Abstract: Methods, systems, and related products for voice-enabled computer systems are described. A machine-learning model is trained to produce pronunciation output based on text input. The trained machine-learning model is used to produce pronunciation data for text input even where the text input includes numbers, punctuation, emoji, or other non-letter characters. The machine-learning model is further trained based on real-world data from users to improve pronunciation output.

Abstract: A system for supporting a user's repetitive motion activity operates to manage cadence-based playlists identifying one or more media content items having a tempo corresponding to a user's cadence. The cadence-based playlists can be categorized by different tempi or tempo ranges that cover all likely cadences during the user's activities. A media-playback device is provided to acquire a user's cadence and retrieve a cadence-based playlist associated with a tempo or a tempo range corresponding to the cadence.

Abstract: An electronic device generates a respective user queue for each user of a plurality of users participating in a shared listening session. While providing a first media content item for playback, the device receives a second request, from a first user, to add a second media content item to the shared playback queue and updates the respective user queue for the first user. After receiving the second request, the electronic device receives a third request, from a second user, to add a third media content item to the shared playback queue and updates the respective user queue for the second user. The electronic device updates the shared playback queue using the respective user queues of the first user and the second user, including positioning the third media content item in an order of the shared playback queue to be played back before the second media content item.

Abstract: Technology for generating, reading, and using machine-readable codes is disclosed. There is a method, performed by an image capture device, for reading and using the codes. The method includes obtaining an image, identifying an area in the image having a machine-readable code. The method also includes, within the image area, finding a predefined start marker defining a start point and a predefined stop marker defining a stop point, an axis being defined there between. A plurality of axis points can be defined along the axis. For each axis point, a first distance within the image area to a mark is determined. The distance can be measured from the axis point in a first direction which is orthogonal to the axis. The first distances can be converted to a binary code using Gray code such that each first distance encodes at least one bit of data in the code.

Abstract: A system is provided for streaming media content in a vehicle. The system includes a personal media streaming appliance system configured to connect to a media delivery system and receive media content from the media delivery system at least via a cellular network. The personal media streaming appliance system includes one or more preset buttons for playing media content associated with the preset buttons. The media contents associated with the preset buttons are automatically determined to be personalized to the user of the system.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the provision of media, and more particularly streaming of media. In particular, one aspect herein relates to a method performed by a server system of streaming an audio content item to an electronic device. In response to receiving a request message from the electronic device, a selected audio content item is retrieved from a first storage. Descriptive metadata including an origin-ID associated with the retrieved audio content item is determined. A second storage is browsed utilizing said metadata including the origin-ID to locate non-static media content item(s) associated with the origin-ID. In response to finding a non-static media content item associated with the origin ID, the selected audio content item is sent along with the located non-static media content item to the electronic device for simultaneous presentation of the audio content item and the located non-static media content item.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for providing media content to a media playback device that includes a media server. In response to the initiation by a user of the media playback device to provide media content in shuffle mode, the media server determines a set of media content items based on a context of the initiation. The media server then determines whether a preference profile exists for the user that includes one or more media content items from the set of media content items. If the preference profile exists, the media server orders the one or more media content items from the set of media content items for insertion into a queue according to the preference profile. Thereafter, a remainder of the set of media content items is ordered for insertion into the queue according to rules.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to an on-device machine learning model without the use of encryption is described herein. For example, a request is received from an application executing on a device of a user. The request is to download a machine learning model to the device that enables a feature of the application, and the request includes information associated with the user and/or the device. The information is used to create an obfuscation key, and a derivative model can be generated using a reference copy of the machine learning model and the obfuscation key. The derivative model and the obfuscation key are then sent to the application. When the obfuscation key is provided to the derivative model at runtime, values derived from the obfuscation key are provided as additional inputs that enable the derivative model to function properly.

Abstract: A system is provided for streaming media content in a vehicle. The system includes a personal media streaming appliance system configured to connect to a media delivery system and receive media content from the media delivery system at least via a cellular network. The media delivery system is configured to link a user media streaming account with a particular personal media streaming appliance to provide personalized media content to the appliance. Media contexts are assigned to multiple preset settings automatically so that the personal media streaming appliance system is configured to output personalized media content upon first use.

