Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for enabling advertisement interaction with an electronic device, for use in a digital media content environment. A media device includes a touch-sensitive display screen, and user interface that enables access to a stored media application. During the streaming of media content from a media server, an audio advertisement or other type of advertisement can be inserted into a stream, for playback at the media device. Using playback controls provided either by the user interface, or by a headphones, headset, or other type of device, a user can interact with the advertisement (even if the user interface is locked), by performing a defined gesture, which, if received at the media application during a defined time period associated with the advertisement, is interpreted as a signal to select or otherwise interact with the advertisement.

Abstract: Media content is recommended based on suitability for a designated activity. A vector engine is trained using a plurality of lists, each of the lists containing metadata associated with a plurality of media objects. The vector engine includes a neural network trained with corpus data including (i) the plurality of lists (ii) a plurality of titles, each one of the titles associated with one of the lists, and (iii) the metadata associated with the plurality of media objects. Training the vector engine involves initializing, using the vector engine, a plurality of feature vectors representing each of the lists, each of the media objects, and each of a plurality of words in the titles of the lists. The training then further involves nudging, using the vector engine, the feature vectors based on a plurality of co-occurrences of the lists, the media objects, the words in the titles of the lists, or a combination thereof. A feature vector corresponding to an activity is identified among the feature vectors.

Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for generating and playing a selectable content depth media program are provided. Media content items are edited to produce selectable depth media segments which are assembled into selectable depth media programs. A media-playback device is configured to navigate and play the selectable depth media program through interaction by a listening user. The user selects the desired content depth for each media segment.

Abstract: A system and method for voice control of a media playback device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an instruction of a voice command, converting the voice command to text, transmitting the text command to the playback device, and having the playback device execute the command. An instruction may include a command to play a set of audio tracks, and the media playback device plays the set of audio tracks upon receiving the instruction.

Abstract: A method performed at a server system includes providing to a device a media content item included in a listening session. The method includes receiving from the device characteristics of the listening session corresponding to a first time and determining, based on the characteristics, a default decision as to whether to provide a media content clip after the media item. The method includes receiving characteristics of the listening session corresponding to a second time and initiating a determination of a first decision as to whether to provide the media content clip after the media item. In accordance with the first decision being reached within a latency period, the media content clip is provided in accordance with the first decision. In accordance with the latency period being lapsed without the first decision being reached, the media content clip is provided in accordance with the default decision.

Abstract: A system for playing media content items operates to provide smooth transitions between the media content items to continuously support a user's repetitive motion activity. The system can generate crossfade data containing information for transitions between media content items. The mix-in and mix-out points for the transitions are calculated to eliminate one or more portions of media content items that have lower musical energy than a majority portion of the items, and to maintain substantially consistent and/or stable musical energy (e.g., audio power or sound power) throughout the media content items including transitions therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a media playback device on a structure of a vehicle comprising a grille, the apparatus comprising an elongate base body having a front side configured to connect the apparatus to the media playback device and a rear side, and first and second connection members, each comprising a respective connection portion protruding away from the rear side of the base body and comprising at least one slot configured to receive a bar of a grille, wherein the first and second connection members are translatably arranged such that the distance between the first and second connection members may be varied.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed in a network server of a service provider providing a service comprising media streaming. The method comprises receiving a detection message from a mobile radio device running the service for a user registered with the service provider, said message comprising an indication that said radio device has detected a radio transmitter as well as comprising an identifier of said radio transmitter. The method also comprises determining that the radio transmitter, as identified by the received identifier, is registered with the service provider and associated with one or more actions. The method also comprises electing an action of the one or more actions. The method also comprises sending an instructions message to the radio device, said message comprising instructions to modify the service such that the radio device performs the elected action.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for human-machine interfaces for utterance-based playlist selection are disclosed. In one method, a list of playlists is traversed and a portion of each is audibly output until a playlist command is received. Based on the playlist command, the traversing is stopped and a playlist is selected for playback. In examples, the list of playlists is modified based on a modification input.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a media playback device on a structure of a vehicle comprising an optical disc drive, the apparatus comprising an elongate member configured to be inserted into the slot of the optical disc drive and, when inserted, provide a spring force to retain the apparatus in the slot, and an attachment member connected to the elongate member, the attachment member configured to connect the apparatus to the media playback device.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for providing access to media content associated with events, using a digital media content environment. A media application enables display of a memory event timeline, including a plurality of memory events, to provide an improved presentation of media consumption by a user that resembles a person's memory or recollection of such events. Recent events are generally presented with more specificity, with earlier time periods and events generally presented more broadly. An input action or request for a memory event can be performed to cause a media server to determine a corresponding historical media content for delivery, and to stream or buffer the historical media content related to that memory event, and/or to cause other systems or environments to provide additional content related to the memory event either via the media server, or directly delivered to the media device.

