Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments for network-based audio playback. An embodiment operates by determining that a media device is configured to stream audio content to one or more wireless speakers over a first wireless network. A second wireless network over which the media device is configured to stream the audio content to the one or more wireless speakers is established by the media device. A signal to the one or more wireless speakers to switch from the first wireless network to the second wireless network is provided by the media device. The audio is provided to the wireless speakers for playback over the second wireless network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments, for a content display and clustering system. An example embodiment operates by receiving a request to display the plurality of content items. At each of multiple levels different pairs of content items are identified and a similarity score is computed for each pair. A subset of pairs for which their similarity score exceeds a similarity threshold for the respective level are identified and clustered. This process is repeated for one or more iterations at the same level, and then the process is repeated for each of the multiple levels. A final clustered subset is identified, and output for display, responsive to the request to display the plurality of content items.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for enhancing a deterministic identity graph with probabilistic data. An example embodiment operates by identifying a node for a location indicated by an identity graph. Receiving user device information based on an indication that a user device is within proximity to the location. Generating a node for the user device on the identity graph based on the indication of the user device satisfying an association threshold. Generating an edge between the node for the location and the node for the user device based on a weighted value for an attribute of the user information. Mapping an identifier for the user device to an identifier of the location based on a distance of the edge and causing a content item to be sent to the user device based on the identifier mapping.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and computer program product embodiments for adapting an automated speech recognition system to provide more accurate suggestions to voice queries involving media content including recently created or recently available content. An example computer-implemented method includes transcribing the voice query, identifying respective components of the query such as the media content being requested and the action to be performed, and generating fuzzy candidates that potentially match the media content based on phonetic representations of the identified components. Phonetic representations of domain specific candidates are stored in a domain entities index and is continuously updated with new entries so as to maintain the accuracy of the speech recognition of voice queries for recently created or recently available content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments for implementing audio enhancements based on video detection. An embodiment operates by receiving an audio clip corresponding to a video clip to be output simultaneously. The video clip is classified as belonging to a video category. An enhancement of the audio clip is determined based on crowd-sourced responses to the video category. The audio clip is configured in accordance with the enhancement. The configured audio clip is provided to the audio output device to audibly output with the enhancement.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments for customized device pairing based on device features. An embodiment operates by receiving, from a first device, a pairing message indicating one or more buttons of the first device available for pairing the first device with a second device, wherein the first device does not include an alphanumeric keypad. A sequence of actions to be performed on the first device is generated. The sequence of actions is provided for display. An indicia indicating a set of one or more actions that were performed on the first device is received. It is determined that the set of one or more actions of the indicia corresponds to the sequence of actions provided for display, and the first device is paired with a second device.

Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for high precision device synchronization of electronic devices in a shared medium. Some embodiments include a first electronic device that utilizes a combination of synchronization techniques to synchronize with a second electronic device. The first electronic device receives a first signal from the second electronic device that includes network-based synchronization data and marker data, and performs network-based synchronization with the second electronic device at a first synchronization accuracy. The first electronic device receives a second signal, and uses the marker data and phase lock synchronization to detect a frequency change of the second signal received, as well as to determine a corresponding time marker. The first electronic device updates a clock of the first electronic device based at least on the corresponding time marker, the network-based synchronization data, and the marker data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for selecting a digital assistant from among multiple digital assistants. An embodiment operates by receiving a voice input containing a trigger word at a first voice adapter associated with a digital assistant that generates a first confidence score for the trigger word. The embodiment further receives the voice input at a second voice adapter that generates a second confidence score for the trigger word. The embodiment determines the first confidence score is higher than the second confidence score. The embodiment selects the digital assistant based on the determining.

