Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for automating customer assistance includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a venue inventory and activity guide software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the venue inventory and activity guide software code to receive a query from a customer of the retail venue, and determine if the query corresponds to either a retail product or an experience available at the retail venue. If the retail product or the experience is not available at the retail venue, the hardware processor executes the venue inventory and activity guide software code to generate a negative response. If the retail product or the experience is available at the retail venue, the hardware processor executes the venue inventory and activity guide software code to identify a location of the retail product or the experience, and guide the customer to the location.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to automatically rotating displays to display media content based on metadata extracted from the media content that provides an indication of a target display orientation to display the media content. In one implementation, a method includes: detecting media content for display on a display, wherein the display is mounted on a rotatable display mount; extracting metadata from the detected media content, the extracted metadata providing an indication of a target display orientation to display the media content; using at least the extracted metadata, automatically causing the rotatable display mount to rotate the display to the target orientation; and displaying the media content on the rotated display.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to enhancing a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) experience by using one or more unmanned vehicles to generate effects around a user of a headmounted display (HMD). The generated effects may be synchronized with VR/AR content presented to the user of the HMD. Particular systems and methods described herein are directed to enhancing a VR/AR experience by using one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to generate air flow effects around a user of a HMD. The air flow effects generated by UAV may simulate a physical and/or olfactory sensation corresponding to a VR/AR environment presented to the user using the HMD.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying aired content are described. A first audio sample is received and processed, using a computer processor, to extract an embedded audio watermark. A content identifier identifying a first item of programming content is determined, using the computer processor and based on the audio watermark. A timestamp associated with the first audio sample is also determined based on the audio watermark. An as-aired log is updated based on the content identifier and the timestamp. The computer processor is used to identify that the first item of programming content has aired, based on the as-aired log.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system of markers and methods of using the system of markers to provide a precise scene scale reference for captured aerial images. Each of the markers may include one or more pairs of aligned collimated light emitters, where each pair of light emitters is configured to emit two light beams that converge at a known distance from the marker. When two or more markers are used, the system of markers may be aligned in a unique physical orientation to form a shape of known dimensions (e.g., a line, a triangle, or square) that provides an accurate scene scale reference for captured images.

Abstract: There is presented a system and method for coordinating asset entitlements, the system comprising a server including a processor and a memory and accessible by multiple domains over a network, and an asset entitlement database searchable by the server, wherein an entry of the asset entitlement database links a domain transcendent user identification (ID) of a user and at least one asset entitlement acquired by the user from any of the domains. In one embodiment, the server is configured to receive an asset entitlement inquiry from one of the domains, search the asset entitlement database for asset entitlements acquired by the user from any of the domains, generate a search result identifying the asset entitlements acquired by the user from the domains, and send data corresponding to the search result to the domain from which the asset entitlement inquiry was received.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for training a convolutional neural network for feature recognition within digital images. A spatial context neural network is trained using a plurality of patches cropped from a plurality of digital images, the spatial context neural network comprising a first convolutional neural network configured to predict a feature representation for a first specified portion of a first digital image, a second convolutional neural network configured to compute a feature representation for a second specified portion of a second digital image, and a spatial context module that accepts output of the first and second convolutional neural networks as input. The second convolutional neural network is refined by regressing features of the second convolutional neural network to features of the first convolutional neural network. The refined second convolutional neural network is used to recognize one or more features within a third digital image.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods for shadow assisted object recognition and tracking. The methods performed by the apparatus and system include identifying a blob within a video image, the video image having at least one object and at least one shadow of the at least one object, the at least one shadow of the at least one object cast by at least one light source. Identifying the blob includes identifying an object projection corresponding to the at least one object and a shadow projection corresponding to the at least one shadow. A location of an object portion of the at least one object is determined based on the shadow projection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating the sharing of user-generated content of a virtual space are presented herein. The user-generated content may be shared between users of different computing platforms. The computing platforms may be of different platform types. The user-generated content may be shared through platform type-specific conversions of the information that defines the user-generated content. The processing cost and/or other cost information may be determined and/or estimated.

