Abstract: A mobile device includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to identify, based on user data a reference time. The processor is further programmed to send, via a human-machine interface included in the mobile device, a message to a user to input a user request to download a media content item prior to the reference time. The processor is further programmed to receive the user request to download the media content item and download the media content item from a media device.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus including circuitry configured to generate caption data corresponding to content data and having elements defined in Extensible Markup Language (XML), and output the content data and the generated caption data to a reproducing device.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for identifying a video segment displayed on a screen of a remote television system, and providing an option to switch to an alternative or related version of the video program that includes the video segment. For example, video segments displayed on a screen of a television system can be identified, and contextually-targeted content or contextually-related alternative content can be provided to a television system based on the identification of a video segment. The alternative or related version of the video program can include the currently displayed program in an on-demand format that can be viewed off-line and can be started over from a beginning portion of the program.

Abstract: An example to predict demographics for impressions includes a prediction manager to: determine that first demographic data corresponding to a first database proprietor subscriber does not match second demographic data corresponding to a media delivery device, both the first and second demographic data corresponding to an impression; obtain third demographic data corresponding to an Internet protocol address, the third demographic data obtained from a second database proprietor; and generate matched demographic data based on comparing the third demographic data to the first demographic data; and a modeler to generate a prediction model based on the matched demographic data, the prediction model to predict fourth demographic data for the impression.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for generating media files from video sequences, the method comprising by a server: obtaining from the video sequences, video data composed of a plurality of samples; generating a video track based on the obtained video data, each video track comprises samples of a video sequence, and the video track is associated with descriptive metadata, the descriptive metadata comprises: a spatial information related to one or more samples of the associated video track; and a composition information for organizing generated video tracks to get a full picture when displayed by a client; and generating media files including the generated video tracks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obfuscated audience identification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a camera to capture an obfuscated recording of a viewing environment, feature identifying circuitry to identify one or more features of a viewer in the viewing environment based on the obfuscated recording, and panelist identifying circuitry to identify a panelist in the viewing environment based on the one or more identified features of the viewer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for displaying media content. Media content is displayed on user equipment. A scheduled break in the display of the media content is determined using control circuitry. One or more first parameters of the media content are determined for a predetermined period preceding the scheduled break using control circuitry. Additional media content having one or more second parameters corresponding to the one or more first parameters of the media content is selected from memory. The additional media content is displayed on the user equipment during the scheduled break in the display of the media content.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image display apparatus and a method thereof. The image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a display; a network interface configured to communicate with a server; a broadcast reception unit including a tuner; a memory; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: add information on the content displayed through the display to a viewing history database stored in the memory when content is displayed through the display, determine a priority for a plurality of receivable content through at least one of the network interface and the broadcast receiving unit based on the viewing history database when a predetermined event related to a user's content viewing occurs, and display, through the display, a recommendation list for the plurality of receivable content according to the determined priority.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a media guidance application (e.g., implemented on a user device) that aggregates related media content, associated with media content selected by a user, by comparing keywords.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining, by a media player of a media presentation system, an audio signal, where the audio signal includes a voice command and is obtained using a microphone of the media presentation system; (ii) identifying, by the media player, which of multiple speakers of a household uttered the voice command using the audio signal and a speaker-identification model; (iii) performing, by the media player, an action corresponding to the voice command; and (iv) based on the identifying of the speaker using the audio signal and the speaker-identification model, selecting, by the media player, a user profile associated with the identified speaker within a streaming channel so as to bypass a profile selection screen of the streaming channel.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for measuring the performance of a synthetic peer-managed content distribution network. Each node peers with one or more other nodes to share the content and facilitate its presentation to associated users. Each node collects session metadata for identifying the node's environment, presentation events regarding presentation of the content to users, and transfer events regarding the sharing of the content among peers. The nodes report their data toward a central entity that feeds the different types of data through different ETL pipelines to obtain the performance measurements. For example, the session metadata may allow the reach of a content item to be determined, the presentation events may be used to determine the quality of experience with the content item for users, and the transfer events may be used to determine how much external bandwidth the network conserved and/or how efficiently the nodes shared the content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for collecting attentiveness information associated with a user's response to consuming a piece of media content. The attentiveness information is used to create an attentiveness-labelled behavioural data for the user's response. A computer-implemented attentiveness model may be generated by applying machine learning techniques to the a set of attentiveness-labelled behavioural data from multiple users. The system may comprise an annotation tool that facilitates human labelling of the user's response with attentiveness data. The resulting attentiveness model is therefore based on correlations indicative of attentiveness within the attentiveness-labelled behavioural data and/or physiological data that are based on real human cognition rather than a predetermined feature or combination of features.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for mobile device attention detection. An example apparatus includes a mobile meter to receive, from an external device, a signal to gather user attention data, and transmit the user attention data. The example apparatus further includes an interval timer to activate a time period for determining attention of a user. The example apparatus further includes an attention determiner to generate the user attention data during the time period.