Abstract: A computing system obtains a fingerprint of video content being rendered by a video presentation device, including a first portion representing a pre-established video segment and a second portion representing a dynamically-defined video segment. While obtaining the query fingerprint, the computing system (a) detects a match between the first portion of the query fingerprint and a reference fingerprint that represents the pre-established video segment, (b) based on the detecting of the match, identifies the video content being rendered, (c) after identifying the video content being rendered, applies a trained neural network to at least the second portion of the query fingerprint, and (d) detects, based on the applying of the neural network, that rendering of the identified video content continues. And responsive to at least the detecting that rendering of the identified video content continues, the computing system then takes associated action.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method in connection with a shared content viewing session in which multiple users are receiving and viewing respective instances of the same media content in a synchronized manner is disclosed. The example method includes (i) detecting that each of the multiple users respectively exhibits a threshold extent of physical reaction around the same time; (ii) responsive to the detecting, for each of the multiple users, generating and/or storing respective visual content representing that user's physical reaction; (iii) generating a visual content composition that includes at least the generated and/or stored visual content for each of the multiple users; and (iv) outputting for presentation, the generated visual content composition.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device, that a remote control transmitted to the playback device an instruction configured to cause a modification to operation of the playback device while the playback device displays the replacement media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device based on the instruction, an overlay that the playback device is configured to provide for display in conjunction with the modification; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a region within a display of the playback device corresponding to the overlay; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, a transparency of the region such that the overlay is visible through the replacement media content when the playback device provides the overlay for display.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments for intelligently customizing a user interface on a remote control. In a non-limiting embodiment, a method operates by receiving a user input associated with customizing the user interface for one-hand use when the user interface is in a first configuration. The user interface may a user interface element and the first configuration includes a first dimension of the user interface. In an embodiment, the user input is a touch-based gesture received on a touchscreen of the remote control. A user may be identified responsive to receiving the user input and the user interface may be customized from the first configuration to a second configuration based on an interface customization parameter. In an embodiment, the customizing includes reducing the first dimension of the user interface to a second dimension to allow for one-hand use by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for optimizing network connections of media devices using IPv6 and DNS tests to detect network issues related to IPv6 addressing and improper DNS server assignments. Upon detection of such network issues, network connections may preemptively adjust IPv6 and DNS configuration parameters to optimize connections for the media devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for generating a scene emotion value for a scene based on a sequence of frame emotion values for a sequence of frames within the scene of a content. The content can include multiple scenes, and a scene can include multiple frames, where a frame emotion value can be generated for each frame. A frame emotion value can be generated based on scene metadata related to the scene, content metadata related to the content, and a frame metadata related to the frame.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments directed to skipping the opening sequence of streaming content. An embodiment operates by streaming content to a display device and determining an end of a teaser portion has been reached using crowdsourced metadata. Responsive to the determining, a skin icon is provided to the display device for display. A selection of the skip icon is received to advance past the title sequence/opening credits portion of the content. An end to the title sequence/opening credits portion of the content is determined using the crowdsourced metadata. The streaming of the content is advanced to the end of the title sequence/opening credits portion of the content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery operated, audio responsive remote control for controlling a media device. The remote control includes a speaker, microphone and talk button. The remote control is configured to: detect the talk button being pressed; responsive to the detection and within a time period that commences from the detection, analyze audio data received via the microphone to recognize one or more audio commands; and process the recognized audio commands. The remote control is also configured to: determine a volume level of the received audio data; and audibly confirm the recognized audio commands at the determined volume level. According to some embodiments, the remote control also includes a motion sensor, and is configured to: detect motion of the remote control using the motion sensor; determine that the detected motion corresponds to a volume changing motion; and adjust volume of the remote control and/or a media device according to the volume changing motion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for synchronizing playback of an audio and/or video content. An embodiment operates by collectively selecting, by a first device in concert with a second device of a plurality of devices in a computer network session, and in accordance with a predetermined synchronization list comprising a first and second synchronization mechanism, the first synchronization mechanism over the second synchronization mechanism such that the first synchronization mechanism is more precise than the second synchronization mechanism. The first and second synchronization mechanisms are configured to provide a synchronized playback of the at least one of the audio content and the video content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments for providing an audio duplication and redirection system. An embodiment operates by determining that a media redirection hardware adapter is connected to an audio port of a host device. Audio content is intercepted from an audio source directed to the host device, wherein the received audio content comprises a first set of one or more audio channels. The received audio content is separated into a second set of two or more audio channels including both a first channel for a first speaker and a second channel for a second speaker. Positional audio for the speakers is determined from the received audio content. The positional audio is provided to the first speaker over the first channel and to the second speaker over the second channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure described devices, components, connectors, and cables that connect an audio-visual device to an external antenna. Some embodiments describe a device connector for connecting the audio-visual device to an external cable. The device connector may include a supply port that is configured to receive power, data signals, and/or some combination of power and data from a source external to the audio-visual device. The device connector may also include an antenna port that is configured to connect the audio-visual device to an external antenna that is, for example, part of the same. Additionally, the device connector may include a detection mechanism that detects the presence of an antenna connection in the antenna port. When an antenna connection is detected, the audio-visual device may be configured to use one or more external antennas connected via the antenna connection to send and receive, e.g., WiFi signals.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes using, at least in part, an amount of content-presentation devices in the identified group as a basis to determine an amount of system resources to request. The method also includes requesting the determined amount of system resources for use in performing actions that facilitate at least a portion of the content-presentation devices in the identified group performing respective content-modification operations.