Abstract: There is provided a system including a non-transitory memory storing an executable code and a hardware processor executing the executable code to provide access to a plurality of media contents in a content repository, wherein each of the plurality of media contents has a rating, receive a rating input from a user device assigning a user rating to a first media content of the plurality of media contents, update the rating of the first media content based on the rating input, if the rating of the first media content exceeds a threshold, add the first media content to a programming queue of a broadcast channel, and transmit the first media content to a plurality of user devices on via the broadcast channel.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving a first video frame specifying a first timestamp from a first video source, receiving a second video frame specifying a second timestamp from a second video source, wherein the first and second timestamps are based on a remote time source, determining, based on a local time source, that the first timestamp is later in time than the second timestamp, and storing the first video frame in a buffer for alignment with a third video frame from the second video source.

Abstract: In one implementation, a multi-mode haptic effects delivery system includes an impact surface, a mass adjacent to the impact surface, and a driving mechanism configured to reciprocate the mass. The multi-mode haptic effects delivery system also includes a motor configured to generate a vibrational mode haptic effect. The driving mechanism configured to reciprocate the mass causes the mass to strike the impact surface so as to generate a recoil mode haptic effect. In one implementation, the driving mechanism is a gear assembly powered by the same motor used to generate the vibrational mode haptic effect.

Abstract: A system includes a host device having a hardware processor and a host wireless transceiver, and client devices having client wireless transceivers for wireless communications with the host device. The hardware processor receives wireless signals transmitted by the client wireless transceivers using the host wireless transceiver, and determines locations of the client devices relative to the host device based on angles of arrival of the of the wireless signals. The hardware processor further determines an activation sequence for activating the client devices based on the locations relative to the host device, and transmits control signals using the host wireless transceiver, according to the activation sequence, to activate the client devices.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a stereoscopic image display system includes a computing platform having one or more hardware processor(s), a system memory storing a software code, an autostereoscopic display, and a user tracking unit controlled by the hardware processor(s). The hardware processor(s) execute the software code to utilize the user tracking unit to detect a left eye location and a right eye location of a user of the stereoscopic image display system, and to determine a left eye image and a right eye image corresponding to an output image of a content being played out by the stereoscopic image display system based on the respective left eye location and right eye location of the user. The hardware processor(s) further execute the software code to render the left eye image and the right eye image using the autostereoscopic display to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image of the output image.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a content distribution system that verifies a media presentation (or portions thereof) using a broadcast schedule. In one embodiment, the content verification system evaluates the media presentation to identify a unique identification data for the presentation such as a fingerprint or watermark. Using the broadcast schedule, the content verification system can identify what content the media presentation should (or is expected) to contain. The content verification system can retrieve a previously stored unique identifier from a database corresponding to the content identified using the broadcast schedule. If the stored unique identifier matches the unique identifier derived by the content verification system, the system verifies the content in the media presentation is correct. The verified media presentation can then be transmitted to a content distribution network—e.g., a broadcast network or video-on-demand provider.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a floating image display system includes a computing platform including a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a system memory storing a software code. The system also includes one or more display screens controlled by the GPU, and a rotor coupled to the one or more display screens and controlled by the CPU. The CPU executes the software code to render a two-dimensional (2D) graphic on the one or more display screens using the GPU, and to spin the rotor and the one or more display screens about a vertical axis parallel to a display surface of the one or more display screens at a predetermined spin rate to generate a floating image of the 2D graphic. The floating image appears to be a three-dimensional (3D) floating image of the 2D graphic to a user viewing the floating image.