Abstract: A method is performed at a server system. The method includes, while streaming a playlist at a first electronic device associated with a host listener, the playlist including media content items: automatically receiving an identity of a guest listener having a second electronic device, without explicit input from the guest listener after the second electronic device comes within range of the first electronic device; selecting an additional media content item based at least in part on the identity of the guest listener; and incorporating the additional media content item into the selected playlist.

Abstract: A first server system is configured to communicate with a first client device through a first application executing on the first client device. The first server system determines that communication with the first client device through the first application has been lost due to the first client device entering an idle mode. The first server system receives a request from a second client device that triggers reestablishing communication with the first client device through the first application. In response, the first server system transmits a request to a second server system to wake the first client device from the idle mode. The first server system receives, from the first application on the first client device, an indication that communication has been reestablished between the first server system and the first application. The first server system transmits a control command to control the first client device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for automating the association of messages. Data points associated with at least one client device associated with an identifier are logged into an activity database. Labels corresponding to message records are retrieved. Message-signal values representing behavior associated with at least a subset of the message records are also retrieved. The labels are merged with the message-signal values to generate a signal-label collection. A signal-label model is trained based on the signal-label collection, thereby generating a trained signal-label model. A mapping of the one or more activity data points and the plurality of labels are then generated. The embedding that is generated can then be used to find custom audiences.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided personalizing recommendations of items with associated explanations. The example embodiments described herein use contextual bandits to personalize explainable recommendations (“recsplanations”) as treatments (“Bart”). Bart learns and predicts satisfaction (e.g., click-through rate, consumption probability) for any combination of item, explanation, and context and, through logging and contextual bandit retraining, can learn from its mistakes in an online setting.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to providing video, and more particularly to streaming of video. There is described a method and a system for performing scrubbing in a video stream of a video item selected at a media device. The video item is streamed from a server system to the media device. The method comprises dividing the selected video item into a number of segments and selecting a first snippet for each segment, which snippet is pre-buffered. The video stream of a first segment of the selected video item is played at the media device simultaneously as scrubbing to a second segment of the selected video item. When the scrubbing is done the video stream of the first segment stops and the first snippet of the second segment starts playing seamlessly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for avoiding bandwidth shortage for online meetings in a communication network. The method comprises, via an online event scheduling system, receiving a meeting request for an online meeting from an organizer, said request comprising information about a time slot for said online meeting. The method also comprises determining whether an organization which the organizer belongs to has a meeting token available for said time slot and said number of participants. The method also comprises sending an acknowledgement to the event scheduling system, allowing the event scheduling system to book the online meeting for the participants in the event scheduling system. A finite number of meeting tokens has been provided to the organization based on a communication bandwidth available for said organization, such that a maximum number of concurrent online meetings in the organization is limited by the finite number of meeting tokens.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the playback of audio content, e.g. in the form of music. More particularly, the disclosure concerns the playback of streamed audio. In one example embodiment, there is a method of operating an electronic device for dynamically controlling a playlist including one or several audio items. A request to adjust an energy level (e.g. a tempo) associated with the playlist is received. In response to receiving this request, the playlist is adjusted in accordance with the requested energy level (e.g., the tempo).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating a playlist of media content items for a group of users. Media content items listened to by the selected users are compared to an average user taste profile to select media content items for playback to the group of users.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating a playlist of media content items that are popular with the friends of the first user. A first user taste profile is determined and a user taste profile is determined for each of a plurality of social connections. A similarity score is calculated between the first user taste profile and the user taste profile of each social connection. Media content items consumed by social connections with the highest similarity score are selected and placed in a playlist for the first user.