Abstract: A computing device comprising a display screen, the computing device being configured to decompose a media recording into a plurality of media recording salient events, apply each of the media recording salient events to a reinforcement model, display on the display screen (i) a mapping of the plurality of media recording salient events and (ii) for at least one of the plurality of media recording salient events, at least one selectable next best action, the computing device further configured to replace at least one of the plurality of media recording salient events with at least one selectable next best action to create a derivative media recording including at least one replacement media recording action.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating a queue of media content items to be played in a party setting are described. A first seed track is identified and is used to create a plurality of related media content items that are presented to a plurality of voters. The media content item receiving the most votes is placed in the queue and subsequently played.

Abstract: A system, method and computer product for combining audio tracks. In one example embodiment herein, the method comprises determining at least one music track that is musically compatible with a base music track, aligning those tracks in time, and combining the tracks. In one example embodiment herein, the tracks may be music tracks of different songs, the base music track can be an instrumental accompaniment track, and the at least one music track can be a vocal track. Also in one example embodiment herein, the determining is based on musical characteristics associated with at least one of the tracks, such as an acoustic feature vector distance between tracks, a likelihood of at least one track including a vocal component, a tempo, or musical key. Also, determining of musical compatibility can include determining at least one of a vertical musical compatibility or a horizontal musical compatibility among tracks.

Abstract: An electronic device receives audio data for a media item. The electronic device generates, from the audio data, a plurality of samples, each sample having a predefined maximum length. The electronic device, using a neural network trained to predict textal unit probabilities, generates a probability matrix of textual units for a first portion of a first sample of the plurality of samples. The probability matrix includes information about textual units, timing information, and respective probabilities of respective textual units at respective times. The electronic device identifies, for the first portion of the first sample, a first sequence of textual units based on the generated probability matrix.

Abstract: A system of playing media content items determines transitions between pairs of media content items by determining desirable locations in which transitions across the pairs of media content items occur. The system uses a plurality of track features of media content items and determines such track features of each media content item associated with each of transition point candidates, such as beat positions, of that media content item. The system determines similarity in the plurality of track features between the transition point candidates of a first media content item and the transition point candidates for a second media content item being played subsequent to the first media content item. The transition points or portions of the first and second media content items are selected from the transition point candidates for the first and second media content items based on the similarity results.

Abstract: A request to play a media content item is received. It is determined whether the play request is ambiguous. Responsive to determining that the play request is ambiguous, then it is determined whether to play a suspended media content item or an alternate media content item. The determination can be made based on a length of time that the suspended media content item has been suspended, a media content item type, or a state, among other factors. Responsive to the determination, playback of the suspended or alternate media content item is initiated.

Abstract: A system for refinement of a voice query interpretation interprets a voice query received at a voice-enabled device to identify commands responsive to the voice query for execution at the voice-enabled device, and enables refinement of the interpretation of the voice query through a graphical user interface generated and displayed at a GUI-capable device. The graphical user interface includes a set of selectable options relating to the voice query and identifying a refinement of the interpretation of the voice query to enable control and/or adjustment of commands to be executed by the voice-enabled device. For example, if one of the selectable options is selected, then a command associated with the selected option is identified and executed by the voice-enabled device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for auto-scaling computing resources for applications that rely on microservices, such as media streaming applications. In example embodiments, the systems and methods use a hybrid approach that takes into account proactive and reactive metrics to predict future processing needs. The proactive metrics use data obtained from the microservices pipeline. In example embodiments, computing units are deployed or removed from a cluster of computing units in anticipation of a future computational need and in consideration of quality of service requirements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and related products that provide enhanced broadening and narrowing navigation capabilities through visualized populations of items, such as media content items. Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods of identifying a population of items and groupings of those items for visualizing, via a graphical interface, in a meaningful and easily navigable configuration. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to pre-selection interactions with visualized populations to explore potential narrowing or broadening navigation actions, and selection interactions for performing a narrowing or broadening navigation.

Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for a user interface for media content playback, such as during travel, are provided. An method of media playback by a media playback device, the method comprising: playing a media content item of a selected playlist of a selected group of playlists; generating a user interface displaying a graphic associated with the media content item that is playing; when an input associated with a first dimension is received into the user interface, playing another media content item of the selected playlist; when an input associated with a second dimension is received into the user interface, playing another media content item of another selected playlist of the selected group of playlists; and when an input associated with a third dimension is received into the user interface, playing another media content item of another selected playlist of another group of playlists.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus, system and method for the comparison between songs to analyse how similar each song is to the next using a new system of classification. A new and improved method and apparatus for the weighting of these comparable variables between songs in order to find the best objective criteria for finding a likeness between songs is disclosed. The time complexity associated with the computation of the optimal path for smoothing a playlist of songs is substantially reduced using the system of classification.