Abstract: An immersive experience system has a display device and a processor. The processor receives media content including one or more normal video frames. Further, the processor tracks an orientation of the display device with respect to an intended focal point within an immersive experience. Moreover, the processor determines whether the orientation of the display device exceeds an angular displacement threshold. In response to a determination that the orientation of the display device does not exceed the angular displacement threshold, the processor renders a normal video frame from the received media content on a display device. Conversely, in response to a determination that the orientation of the display device exceeds the angular displacement threshold, the processor modifies one or more properties of the normal video frame to generate a modified video frame.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for view generation based on a video coding scheme. A bitstream is received that is encoded based on the video coding scheme. The bitstream includes video, quantized warp map offsets, and a message of a message type specified by the video coding scheme. Depth samples decoded from the first bitstream are interpreted as quantized warp map offsets, based on a first syntax element contained in the message. Warp maps are generated based on the quantized warp map offsets and a second syntax element contained in the message. Views are generated using image-domain warping and based on the video and the warp maps.

Abstract: To prevent virtual content from occluding physical objects in an augmented reality (AR) system, the embodiments herein describe generating a pass-through texture using a pre-generated model of a physical object. In one embodiment, the AR system determines the location of the physical object as well as its orientation. With this information, the system rotates and re-sizes the pre-generated model of the object to match its location and orientation in the real-world. The system then generates the pass-through texture from the pre-generated model and inserts the texture into the virtual content. When the virtual content is displayed, the pass-through texture permits light from the real-world view to pass through substantially unaffected by the virtual content. In this manner, the physical object (which aligns with the location of the pass-through texture in the virtual content) can be seen by the user—i.e., is not occluded by the virtual content.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a broker application automatically allocates tasks to application programming interfaces (APIs) in microservice architectures. After receiving a task from a client application, the broker application performs operation(s) on content associated with the task to compute predicted performance data for multiple APIs. The broker application then determines that a first API included in the APIs should process the first task based on the predicted performance data. The broker application transmits an API request associated with the first task to the first API for processing. After receiving a result associated with the first task from the first API, the client application performs operation(s) based on the result.

Abstract: There is provided a media content ontology system and method. The system includes a computing platform having a processor and a memory, a content genome database stored in the memory, and ontology software for execution by the processor. The ontology software is configured to map a media content asset to first and second content classifications based on respective first and second data, and to generate first and second content genome database entries associating the media content asset with other, correspondingly mapped, media content assets. In addition, the ontology software is configured to cross-index the first and second content genome database entries to enable identification of each of the first and second content classifications and the media content asset based on any one of the first or second content classifications or the media content asset.

Abstract: A method and device generates a fantasy sports recommendation. The method includes receiving a plurality of ranking values associated with a sport player, each of the ranking values being generated from a respective source. The method includes assigning a weight value to each of the ranking values, the weight value being associated with the respective source. The method includes generating a recommendation value for the sport player as a function of the ranking values and the corresponding weight values. The method includes receiving a selection value for the sport player. The method includes determining a further weight value for each of the sources as a function of the selection value, the recommendation value, and the weight value for the corresponding source.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for linking transmedia content subsets. A memory stores a plurality of transmedia content data items and associated linking data, which define time-ordered content links between the transmedia content data items. The transmedia content data items are arranged into linked transmedia content subsets comprising different groups of the transmedia content data items and different content links therebetween; a transmedia content model that represents the transmedia content data items as nodes and the content links between the transmedia content data items as edges in one or more time-varying graphs. A processor is configured to associate the transmedia content data items with the time-ordered content links and store the linking data in the memory. It assigns the transmedia content data items to nodes of a graph structure, assign the time-ordered content links to edges of the graph structure, and store them in the transmedia content model.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reordering and/or bypassing certain informational content or menus that are conventionally presented prior to playback of media content stored on physical media discs. Upon initial use of a physical media disc, certain information content or menus may be presented to a user or viewer, for example, piracy warnings, language selection menus, etc. However, upon subsequent use of the physical media disc, such informational content or menus may be bypassed. The user or viewer is given an option to immediately begin consuming the media content stored on the physical media disc. Conventional content, such as trailers are not played prior to playback of the media content.

