Finally, the method may include executing the user action for the application in response to a user request. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: In various embodiments, servers in a server pool share a centrally-generated encryption key that is used to encrypt session keys in tickets that can be used by client applications to share secure communication sessions across different servers belonging to the same server pools. When the client application first establishes a secure communication session with a server in a server pool, the server returns a ticket that includes an encrypted version of a session key generated using an encryption key shared by servers in the server pool. Thereafter, the client application can present the ticket to other servers in the server pool to restore the secure communication session with the other servers. Associations between servers and server pools can be communicated to the client application in any technically feasible manner, such as part of information indicating servers from which content can be accessed or via the Domain Name System (DNS).