Abstract: Automated processes, computing systems, computing devices, and other aspects of a data processing system improve reliability in transmitting digital media content over a network using resource constrained hardware. Media content may be received from a media source and used to generate data segments. An address may be written to a message queue, with the address referencing a first segment of the media content stored in the buffer. A computing device may check whether a number of addresses stored in a message queue is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. A second segment of the media content may be written to the message queue in response to the number of addresses stored in the message queue being greater than or equal to the first threshold value.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and related operating method of providing video game functionality that is contextually linked with video program content. In certain implementations, the method involves the steps of: causing presentation of a video program at a presentation device; identifying a portion of the video program as a candidate for gamification; processing the identified portion into a video game segment that represents a gamified version of the identified portion; and causing presentation of the video game segment at a playback device.

Abstract: A video processing method is for an electronic device including a screen. The method includes obtaining a target video segment, the target video segment being one of a plurality of video segments pre-divided according to an obtained video file scheduled for playing; configuring a video enhancement parameter for the target video segment; performing a video enhancement process on the target video segment according to the video enhancement parameter; and displaying the enhanced target video segment on the screen. An electronic device and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices. A media guidance application may determine that a first user has entered an environment (e.g., his/her mother's home) and may determine a frequency with which the first user enters the environment (e.g., daily). In response to determining that the first user visits frequently, the media guidance application may identify a second device in the environment (e.g., a smart TV) that a second user (e.g., the first user's mother) is authorized to grant access rights for. The media guidance application may determine a likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on interaction data between the first user and the second user. In response to determining a high likelihood, the media guidance application may transmit the access rights.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a controller to cause a people meter to emit a prompt for input of audience identification information at a first time and determine a first audience count based on the input, an audio detector to determine a second audience count based on signatures generated from audio data captured in the media environment, and a comparator to cause the people meter to not emit the prompt for at least a first time period after the first time when the first audience count is equal to the second audience count.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session. Group communication is initiated for a group watching session displaying a media content item. A bandwidth available to at least one computing device participating in the group watching session is determined. A group communication mode for a segment of the media content item is determined. A communication parameter of the group communication and/or a buffering parameter for the media content item is set in response to determining the group communication mode for the segment of the media content item and the bandwidth available to each computing device participating in the group watching session.

Abstract: Provided are a target character video clip playing method, system and apparatus, and a storage medium. The method comprises: using image recognition technology to perform target character recognition on an entire video, positioning a plurality of video clips containing target characters, and obtaining a first playing time period set corresponding to the video clips; according to audio clips corresponding to each character marked within the entire video, obtaining a second playing time period set corresponding to the audio clips of the various characters; merging the time periods included in the playing time period sets, and obtaining a sum playing time period set of the target characters; according to a sorting of various playing timelines within the sum playing time period set, performing video playing of the target characters.