Abstract: An image management system includes a computing platform including a hardware processor and a system memory storing an image customization software code, and a database of personas assumable by a user, the database communicatively coupled to the image customization software code. The hardware processor executes the image customization software code to receive a wireless signal associating a persona stored in the database with the user, receive a digital image including an image of the user, and detect the image of the user in the digital image. The hardware processor further executes the image customization software code to obtain the persona from the database, and output a customized image to be rendered on a display, where the persona modifies the image of the user in the customized image.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for evaluating a chat message sent between users of an online environment. The method may include receiving a chat message and parsing the message into words. The method determines the acceptability of the message by matching the message to a plurality of acceptable messages stored in a data structure. Upon determining the message does not match any acceptable messages, the method replaces each word in the message with grammatical metadata. The method may use templates to determine if the message has acceptable word combinations based on the metadata. The method may also compare the metadata to rules wherein the rules determine if the message has unacceptable word combinations based on the metadata. The method may send the message to a user upon determining words in the message do not match any word in a list of unacceptable words.

Abstract: A display system is provided that combines the use of a display element with a beamsplitter and at least one retroreflector to provide an image (2D or 3D depending upon the output image from the display element) that appears to be floating in space some distance from the beamsplitter. For example, light that is bounced off/reflected and/or that is transmitted through the beamsplitter may be reflected from the reflective surface of the retroreflector toward the beamsplitter. The beamsplitter directs this light, through reflection or transmission, into a viewing space such that the 2D or 3D image can be viewed by a viewer as it appears to float a distance from the nearest surface of the beamsplitter and, typically, some distance above the ground/floor upon which viewers are walking. The floating image may be relatively bright so that it is viewable in low and brighter light conditions.

Abstract: A process receives, from a media content server, media content. Further, the process performs a first playback, with a processor at a media playback device, of one or more sample files corresponding to the media content. The one or more sample files each corresponds to a distinct codec format. In addition, the process determines, with the processor at the media playback device, a confidence score for each of the one or more sample files. The confidence score is associated with one or more factors indicative of the distinct codec format being software-based or hardware-based. Finally, the process performs a second playback, with the processor at the media playback device, of at least a substantial portion of the media content according to the distinct codec format that is hardware-based.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a high dynamic range video coding pipeline that may reduce color artifacts and improve compression efficiency. The disclosed pipeline separates the luminance component from the chrominance components of an input signal (e.g., an RGB source video) and applies a scaling of the chrominance components before encoding, thereby reducing perceivable color artifacts while maintaining luminance quality.

Abstract: An adaptive material point method for simulating and rendering of solid materials is disclosed. During each time step, a simulation application splits and/or merges particles according to a resolution of a grid and assigns properties to the split/merged particles. The simulation application then rasterizes particle information, including masses and velocities, to the grid, on which forces and/or collisions are computed to obtain updated velocities. Grid information, including the updated velocities, is then transferred back to the particles. The transfer from particles to grid and back from grid to particles may employ different transfer functions. In particular, a quadratic transfer function may be used to transfer information from the particles to the grid, while a linear transfer function may be used elsewhere, including to transfer information back from the grid to the particles.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing media content playout includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive a first state message from a first media player playing a first media content and a second state message from a second media player playing a second media content, the first media content and the second media content being the same media content. The software code further determines a coordination state for playout of the first media content and the second media content based on one or more of the first and second state messages, and transmits a first coordination message including the coordination state to the first media player and a second coordination message including the coordination state to the second media player to synchronize playout of the first media content and the second media content.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time generation of segments for a computerized decision system provides an event segment list to a decision engine. The event segment list is generated based on consumer affinities determined from consumer data and modeled data on that consumer's consumption and geo-location. The consumer affinities are used in a query to obtain current events related to the consumer's affinities. The current events are associated with generic events, which together are included in the event segment list, which is delivered to the decision engine and used to make a decision based on the event segment list and specified decision criteria.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a floating image display system includes a computing platform including a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a system memory storing a software code. The system also includes one or more display screens controlled by the GPU, and a rotor coupled to the one or more display screens and controlled by the CPU. The CPU executes the software code to render a two-dimensional (2D) graphic on the one or more display screens using the GPU, and to spin the rotor and the one or more display screens about a vertical axis parallel to a display surface of the one or more display screens at a predetermined spin rate to generate a floating image of the 2D graphic. The floating image appears to be a three-dimensional (3D) floating image of the 2D graphic to a user viewing the floating image.

