Abstract: A media content distribution service identifies a type of media device sending a request to the service over a network and to dynamically adapt content requested by the media device based on the identification. A request sent by a media device may, for example, identify a media content item a user desires to view at the media device, specify a search query for media content items, or otherwise request interaction with the service. According an embodiment, a media content distribution service may use information known about an identified media device type to dynamically adapt media content or other requested resources for display by the media device. By dynamically adapting media content and other resources based on an identified media device type, the media content distribution service may provide access to the services that is compatible with a wide range of media devices having varying device specifications and capabilities.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the collection, distribution, and/or reporting of media content. According to an embodiment, media content items from one or more content providers are ingested into a content distribution system implemented by one or more server computer devices. These items of media content may comprise a variety of constituent elements, such as one or more video data units, one or more audio data units, descriptive metadata, subtitle units, thumbnails, or other information, which may be ingested all at once, or separately over time. Items may be processed using various workflows to refine content item components and/or generate new content items. Various publishing rules may be utilized to determine when the system is ready to publish a content item and distribute the item to client devices. Clients may request content items from various published listings, or search for content items by metadata and/or subtitles.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for generating thumbnails. According to one embodiment, a subset of images each depicting character face(s) is identified from a collection of images. An unsupervised learning method is applied to automatically cluster the subset of images into image clusters. Top image clusters are selected from the image clusters based at least in part on weighted scores of images clustered within the image clusters. Thumbnail(s) are generated from images in the top image clusters.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for generating thumbnails. According to one embodiment, a subset of images each depicting character face(s) is identified from a collection of images. An unsupervised learning method is applied to automatically cluster the subset of images into image clusters. Top image clusters are selected from the image clusters based at least in part on weighted scores of images clustered within the image clusters. Thumbnail(s) are generated from images in the top image clusters.