Abstract: A system configured for stabilizing or balancing objects in an upright state. The system includes a motion system with an upper support surface for receiving an object that is positionable in a vertical state. The system includes a sensor assembly with at least one sensor generating sensor data by tracking at least one of three dimensional (3D) position and angular movement for the object. The system includes a controller with a stabilizing module to process the sensor data to determine when the object is tipping from the vertical state, and, in response to the tipping away of the object from the vertical state, the stabilizing module generates control signals to modify operations of the motion system to move at least a portion of the upper support surface in contact with a lower contact surface of the object through stabilizing movements, whereby the object remains balanced in the vertical state.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods for synchronizing a reference video with an input video. A method comprises extracting first motion data from the input video having a first set of frames, extracting second motion data from the reference video having a second set of frames, computing motion descriptors for each frame in the first set of frames and the second set of frames based on the first and second motion data, respectively, and non-linearly mapping the first set of frames to the second set of frames based on the motion descriptors, respectively.

Abstract: A dialog engine configured to answer a sequence of questions related to an image. An attention module residing in the dialog engine includes an attention retrieval process and a tentative attention process. The attention retrieval process retrieves a relevant attention map that may have previously been used to answer a previous query. The tentative attention process generates a tentative attention map based on an image and other input parameters. The attention module combines the relevant attention map and the tentative attention map to generate a fused attention map. Based on the fused attention map, the dialog engine generates a response to the query. Finally, the dialog engine stores the fused attention map in an attention memory for use in answering future queries.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for differentially transforming video content includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a video reformatting software code. The hardware processor executes the video reformatting software code to receive an input video file including video content formatted for a first set of coordinates, and to detect one or more principle features depicted in the video content based on a predetermined principle feature identification data corresponding to the video content. The hardware processor further executes the video reformatting software code to differentially map the video content to a second set of coordinates to produce a reformatted video content. The resolution of the one or more principle features is enhanced relative to other features depicted in the reformatted video content.

Abstract: A cloud-based automated content curation system includes a content curation platform having a hardware processor and a memory, a master control automation unit stored in the memory, and a web-based affiliate operations portal. The hardware processor is configured to execute the master control automation unit to receive content feeds from and business rules for each of multiple affiliate content providers, and to receive traffic log data and replacement content metadata for each of the affiliate content providers via the web-based affiliate operations portal. The hardware processor is also configured to execute the master control automation unit to curate multiple digital rights cleared content streams from each content feed based on the respective traffic log data, replacement content metadata, and business rules for each of the affiliate content providers, and to generate Internet Protocol (IP) transport streams for distributing the digital rights cleared content streams.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to presentation of a first effect on one or more presentation devices during an oral recitation of a first story. The first effect is associated with a first trigger point, first content, and/or first story. The first trigger point being one or more specific syllables from a word and/or phrase in the first story. A first transmission point associated with the first effect can be determined based on a latency of a presentation device and user speaking profile. The first transmission point being one or more specific syllables from a word and/or phrase before the first trigger point in the first story. Control signals for instructions to present the first content at the first trigger point are transmitted to the presentation device when a user recites the first transmission point such that first content is presented at the first trigger point.

Abstract: A water slide tube adapted for braking during hydroplaning in a catch or landing pool of a water slide. The water slide tube includes a tube body and a tube speed control assembly, which has a floor attached to a bottom surface of the tube body. The assembly includes one or more drag-inducing elements, provided in or on the floor, configured to produce drag when an outer surface of the floor travels over an upper surface of the catch or landing pool. The floor includes a sheet of flexible material joined along its peripheral edge to the tube body. The sheet of the floor includes a planar portion arranged to be tangential to the bottom surface of the tube body. The one or more drag-inducing elements may include at least one hole extending through the floor providing a passageway for water to an interior space of the tube body.

Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to adapt an interactive experience based on user height. Presence of a beacon within a real-world environment may be detected. A set of vertical displacements between the beacon and a presentation device installed on a head of a user may be determined over a period of time. An average vertical displacement may be determined from the set of vertical displacements. A value of a height dimension of a virtual object may be specified based on the average vertical displacement.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include an amusement park ride. The amusement park ride include a ride vehicle that can transition from a first configuration to a second configuration during the duration of the ride. The amusement park ride can include a loading area for loading passengers into the ride vehicle and a separate unloading area for disembarking passengers from the ride vehicle. After disembarking passengers from the ride vehicle the ride vehicle travels to a transition area concealed from the public where the ride transitions from the second configuration to the first configuration. In the transition area, maintenance can be performed on the ride vehicle and calibration can be performed on one or more of the ride vehicle systems (e.g., projector or audio systems).

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for performing deformable-surface tracking based augmented reality image generation. In one implementation, such a system includes a hardware processor and a system memory storing an augmented reality three-dimensional image generator. The hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to receive image data corresponding to a two-dimensional surface, and to identify an image template corresponding to the two-dimensional surface based on the image data. In addition, the hardware processor is configured to execute the augmented reality three-dimensional image generator to determine a surface deformation of the two-dimensional surface.

Abstract: An aerial show system for leveraging downwash and other forces to use an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a creative element in a show. UAVs in the aerial show system each include a propulsion and lift mechanism, which generates downwash as it moves the UAV about a show's airspace. The aerial show system also includes one-to-many show effect devices adapted to make use of the downwash to activate or animate one or more movable components to generate a desired show effect, e.g., a spinning propeller or fan on an object carried or tethered beneath the UAV chassis/body. The movable component would otherwise be static or passive and relies on the potential and/or kinetic energy created by the UAV in airspace for actuation or animation.

Abstract: There is provided a video processing system for use with a video having frames including a first frame and neighboring frames of the first frame. The system includes a memory storing a video processing application, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the video processing application to sample scene points corresponding to an output pixel of the first frame of the frames of the video, the scene points including alternate observations of a same scene point from the neighboring frames of the first frame of the video, and filter the scene points corresponding to the output pixel to determine a color of the output pixel by calculating a weighted combination of the scene points corresponding to the output pixel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying object features via an AR device are disclosed. The method may include receiving, from a transmitter, a signal from an object on a movie set. The signal may specify object data. The object may be a prop. The object data may specify one or more features corresponding to the prop. The method may include generating, with the one or more physical computer processors and the one or more AR components, a representation of the one or more features using visual effects to depict at least some of the object data. The method may include displaying, via the AR device, the representation onto a view of the prop.

Abstract: A haptic floor system is provided that produces large vibration-based effects through the use of one-to-many panel or plate assemblies that can each be selectively operated by a controller in a programmed manner or in response to sensor outputs. Each of these panel or plate assemblies may be labeled a “quake plate assembly” as the special effect delivered by the haptic floor system can provide a person supported by one of the quake plate assemblies with ground trembling and vibrations similar to that felt in an earthquake or when a super strong fictional character strikes the floor nearby or a large animal or robot walks or runs by the person. Each quake plate assembly may include a thin plate or panel with an upper contact surface for supporting people or objects and an opposite lower surface, and one-to-many actuators may be provided on the lower surface of the thin plate.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a narrative visualization system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a narrative visualization software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the narrative visualization software code to receive multiple media files. For each of the media files, the hardware processor is further configured to execute the narrative visualization software code to parse the media file to identify a primary content and metadata describing the primary content, to analyze the metadata to determine representative features of the primary content, and to generate a visualization of the primary content based on the metadata and the representative features. The visualization depicts a temporal flow of the primary content in a story tune of the primary content in apposition to a temporal flow of the primary content in a narrative time of the primary content.